Wednesday, October 22, 2014

LAST MINUTE COSTUME IDEAS

As our favorite night of the year quickly approaches, you may still be asking yourself, "What on EARTH should I be for Halloween?" The process of obtaining a costume can be as simple as walking into Party City/Spirit Halloween/Walmart, browsing the advertised costumes, and finding your size in the one that stands out above the rest. Easy enough, right? The difficult part is running the risk of spotting ten people wearing the very same costume. What a drag! Fortunately, there are plenty of badass movie characters you can be for the spooky holiday we look forward to the most.

1. Snake Plissken, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK [1981]:



Let's face it, Kurt Russell always looks awesome, and you can, too. You only have to decide what suits you better: sporting a brown leather jacket, or showing off your guns in a black tank.

2. Ike and Addley, MOTHER'S DAY [1980]:



Due to the fact that MOTHER'S DAY is a lesser-known gem, there are some people who will tilt their heads and scratch them when you and your buddy show up dressed like inbred freaks with weird headgear. You'll still have fun, I promise.

3. Frankenstein, DEATH RACE 2000 [1975]:



Between his helmet and the cape, Roger Corman's Frankenstein is such an enigmatic, likable hero. As long as you don't get behind the wheel intending to speed and run people over, you simply cannot fail by imitating him.

4. Edward Davis "Ed" Wood, Jr, ED WOOD [1994]:



In the Tim Burton classic, Johnny Depp's portrayal of Ed Wood with a curly blonde wig and a dark mustache is flawless. Dressing the part would not only be honoring an admirable, low-budget movie director, but it'd be fun.

5. Matt Cordell, MANIAC COP [1988]:



The whole "cop" thing can seem kind of played out, but it's not often you see a maniac cop running wild in the streets on Halloween night. Up the ante by pairing a uniform with crazy costume makeup.

6. Brown Knight, MURDER PARTY [2007]:



The familiar knight you see gracing a Medieval Times promotion is stunning, but armor can be expensive. With a bit of time and effort, you can design your own. All it takes is cardboard, scissors, and duct tape to look like a chivalrous soldier.

7. Post-mortem Elizabeth, FRANKENHOOKER [1990]:



If you've been eager to dye your hair purple and show off some skin, a golden opportunity in the shape of a monster prostitute is here, presenting itself. Just be sure to stay off street corners.

8. Samara, THE RING [2002]:



Twelve years ago, America's take on RINGU brought us Samara, the menacing little girl who will crawl out of your television set to devour your soul. You can inflict a lot of psychological damage upon your friends with a little makeup and a white gown. Voila.

9. Old Lady Hackmore, ERNEST SCARED STUPID [1991]:



Old Lady Hackmore stands out as one of the coolest hermits on film. She is out-of-her brain, and she's fearless enough to put her insanity on display. An untamed mane, steampunk goggles, and layers of ratty brown clothes will help you achieve her crazy appearance. 


10. Ilsa, ILSA, SHE WOLF OF THE SS [1975]:



Why wouldn't you want to be the most fearsome woman on the planet? While I wouldn't suggest wearing the antisemitic uniform to hand out candy to innocent children, you should be safe donning it at a party surrounded by close friends.

Now that you've got a list of costumes to consider, there is no excuse for dodging festivities on the 31st. It's good to get out of the house once in awhile. Please remember to be confident, enjoy yourself, and stay safe! 

Sunday, October 19, 2014

STRYCHNINE STORY TIME: A WARM WELCOME

[Art by @JohnWright0715] 

Hey, everyone. Although I believe in the power of mystery, I'd like to reveal a little about myself as a means of introducing THE KILLING JAR. My name is Vincenza, and I am 22 years old. I've been watching horror movies from the time I was born, but it wasn't until last year that I decided I'd like to turn my love into more of a lifestyle. After attending my first horror convention, I learned the beauty of being surrounded by people beaming with the same kind of undying passion that burns inside of me. Shortly after the convention, I was recruited to write for a horror movie review site. When the site shut down, I immediately thought about starting something of my own. So, here we are...

I have all of my old reviews posted from the site I previously wrote for, and I will continue adding to the blog as often as I can. I keep relatively busy between work and the random adventures I create for myself. I also travel and move often, usually between NY and LA. In short, as much as I enjoy connecting with fellow horror fiends online, I really love exploring the world and seeing what it has to offer. I take life as it comes, you know? I'll keep the site running on self-discipline and aim to post a few times per week.

Anyway, I'm happy to have a platform to write about the stuff that keeps the breath in my lungs, and I would be thrilled to have some of you contribute, as well. I'm open to anything, really; if you're psyched on a movie, a haunted spot, UFO footage, etc., you can talk about it here! Please feel free to contact me anytime, and we'll figure something out.

From the bottom of my heart, I'd like to thank you for visiting. Now, let's get WEIRD.

Xoxo,

Vincenza

P.S. Discussing spooky/surf/goth/metal music on occasion is inevitable.