Tag Archives: halloween

Film Review: Halloween Ends

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By Karissa Meno

If people ask me if I would recommend Halloween Ends I would just tell you, “Only if you want to see if Michael Myers is really put to an end.”

•Halloween Ends was released October 14, 2022 almost a year after Halloween Kills (2021). It was directed by David Gordon Green, edited by Tim Alverson, with music by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Danial Davies.
•The cast included Jamie Lee Curtis (Laura Strode), James Jude Courtney (Michael Myers), Andi Matichak (Allyson Nelson), Rohan Campbell (Corey Cunningham), Kyle Richards (Lindsey Wallace), and Will Patton (Frank Hawkins).

Halloween Ends needed a more consistent and overall better storyline, and here’s why.

Official film poster

Summary:

Halloween Ends takes place four years after Halloween Kills, but they first introduce a new story and character jumping back to Halloween night in 2019.

The movie introduces Corey Cunningham, a babysitter for the neighborhood. While the parents are away, the kid and Corey are left all alone in the house with the terrifying thought that Michael may have come for them. After a terrible accident, Corey is now back in society facing the aftermath of Michael Myers.

Meanwhile, Laurie and Alison have made a new life for themselves with a new house and Alison has become a nurse. With Corey back in town he is introduced to Laurie and Alison and instantly falls for Alison. Later that Halloween, Corey discovers a shocking new friend hidden away. Over the course of a few days Laurie and Alison now have to live with the consequence of bringing Corey into their lives.

Opinion:

When the movie first started I noticed that Halloween Ends teamed up with Blumhouse Productions and I was a little terrified knowing Blumhouse’s reputation. It was a good idea to bring them in, due to their improvement in jumpscares, or maybe it was just the loud sound system. Overall the jumpscares were much improved and it felt a little more like a scary movie.

As me and my friends described during the movie, it felt like they needed to waste time in the beginning and middle of the movie in order to actually get to the most important part, the end (no pun intended). Everything felt so out of place and nothing really seemed to fit together.

My friends and I would even catch ourselves asking, “What is happening?” It felt more like a drama heading towards the middle of the story rather than a slasher film. In my opinion, the only enjoyable part was the ending; it gave action and suspense. The end had me and my friends cheering for Jamie Lee Curtis.

The theater experience was also uplifting, not only did we laugh together we were able to make jokes together. All I can say is it is always a good time watching scary movies with friends.

Horror-scopes for Halloween

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Celestial Messages from Lady Selene

It’s that time of the year again. What do the stars hold for you this spooky season? 

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Aries, you enjoy Halloween every year, but this year you might feel different. Have you been stressed about that ghost following you around? Try communicating with him? Maybe he can offer you a helping hand. 

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Taurus, make this Halloween a night to remember. Party with your ghouls, just don’t let other phantoms bring you down, or their negative energy may ruin your evening. We know you’re a people pleaser but you might need to make a compromise just for that night. 

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Gemini, the time has come to creep out your fellow witches on Halloween night. Maybe you’ll decide to pull a simple little jinx.  

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Cancer, you might be drained this Halloween. Consider staying home to recharge yourself. Maybe brew a hot cup of coffee, bake yourself some pumpkin pie, or cuddle with the lonely troll in your home. 

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Leo, you are always on the lookout for love. Despite the haunting costumes you might come across Halloween night. It won’t stop you from finding your perfect match. Just make sure not to get ghosted. It happens more often than you think.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Virgo, you might be under pressure. I mean, when are you not? Consider taking some pressure off and focus on enjoying yourself for once. Carve some spooky pumpkins or half fun with the trick-o-treaters at your door.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Libra, tap into your inner witch and cook up a spell in your kitchen for self-love. Just be sure not to include the head of your lover or the blood of your enemy. 

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Scorpio, don’t cause too much drama this Halloween. You are known to be one of the most dramatic zodiac signs, (maybe as dramatic as the Sanderson Sisters), but you should avoid conflict. Instead, enjoy your night trick o’ treating with your friends and if you see any witches flying above you…RUN!

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Sagittarius, it’s time to party! Whether you throw the best Halloween party or you attend one, be sure to enjoy your night under the horrific moonlight. 

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Capricorn, have you been feeling drained lately? I fear that your candle may have been put out by the wind at night. Take your time to find your candle and relight it. 

