Halloween!

October 12, 2014

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Skeletons
Skeletons are body parts forming the support structure of an animal. In popular media and online, undead creatures are often depicted as animated skeletons and associated with the annual Halloween celebration.

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Skulls
The skull is a bony structure in the head of most vertebrates (in particular, craniates) that supports the structures of the face and forms a protective cavity for the brain. The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. The skull forms the anterior most portion of the skeleton and is a product of encephalization, housing the brain, many sensory structures (eyes, ears, nasal cavity), and the feeding system.

The Meaning of Halloween Skulls and Skeletons
Continuing in the knowledge that Halloween is a time to honor the memories of those who no longer share the physical stage of life with us, the skeleton is a symbolic (and physical) reminder of the remnants of life. Skulls in particular were considered by many ancient cultures (including the Druids of the Celts) to be the psychic seat of the human whole. As such, skulls are powerful symbols invoking a heightened awareness of our psychic potential. Incorporated during this powerful time of year doubles their profound symbolic purposes. The skeleton is almost always featured on the Major Arcana Death card; peering into its meaning may offer more enlightenment on these intriguing concepts here. I've also written a bit on the skull as a good luck symbol here. You may also be interested in the symbolic meaning of skulls according to the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos here. With more research, our understanding of this Halloween symbol takes on a whole new meaning.

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For the Bonepile
No yard display is complete without a creepy bonepile. Here are some skulls you might want to include because, well, they're creepy as hell!

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These are ALL normal animal skulls!
Get Creative
Make your own skulls using Plaster of Paris

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October 13, 2014

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Mischief Night, Devil's Night or Hell Night
In the United States, Mischief Night is commonly held on October 30, the night before Hallowe'en. In New Jersey's Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, and Union counties, as well as in Philadelphia; Westchester County, New York; and Fairfield County, Connecticut, it is referred to as "Mischief Night". Today, the night is commonly known as "Cabbage Night" in parts of Vermont; Connecticut; Bergen County, New Jersey; Upstate New York; Northern Kentucky; Newport, Rhode Island; and Boston, Massachusetts. It is known as "Gate Night" in New Hampshire, Trail, British Columbia, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Rockland County, New York, North Dakota and South Dakota, as "Mat Night" in Quebec, Canada, and as "Devil's Night" in many places throughout Canada, Michigan, and western Pennsylvania.
Mischief Night tends to include popular tricks such as toilet papering yards and buildings, powder-bombing and egging cars, people, and homes, using soap to write on windows, "forking" yards, setting off fireworks, and smashing pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns. Local grocery stores often refuse to sell eggs to pre-teens and teens around the time of Halloween for this reason. Occasionally, the damage can escalate to include the spray-painting of buildings and homes. Less destructive is the prank known as "Knock, Knock, Ginger", "Ding-Dong Ditch", "knock down ginger", or "knock-a-door-run", in which children ring doorbells or knock on doors and then run and hide. One variation involves pranksters inserting a pin into a doorbell so that it rings continuously. In Detroit and much of Michigan, the night is known infamously as Devil’s Night, a moniker now eternally linked with widespread arson. While Detroit ended the arson, as well as the more innocent mischief, through neighborhood patrols and simply changing the name from Devil’s Night to Angel’s Night, much of the United States still celebrates some type of prank-riddled night on October 30th. Camden, New Jersey had its own period of Mischief-Night-related arson in the 1990s that easily rivaled Detroit’s.


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"Guising" aKa: Trick or Treat
Trick-or-treating or guising is a customary practice for children on Halloween in many countries. Children in costumes travel from house to house in order to ask for treats such as candy (or, in some cultures, money) with the phrase "Trick or treat!". The "trick" is a (usually idle) threat to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given to them. In some parts of Ohio, Iowa, Massachusetts and other states, the night designated for trick-or-treating is referred to as Beggars Night, and in some communities it is held on a night prior to Halloween itself. Children of the St. Louis, Missouri area are expected to perform a joke, usually a simple Halloween-themed pun or riddle, before receiving any candy; this "trick" earns the "treat".

Turning The Tables
Are you expecting many little hands in your candy supply this year? Does your house fall victim to annual tricksters? Are you tired of the same ole same ole? Take back the holiday with a few tips for fun.
Mucky Candy Bowl - Decorate your candy bowl with disgusting looking stuff. Put a black sleeve over the opening so the little devils must brave the unknown for their treat. Put plastic spiders and creepies in the bowl with the candy.
Creepy not Scary- Dress for the candy hand-out. Choose a guise that will give the visitors a chill. A leper with nasty fingers, a chef with a bloody apron or perhaps a doctor with sleep-deprived haunting eyes. Have backing visuals for an eerie peering thru your open door that will reinforce your creepiness. An open trash can with bloody arms in various costumes on your porch. A bloody meat cleaver on the table in your house in full view of the visitors.
To Un-Hear, Impossible! - Keep your house dimly lit. Play soundtracks of children sobbing, men & women screaming, sounds of meat being chopped, shaking of cages and chains rattling. Keep the volume low so the sounds are heard but only barely. Make the visitors stretch to hear and when you see them doing so make some noise yourself or raise the volume of your voice then give them their treats and usher them away quickly.
Get Help - Have other people in your house that reinforce your theme. Creepy eyes peering from a shut blind, a bloody caretaker taking out a bag of bloody body parts, Someone in harness hanging from a tree or the porch dressed as a scarecrow or hanged man/woman that is still until someone approaches and they start wiggling about and screaming or moaning. If you are having a party, have some of the guests in costume play out a scene in full view or let them enjoy the art of the scare as the kids leave your house with the goods.
The Savior - Create a scene on your stoop that is creepy and terrible looking. Hide in the yard in costume with your candy supply and jump out to greet the visitors before they get to your porch. Tell them to take this treat and run for their lives and never look back as there are vile things here and it is a trap. Have an elder come out and stop you from handing out your selections of treats. The elder gives out the real treats and scathe you for trying to "do it again". You leer back at them.

