Ok so maybe those are just my biased opinions, but there’s one thing that we can all collectively agree on making it a fact: the opening to RETURN is regarded as one of the greatest things about the movie, and stands as possibly, one of the most atmospheric intros for the Halloween holiday of all damn time. Something so simple as a few eerie scenes of a basic farm shot on the dusk of Halloween Eve in the middle of fuckwhere America, with no context, set the tone and the mood for the whole film. As light slowly fades into dusk throughout the secular shots of the farm in Autumn along with a sinister soundtrack that crescendos into your very spine, the message to the audience is clear: Evil is coming, and it is angry.
Back in October, celebrating HALLOWEEN 4‘ 35th anniversary, I spoke with director Dwight Little about his experiences and memories of the film. Of course, one of the questions I asked was about that marvelous intro and how the inspiration for such a departure from the previous two Myers films’ i.e. pumpkin credit intros, came to be. My instincts on the answer to this being something much deeper than just a few shots on a farm that were taken for budgetary reasons that just happened to strike gold, turned out to be correct.
You know, we put a LOT of energy into that, and I had asked the writeron set, ya know, how much do we actually KNOW about the origins of Halloween? I looked up some references on it and found out there’s some old Scottish agricultural tradition where the fields have gone bare and everyone has to do their last harvest to get ready for the Winter. And so there’s all this iconic imagery of scarecrows and pumpkin men, and looking back into the roots of it all is how we came up with that title sequence that seems so beloved. I just didn’t want to do the pumpkin [intro sequence again] and wanted to try something else.
So when people say, “It ain’t that deep.” Yeah. Yeah, it is. The fact that the opening sequence provides hidden context into old harvest culture and using imagery that we all associate with the Fall and Halloween seasons in a much deeper way was a clever move. To a superstitious agrarian society, not only would scarecrows keep birds away from crops, but they could also scare children away from the fields where there might be strange things hiding. The hanging ghost on the farm, representing Myers returning from the dead, is another, with Danielle Harris’ name (who plays Jamie Lloyd-Myers’ niece) splashed on the screen next to it as if to say he’s coming back just for you, babydoll. Although that in itself is MY OWN speculation, let me just have that theory, fellas.
It’s just a beautiful new way to look at those banger opening credits. Don’t you think? So with that in mind, let’s just bask in all its malevolent glory, eh?
Just in case you’re new here, video store promos and displays are something I search far and wide for, hoping to add to my collection that will probably never be completed, (especially in today’s economy). But even if my sad-looking bank account won’t allow it, merely gazing at what is now a lost art, is enough to soothe my soul more so than listening to some Pure Moods from the 90s.
And let me tell yah, “Return to Innocence” and “Tubular Bells” are pretty high up there.
If ye’ old video store promos and movie displays are something that brings a little bit of joy into your soul, or collection, then forget about browsing eBay because I got you covered as I have compiled a sweet stack of some pretty attainable and AWESOME items from the original auction/buy it now site that may or may not have you reaching deep into your pockets to fulfill all your mom-and-pop video store fantasies. So let’s dive right in it!
Larry Cohen’s THE STUFF had some pretty cool merch and displays during its promotional run and this is one of them. Per the description:
“This is a rare and original standee display for the 1985 horror movie “The Stuff”. The perfect addition to any horror movie memorabilia collection. It has never been used so I did not bend the back folding part in the picture to put it together. This came directly from a video store that shut down in the 90’s.
Another really cool promo item from THE STUFF, is this inflatable beach ball probably given exclusively to video store owners. Measuring about 12-16 inches in diameter featuring the colors known for the packaging in the film, The Stuff logo is prominently displayed on three sides of the ball.
These are probably some of my favorite items on this list, and the most affordable at $25 a pop! Both sold from eBay seller Video Sanctum, the Gargoyle and Mummy paper mask from the TALES FROM DARKSIDE MOVIE are something I’ve never personally seen and in pretty great condition for being almost 35 years old!
This 1988 giant inflatable pumpkin, that stands nearly 4 feet, was a video store promo for Halloween and the release of FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD. And it’s very much so, one of my favorites here as it combines two of my favorite things: Jason and Halloween.
Another cool video store promo for THE NEW BLOOD was this light-up display usually hung around the counters. Bold move considering I’d be the first person trying to steal that.
For the ultimate screwhead! This MEGA RARE EVIL DEAD 2 display is pretty damn cool, regardless of the wear on it. That’s history right there folks. $350 worth.
Oh how I love thee video store promo poster, let me count the ways: TROLL, THE NIGHT DRACULA SAVES THE WORLD, AND RE-ANIMATOR. This is an original vintage release placed in someone’s mom and pop video store, probably around 1987-1988. I’m insanely jealous of whoever ends up with this.
This little bastard has been sitting on eBay, and my radar, for a while. Note, this isn’t an originalGHOULIES inflatable, but rather a reproduction made by Faint of Heart Creations of the toilet display that was seen in several video stores promoting the movie in 1985. Regardless, I would love one of these to stick in my guest bathroom for when my parents come over.
In promotion with the VHS of THE FLY II, video stores had this little bugger usually hanging from the ceilings. Now you can have a little Son of Brundlefly of your very own to display your home! Screw the plants, make room for MartinFly.
The recent passing of Brian Lumley left the world an emptier place as loyal fans stand together with heavy hearts at the loss of a true visionary. A visionary, yes, and what he envisioned – and, in turn – shared with us all has become the thing of untold magnificent nightmares.
