The ODYSSEY Media Group has highlighted spooky stories as Halloween approaches on Oct. 31.
A Harwell Halloween
Viewpoints Staffer Sam Harwell fights the Green Goblin while dressed as Spider-Man. Harwell has had fun on Halloween over the years, with his neighborly showdown in 2016 being his favorite. “I grabbed my candy and turned to leave as she muttered something under her breath. Enraged, I turned around and looked at her, then back at my sleeve. I stuck my hand out, struck a pose and sprayed half a can of whipped cream onto her porch,” Harwell wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell.
Viewpoints Staffer Sam Harwell recalls a spooky Halloween story from his childhood.
Every superhero has an arch nemesis. Batman has The Joker. Thor has Loki. Captain America has the Red Skull.
But me? I have the lady who lives on the end of the street.
To show where it all began, we have to go back to Halloween, 2016, when I was seven.
I had just suited up as Spider-Man and opened the door to the refrigerator to grab the whipped cream. As I put the bottle in my sleeve and held the front, whipped cream shot out of my sleeve as I hit a Spider-Man pose.
Basically, I was ready.
I got out onto the street and was having a great time trick or treating – until we reached the house at the end of the street. In front, a crinkly old lady sat on the porch with two bowls of candy: one full of big pieces, one of fun-size bits. She held out the big candy bowl to my siblings.
“I love your costumes, sweeties. Both of you, take a piece of candy,” she said in a raspy voice.
My older sister and little brother took the proffered bowl of big candy happily and stepped aside. Then, to my horror, the wicked woman turned her head toward me and stuck out the tiny candy bowl.
I stared at her in shock, unable to believe that anyone would do something so evil. She stared back, shaking the bowl.
I shook my head and pointed at the big candy bowl. She shook the bowl in her hand, trying to persuade me to settle for less.
My older sister and little brother took the proffered bowl of big candy happily and stepped aside. Then, to my horror, the wicked woman turned her head toward me and stuck out the tiny candy bowl.
We stared at each other for what felt like forever, until she sighed and held out the big candy bowl. I grabbed my candy gleefully and turned to leave as she muttered something under her breath.
Enraged, I turned around and looked at her, then down at my sleeve. I stuck my hand out, struck a pose and sprayed half a can of whipped cream onto her porch.
I ran back to our group of friends and family and told them to hurry to the next house because “they had great candy,” and until now, no one has known about my heroic exploits at the end of the street.
Infographic: Five fun facts about Halloween
An infographic shows five fun facts about the Halloween season and its history. Graphic by Lea D’Angelo
Five must watch horror movies
A graphic shows five horror movies representing different sub-genres in horror. From psychological horror to slashers, the genre has terrified fans since the early 1920s. “‘Get Out’ is a must-watch for anyone looking for a realistic thriller that dives deep into the social nuances of racism for this Halloween season,” Diversity and Representation Editor Peter Atchley wrote. Graphic by Peter Atchley
Halloween is just around the corner and a good horror movie, whether it’s a psychological thriller or a classic camp slasher, would make the candy corn even sweeter.
“Scream”
The official trailer for “Scream” is shown above. Released in 1996 and followed by six more slashers set in the same universe, “Scream” is a first-rate horror film. “‘Scream’ still lives up to the hype 28 years later, delivering some gut-wrenching kills and a clumsy murderer,” Diversity and Representation Editor Peter Atchley wrote. Video fair use of Miramax
“Scream”, directed by Wes Craven, premiered in 1996 and quickly became one of the horror genre’s most iconic films, as a horror-comedy classic.
Part of what makes this flick such a classic is a fantastic cast of final girl Sidney Prescott (Neve Cambell), local reporter Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) and Sidney’s boyfriend Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich). When “Scream” was released, it grossed over 173 million dollars, making it the highest-grossing slasher movie before 2018’s “Halloween”.
This R-rated movie follows Sidney as she spends a weekend alone during the anniversary of her mother’s murder. When a masked murderer named “Ghostface” attacks the town of Woodsboro, she and her friends find themselves in a deadly game.
“Scream” still lives up to the hype 28 years later, delivering some gut-wrenching kills and a clumsy murderer. Available on most streaming services, this film is a must-watch on Halloween for any fan of scary movies.