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October 14, 2014

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Mutilations
Mutilation or maiming is an act of physical injury that degrades the appearance or function of any living body. Some ethnic groups practice ritual mutilation, e.g. scarification, burning, flagellation, tattooing, or wheeling, as part of a rite of passage. In some cases, the term may apply to treatment of dead bodies, such as soldiers mutilated after they have been killed by an enemy.

Using Mutilation as a Halloween Theme
Gory, disgusting or sadistic mutilation is a wonderful theme for a Halloween festivity. No matter how it is portrayed it affects us in our cores. To see a wide variety of concepts tell invites the theme is Mutilation and watch what comes of it.

Mutilation as a Costume Parameter
There a a multitude of costumes designed to illicit the look of the mutilated and the mutilator. Do you want to be the victim or the aggressor? Are you looking to incite the feeling of disgust or are you looking to scare the bejesus out of people? Both aspects of design are easily accomplished with very little needs. Neither require a specialized wardrobe. The attachment of accessories will help complete the illusion.

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Mutilation as a Setting
When creating the setting for your get-together, think torture chambers and dungeons. Blood everywhere you look and lots of sharp objects. A table or chair with blood stained restraints, clear jars with bloody body parts inside and blood, lots of blood.

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Mutilation Props and Artwork
There are a shitpot full of items that can be bloodied for the mutilation theme that you likely already have around the house. From construction tools to kitchenware anything that could inflict damage to the human body is a possible prop. Using your printer and some carefully selected images available on the web you can create a scrapbook as a centerpiece and surround it with bloody personal items. A simple trip to your local scrapyard will yield a multitude of metal objects and mechanicals that can be 'dressed' for the effect.

 
October 15, 2014
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Non-Scary Halloween

No matter what you think Halloween should be it is your celebration that counts. There are many ways to still have a great time without the scares. With a bit of imagination and some craftiness you can 'become' anything you wish. My children had won a few awards for "Best Non-Scary Costumes". One was a Christmas Present, One a TV with 'rabbit ears', another a Big Bag of Jelly Beans! Their creativity was unique and their skills at design needed some tweaking for mobility but they pulled off the task brilliantly.

Party Themes to Consider
Here are some ideas that might help you host a great non-scary Halloween party.
If they are not just right you might be able to use these ideas to create your own personal theme that is just right for you.

  • Adult Cartoons like The Simpsons, Family Guy or even Anime.
  • Your favorite TV Show characters
  • Movie Stars in character Like Blade, Rambo, Etc...
  • Superheroes!
  • Characters from novels, short stories, poems or comics & graphic novels
  • Sports Heroes
  • Inanimate Objects like cell phones, i-Pods, etc...
  • Historical Icons
  • Cartoon Entities like Bugs Bunny, Road Runner, Pepe Le-pew, etc...
  • Knights & Damsels
  • Personification of Professions
  • Humorous Renditions of Horror Icons
  • Play on Words like 'Red Handed' You are a big red hand or 'Bone Up' You are a big bone...
  • Visual Slapstick
  • Musical Instruments
  • Soldiers from any era
  • Sexy Anything
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No matter what you do for Halloween, make sure it something that you enjoy.



 
Tom, if I didn't know better I'd think you enjoyed Halloween. I tend to lean back toward the classic horror of Vincent Price, Peter Lorrie, Bella Lugosi, Mummy, Dracula, Wolf Man, etc. but when I was in junior high I became a fan of Creepy, Erie & you guessed it, Vampirella. For the last 2.5 years I can even be myself. ;)

I even have the original #1 Vampirella mint and in plastic! Nope, not for sale!


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I tend to lean back toward the classic horror of Vincent Price, Peter Lorrie, Bella Lugosi, Mummy, Dracula, Wolf Man, etc.
Yes! Halloween has gone from 'scary' to 'gory' and it just isn't the same. The best scary movies are where suspense is what draws you in, no blood & gore.

I even have the original #1 Vampirella mint and in plastic! Nope, not for sale!
Ooooh, now you're making me wonder what's hiding in my collection. I know I don't have many #1's in the collection but I'm wondering what titles I might have more appropriate for Halloween.
 
I'm thinking I may be on the bench this year. Last year turned out kinda ho-hum.

NOLA has a huge celebration in the streets and it kinda takes away from the personal party scene.
My budget won't compete with all the pro attractions in the area. Still, its fun to dream.
 
Lived in a couple of places in Oz that have completely different attitudes to Halloween. Greenwich (Sydney) its on, trick n treaters, people getting dressed up, parties going down, the full nine yards. Central Coast (NSW) not happening, a few people tried to get it on but the Bogans naturally saw a chance to get stuff for free and pretty much destroyed it in the area.

Currently in Brisbane (Queensland) no idea on how they handle it here, fingers crossed it rocks. Looking ahead, falls on a Monday, bummer - will no doubt organise the movie line up yet again :smiley: Thinking so far of Southbound and Halloween Tales.
 