Aquarius (January 20-February 18)

Aquarius, if you are making any plans to go out this year make sure you go with your gut. Make plans according to your feelings and desires. Don’t let any ghost, monster, or witch derail you from what you want. 

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Pisces, although it is Halloween. Now may be a good time to catch some rest. You may be busy the weekend before Halloween which will drain your energy and that’s okay. You were busy having fun with your friends. Take things slow and take a nap. But, if you see a shadowy figure in the corner of the room, you might have to call the Ghostbusters. 

Protect our Bewitching Black Cats

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By Destiny Padilla

The superstitions of black cats have led to the cruelty, abuse, and non-tolerable acts on Halloween day. Usually cats are adorable furry animals that people adopt to love for a lifetime, but on Halloween, black cats do not get the same treatment.

For centuries, black cats have been viewed as cursed and causing you to have misfortune, this has led to the despicable injuries that go as far as death to black cats.

European folklore tells how if a black cat crosses your path then they will give you a future worth of bad luck. The reason this myth is valued is because black cats are viewed as witches’ companions. The injuries that they endure are getting their fur cut off, being held against their will, and even being beaten.

These harmful acts only get more extreme during Halloween, and some people go to the extent of adopting black cats the day before Halloween. The reason why they adopt them is not your typical “love at first sight adoption,” it is to hold the black cat captive until the 31st so that they can take advantage of them.

Black cats do not deserve this treatment, there needs to be protection to make the abuse stop. One thing you can do to help is when you see a stray black cat you can take care of it or let someone trustworthy give it a home. Protecting our loving black cats must start now!

Halloween Fun: Activities to do Around the City

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By Beatriz Galvez

Looking for something fun to do with your family for Halloween? This article might be for you! Local activities including pumpkin carving, Halloween themed sensory activities, Halloween tours, and much more!

If you live near Norwalk, you may want to check out “Jack-O-Lantern Fun” at the Norwalk Arts & Sports Complex, where you can carve a pumpkin and play fun games happening October 12th through November 2nd at 13200 Clarkdale Ave.

If you live near the La Mirada area or want to drive about 10 minutes east down Rosecrans, you can check out Halloweenfest at Neff Park, where you can go through a haunted maze, participate in a costume contest, go through a trick or treat area, play games, and do crafts. This event should be very fun and especially great for children, happening October 31 between 4:30-8:00PM at Neff Park, 14300 San Cristobal Drive.

The historic Neff Barn in La Mirada

Other fun events that just happened to look for next year include the Halloween Spooktacular at the Cerritos Towne Center. On October 23, visitors could go trick or treating, get an airbrush tattoo, balloons, complete kids’ crafts and listen to music by a DJ.

There are always fun and safe events to check out in the community around Halloween, and they make for a great time to do something a little different than just trick-or-treating every year.

Film Review: Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+

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By Karissa Meno

3.5 out of 5 stars

The sequel to Hocus Pocus has been anticipated for years and is now kicking off this Halloween season, September 30th on Disney+. 

Hocus Pocus 2 is a Disney+ only special. Directed by Anne Fletcher with executive producers Adam Shankman, David Kirschner, and Ralph Winter. Production designer, Nelson Coates and set decorator, Andrew Baseman. The cast included the return of the incredible 1993 actors Bette Midler (Winifred Sanderson), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson), Kathy Najimy (Mary Sanderson), Doug Jones (Billy Butcherson), and introduced a new cast with Whitney Peak (Becca), Belissa Escobedo (Izzy), Lilia Buckingham (Cassie Traske), Sam Richardson (Gilbert), Tony Hale (Jefry Traske), and Froy Gutierrez (Mike).

Thirty years after the first release of Hocus Pocus in 1993, the 2022 adaptation re-introduces the Sanderson sisters to the modern world of 2022 Salem. 

Becca is a high school student who, with the accidental help of her best friend Izzy, relights the black flame candle that brings back the legendary Sanderson sisters. Throughout that Halloween night Becca, Izzy, and Cassie attempt to stop the sisters from taking revenge on Salem. 

Summary:

The story opens with the young Sanderson sisters in Salem. They struggle with the town’s residents and their close minded thinking. The sisters eventually run away seeking to escape their neighbors, who attempt to separate them. While on the run they meet a witch who peaks their interest in witchcraft. Later on you can understand that the events of 1993 have already taken place when they cut to present-day Salem. Becca and Izzy head to school Halloween morning to talk about Becca’s birthday tradition. While at school you can see the struggling friendship between Becca, Izzy, and Cassie.