“Friday the 13th”
The official trailer for 1980’s “Friday the 13th.” The summer camp slasher quickly became a pillar in the horror genre. “This horror flick is known for its iconic setting and cast full of horror tropes like the promiscuous teenagers and the virgin survivor. But, the shocking kills are buried under wooden acting and expository dialogue,” Diversity and Representation Editor Peter Atchley wrote. Video fair use of Max
“Friday the 13th” is known for inspiring much of the slasher genre with its masked killer, cast of screaming teenagers and terrifying kills.
Released in 1980 with a R-rating, this summer camp slasher flick follows the abandoned Camp Crystal Lake that a group of counselors try to re-open despite the camp’s mysterious past. Starring final girl Alice Hardy (Adrienne King), counselors Jack Burrell (Kevin Bacon) and Marcie Stanler (Jeanine Taylor), who are joined by other nostalgic characters and a secret killer on the prowl.
This horror flick is known for its iconic setting and cast full of horror tropes like the promiscuous teenagers and the virgin survivor. But, the shocking kills are buried under wooden acting and expository dialogue that fails to deepen the summer camp story.
Overall “Friday the 13th” remains a mainstay in the horror genre despite its flaws. Furthered by a total of 12 movies in the franchise, it is a must-watch for a nostalgic horror viewing.
“Get Out”
The official trailer for “Get Out” is shown above. Released in 2017 and written and directed by Jordan Peele, this psychological thriller blurs the line between traditional horror and social commentary on racial relations. “Taking a nuanced approach to racism and microaggressions, “Get Out” is a must-watch for anyone looking for a psychological,” Diversity and Representation Editor Peter Atchley wrote. Video fair use of Universal Pictures
“Get Out” was actor and comedian Jordan Peele’s directorial debut and was released in 2017 with an R-rating.
Attending a family reunion for his girlfriend Rose Armitage (Allison Williams) against the advice of his best friend Rod Williams (Lil Rey Howery), Black man Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) travels to the affluent and white Armitage estate in Fairhope, Alabama. However, Washington is soon terrorized by the Armitage family, including father Dean Armitage (Bradley Whitford), mother Missy Armitage (Catherine Keener) and brother Jeremy Armitage (Caleb Landry Jones).
The reality behind Chris’ belief that he doesn’t belong in this menacing family is depicted throughout the movie, which can be seen in the combination of weird looks, off-putting house staff and an eerily accepting Armitage family, all of which make this horror movie so terrifying.
Taking a nuanced approach to racism and microaggressions, “Get Out” is a must-watch for anyone looking for a psychological thriller for this Halloween season.
“The Conjuring”
The official trailer for “The Conjuring” is shown above. Released in 2013, the horror movie followed the efforts of Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) as they try to save the Perron family from evil spectral forces. “Throughout this R-rated movie, viewers can expect chilling jump scares from nasty ghosts with sharp nails and an eerily-old farmhouse setting,” Diversity and Representation Editor Peter Atchley wrote. Video fair use of Warner Brothers Pictures
Whether audiences believe in ghosts or not, “The Conjuring” is a spooky story that is sure to leave viewers hiding beneath the covers.
This horror movie, released in 2013, is based on the true stories of ghost hunters Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) as they try to save a family being terrorized by a demonic presence in their home. Horror director James Wan infused this frightening film with stories of the real paranormal investigators’ most famous case.
Throughout this R-rated movie, viewers can expect chilling jump scares from nasty ghosts with sharp nails and an eerily-old farmhouse setting. To add to the chilling ghosts, the creators used practical effects like contortionists and wires to amplify the specters that haunt the Perron family.
For a classic mystical scare, “The Conjuring” is a great option, and if viewers like the initial one, there are two more “Conjuring” films to enjoy with a fourth edition releasing in 2025.
“Shaun of the Dead”
The official trailer for “Shaun of the Dead” is shown above. Released in 2004, this zombie apocalypse film took a lighter approach to zombification with hilarious dialogue. “One way this movie keeps the zombie apocalypse from being wholeheartedly terrifying is the hilarious lines infused in the characters’ dialogue. While the lines poke fun at the zombie genre, some have not aged well such as Ed’s use of a racial slur,” Diversity and Representation Editor Peter Atchley wrote. Video fair use of Focus Features
For fans of more lighthearted, scary films, “Shaun of the Dead”, is a great option, though it still delivers gore with hoards of zombies.
