Monster Men Ep. 40: The White Lady of Union Cemetery

The Monster Men go in search of The White Lady of Union Cemetery! Just in time for the release of Hunter Shea's new ghostly novel, Sinister Entity, we pay a visit to the haunted hub of the Nutmeg State.

Union Cemetery in Easton is considered one of the most active paranormal locations in the Connecticut. It’s also home to one of the most famous ghosts in New England, the legendary White Lady ghost, who is said to roam the grounds and the surrounding roads including Route 59 and 111. There are also reports of mysterious red eyes being spotted by visitors and passersby. 

The cemetery was made famous by Ed and Lorianne Warren, Connecticut's most well-known ghost hunters. They claim to actually have a video of the White Lady, but you have to pay to attend on of their events to see it. Now that Ed has passed away and Lorianne is consulting on shows like Paranormal State, I'm not sure if you can still get a chance to see the video.

On this episode of the Monster Men video podcast, Hunter and I, along with our buddy Anthony, visit this haunted hotspot.  We explore the cemetery, share a few stories and even try a some EVP sessions to see if we could pick up a the voice of a spirit or two. I also share a photo I took there around 1997 or 1998 that reveals a ghostly image in a window of the house by the cemetery. 

I have to say, I did not expect to get anything from the digital recordings we made, and when my partner informed me that we had caught an interesting sound on the tape after one of our questions directed specifically to the White Lady, I was shocked. Could it be an EVP with the voice of the most infamous ghost in Connecticut? Check it out and let me know what you think.

And a quick word of advice to our fellow ghost hunters and legend trippers, don’t go to the Union Cemetery at night. It’s illegal and you will be arrested or fined. If you do visit, during the day, please respect the property and the graves.

 

The Monster Men video podcast is a lighthearted chat about dark matters. We talk about all things horror and paranormal with our own brand of graveyard humor. Horror movie and book reviews, paranormal TV, ghost stories, UFOs, urban legends and more. 

Find more episodes of Monster Men here on my blog, on our YouTube channel: Monstermen13 or at horror author Hunter Shea's web site. You can also join us on our Facebook page.

Review: Scary Movie V is a Surprise Hit

The term "don’t judge a book by it’s cover" has never been more applicable that in the case of Scary Movie V. The franchise that started out as an amusing, farcical romp with Anna Faris had worn out it’s welcome after a couple of lame sequels. Once it was announced that part five was on the way, the movie going public collectively rolled their eyes.  By the time we learned that Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan would be making an appearance, the nails might as well have been driven into the coffin lid.

Imagine my surprise when I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of the movie from a friend in the media. I popped in the DVD expecting the worst, and I am delighted to report that I was pleasantly surprised. Scary Movie V is the funniest horror comedy movie I have ever seen.

Let me say that again. Scary Movie V is the funniest horror comedy movie I have ever seen. 

And I am a grizzled veteran when it comes to both horror and comedy movies. This is like Mario Batali saying these are the best meatballs he’s ever had. 

Here’s the synopsis:

A couple begin to experience some unusual activity after bringing their newborn son home from the hospital. With the help of home-surveillance cameras and a team of experts, they learn they're being stalked by a nefarious demon. (IMDB)

I’ll get to Lohan and Sheen in a minute. The real star of the show is High School Musical alum, Ashley Tisdale, who proves she is not just another pretty face. She is the key to the movie because she is able to pick-up the comedy baton from Anna Faris and inject some real humor into this installment. Her comedy timing is reminiscent of a young Lucille Ball.  The rest of the cast is stellar, but this is a star-making role for Tisdale.

As for Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen, they open the movie in a scene that is worth the price of admission alone. I don’t want to spoil it, so I’ll just say that it was great to see them able to have a sense of humor about their infamous reputations.

The writing is also spot on. Whether they are poking fun at recent horror films like, Mama, Paranormal Activity and The Devil Inside or paying loving tribute to classics like The Exorcist and The Amityville Horror, Scary Movie V does not just rely on foul language and fart jokes to elicit cheap laughs aimed at an adolescent audience. 

So put those preconceived notions aside and reserved your tickets to Scary Movie V.  And remember, if you read a movie review on April first, it just may be an April Fool's joke. 

So there you have it. This whole article is a joke. I have not seen this movie and I expect the worst from Scary Movie V. Happy April Fool's Day! Go see Evil Dead.

See you at the snack bar. If you get there first, order me a large popcorn.

Video Store Horror: We are Generation VHS!

Monster Men Episode 39

If you grew up prowling the aisles of the local video store's horror section or glued to late night fright fests on cable TV, you will love this episode. On this episode of The Monster Men video podcast, we discuss the movies of the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.  

 
 
















If you wanted to find the Monster Men, back when we were still just Monster Boys, the best place to look would be in the horror section of the local video store. With the advent of VHS and cable TV, a whole new world of horror was suddenly accessible and guys like us, and we dove in headfirst. We rented anything and everything we could get our hands on.