Lumely was a true master of the macabre and worthy successor of the eldritch terrors originally introduced by H.P. Lovecraft. Without a doubt, the man’s extensive legacy of written horrors shall unendingly sink their dripping fangs into the beating veins of new generations yet to come. Those who discover Lumley’s chilling works are never left the same as though a radiance cast in ebony takes hold and slowly consumes the imagination.
“Since reading Lumley’s “Necroscope” series, I know that vampires really do exist!” —H. R. Giger
Lumley’s vampires dropped the romantics and are the lecherous children of Satan, who became the first vampire upon his expulsion from Heaven at the hands of his Almighty Father. Satan, dejected, lost, and insatiable stood as lord and sovereign of all demons of the night and spread his malignancy across the cold, dark corners of space.
The saga opens with Necrosope. Harry Keogh, the Necroscope has the unique ability to speak with the dead, the Great Majority as they’re known. The dead are restless, their spirits linked to their abysmal graves and after many long and lonely centuries, they crave for a chance to speak openly with the living once more. For that reason, they revere the Necroscope and divulge vital information when needed. As Necroscope Harry also unlocks a way for the dead to speak with one another and divulge vital information they’ve been sitting on for untold years.
So imagine it this way. Upon dying Albert Einstein hasn’t stopped thinking but has had many long years to further compound his wisdom and theories but there’s no one to share his revelations with. The Necroscope builds the bridge to brilliant minds of the past and, in turn, learns from their wisdom. But the dead whisper of a terrible evil ravaging both the living and the departed
Set during the height of the Cold War both the East and the West have their ‘gifted’ agents and will stop at nothing to bring one another down. Unbeknownst to the paranormal high command in England the Soviets have their own type of Necroscope. A ghoulish man who torments both the living and (especially I might add) the dead, he tears the fetid guts from helpless cadavers to learn their coveted secrets, and, worst of all, the dead feel every single thing he does and are helpless to stop him. This Necromancer, Boris Dragosani, a ruthless KGB enforcer catches the attention of an ancient vampire, and the vampire, that Old Thing buried beneath an old Romanian ruin is ready to sink his evil seed into the Necromancer’s rotting soul as a way to spread his violent will from beyond the grave.
This is just the first book. As the series spreads out (and personally the 2nd is my favorite) we learn more about these demonic things, the vampires, and the hierarchy they exist in. How the vampires, the Vamphyri, come from a dark dimension outside of the world we know and hold dear. They’re compassionless, nearly unkillable, and hold their homeworld in an icy grip of unrelenting terror. They have invaded our world and with them brought the fell presence of their father Satan. Ok I’m gonna say it, these things are METAL AS FUCK!
As someone who consumes a lot of vampire lore (I grew up in Eastern Europe, friends, the very lands of the Vampyre!) I found the Vamphyri to be unlike any other kind of vampire we’re accustomed to. True, the classics are there such as the blood-drinking and aversion to sunlight. They also can morph … or maybe it’s just merely them letting down their masks, to reveal hideous faces with grotesque bat and wolf features. The other thing that really stands out to me is how damn near indestructible they are. For example, cut the hand off one and it will sprout tentacles, eyes will suddenly bulge out and line it, and dozens of gnashing mouths ( filled with rows of fangs I might add) will start attacking you. It’ s not so easy to kill one of them. They are the children of pure evil and frankly take pleasure in that. They take, fuck, and eat whomever they so desire.
The series flows from the familiar roots of gothic horrors and gradually mutates into cosmic terrors. It grows and it builds like a fungal infestation and I found myself tearing through one book after another just to devour the next chapter in the saga. Lumely had a way of always hooking me. There were times I wouldn’t stop to eat until I finished a book. I would wake up at night thinking about the characters and worry for their safety.
One moment that really stands out to me is when a fetus calls out for help from a nearby cemetery and the whole fucking graveyard opens up as a legion of zombies march to protect the unborn child and his mother. Another one is when Harry raises a macabre troop of rotting Tartars, their bloodlust not satiated even after all these centuries in the grave, and they slaughter everyone in his way.
When it comes to vampire stories Brian Lumely certainly left his mark on the world. Necroscope’s been my absolute favorite vampire saga and I can’t imagine anyone coming close to the brilliance and imagination he possessed. I had the honor of meeting the man almost ten years ago. Got my copy signed that day and got to meet one of the few people who’ve sincerely inspired me to write. It’s with a heavy heart I write this but how could I not? The man will be missed but his legacy lives on.
Necrscope is only one of the many great contributions he made to the field of horror and bizarre tales. Lumley must also be praised for his extensive contribution to the Cthulhu Mythos, many of which I own. Some could argue few have worked more extensively in the eldritch world Lovecraft invented than Brian Lumley. If there’s anyone who has please let me know because I’ll be adding their work to my library soon. Fans also celebrate the incredible Titus Crow saga – that’s a whole article all on its own if we were to get into that.
Not to mention many fans hail Khai of Khem to be Lumley’s best work yet. Again, this is only the surface of his many darkly imaginative works.
What would these books be though without the awesome cover art? If you’re noticing a trend it’s because each of these covers were done by Lumley’s friend, the one and only Bob Eggleton. Both of these men brought us some amazing nightmares.
In closing, well what more can I say? He was a great man and one of the few heroes I was blessed to meet. I’m saddened his pen is now set aside and the typewriter that spelled vampiric horror for decades now sits in gray silence. Thank you for all the amazing stories, stories I got lost in. You took me on an adventure that started in my teens while I lived overseas and I’ve crossed the world with a copy of Lord of the Rings and a Necroscope book in my backpack. Who knew I would actually stand in your presence? Little ol’ me from St. Petersburg, Russia! What a world. Goodbye, kind sir, and again thank you.