Lived in a couple of places in Oz that have completely different attitudes to Halloween. Greenwich (Sydney) its on, trick n treaters, people getting dressed up, parties going down, the full nine yards. Central Coast (NSW) not happening, a few people tried to get it on but the Bogans naturally saw a chance to get stuff for free and pretty much destroyed it in the area.

Currently in Brisbane (Queensland) no idea on how they handle it here, fingers crossed it rocks. Looking ahead, falls on a Monday, bummer - will no doubt organise the movie line up yet again :smiley: Thinking so far of Southbound and Halloween Tales.
Any Halloween traditions that are unique to AUS or is it mostly stuff from the US Halloween holiday?
 
Triple P
Party Preparation Plan

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I'm sure there is a bunch of pre-printed planning guides available that you can download and print but personally I like sitting down at the table with a pencil and notebook and writing it all out.
Pre-made guides are impersonal and this is your party, for your guests, which is
Very Personal.


When?

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You need to set a date for your party sometime near or on Halloween. Consider which day Halloween falls on that year and you may want to hold it early if your guests have school or work that day or the next. If it is to be a children's party, remember to consider that the parents will usually also be attending so a party on a Monday night may result in low attendance. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are prime selections.
During your planning, have 2 or 3 days in mind in case something comes up. I would imagine any date after the 15th would work.

You need to figure out a start and stop time for the party too.
Consider the guests that will be attending. Children's parties can start early and finish early where adult parties start later and finish much later.

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As a rule of thumb:
Figure 2 to 2 1/2 hours for a children's party
Figure 3 to 4 hours for an adult party

If the festivities are a sleep-over event
plan activities on a clock method


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Where?

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Is your party going to be indoors, outdoors or both?
Consider the weather. Autumn is usually cold and rainy.
Consider how long it will take to decorate?
Will those decorations be up for a few days as you get everything in place?
Will you want to use those decorations in future events?


Indoor Parties

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Indoor parties offer the best comfort for guests and lasting decor.

Benefits can include:
  • Controlled Atmosphere
  • Controlled Heating/Cooling
  • Designated Party Locations
  • Access to Facilities (bathroom/plumbing/etc)
  • Perimeter of Festivities
  • Privacy
  • Established Location (easy to find)

Disadvantages can include:
  • Heavy After-Party Clean-up
  • Accidents
  • Decoration Limits
  • Violation of Personal Spaces
  • Broken, Lost or Stolen Items
  • Neighbor Issues
  • Noise Violations
  • Parking Issues

If your party will be an indoor party will it be at your residence?
In your garage, basement or attic?
Will it be at a parent's house or possibly a friend's?
Will there be enough guests to justify renting a hall or barn?
Are you going to rent a place of business like a bar, a restaurant or activity center?
Even a park pavilion requires certain considerations.

While planning, you need to consider indoor locations wisely.
Not only must you consider the people that will attend you need to figure out what you can and cannot do. If you have a fire pit in a barn you are most likely going to end your party with a barn fire.

Outdoor Parties

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Outdoor parties offer the most flexibility. The atmosphere gives way to more extreme decorations and activities.

Benefits can include:
  • More Extreme Decorating Materials/Techniques
  • Guest's Freedom to Roam/Group Up
  • Ambience of Darkness
  • Spills and Accidents are not as Critical
  • Able to Use Pathways for Directed Activities
  • Higher Tolerance of Noise
  • A Chance to do an Outdoor Theater



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Disadvantages can include:

  • Poor Weather/Cold Weather
  • Insects and Vermin
  • No Facilities
  • The Dirt Factor
  • Intruders
  • Lower Comfort Levels
  • Difficult Location Directions

Depending upon the location you choose, you may be able to have a fire pit or a fountain to gather around. Check with local ordinance to see if you can have an open fire. Get permission from land owners before you plan a haunted corn maze. Choose an isolated location for your slaughter beach party or the river of fear party.

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Indoor/Outdoor Parties

Indoor/Outdoor parties offers a bit of both worlds.
There are benefits and disadvantages as well with the biggest consideration focusing on decorations. Consider the costs of decorating multiple places in a theme. Do you have help managing a larger focus area? From a simple Living Room/Front Porch party to a Garage/Backyard Woods party there are considerations to think about during your planning stage.

1. Where will guests enter and leave the party?
2. Where will they park?
3. Who is responsible for this area or that?
4. Will pathways be covered or uncovered?
5. Can you close off locations?

I have been in the aftermath of Indoor/Outdoor Adult Parties and let me tell you, the next morning you will find dead bodies in all kinds of places if you are not careful with your planning. James still hasn't been found yet. Plus, I've seen children's parties where the little buggers get all bunched up in a pile screaming, biting and scratching. It usually occurs in the very spot that it can do the most damage.

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Who?

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Who you invite to the party is a significant factor in preparation.
Aside from obvious conflicts (Don't invite a guy then invite his hostile Ex) and people that are just plain acidic you need to consider who will be there and who you absolutely do not want around.
If it is going to be an adult party, figure each guest as bringing along at least 1 uninvited guest. That way, if someone brings nobody but someone else brings more than one you will still have enough for all.

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The number is just as important as the personality during the planning stage. Once you arrive at a number, figure your supplies and seating, party areas and off-limits areas of the location.

When you figure in the costs involved, if they are above your budget you have a few choices.
Either remove guests from the invite or consider charging admission to recover your costs.
You might place a donations box under supervision.
If you have lots of close friends in mind, consider making the party a group effort to defray the cost and work load. Just realize that in a group effort, you will not have the decision power as if you go it alone.