Since 1993, the Sanderson sisters have become town legends, with the all knowing Gilbert running the now Sanderson tour house. Later that night, with a gift from Gilbert, Becca and Izzy have accidentally brought back the Sanderson sisters. As the siblings try to get back into old habits, Becca and Izzy show them around “new Salem”, they show the sisters modern day life, but eventually they don’t want to shift into new habits and head back to their lifestyle. Even with the conflicts between Becca and Cassie they try to gain her help to send the Sanderson sisters away.

The Opinion:

A lot of people have asked me what my opinion is on Hocus Pocus 2, the only sentence I have been able to fabricate is, “It’s actually pretty great.” Obviously sequels can’t beat the originals, but Hocus Pocus 2 is a good enough sequel to correlate with the original.

While watching it I was enjoying and appreciating the effort put in by the new and returning cast members, as well as the set designers who really made the movie visually appealing to me. It doesn’t feel like they just put something together. I got the sense that they had been planning this film for months, maybe even years. 

I was a little disappointed with the absence of a certain talking cat from the original film, Thackeray Binx, but I did enjoy seeing one particular previous cast member, Doug Jones, who reprised his role as “Billy” Butcherson. 

A particular scene where Sanderson sisters began to sing, felt a little strange; it didn’t quite sit well with me. They did sing in the original, but I felt that they were so dedicated to focusing on the story and characters in the sequel that the singing just felt out of place within the storyline. Even though some of the characters were a little cliche the movie felt more mature due to their acting and the character’s personalities. I do believe that the true Disney and Hocus Pocus fans will love and admire the sequel this Halloween season. 

This sequel’s goal was to send a message to appreciate the people you have and the power that comes with having a good group of people around you. I wasn’t entirely sure of the movie’s theme other than focusing on the Sanderson sisters’ return. The most I could interpret was the importance of having people that you connect with even through hardship. 

Hocus Pocus 2 was an overall joy and an exciting experience to watch for the first time. This movie really made me want to buy a Roomba for the fun of it (you’ll understand if this convinces you to watch it).

What an amazing start to almost everyone’s favorite month, October!

Origins of Halloween

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By Alicia Cram

You can tell that Halloween is approaching as the days grow cool and the evenings grow eerie. Have you ever thought about asking, “Why do we celebrate Halloween?” as the eerie season draws near?

Regardless of Halloween’s past or roots, it is a holiday that is enjoyed by a wide range of people all over the world. All Hallows’ Eve was traditionally the time when the deceased were commemorated. It became cultural over time. Halloween has become incredibly marketed for Americans in the last couple of decades.

Halloween’s commercial aspects appear months ahead of time.

Several months before Halloween, we start to see decorations for the holiday in stores. Unfortunately, this commercialized festival now places much more of an emphasis on all things scary or nasty than on innocent costumes. Without question, modern Halloween customs have turned this commercial festival into something that discreetly emphasizes the hideous and diabolical.

Even though it might seem strange, the bible has a lot to do with Halloween. On All Saints’ Day, Christians would celebrate the saints and the metaphysical link between heaven and Earth. All Hallows’ Eve, the night before Halloween, served as its inspiration.

It was claimed that on All Hallows’ Eve, the veil between this world and the afterlife was particularly thin. Especially throughout the Middle Ages, harvest time meant earlier nights, colder weather, and a challenge in maintaining food. In October, spirits were supposed to freely roam because death was always only around the corner. This explains why Halloween has the eerie, haunting vibe we’ve come to enjoy.

Halloween got its start when the earliest settlers came to America. Many of the early English settlers carried numerous ghost and witchcraft beliefs with them. Many immigrants from Scotland and Ireland came to the United States in the 1800s and brought their Halloween customs with them. Other groups modified Halloween traditions to reflect their own cultural influences. African and Haitian immigrants contributed their voodoo beliefs about black cats, fire, and witchcraft, and German immigrants added a vibrant witchcraft mythology.

Why do we say trick or treat?

Trick or treating originated with the Celtic festival of Samhain, which was a celebration of the arrival of winter or the “dark half” of the year. The Irish would dress up and visit houses door to door singing songs to the dead on the nights before Samhain. In return, they got nuts, cash, or baked goods called soul cakes. The Christians then modified this custom and gave it the new name All Souls’ Day.

