The Halloween Five

Satan In Disguise -
Michael Shinafelt

"Happy, Happy Halloween, Halloween, Halloween. Happy, Happy Halloween, Silver Shamrock!"

Halloween III: Season of the Witch is a quite underrated movie. John Carpenter and Debra Hill were approached by Universal to do a third Halloween film after the studio picked up the sequel to the indie smash Halloween.

Their plan? To do a franchise under the Halloween banner every year, with a different theme. Turns out the public demanded and only had love for Michael Myers. Gotta give those two credit though for trying to be innovative and fun!

Which brings me to the theme of this year's Season of the Witch post. I am going to give you five of my favorite fright films, in no particular order, with the exception of number one. I bet you already know what that is...

Halloween
Always Number 1!

1) Halloween - This is my one and only when it comes to sheer horror. I can not count how many times I have seen it and how much I love it! It was the first horror film my Father took me to, and it scared the shit out of me. It is still under my skin to this day, even though I know what's coming. Jamie Lee Curtis rules!

2) Excision - Teen angst, domineering mothers, delusional aspirations of being a world class surgeon.
This psychological gore fest is a brilliant feature debut from Director/Writer Richard Bates, Jr. It also features two great performances from AnnaLynne McCord and Traci Lords.

3) Psycho - Like mother like daughter. Janet Leigh shocked the world of cinema by appearing in Alfred Hithcock's then explicit and never seen nothing like it thriller Psycho. Janet as you may or may not know was the mother of future Scream Queen and Halloween star, Jamie Lee Curtis. This movie still holds up today as a master class in film making and what an intelligent slasher film could and should be.

4) The Hunger - was anything sexier than Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie slashing their prey's throats with an ankh and drinking their blood at the height of orgasm? Well, one more thing in this awesome vampire flick was, the sex scene between Deneuve turning Susan Sarandon into her latest immortal fling. Tony Scott's best.

5) Cat People - No, not the original in 1942. That one I never saw the big deal about. But the re-imagining of it by auteur Paul Schrader. While the film is more of an erotic fantasy. It is peppered with enough horror elements and violence to really set it above the cut. With Malcom McDowell at his freaky best and Nastassja Kinski doing what she does best...meow, sex kitten.

While these are not the only Holiday Flicks I love, they are the cream of the crop to me. With John Carpenter's Halloween always remaining #1 in my blackened heart.

Happy Halloween! Until next year...

Follow me on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt    

Traci Lords Is A Punk Rocker

Look! It's Traci Lords

Hey readers guess who stopped by recently? That's correct peeps, friend and favorite on "Entertain Me" Ms. Traci Lords is in the house!

The Ramones fan stopped by to discuss her latest project The Ramones Go To Heaven on FOD, that's Funny or Die for the uninitiated. There are also several other things that she is up to, or that crossed her mind during the course of our one on one that just might surprise you, or perhaps not.

When the two of us get together it's anything but boring...

Shall we get this party started with a big Gabba, Gabba, Hey?! Yep, I thought so, here she is the girl with the most cake, Traci Lords!

TL: Oh my God Honey, I'm sorry I was late.

MS: That's OK sometimes people space out, I know I do. (laughs)

TL: Yeah, I don't know if it's old age, distraction, or what it is (laughs)

MS: So what have you been up to besides your recent video on Funny or Die? 

TL: What have I been up to besides the video? I am in the process of writing my next book. 

MS: Dish. What's it called? What's it going to be about?

TL: Um, I don't have a title yet. I'm not going to tell you anything about it, it will be a surprise. (laughs) I want to keep it under my hat for a moment.

MS: Well that's most likely one of the reasons you are distracted. When you write, time does not exist.

TL: You can appreciate that. Once you sit in that chair, I don't think a lot of people really understand that writing is really a physical act. You have to put your ass in the chair and write.

MS: And you let your brain flow, doesn't it surprise you what pops out on the written page?

TL: Oh yeah, and sometime it surprises me the way I feel about things. I mean, I know that I feel that way about them, but then I read back what I've written and I'm like, wow, that's kind of intense. 