Consider the Shrubs

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Adult Party + Alcohol = Pissy Shrubs

Nuff Said?

Set A Schedule

Determine what needs to be done first, what needs to be done by when and how much time you can dedicate. Then, Stick to the schedule AND the plan.
Nothing will mess up your schedule more than changing things at the last minute.
This is why you need a plan and why you need to stick to it.

Cutting Grass or Weeds
Making Paths
Cutting Firewood
Getting Permits
Covering/Hiding Precious Items
Gathering Activity Supplies
Placing Gaming
Mapping the Haunt
Set the Theme
Childproofing
Drunk Proofing
Previewing Videos
Previewing Soundtracks
Picking Music
Stringing Lanterns/Lights
Obtaining Tables/Chairs and Amenities
Stocking up
Display Construction
Your Own Costume
Cooking
When to Send Invites
Advising Neighbors
Theme Research
Removal of Toxins/Hazards
First Aid Supplies
Printing

This list could go on and on.
The point is there are things that you can't possibly plan for and things will come up that set your schedule spiraling.
Plan into the schedule time for the unexpected.
Plan for cost over-runs.

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Kevin said... "Yes! Halloween has gone from 'scary' to 'gory' and it just isn't the same. The best scary movies are where suspense is what draws you in, no blood & gore."

I agree 100%. I'm not into gory or slasher films where nothing is left to the imagination. Not a fan of Freddy or similar ilk either. Twilight Zone & Night Gallery could be far scarier than any of the messy mutilation movies. Those things aren't scary, they're just gross.
 
I'm not a big fan of slasher flicks but I do love my MONSTERS!

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I've lost my attraction to zombie films too, Seen too many bad ones.
I find Christianity based movies silly for the most part. There are a few good ones.
Films that portray a spiral into madness or other 'human condition' horror movies usually grab my attention.
Might be why I like Criminal Minds (That show is now broken, tho)
Alien horror have to be some of my favorites. If well-done.

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Monsters are my favorite hands down. The stranger it looks the better I like it. But...I want to see it, watch it move, eat & decide.

The Universe is really big. The creature designs hollyrock uses are so humans can identify with the creature. Realuty may be very much stranger and more brutal than we can imagine. This is why I am attracted to monster/creature movies...always looking for the different designs and mannerisms.
Even creatures from Earth in movies can be inspiring. I mean, Look at the Kothoga...

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The Boogeyman is a common allusion to a mythical creature in many cultures used by adults to frighten children into good behavior. This monster has no specific appearance, and conceptions about it can vary drastically from household to household within the same community; in many cases, he has no set appearance in the mind of an adult or child, but is simply a non-specific embodiment of terror. Parents may tell their children that if they misbehave, the bogeyman will get them. Bogeymen may target a specific mischief—for instance, a bogeyman that punishes children who suck their thumbs—or general misbehaviour, depending on what purpose needs serving. In some cases, the bogeyman is a nickname for the Devil. Bogeyman tales vary by region. The bogeyman is usually a masculine entity, but can be any gender, or simply be androgynous.


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AKA's

Afghanistan

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Bala or Newanay Mama, which means "The Monster" or "crazy person", is used to scare children when they don't want to sleep or when they don't want to take their medicine.

Albania

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There are two similar creatures that are used to frighten children. In the South (Vlore area), there is Katallani, which means "the Catalan". This is a collective memory of the Catalan occupation many centuries ago, from South Italy. Then, in the whole country, there is Gogoli, which means "the Mongol" and is a collective memory of the Golden horde.

Algeria

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A monster made up of various animal parts called H'awouahoua. It has eyes that are blobs of flaming spit, horns, snakes entwined in its hair, and a coat made of the clothes of the children it eats.

Azerbaijan
A bogeyman-like creature parents refer to make children behave is called khokhan ("xoxan").

Bahamas
"Small man" is the name given to a man who rides in a cart drawn by itself and picks up any child seen outside after sundown; the term "rollin' cart" has been used to scare children who misbehave. Anyone taken by the small man becomes a small person and has to ride on the back of his cart with him forever.

Belgium

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A faceless bogeyman called "Oude Rode Ogen" ("Old Red Eyes") was known throughout the Flanders region and said to originate in Mechelen. It is said to have been a cannibalistic shapeshifter that was able to change between human form to that of a black dog. It later became a children's story in the early 1900s called "The Nikker", in which the creature devoured young children who stayed up past their bedtime.

Belize

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Tata Duende is a mythical goblin described as being of small stature, with a beard, wrinkles, backwards feet, a large brimmed hat, and lacking thumbs. It is a protector of the forests and animals and was used to scare children from going out to play at night or going into the jungle.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Macedonia

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The Bogeyman is called Babaroga, baba meaning old woman and rogovi meaning horns, literally meaning old woman with horns. The details vary from one household to another. In one version, babaroga takes children, puts them in a sack, and then, when it comes to its cave, eats them. In another version, it takes children and pulls them up through tiny holes in the ceiling.

Brazil and Portugal

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A monster more akin to the Bogeyman is called Bicho Papão ("Eating Beast") or Sarronco ("Deep-Voiced Man"). A notable difference between it and the homem do saco is that the latter is a daytime menace and "Bicho Papão" is a nighttime menace.