Whether is was one of the classic "gore-fests" like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Maniac or Pieces or the campy fun of the Puppet Master or The Ghoulies, the video store offered an endless amount of choices to quench your thirst for terror, gore and shlock.

We'll discuss cult classics like Basket Case, I Spit on Your Grave, Re-Animator, From Beyond, Last House on the Left, C.H.U.D., Mother's Day and Motel Hell. Remember movies like Bloodsucking Freaks, Blood Feast, The Hills Have Eyes and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer? Or how about Italian films like Suspiria, Zombie and The Gates of Hell? All that and more!

The Monster Men video podcast is a lighthearted chat about dark topics. We talk about all things horror and paranormal with our own brand of graveyard humor. Find more episodes of Monster Men here on our YouTube channel: Monstermen13 or at horror author Hunter Shea's web site. You can also join us on our Facebook page.

 

Ghost Hunters Rolls On - Monster Men Ep. 38

For years, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson were the faces of Ghost Hunters, but the new season of this ground breaking paranormal investigation series on Syfy has a new look. Grant, one of the shows founders and fan favorites, has left the show.  Now, the hunt continues but with a new look and feel. Slight changes to the format and style of the show coupled with a few new faces has given new life to this show about hunting the spirits of the dead.

On this episode of the Monster Men video podcast, we talk about the new look Ghost Hunters and what they think of the changes to one of our favorite shows.

The Monster Men dicuss all things horror and paranormal with our special brand of graveyard humor. If you’re into things that go bump in the night, you’ll fit right in.

Find more episodes of Monster Men here on our YouTube channel: Monstermen13 or at horror author Hunter Shea's web site and you can also join us on the Monster Men Facebook page.  

Monster Men Ep. 37: Hats Off To John Carpenter

On this episode of the Monster Men video podcast, we pay tribute to John Carpenter, a true legend of film making and the horror genre. After all, this is the guy who gave us Michael Myers, Snake Plissken and a healthy fear of foggy nights. He also introduced Jamie Lee Curtis to the world.

John Carpenter has made some of the most classic horror and action movies of all time. They include such all-time favorites as HALLOWEEN, HALLOWEEN 2, THE THING, THE FOG, PRINCE OF DARKNESS and THEY LIVE, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK and ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13. 

In this show we focus mainly on his films from the 70's and 80's, but his body of work goes well beyond that era. What's your favorite Carpenter movie... and why? 



The Monster Men Video Podcast covers horror, the paranormal, Sci-fi and other pop culture topics with a sense of humor. Horror movies, TV and book reviews, paranormal investigations, true ghost stories, urban legends and UFOs are all fair game. 

Find more episodes of Monster Men here on my site, on our YouTube channel: Monstermen13 or at http://huntershea.com. You can also join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/monstermen13

Happy Valentine's Day

I just wanted to take a moment and send some love to everyone who watches and supports the Monster Men video podcast. Thank you and we love ya.

I don't know what says "I love you" better than a Monster Men Zombie Valentine. It's an undying love. Have a great day. 

Monster Men: A lighthearted conversation about dark matters.
For some great horror talk, book and movie reviews along with ghosts, UFOs and anything else that goes bump in the night, check out the Monster Men Video Podcast hosted by me and horror author Hunter Shea. Episodes are posted here on Back in Jack and on Hunter's blog as well. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel; MonsterMen13.

10 Women in Horror Who Haunt My Dreams

Did you know February is Women in Horror Month? The phrase “Women in Horror” can mean a lot of different things to different people. What came to mind for me was a collection of movies, shows, characters and actresses who have terrified and delighted me through the years. Being a horror fan with a blog, I naturally decided to write up a top ten list. 

So without any further adieu, here are ten lovely ladies who I’d like tip my cap to for Women in Horror Month. They can bite my neck anytime!

10. The Bride of Frankenstein: 
This electric lady is one of the definitive faces of horror and one of the only women to crack the Universal Monsters boys club. Most women who hang around with these guys end up as dinner. Not The Bride though. She stands tall in the pantheon of legendary monsters, thanks in part to her impressive and towering hairdo.

9. Catherine Rawlins, the Female Vampire from Kolchak: The Night Stalker: 
You may not know who Catherine Rawlins is, but she played a huge part in my development as a horror fan. I first met her when I was an impressionable young kid while watching my favorite paranormal series of all time. The TV show, Kolchak: The Night Stalker had captured my imagination and in it’s fourth episode, newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak came face to fang with a lady vampire. What made it even better is that this episode was actually a sequel to the hit TV movie, The Night Stalker, in which Kolchak confronted a male vampire. In the show, one of his victims comes back to wreak havoc on our hero… and my nightmares. 