The Ramones Go To Heaven

MS: So my dear how did The Ramones Go To Heaven video for Funny or Die with Dave Foley come about?

TL: Actually it came directly from Funny or Die - and I wondered, because I had Tweeted about Tommy Ramones death a little bit, when I heard that he had passed away it was a moment like: Wow! they are all gone. There was that time I thought it was so strange that they are all not on this earth. It made me think about life. That as you carry on with it, if you are lucky enough to, that you see people go before you, people that you know. I don't know if you have ever lost somebody that you are close to, somebody that you know? It makes you think about your own mortality. 

MS: Oh Yes.

TL: Maybe it's why it's that uh, huh moment. It made me think of the Limelight and how The Ramones were always there. More than anything I think it marked a certain time in my life, and that was a really fun time, but life goes on and things change and now it's completely different. I don't long for the past, but I love the memories. 

MS: I get it, I don't long for my past either, trust me not in a million years, but you do have those memories that are always going to be good. The Ramones were a good memory for a lot of people.

TL: Did you know I sang back-up on their song Somebody To Love? 

MS: No I didn't, was that the cover of the Jefferson Airplane song? 

TL: Yes, that's the one!

MS: What was your first exposure to The Ramones? 

TL: My first exposure to them was probably, oh, the late 70's.  

MS: Was it  Rock N Roll High School ?

TL: It was Rock N Roll High School - I had never heard anything like it before and I was like: What is that?! We have this whole history together, Gary Kurfirst who was their first manager and is no longer on this planet signed me to do my first album 1,000 Fires, I was influenced by the artists he represented like The Ramones &  Debbie Harry and then to go into this world of dance music...

My Name Is Traci, I'll Be Your Mistress Tonight

MS: Your dance music was always edgy it was not typical.

TL: And I can hear it in my first single from the album, Control it was a heavy metal riff that inspired that song. It wasn't fluffy or bubblegum at all.

MS: That's why I gravitated toward your dance album, I like my music edgy.

TL: Oh thank you honey.

MS: By the way, I  think your work in the film Excision was as good as anything I have ever seen nominated for an Oscar.

TL: I appreciate that. I have to tell you I am very proud of that film. In my opinion that is some of the best work I have ever done. That and my stuff on the Profiler was really good. It's such a shame that the stuff that I have done that is really good, nobody's seen. (laughs)

MS: Although I told you this a while ago I was rehearsing a play at the time, I came home and turned on the TV and Profiler was airing. I saw this great actress in a guest starring role and I could not place her, yet she was familiar, you did have a black wig on, then it registered it was you!

TL: You were like, ah ha! (laughs)

MS: Name your favorite Ramones song.

TL: I don't know if I have a favorite.

MS: That's fair.

TL: Although I don't know that I have a favorite Ramones song, but the theme song I had for my time in the 1980's was I Wanna Be Sedated.

MS: I'm partial to Sheena is a Punk Rocker.

TL: I love that one too. I mean who didn't want to be Sheena?!

MS: I know I did! (laughs)

TL: I did too! (laughs) I would have fought you for it! (laughs)

Cry-Baby/Johnny Ramone Tribute Screening
L-R: Joe Dallesandro, Traci Lords, John Waters, Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake

MS: Let me throw a quote at you that I would like some clarity on, when the Cry - Baby reunion/Johnny Ramone Tribute screening came up at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery this quote was attributed to you about the incarcerated actress Amy Locane who was in the film: "Amy Locane, the female lead, was 17 -- she wanted to get out of high school. Now she's in prison." This seems out of character for you, was it taken out of context?

TL: You know it's funny. The way it came across in print I was not happy with,  I truly wasn't trying to be insulting to Amy Locane - what happened with her could have happened with anybody. Thank God that has not been my journey in life. I think where the quote came from is I said everyone on the set was trying to escape from something. She was only seventeen when she did that movie and she did a fantastic job! I was not trying to disrespect her.

MS: I didn't think you were, but I wanted to give you the chance to clarify your intentions for those who might have. 

TL: Oh good, when I read it it made me cringe because I though it made me come off a little bitchy. 