Bulgaria

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In some villages, people used to believe that a hairy, dark, ghost-like creature called a Talasam (Ta-lah-SUMM) lived in the shadows of the barn or in the attic and came out at night to scare little children. In addition, there is a city-folklore creature called Torbalan ("the Bag-man"), who raids during the night, kidnapping children that have misbehaved.

Canada:
Quebec

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in this French-speaking province of Canada, the Bonhomme Sept-Heures ("7 o'clock man") is said to visit houses around 7 o'clock to take misbehaving children who will not go to bed back to his cave where he feasts on them.

Newfoundland and Labrador

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The "Old Hag" is a demonic entity from Newfoundland folklore. According to legend, the Old Hag appears in the bedrooms of naughty children late at night and suffocates them by sitting on their stomachs. The Old Hag then takes the children to her lair in the woods where she eats their bodies. Supposedly, the myth of the Old Hag was inspired by experiences caused by Sleep Paralysis, in which an individual would awake to the hallucination of an old woman sitting on them, cutting off their breathing.

Yukon

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"Quankus" is a bogeyman-like creature that places naughty children in a large sock and carries them away, particularly at night. Children are typically threatened with the Quankus to encourage them to go to bed.

In Inuit mythology

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there is a shapeshifting creature called the Ijiraq, that kidnaps children, to hide them away and abandon them. If the children can convince the Ijiraq to let them go, they can use inukshuk of stone to find their way home. Also from Inuit Mythology there is the Qalupalik, which are human-like creatures with long fingernails, green skin, and long hair that live in the sea. They carry babies and children away in their Amauti, if they disobey their parents and wander off alone. The Qalupalik adopt the children and bring them to live with them underwater.

Congo

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In the Lingala language, the Dongola Miso or "Creature with Scary Eyes" is used to discourage children from staying up beyond bedtime. It is also used to warn children or even adults about the potential danger in speaking to or dealing with strangers.

China

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"Ou-wu" is usually described as a witch or a scary woman who kidnaps children who misbehave. It is popular among southern regions of China and places like Hong Kong. The origin of the term is a pronoun for "monster" and it is widely used as a synonym for "ugly" or "hideous" even today.

Cyprus
In the Cypriot dialect, the Bogeyman is called Kkullas (Κκουλλάς).

Czech Republic

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The equivalent of the Bogeyman in the Czech Republic is bubák or strašidlo.

England

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In Yorkshire, young children were warned that if they stole from orchards, they might be eaten by a fairy in the form of a giant caterpillar called Awd Goggie. A similar creature called The Gooseberry Wife was said to guard gooseberries on The Isle of Wight.
Children in Yorkshire were also warned that if they were naughty the Great Black Bird would come and carry them off.


Egypt

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The "Abu Rigl Maslukha" (ابو رجل مسلوخة), which translates to the "Man With Burnt/Skinned Leg". It is a very scary story that parents tell their children when they misbehave. The "Abu Rigl Maslukha" is a monster that got burnt when he was a child because he did not listen to his parents. He grabs naughty children to cook and eat them.

Finland

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The equivalent of the Bogeyman in Finland is mörkö. The most famous usage of the word these days takes place in Moomin-stories (originally written in Swedish) in which mörkö (the Groke) is a large, frightening, dark blue, ghost-like creature. The children's game "Kuka pelkaa Mustaa Pekkaa?" ("Who's Afraid of Black Peter?") was also commonly played among children through to the 1960s and '70s, especially in urban settings, as a backyard game.

France

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The French equivalent of the Bogeyman is le croque-mitaine ("the mitten-biter" or rather "the hand-cruncher"—mitaine means mitt in an informal way).

Georgia
In addition to a "Bag Man" very similar to its namesakes from other cultures, in Georgia, a fictional creature called "Bua" is sometimes used by parents to (lightly) scare little children (up to preschool age) when misbehaving; e.g., "If you don't eat well now, Bua will come," or "Do you hear Bua knocking? It asks why you don't want to go to bed." It's usually not specified what Bua looks like or what it does to children; nevertheless, Bua can "bite you", or "take you away". It also can "steal" something: "You can't have more candies now—Bua took them." There may be an etymological link to "bu", the Georgian word for owl, which makes night sounds scary to children.

Germany

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The Bogeyman is known as Der schwarze Mann ("the black man"). "Schwarz" does not refer to the color of his skin (most Germans had never met a real black person during the time these legends developed), but to his preference for hiding in dark places, like the closet, under the beds of children, or in forests at night. There is also an active game for little children which is called Wer hat Angst vorm schwarzen Mann? ("Who is afraid of the black man?"), and an old traditional folk song Es tanzt ein Bi-Ba-Butzemann in unserm Haus herum ("A Bi-Ba-Bogeyman Dances Around in Our House").

Guyana

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In Guyana, the "Bogeyman" is known as a "Jumbi". It is a popular belief that he only lives in the dark. It is said that he lives in the closet and under the bed. He is used to scare children to eat their food, so they can defend themselves against him. "Jumbies" eat little boys and girls, starting with the leg, and ending with the brains.

Haiti

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In Haiti, there is a popular belief that a tall man, with legs two floors high, walks around the towns at midnight to catch and eat the people that stay outside. He is called Mètminwi, which seems to be a contraction of mèt (from French "maître", English "master", and minwi from French "minuit", English "midnight", hence meaning the "master of midnight").
Tonton Macoute or Uncle Gunnysack was a Haitian bogeyman who would snare misbehaving children and eat them for breakfast. The MVSN, a secret police force of Haiti, used this myth as a tool for control as many Tonton Macoutes were Voodoo adherents.
Papa Doc was an alter-ego of Former Haitian President Francois Duvalier. He parlayed Haitian mythology and presented himself as Baron Samedi the Voodoo Loa of Death. His fashion was designed to enforce the mystique of his personality cult, as he dressed like Baron Samedi and hid his eyes with sunglasses.