So now, as the spooky night draws near, you know about the old customs and traditions that have become part of our modern Halloween. Whatever traditions you like to celebrate probably have roots in other cultures from the past, but it’s also fun to make your own traditions.

Eats and Treats

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Halloween Recipe: Spooky Marshmallow Cheesecake

By Richard Sanchez

This season’s Eats and Treats is Spooky Marshmallow Cheesecake. With the help from your friendly ghost Casper, let’s spook the crowd and have something cheesy.

This delectable treat takes 30 minutes to prepare, 1 hour and 30 minutes to bake, and 2 hours to chill and set.

Casper’s favorite treat has 479 calories, 30 grams of fat, 17 grams of saturates, 48 grams of carbs, 37 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and 0.6 grams of salt.

Items needed to begin your baking adventure are:

  • 300 g of cream-filled chocolate sandwich biscuits
  • 75 g melted butter
  • 180 g white mini marshmallows
  • 50 ml milk
  • 500 g full fat soft cheese
  • 200 ml double cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract.
  • For the ghost you need: 2 egg whites, 200 g caster sugar, and black writing icing.

•STEP 1

Start off with using a food processor or blender to turn the biscuits into fine crumbs. Pour your melted butter in with crumbs and blitz to combine them. Line a loose bottom cake tin with baking parchment. Pour crumb mixture into cake tin and press the mixture against the base and sides of the tin. Leave the tin in the fridge to chill while you make your filling.

•STEP 2

Put your marshmallows and milk into a sauce pan and put it on low-medium heat and stir until the marshmallows are melted. Let it cool down for a few minutes.

•STEP 3

Place your soft cheese, cream, and vanilla extract in a large bowl and whisk. Pour your warm marshmallow mixture in with your previous mixture and mix until smooth again. Remove your chilled biscuit base from the fridge and scrape your filling in, smooth the top and chill for 2 hours.

•STEP 4

Heat your oven to 250 degrees, line a baking tray with baking parchment, put egg whites in a large clean bowl with a pinch of salt and whisk till foamy. Beat 1 tbsp of sugar into your meringue and make sure it holds soft peaks.

•STEP 5

Spoon your meringue into a piping bag fitted with a round nozzle and add your ghost to the top of the cheese cake. Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes then let it cool.

•STEP 6

When the meringue is cool, use your icing to carefully draw faces on your ghosts. Carefully remove the cheesecake from your tin and place on a plate or cake stand. You should keep the cake in the fridge for up to 2 days to let it all set but you can eat it once you’re finished.

Voila! You have created your very own spooky cheesecake to launch off this Halloween season, I hope you enjoy and make sure to look forward to next quarter’s recipe. If you are curious about any other Halloween recipes such as this, check out BBC Good Food.com.

This is RS signing off, Stay safe out there people. 

Halloween Kills: Film Review

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By Karissa Meno

Halloween Kills was an eventful horror movie and a fun addition to the Halloween series. 

How to Watch 'Halloween Kills' for Free from Home | IndieWire

A Blumhouse, International Pictures, Rough House, and Miramax Production. Directed by David Gordon Green and produced by Malek Akkad, Jason Blum, and Bill Block.

Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis (Laurie Strode), James Jude Courtney (Michael Myers), Judy Greer (Karen Nelson), Andi Matichak (Allyson Nelson), Anthony Michael Hall (Tommy Doyle), Kyle Richards (Lindsey Wallace), Robert Longstreet (Lonnie Elam), Nancy Stephens (Marion Chambers), Dylan Arnold (Cameron Elam), and Omar Dorsey (Sheriff Barker). 

Some can argue that Halloween Kills is “good,” “okay,” or “terrible,” but I would describe the overall experience of Halloween Kills as simply “eventful.” The movie offers a very eventful and fast-moving story. Sometimes you can find the story irrelevant but still enjoy the aspects of the movie.

The beginning felt very rushed, seeming like they wanted to get straight to the point with the movie. It’s very hard to keep up with the actual story of Halloween, but the best part is watching Michael go around on his traditional killing spree. Some scenes felt very dramatized and not involving itself to actually stopping Michael. It was very eventful to watch how Michael catches his prey–idiotic but eventful. The movie isn’t particularly scary except for the loud bumps and loud music, and no real jumpscares. The movie also offers little flashbacks and even characters from previous Halloween movies. Many scary movies nowadays feel like an action movie. Halloween Kills doesn’t truly give you that feeling but it gives you the thrill of watching Michael.