MS: Well since you had a certain stigma attached to you at the time...

TL: Yeah, there is that stigma, I can't believe how much I have pulled off! Hollywood has been an amazing playground for me, I've gotten to do some amazing things. I am amazed and grateful for every opportunity I have had. Wow! What a ride! I'm just now moving into the next phase of my career and my life.  I'm moving into producing & directing. I will have the opportunity to act or not act in my projects, to make music for them or not, it's a whole new world for me and I am excited about being a female filmmaker! The possibilities are absolutely endless, I am happy about that.

MS: So shall we call it Traci, what number are we at? 3.0 I am guessing?

TL: (laughs) I think that's where I am, it might be more.

MS: What is the greatest role you have ever played?

TL: It's not one that's been filmed. I have this amazing child, my favorite role is being a Mom. It's the most juicy, satisfying character I have ever played! 

Go "Punk" with Traci at:
https://www.facebook.com/tracilords
https://twitter.com/thetracilords
http://www.tracilords.com/ 

The Horror: Why Traci Lords Avoids Mirrors

Traci Lords

Actress Traci Lords is no stranger to horror films, having appeared in all sorts of mayhem related to the horror genre, I mean who could forget her as Racquel "The Vampire Bitch" (Seriously?! Has anyone ever heard of a non-vampire bitch?) in " Blade".

Traci as "Phyllis" in "Excision"

Not to mention her Award Winning role as Mom "Phyllis" to Annalynne McCord's sociopath daughter "Pauline" in one of my favorite psychologically disturbing films of all time Richard Bates Jr's critically acclaimed "Excision" - I highly recommend this one.

She recently wrapped "Devil May Call" about a sadistic killer getting to a girl through a crisis hotline -

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! Sadistic killers suck!

Traci has admitted to me in the past that horror movies really scare her even though she knows it isn't real and has acted in them - Tis' the season, so I checked in with one of my favorite people to find out what scares her the most when filming one.

Traci as Racquel in "Blade"

Here is what she had to say:

"My bloody reflection! I avoid all mirrors if I have cuts, blood..other injuries. Even though I KNOW it's special effects...it's a weird head trip! It makes me feel like leaving set to seek medical assistance"

Oh, Traci you look beautiful even in blood - 27 more days until Halloween...!

Bloody Traci, say that three times and see what happens....at:

Her Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/tracilords &

Her Webiste: http://www.tracilords.com/

The Horror: Richard Bates, Jr. "Excision"

Ever so often a film comes along that catches this writer by surprise, such is the case with "Excision" which I caught at Screamfest in Los Angeles, CA.

"Excision" is one of the most disturbing, yet honest horror films about misunderstood adolescence to come along in quite some time, with two great leading performances by Annalynne McCord as "Pauline" and Traci Lords as her Mother "Phyllis".

With an ending that leaves you speechless. Here to discuss "Excision" is the man behind the vision Richard "Ricky" Bates, Jr.

MS: After seeing "Excision" I really wanted to speak with you, I was not expecting what I saw, I was really blown away by it. The trailers lead you to believe it is more of a gore fest than it actually is, it's  actually a very intelligent movie.

RB: Anchor Bay who bought the movie said that selling it as a horror film was the only way to market it. I have not had any input in marketing it, other than the poster I did with Annalynne where she looks sort of like a Queen, Anchor Bay deemed to artsy for the DVD cover.

MS: Well the movie isn't exactly not horror, but the horror element is more psychological/disturbing than anything.

RB: Honestly 78% of my film influences in the movie are horror filmmakers.

Ricky (far right) and the cast of "Excision"

MS: One of the things that is fascinating about the film is Annalynne's character "Pauline" comes off as a misunderstood teenager in the beginning, she does not come off vile right away like she does as the story progresses. Traci's character comes off like a total bitch in the beginning and is someone you gain sympathy for as the story progresses.

RB: Yes, it really interesting watching this movie with parents and their children, it's like before you have children and see a Mom yelling at her kids and you think "God what a bitch". Then you have kids and you see a Mom yelling at her kids and you think "What did that little shit do"?