Hejaz, Saudi Arabia

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أمنا الغولة والدوجيرة or "Dojairah and Umna al Ghola", which means "Our mother the Monster", is used to scare children when they misbehave or walk alone outside.

Hungary

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The Hungarian equivalent of the Bogeyman is the Mumus, which is a monster-like creature, and the Zsákos Ember, a man with a sack, which is the literal meaning of his name. A third creature is the Rézfaszú bagoly ("Copperpenis Owl"), a giant owl with a copper penis.


Iceland

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The Icelandic equivalent of the Bogeyman is Grýla, a female troll who would take misbehaving children and eat them during Christmas Eve. However, as the story goes, she has been dead for some time. She is also the mother of the Yule Lads, the Icelandic equivalent of Santa Claus.

India
In India, the entity is known by different names.
Bihar
Parents use the demon name Bhakolwa for this purpose.

South India
In Karnataka, the demon "Goggayya"(roughly meaning 'terrible man') can be treated as counterpart of the bogeyman.
In the state of Tamil Nadu, children are often mock-threatened with the Rettai Kannan (the two-eyed one) or Poochaandi (பூச்சாண்டி), a monster or fearsome man that children are sometimes threatened with if they are not obedient or refuse to eat.
In the state of Andhra Pradesh, the equivalent of the bogeyman is Boochodu.
In central Kerala, the bogeyman is referred to as "Kokkachi", who will "take away" children for disobeying their parents or misbehaving in any manner.
In South Kerala, the bogeyman is called "Oochandi".
Among Konkani-speaking people of the Western Coast of India, "Gongo" is the Bogeyman equivalent.
Among Marathi language speaking people (predominantly of Maharashtra), parents threaten the misbehaving children with a male ghost called "Bāgul Buā" (बागुल बुवा). In general, the "Buā" is supposed to kidnap children when they misbehave or do not sleep.
Assamese parents ask children to go to sleep, otherwise Kaan khowa will eat their ears.


Indonesia

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In Indonesia, Wewe Gombel is a ghost that kidnaps children mistreated by their parents. She keeps the children in her nest atop an Arenga pinnata palm tree and does not harm them. She takes care of the children as a grandmother until the parents become aware of what they have done. If the parents decide to mend their ways and truly want their children back, Wewe Gombel will return them unharmed. This ghost is named Wewe Gombel because it originated in an event that took place in Bukit Gombel, Semarang.

Iran

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In Persian culture, children who misbehave may be told by their parents to be afraid of lulu (لولو) who eats up the naughty children. Lulu is usually called lulu-khorkhore (bogeyman who eats everything up). The threat is generally used to make small children eat their meals.
Iraq's ancient folklore has the saalua, a half-witch half-demon ghoul that "is used by parents to scare naughty children". She is briefly mentioned in a tale of the 1001 Nights, and is known in some other Gulf countries as well.


Italy

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In Italy, "L'uomo nero" (meaning "the black man") is a demon that can appear as a black man or black ghost without legs, often used by adults for scaring their children when they don't want to sleep. In some parts of the country, it's known also as "babau".
Marabbecca is a malevolent water monster from the mythology of Sicily that lived in wells and reservoirs and was said to come up and drag children that played too close down into the water to drown.


Japan

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Namahage are demons that warn children not to be lazy or cry, during the Namahage Sedo Matsuri, or "Demon Mask Festival", when villagers don demon masks and pretend to be these spirits.

Korea

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Dokkaebi (도깨비) is understood as a monster that appears to get misbehaving children. Other variations include mangtae yeonggam (망태 영감) an old man (yeonggam) who carries a mesh sack (mangtae) to put his kidnapped children in. In some regions, mangtae yeonggam is replaced by mangtae halmeom (망태 할멈), an old woman with a mesh sack.

Lebanon
Children are told stories about Abu l Kees(ابو الكيس), meaning Father Sack (similar to Sack Man), who puts misbehaving children in his sack and takes them away.

Lithuania

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referred to as the Baubas, an evil spirit with long lean arms, wrinkly fingers and red eyes. He harasses people by pulling their hair or stifling them.

Macedonia

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Apart from babaroga, Macedonian people have a bogeyman called Strasilo (which means something like "frightener" because "strav" means fear/scare) which only comes out at night, hides under beds, in forests, caves, basements, etc. It is said to grab and eat children (usually bad ones).

Luxembourg
De béise Monni, literally 'the evil uncle' is the Luxembourgish equivalent of the Bogeyman. Parents threaten their naughty children, warning them of the béise Monni, who will come and take them away if they don't behave.

Malta

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Kaw Kaw or Gaw Gaw, was a grey, slimy creature that roamed the streets at night. It could smell a person's guilt and enter their homes, through cracks and fissures, by extending and contracting its snail-like body. Once it was inside their rooms, it would flash them a ghastly grin, with its huge, toothless mouth, scaring them witless.

Mexico

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There is the Robaniños ("kidnapper of kids"), a person with whom a child is warned about going out without supervision.

