Creepy Halloween
What is it about this time of year that we seek out a scare? Life has enough tough stuff to deal with but a scare or jolt to the nervous system through a movie or television show provides something different than the every day stress of life. Now I need to put a disclaimer of sorts, there was a time in my life when I could not handle watching anything in the horror, thriller, suspense genres. My nervous system already had enough panic, depression, and anxiety it could deal with living with a narcissist. However, as my life balanced out, now I find that there is a positive aspect to watching some horror movies and choose wisely. Kate Skurat of Calmerry website and blog states, “horror movies enhance brain activity and cognitive functions” as well as “help us feel less lonely” and “provide a safe outlet to explore our fears.”
I want to recommend two Netflix series for this Halloween and also some analysis on why it turned into positives instead of negatives. The first series is Midnight Mass with Hamish Linklater, Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Annabeth Gish and a host of other talented actors. Some of you will also recognize Rahul Kohli who I first saw on the cheeky iZombie series back in 2015. Midnight Mass is set on a small island accessible by a ferry only. The local Catholic parish is awaiting the return of their beloved Monsignor Pruitt who has been there for decades. When a young priest shows up, announcing that Pruitt is ill and recovering on the mainland, the parish welcomes him with open arms. However, something odd is going on among the parishioners. People start disappearing.
I loved watching this series and it came at such an interesting time for me spiritually. My pastor recently finished a series called “We are church” where we learned about what is a church, what was the early church like, how do people define it, how do we want to define it, and much more. After watching Midnight Mass, I was able to make connections from my real life church to the imaginary parish in Midnight Mass. Where does religion get it wrong? How does man, who is imperfect, mess up God’s message or in some mean-spirited cases twist the Bible to become a way to judge and cast out others. The series had its jump out of your seat moments and “oh wow, did not see that coming” moments but it also lead to self-examination, and cognitive functions for me. The series was also a great bonding moment with my family and friends who watched so it provided a sense of tribe and shared experience.
My other recommendation on Netflix is Fall of the House of Usher. Yes, that old Edgar Allen Poe short story has been formulated into a limited series in time for Halloween. What is amazingly fun is that several cast members show up in Usher that were also well cast in Midnight Mass. However, Usher is lead by powerhouses Bruce Greenwood and Mary McDonnell. The writers have updated Poe’s vision by making the Usher twins powerful players at a pharmaceutical company branching out into world domination if all six of the Usher children make good on their ventures. Unfortunately, something evil and unsettling is breathing down the Usher family’s neck. One by one they start to die in the most bizarre manners. This is not one to watch with children. I probably would not even let a teenager watch because of some of the sexual situations in the series but the show is a powerful lesson in how the mighty fall and a warning on the seven deadly sins.
Watching this series brought back childhood memories of reading Poe in school. I had always loved Poe and his endings. They were satisfying. Also, in a book, you can imagine and let that imagination run wild. The series also provided another bonding experience and more analysis of today’s world. Is progress at any and all costs really progress? How far do you test something? What ethics exist in medicine and big business? If any?
Yes, we live in odd, sometimes terrifying times. Why bother watching a horror movie on Halloween or a series which is an even longer time commitment? Well, maybe just maybe, there is something positive to find in that horror. Enjoy a trick or treat on Halloween. In the comments, put your favorite Halloween movies, I actually love the original Halloween with Jamie Lee Curtis and Carrie with Sissy Spacek.