8. The Twins from The Shining: 
The Grady girls, the creepy twins from The Shining, are only briefly seen in the movie, but wow, they sure made the most of it. The striking image of those twins is one of the most memorable and enduring in horror history. To this day, I can’t look down a long hotel hallway and not expect to see them to appear and then invite me to play with them… forever.

7. Jennifer’s Body:  
Jennifer’s Body is a 2009 movie in which Megan Fox plays a possessed cheerleader with a habit of devouring her male classmates, while making her best friend Needy’s life a living hell. Literally. Amanda Seyfried plays Needy. While the movie is not generally considered a classic, it does have its merits. There are some great horror moments and a lot of laughs. But lets face it, a film that gives us a deliciously evil and totally smoking hot Megan Fox AND a totally adorable and smoking hot Amanda Seyfried, deserves all the accolades in the world. Their famous kissing scene alone is worth the price of admission. So I salute Jennifer, Needy, Megan and Amanda for Women in Horror Month, along with Diablo Cody, the woman who wrote the movie.   

6. Frau Blücher: The grim housekeeper from Young Frankenstein played by the amazing Cloris Leachman. All of the women in Young Frankenstein are wonderful, including the beautiful Teri Garr and the hilarious Madeline Khan, but only Frau Blücher makes my list because there is no one else in monster movie history whose name causes horses wildly neigh whenever it is spoken.

5. Elvira, Mistress of the Dark: 
Elvira is a legendary figure in the world of horror, with a legendary figure. An incredibly sexy horror hostess with a wit as sharp as a pendulum, Elvira is the true poster child… or pin-up girl, for Women in Horror. I would also like to applaud her for her indelible influence on sexy Halloween costumes. Thank you Elvira. 

4. Buffy The Vampire Slayer: 
When I say Buffy, I am referring to both Sarah Michelle Gellar and the Joss Whedon TV show. The movie with Kristy Swanson was okay, but it’s the TV show that made Buffy a household name. BTVS had just the right blend of action, humor and the supernatural. It took the genre seriously, but not too seriously. Now Buffy is arguably the most famous vampire hunter after Professor Van Helsing himself. The lovely Sarah Michelle Gellar brought just the right balance of beauty, brawn, sexiness and heart to the character. Plus, the show introduced us to an amazing amount of gorgeous and talented ladies including Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter and Eliza Dushku. 

3. Regan MacNeil:  
How could the possessed little girl from The Exorcist, courageously portrayed by Linda Blair, not make the list? Although it is commonly thought that Regan is possessed by the Devil, it’s actually the demon Pazuzu. The Exorcist is one of the scariest movies of all time and the demonic visage of Regan is one of the most iconic throughout the world of horror. Whether her head is spinning or she’s puking pea soup on you, that little girl from The Exorcist is one of the true queens of the genre.

2. Lily Munster: 
The First Lady of TV Monsters and wife of the great Herman Munster. The Munsters was not only a great show, but it was a dream come true for monster loving kids everywhere. As a child, before the advent of video stores and later cable TV, there weren’t many places to get your horror fix. Plus, many scary movies had to wait until you got older. With The Munsters, you got a hilarious TV show, on most everyday in reruns, which gave you your daily dose of vampires, werewolves and other monsters. A loving wife, caring mother and daughter of Dracula, Lily, played by Yvonne De Carlo, was the glue that kept the Munster household together… with a little help from some cobwebs, of course.

I’d also like to give honorable mention to Morticia Addams from The Addams Family, played by the sensuous Carolyn Jones. Morticia may have been creepy and kooky but she was also stunning and the mother of the weirdest family this side of Mockingbird Lane.

1. The Wicked Witch of the West: 

I’m giving the number one spot to a woman who truly horrified me.  As a horror fan, I have never seen a better or more terrifying portrayal of a witch than Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz. While some say it was the Flying Monkeys that scared them, it was always the Wicked Witch that had me hiding under the couch. She is to witches what Dracula is to vampires and JAWS is to sharks. She’s even scary as Miss Gulch, her alter ego in Kansas that has it out for poor Toto. For me, she is the ultimate woman of horror.

So there you have it, ten of my favorite Scream Queens, Monstrous Mistresses and Femme Fatales. Who are some of your favorites? 

More about WiHM:

The official Women in Horror Recognition Month web site states their missions as this: “Every February, Women in Horror Recognition Month (WiHM) assists underrepresented female genre artists in gaining opportunities, exposure, and education through altruistic events, printed material, articles, interviews, and online support.”

Learn more at the Women in Horror Recognition Month web site.
 

For more horror talk, book and movie reviews along with ghosts, UFOs and anything else that goes bump in the night, check out the Monster Men Video Podcast hosted by me and horror author Hunter Shea. Episodes are posted here on Back in Jack and on Hunter's blog as well. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel; MonsterMen13.