Myanmar
Children are threatened with Pashu Gaung Phyat, meaning Malayu Headhunter. In Burmese, Malays were called "Pashu", which may come from Bajau or Bugis. Even Peninsular Malaysia was called Pashu Peninsula. It is common knowledge that some ethnic groups in Eastern Malaysia, Iban and Dayak, were notorious headhunters. Although the Wa tribe of Burma was famous through to the 1970s as ferocious headhunters, it is a mystery why Burmese use the faraway Pashus as bogeymen.

Nepal

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In Nepali, a popular bogeyman character is the 'hau-guji'. Among the Newars, the "Gurumapa" is a mythological ape-like creature who was supposed to enjoy devouring children. Itum Bahal of inner Kathmandu and the Tinkhya open space in front of the Bhadrakali temple in the centre of Kathmandu are associated with the fable of Gurumapa.

Pakistan

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A bogeyman-like creature parents refer to make children behave is called Bhoot or Jin Baba, which mean ghost and Djinn respectively. In some places it is also known as "Kathu Ki maa".

Panama

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In Panama, children are warned that if they are naughty, La Tulivieja will come and get them. She was a spirit who was cursed by God for drowning her child, and transformed into a hideous monster with a pockmarked face, long and bristly hair, clawed hands, a cat's body and hooved feet. She was also cursed to forever look for her drowned child.

Philippines
Pugot (only in most Ilocano regions), Sipay, Mamu, or Mumu. In Kapampangan culture it is known as the Mánguang Anak or the Child-Snatcher.

Poland
Czarny Lud (Black Man or Black Apeman) is a monster that kidnaps badly behaving children and presumably eats them. It is referenced in a children's game of the same name, which involves one child being blindfolded, and other children trying to avoid being caught.

Roman Republic
The military successes of Hannibal Barca's Campaign on the Italian Peninsula during the Second Punic War had caused so much damage and distress to the Romans that mothers began to threaten their children with brutal tales of Hannibal and warnings of being taken away by Hannibal if they misbehaved, making him the Roman Bogeyman by definition.

Russia

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Children are warned that Babayka (or Baba Yaga) will come for them at night if they behave badly.

Saudi Arabia
Abu Shalawlaw (أبو شلولو) is a Bogeyman-like creature said by parents to come and eat children who are disobedient, e.g. by not going to sleep on time or not completing their homework.

Serbia

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Bauk is an animal-like mythical creature in Serbian mythology. Bauk is described as hiding in dark places, holes or abandoned houses, waiting to grab, carry away, and devour its victim; it can be scared away by light and noise. It has clumsy gait (bauljanje), and its onomatopoeia is bau.

Singapore

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The locals have a similar reference to the Bogeyman, typically told to young children as "Ah Bu Neh Neh", or in some cases, "Matah", catching them when they are guilty of naughty acts. Although "Matah" actually stands for "Mata-Mata" in Malay, which means a spy or spies, it is generally used by the locals as a nickname for the police.

Spain

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El ogro (the Spanish word for ogre) is a shapeless figure, sometimes a hairy monster, that hides in closets or under beds and eats children that misbehave when they are told to go to bed.
El Sacamantecas ("Fat extractor" in Spanish) is a kind of bogeyman or criminal characterized by killing for human fat and has been used to scare children into behaving.


South Africa

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The Tokoloshe. At its least harmful a tokoloshe can be used to scare children, but its power extends to causing illness or even the death of the victim.

Sri Lanka

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Among the Sinhalese people, the Gonibilla (Sinhala, translates roughly to 'sack-kidnapper') is a figure that is described as carrying away unruly children in a sack, day or night.

Sweden

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In Sweden, there is no counterpart to the Bogeyman. The common reference to Monstret under sängen, which essentially means "the monster under the bed", refers to children's own excuses for not being able to go to sleep. Näcken and Brunnsgubben were previously used to scare children away from wells and dangerous water.

Switzerland
In Switzerland, the Bogeyman is called Böllima or Böögg (pron.ˈbøk) and has an important role in the springtime ceremonies. The figure is the symbol of winter and death, so in the Sechseläuten ceremony in the City of Zürich, a figure of the Böögg is burnt. In Southern Switzerland, people have the same traditions as in Italy.

Taiwan
Among Minnan Taiwanese, Grandmother Tiger (虎姑婆 / Hóo-koo-pô) is a figure used to scare disobedient children.

Trinidad and Tobago

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Most Trinbagonians (mostly in the rural demographic) use folklore to scare disobedient children. The most common word that is used is Jumbie. Some "jumbies" are the Soucouyant, Lagahoo, La Diabless, Papa Bois, etc. "Bogeyman" is also used in the same context as its origin but by mostly urbanised citizens, and it can also can be called "The Babooman".

Turkey

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Gulyabani is a gigantic, strange creature that frightens children and adults alike.

Ukraine
Babay is a monster who is believed to punish naughty children.

United Arab Emirates

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Children were scared with (Om Al- Khadar wa Alleef) (أم الخضر واللّيف) which means (Mother of green and leef "bark"), which takes the appearance of a tall woman with very long hair that flows in the wind. This name is used both in the UAE and in some neighboring countries like Bahrain. This mythical creature is usually used by parents to make their children stay inside after sunset and go to sleep (scaring them with her). The name was inspired by the Palm tree because of the scary sounds that come out of it when the wind blows, and also because it's high and its leaves are so long that it resembles a woman.