Halloween begins with looking at the story of Lonnie Elam (Robert Longstreet) and his encounter with Michael Myers, as well as the story of two cops who encounter and battle against Michael. The movie then gives you the traditional Halloween opening credit scenes with lit up pumpkins and the familiar music.

The movie starts exactly where it left off with Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis), her daughter Karen (Judy Green), and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) going to the hospital after a battle to get rid of Michael. As you can already tell if you’ve seen the trailer or knew about another Halloween movie, Michael is obviously not dead nor is his terrorizism on Haddonfield. An amazing opening house fire scene shows you exactly the kind of treat you’re in for the rest of the movie.

We continue to see scenes at the hospital as we follow Judy and Karen. At a bar on Halloween night, we are introduced to some of the old survivors from previous Halloween movies, as they and others at the bar find out Michael is very much still alive. The town becomes determined to end Michael’s reign of terror and goes on a town watch to find him. We start to see Michael take out many of his new and old victims throughout the manhunt. Laurie and the rest of the hospital also become involved with the finding and ending of Michael.

Halloween Kills marks new high in 'horror renaissance' | Horror films | The Guardian

Allyson and Cameron, with Cameron’s dad (the little boy Lonnie all grown up) also become involved with the manhunt for Michael. With the escape of an asylum inmate, it creates complications for the town as they mistake him for Michael, dividing the town in half. After realizing Michael’s plan, Allyson and Cameron head to the original Myers house to put a stop to Michael. The end is near and we see little hope of Allyson stopping Michael, but help comes to step in ultimately stopping Michael but not truly stopping or ending the Halloween series, yet.

Halloween Kills was a very eventful and fun Halloween movie to watch. It doesn’t particularly give you that scare factor or have you sitting on the edge of your seat, but it is still eventful to watch. It felt as if it were missing important factors to make it more of a “scary movie” and not like an action movie. The scenes with Michael were great and the suspense factors were sort of lacking. Many of the actions characters take feel as if they were not involved in stopping Michael and more for the drama of the movie. Even though the logic of the victims wasn’t the best, it was fun to watch and made you want to scream at them, “No don’t do it!” or “Why would you do that?” I couldn’t remember the last time I had fun watching a horror movie, and even if movies like this aren’t scary enough for you it’ll still be very enjoyable to watch. Many of the scenes and actions taken can have you waiting for more, or not waiting at all.
Halloween Kills is an exciting start to the Halloween season.

And just in case you wanted to know, in 2022 the finale to the Halloween series will be released: Halloween Ends gives me the excitement to see how it all finally ends.

HALLOWEEN KILLS - Michael Myers Halloween Horror Movie T-Shirt – Fright-Rags

Spooky Traditions

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By: Diego Avalos, Jacob Quintana & Itzmali Vasquez

Around fall there is a holiday most of the kids are happy to celebrate. The holiday is Halloween where kids can express themselves through the costumes they wear. Whether the costume is scary, funny, or creative, people always find a way to enjoy and have fun on Halloween night. We asked freshman and senior cadets about what they did for Halloween.

About 80% of the freshman and senior cadets celebrate Halloween. One of the many activities people partake in and is very common amongst the younger generations–trick or treating. 54.9% of the cadets plan on trick or treating this year. Out of all of the cadets’ favorite candies, the Hershey’s Bars were favored above the rest. Aside from eating delicious candy, Halloween is also a great way to spend time with family and have fun.

Another fun thing to do during the Halloween season is going to theme parks to experience frightening mazes or just generally get the thrill from the park actors. Out of all of the amusement parks, Knott’s Scary Farm got the majority vote as the most visited amusement park during the Halloween season. Although the prices are high and guests deal with the long lines of an amusement park, people still visit these attractions seeking the thrilling blood rush of being chased around by scary actors.

Overall, Halloween is a great time of year to go out and experience all the different activities that there are to enjoy. So this Halloween, whether you trick or treat, go to an amusement park, or just simply stay home and binge watch scary movies or shows. Whatever you do, though, make sure to stay safe.

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