This 2004 horror comedy is about a rag-tag group of friends maneuvering through a zombie apocalypse with entertaining quips throughout. With hysterical performances from electronics salesman Shaun (Simon Pegg), best friend Ed (Nick Frost), and on-and-off girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield), this comedic take on the apocalypse is conveyed expertly.
One way this movie keeps the zombie apocalypse from being wholeheartedly terrifying is the hilarious lines infused in the characters’ dialogue. While the lines poke fun at the zombie genre, some have not aged well such as Ed’s use of a racial slur.
Even with comedy throughout, viewers can expect a fair amount of gore and violence from the film, earning its R-rating. For horror fans and genre novices alike, “Shaun of the Dead” is a great watch.
History and Hauntings with Jeff Clarke
Local historian and ghost tour guide Jeff Clarke stands in front of the Ware-Lyndon House on May 9. Clarke has believed since he was a child that history is much more than a series of dates and names, but a story that can be unraveled and connected to the present. “History is all around us, and we are part of that history. Part of the old way. It’s all intertwined. It’s all interconnected, interlaced, and it’s important to study history, because it gives us perspective. It tells us where we were as a nation, as a society, where we are now and then how far we have to go,” Clarke said. Photo by Violet Cantarella.
Jefferey Clarke, an Athens historian, expresses his love of history and ghost stories through his ghost tour.
There are centuries-old fingerprints baked into the bricks of an unassuming outdoor wall of The Foundry in downtown Athens.
These fingerprints were possibly left by enslaved people checking to make sure the clay was dry enough to fire. For Jeffery Clarke, who has found that no records were kept of those enslaved, they are the first page of a missing story.
In order to bring this story and others like it to light, Clarke has been hosting Athens Haunted History Walking Tours for 30 years.
“(The fingerprints) speak to me. (I want to ask) ‘Who were you? What was your life like? Did you make it through?’” Clarke said. “This is the hidden history.”
Clarke is a lover of history, a collector of stories. Some of his favorites are ghost stories. These are the tales he tells on his Athens Haunted History Walking Tours. For the past 30 years, he has led groups of the curious, skeptical and everything in between to locations in Downtown Athens which house history – and maybe spirits.
Historian and Tour Guide Jeffery Clarke (left) and Marketing and Tourism Assistant Joann Hubert (right) stand in front of the Eagle Tavern Museum in Watkinsville in 2018. Huburt often sat down and discussed history with Clarke, drawn by his knowledge and charisma in delivering the information in an engaging way. “I learned so much from him. It’s just amazing to watch him in action doing (the ghost tours).” Hubert said. Photo courtesy of Joann Hubert
“Athens is such a remarkable town, it would take three, four hours to cover (all its history). We really don’t even scratch the surface.” Clarke said. “I hear on the tour all the time people say ‘Oh I love Athens, I never want to leave.’ Some people ain’t kidding around. Once they die, they hang out here, and who could blame them? It’s a great town.” Clarke said.
Clarke’s connection with history was solidified early in his childhood. Despite growing up in the South, his mother loved New England style houses. Antique butter churns adorned the walls of Clarke’s childhood home, and even his cradle was over 100 years old.
“My cradle that my mom bought for me, we’ve dated it, (it’s from the) late 1700s early 1800s. I literally grew up with history surrounding me. I’ve always, always, always had a fascination with history,” Clarke said. “It’s just something about me. I just love it. It helps me make sense of the world.”
Despite his interest in ghosts, Clarke considers himself a skeptic. That is not to say that he refuses any and all evidence of the paranormal – his skepticism means that he asks deeper questions and strives to appreciate ghost stories beyond their spooky face-value.
“I like being a skeptic about (ghosts) because I’m not one of those (people) who are all ‘Ooh, ghosts exist and that’s the end of it.’ I would love to find the proof. I would love to find a way — I’m sure science will one day come up with a way to prove or disprove that (ghosts) exist, and that’s exciting for me.” Clarke said. “I think personally (ghosts are) energy.”
Click here to read the rest of Variety Staffer Violet Cantarella’s story.