United States

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The Jersey Devil, which originated in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, is believed by many to be an old time Boogeyman created by residents to scare off travelers from coming into the area. Bloody Bones, also known as Rawhead or Tommy Rawhead, is a boogeyman of the U.S. South. Bloody Bones tales originated in Britain. The Bogeyman may be called "Boogerman" or "Boogermonster" in rural areas of the American South ("booger" being the American English equivalent of the British English "bogey"), and was most often used to keep young children from playing outside past dark, or wandering off in the forest. During the Corn Festival, young Cherokee males wearing caricature masks would make fun of politicians, frighten children into being good, and moreover shake their masks at young women and chase them around. Male participants in this Booger Dance were referred to as the Booger Man. In some Midwestern states of the United States, the boogeyman scratches at the window. In the Pacific Northwest, he may manifest in "green fog". In other places, he hides or appears from under the bed or in the closet and tickles children when they go to sleep at night, while in others, he is a tall figure in a black hooded cloak who puts children in a sack. It is said that a wart can be transmitted to someone by the boogeyman.

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The Nalusa Falaya (long black being) of Choctaw mythology.
Cipelahq (or Chebelakw) is a dangerous bird spirit of Wabanaki folklore, used in stories told to scare children into obeying their parents. Chebelakw has an unearthly cry and resembles a large diving owl, with only its head and talons visible. Similar monsters called Stinkini and Big Owl were found in Seminole and Apache mythologies, respectively.


Vietnam

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"Ông Ba Bị" or "ông Kẹ" means Bogeyman in Vietnamese.

Zimbabwe

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"Tokolosh" means short bogeyman in Shona.

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Since nobody has expressed any interest in a RiffTown Movie this year I decided to just post some random youtube movies so anyone that changes their mind can have a movie to Riff on.

These videos are taken from our posted topics here in GhostTown.
Some of them are low quality but there are quite a few that are good quality.


Scare Zone | Full Horror Movie
Kings of Horror
High Quality

Watch Night of the Demons Watch Movies Online Free
Cary Micaela
Poor Cropping

Lady in White 1988) DVDRip AC3 XviD DeaDy
dancingqueen1978
Good Quality

Under Wraps FULL 480p SD quality!
Also Max Pacheco
Good Quality

Hellions full movie
Fiesta Ford
Misted Screen - Fair Quality

FUN SIZE HORROR SHORTS

Prey
Fun Size Horror
High Quality

Pillow Fright
Fun Size Horror
High Quality

Playing Dead
Fun Size Horror
High Quality

SLEEPER
Fun Size Horror
High Quality

I Hate Mondays
Fun Size Horror
High Quality

Conventional
Fun Size Horror
High Quality

Pinned
Fun Size Horror
High Quality

All Hallows Eve 2 2015 HDRip - Full Movie (ENG SUBTITLES)
Tcrrtheguy
Great Quality but in English (NO Subtitles)

Halloween with the New Addams Family 1977 HQ
LEE PETE
Good Quality

The Midnight Hour full movie [1985]
Anthony Smith
Good Quality

All Hallows Eve 2013 1080p - Full Movie (ENG SUBTITLES)
Tcrrtheguy
Good Quality but in English (No Subtitles)

The Haunted Pumpkin Of Sleepy Hollow (2003)
Slaughter Player
Cartoon - Great Quality

Dark Night Of The Scarecrow Full Movie 1981 Horror
A Touch Of Evil
Good Quality

All Hallows Eve October 30th 2015
October 30th
Good Quality w/Arabic Subtitles

Jack-O (1995) - w/Audio Commentary
Nick Meece
Good Quality but the Commentary is boring

Hell Fire | Full Horror Movie
Kings of Horror
High Quality

Donnie Darko DIRECTORS CUT 2001
Kitty Cavazos
High Quality but Cropped

Amazing Stories: "Ghost Train" (1985)
Daily Motion Great Quality

Watch Halloweentown Online Watch Movies Online Free
Lashaun Perry
Low Quality with speed adjustment needed
Use the youtube video controls to adjust speed down


Skeleton Farm's Halloween Horrorshow
From Vimeo
High Quality

Hollowgate (1987)
horrorfan baby
A Horror-Addicts Upload
High Quality


Trick or Treats (1982)
horrorfanbaby4
Good Quality

Mostly Ghostly – Family, Fantasy, Horror movie
Bugatec
Good Quality

Mostly Ghostly Have You Met My Ghoulfriend 2014 Family
Dorsey Mindi
Fair Quality with over-crop

Ginger Snaps full movie
Rocky13Ray
Good Quality

Night of the Demons (1987)
horrorchannelreturn
Great Quality

Random Kings of Horror
and
Popcorn Flix movies

HIGH Quality
But not necessarily Halloween Themed


I will post and play these videos all day Halloween.
While I will show as being there, I may not respond right away
(Rifftown is no fun all by yourself)
I will certainly be checking in during the day, feel free to Riff without me.
If I see activity - I will join in.


All videos in RiffTown can be voted up or down but you must be signed in to do so.
If you do sign in, sign in under your GhostTown or Alien Soup screenname so we know who is there.
If you save the Together Tube Cookies you will not have to sign in if you return another day.


Hope You Join in on the Riffing Fun!
 
Right now, Halloween seems like a waste of time, since I've grown too old to trick-or-treat. I trick-or-treated well into college. It's costumes and free candy, after all.

Trick-or-treating actually got better as I got older, because by then I had figured out which neighborhoods handed out the best candy, which stayed open later, and of course, the proper time to go. If you head out right when most of the kids are heading home, everyone at the door wants to get rid of their candy and they'll just split the bag between everyone at the door.

Good times, man. Good times.
 
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