MS: I love the way you did not make "Pauline" an outright evil character.

RB: What I tried to do was balance her, I didn't want her to be too bad. I pulled her back a little bit, because I didn't want it to be a "F#$k You Mom" movie. I tried to make her confused about it all. Hopefully that translates.

MS: It did for me, and what's great about the ending is you do see it coming at some point, but it still has a strong impact.

RB: Yeah, it's not like there is a twist ending (laughs) it was the only way for me that the movie could end. It's funny when I made the short, the people who saw it were excited about the feature, they were like "I can't wait to see it, finally we get to see what happens after the garage scene". I'm thinking: "you are going to be sorely disappointed". (laughs) That's it, that's the end of the movie.

MS: In my opinion the ending was perfect.

Good Times

RB: Truly I would not know what to do past that, for me that's the end of the story. Traci and Annalynne really brought it that day. I think it helped that we shot that scene near the end of the shoot and they were so on the verge of killing me at that point. (laughs)

MS: Another interesting thing about "Excision" is how you cast everybody against type. For example I never thought Annalynne was a bad actress, but I did not know she could deliver the kind of performance she did as "Pauline".

RB: Yes, it's funny you should say that, so I told my Mom there was this actress, Annalynne McCord who wants to be in the movie, she said "The girl from 90210? Let me watch it and tell you what I think". she calls me the next day from West Virginia and says "Now honey I just don't know if she can pull it off". But I had seen interviews with Annalynne and spoke with her and knew she could do it, my goal was to cast against type, take a chance on actors since they were taking a chance on me. Plus I'm a young director and wanted to make a ballsy a statement "they're actors, it's not their job to be one type". It was a crazy experience dude shooting this thing, you have no idea.(laughs)

MS: Oh, I think I might. (laughs)

Ricky & "Excision"

RB: Dude, you know what I didn't tell you? Do you remember the cotillion scene when Annalynne sits next to that girl with the black glasses?

MS: Yes.

RB: That girl with the black glasses is the decoy girl on "To Catch A Predator". She is actually 28 years old and looks like she is 16! Annalynne and I were on her getting her autograph and grilling her about the show. She was the only one we were star struck over.

MS: That's funny! What inspired you to write "Excision"?

RB: I tried to make the most personal movie I could about growing up. When I was in the eighth grade I saw this movie called "Happiness" that inspired what I wanted people seeing "Excision" to experience as many extreme reactions as possible while watching it. Half of this movie is super personal kind of stuff about growing up in Virginia, me wanting to be a filmmaker and "Pauline" wanting to be a surgeon. I actually did have to go to cotillion with a cold sore on my face like "Pauline" did too, that was straight out of my life, but she does what I wanted to do, I wanted to kiss the chick, like she did to the guy with a cold sore on my mouth. This whole movie is very therapeutic for me. (laughs)

MS: Well Ricky you have a lot to live up to, what are your plans for a follow-up?

RB: I'm shooting it in March and right now it's called "The South Will Rise Again". It's a horror comedy , it's about a kid who moves to the big city and then has to move back home to the house he grew up in and live in his parents basement, but the house is now haunted. So, he, the punk rock chick from the bar and all the town weirdos get together and try to solve this mystery, it's like the "Goonies" on crack. (laughs)

Got something you want "excised"? Go to: http://excisionmovie.com/

Checking In With: Traci Lords

Traci Lords is back! After taking some “Mommy Time“, the notorious TL hit the dance floors last year with her smash single “Last Drag”.

Well Traci has more things coming your way … we checked in with each other this week via phone.

Time to get your chat on with Traci Lords.

MS: How’s everything going with you?

TL: Everything is wild! I got off a plane last night around midnight, and now I am driving to Santa Monica, CA. I was in North Carolina at this insane Monster Mash convention. It was with all kinds of wild people, like Linda Blair…all of these horror people. Who would have thought that the fans in North Carolina would be some of the dirtiest MotherF#%kers on the planet!
(both laugh)

MS: That’s Hilarious!

TL: It’s the middle of the Bible Belt! I’m like wow! I told this last night to my husband and he’s like: “Well of course it‘s the Bible Belt”! (laughs) I saw some really interesting and shocking things…it was like “Oh my God, my eyes”!

MS: So, how your trip to Sundance with the horror movie you star in “Excision”?

TL: Absolutely amazing! All kinds of things happened, I swear I’m going to write a book one day, like “Tales From The Trenches” or something…about the stuff that happens behind the scenes when you are doing it all. Things like getting stuck in a blizzard and Me, my Manager & my Publicist having to dig our car out. I was wearing faux fur and I looked like a Russian Mobsters wife or something. (laughs) There was a blizzard and we couldn’t get our car up the hill, so we had to hike down the side of the mountain, it was seriously action packed! (laughs)

MS: La Femme‘s Nakita ! (laughs)…how was the screening of “Excision”?

TL: One of my favorite moments, and it has nothing to do with me. When John Waters comes on the screen and he doesn’t do anything, he just raises one eyebrow and the whole place went wild! He wasn’t there because he had a speaking engagement someplace else. I called him and I told him “People really miss you in independent films”. I told him about the reaction and the whole thing, he was really pleased. This was the little movie that shouldn’t have and I was really proud of what we all did.

MS: I heard that people walked out because they found it disgusting.

TL: That didn’t happen at the screening I was at, but it did happen at the press screening. A friend of mine in the press, a French Man, told me about 1/3 of the audience disappeared in the beginning because they could not handle the horror. What’s really horrifying to me about “Excision” is it could happen, the truth of the film is what’s really terrifying.

MS: The truth is a terrifying thing on many levels.

TL: Every time I see it, I’ve seen it now 4 or 5 times. Every time my eyes well up, it’s just that powerful.

MS: Spill about your gig this Friday, March 30th - The Miss Hooker Pageant at The Dragonfly in Hollywood, CA.

TL: It’s me Dave Navarro & Alexis Arquette judging. I love Lexi and I love Dave, who I haven’t seen in years, so it’s going to be a good time!

MS: The other option I had for tomorrow night was an art opening, I’m weird about those, it’s too much of a crap shoot.

TL: Yeah, it can be really painful.

MS: When this came up I said to a friend: “What does it say about me that I would rather go see “The Miss Hooker Pageant” than go to an art opening?

TL: I want to warn you I am driving through Santa Monica, CA right now and I might lose you.

MS: As I was saying… it says, I want to have a fun time!

TL: Yes, exactly! You know there is going to have to be latex and whips involved! With Lexi, Dave Navarro & Me, C’mon ! I know I am wearing my latex corset.

MS: I remember when they used to hold Club F#$k at The Dragonfly on occasion - I used to think they staged the sex stuff until one night I saw, to put I politely, a full figured woman in a tight bondage outfit being whipped, who was grunting like a pig, that guy was really hitting her hard! I was surprised they were doing that.

TL: I’m surprised she liked it.

MS: She must have or she would not have kept participating.

TL: Ya know Michael, I’m telling you human nature, the freakiness of people, it’s just so fascinating.

MS: I agree with you.

TL: Most of the time I’m like “Wow, did that just that happen”?

MS: We are so complex, aren’t we?

TL: Yes, here I am the token ex-porn star in the room and I am like the most normal, sane person in it. 20 years ago John Waters said to me: “One of the great things about your past, is you will never ever have to do another bad thing in your life, people will just assume you are a bad ass and you can just relax”. I didn’t understand it then, but now I totally get it.

MS: You took some "Mommy Time" for a bit which is so cool.

TL: I've come out of the "Mommy Cage" (laughs) my son is 4 1/2 now, oh honey he knows everything. the quote of the week, they were talking about this in preschool, they asked, what do your parents do for a living? He said" My Daddy walks in high places, My Mommy walks in high heels". My husband is an iron worker, that's the information he has been able to process, it's pretty extraordinary.

If you live in Los Angeles, CA check Traci out tomorrow night, she will be judging....The Miss Hooker Pageant at The Dragonfly.

www.tracilords.com