I select a thematically appropriate horror movie for each day of the year and tell you about it.
Why?
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
How do you get to decide what qualifies as a horror movie and where each one goes on the calendar?
I am the Mayor of Horror Movies.
Are all these movies good?
Oh gosh no. But I recommend all of them to the adventurous viewer.
What’s with the CWs?
In horror movies, disturbing material is part of the entertainment package. But for some viewers, elements like sexual violence or bigotry ruin the fun. For those folks, I include content warnings. That said, the warnings are based on my personal reactions and should not be expected to cover all potential cinematic skeeviness, so proceed with caution.
Who are you, aside from the mayor?
I’m Shaenon K. Garrity. I’m mostly a cartoonist. I watch a lot of scary movies while I draw cartoons.
Happy new year! And thanks for doing this very entertaining project.
(Death gets replaced every year and this year’s Death is a n’er do well alcoholic? I’ve heard of “Death be not Proud”, but this is really sort of dragging Death’s rep into, well, the gutter, no?)
Hard to believe this project is over. I’ve loved every day and I still have a long list of films to check out, but have greatly enjoyed what I’ve discovered so far! Notable new films for me: The Vanishing, Lifeforce, Shiver of the Vampires, Suspiria (I KNOW), Night of the Comet.
First & foremost, thank you for this year of movies! I very selfishly wish you would do this every year. Oh well, we’ll always have 2018.
I found an absolutely gorgeous copy of this movie on Youtube – I watched it on our TV and it was in pristine condition (kudos to whoever restored it). The visuals were often striking, and not just from a cinematic viewpoint – this movie is almost a century old, so it has an interesting historical side to it as well (it is the oldest full-length movie I have ever seen).
Lots of random thoughts popped into my head: I kept hoping that “Binky” would turn out to be the horse’s name; does each time zone get their own Grim Reaper every year, or is it more of a regional thing; are there ever any lady reapers (if so, hope they are named Susan); the toddlers in this movie, if they are still alive, are 100+ years old; no autos, but also no other carriages or horses; “Here’s Johnny!”; was everyone back then fond of blaming themselves for the faults of others, or was the main character just lucky that way.
I watched “Viy” just before I watched this one – it was almost like time traveling.
Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened!
I loved this idea and how you put it into practice! I also can’t believe we’re just gone through a complete YEAR – and am very curious to see what your next project is – or if we get another year.
Thanks for a year of horror! I’ve been consistently astounded by the range (in time, nationality, and tone) of the movies you’ve posted, and tickled by the frequent moments of recognition. All hail the Mayor of Horror Movies!
This project was so simply conceived yet so well done that it has been a highlight of my pop-culture education. And now I have a bunch more movies I need to watch. Thank you, Shaenon!
This has been a terrific project and one of my first stops every morning. I’ve been amazed by the breadth and depth, nearly a century of film from almost all over the world. And I still don’t know how you’ve managed to stay so current in horror film with a small child.
Perhaps the only question I’m left with is what you would recommend for the one day of the year we didn’t have in 2018: Leap Day?
I watched The Phantom Carriage a few years ago on New Year’s Eve. At the time, we had a bit of a mouse problem and had put traps down. At two minutes to midnight, we heard a snap. I still pity that poor mouse, having to fetch away the souls of dead mice for the whole following year.
Happy new year! And thanks for doing this very entertaining project.
(Death gets replaced every year and this year’s Death is a n’er do well alcoholic? I’ve heard of “Death be not Proud”, but this is really sort of dragging Death’s rep into, well, the gutter, no?)
Thank you! And I guess each year we get the Death we deserve.
Well, that was 1922. I hate to imagine what we deserve for 2019.
….
…it’s going to be a clown rapist, isn’t it?
(Either a clown who rapes or someone who rapes clowns, one or the other)
Thank you for this year of movies, Shaenon! You have made 2018, a bit of a horror movie in itself, just a little bit better for all of us.
Thank you!
Happy New Year, and more thanks for this great site. It has introduced me to, and reminded me of, a lot of great films. What happens next year?
Hard to believe this project is over. I’ve loved every day and I still have a long list of films to check out, but have greatly enjoyed what I’ve discovered so far! Notable new films for me: The Vanishing, Lifeforce, Shiver of the Vampires, Suspiria (I KNOW), Night of the Comet.
First & foremost, thank you for this year of movies! I very selfishly wish you would do this every year. Oh well, we’ll always have 2018.
I found an absolutely gorgeous copy of this movie on Youtube – I watched it on our TV and it was in pristine condition (kudos to whoever restored it). The visuals were often striking, and not just from a cinematic viewpoint – this movie is almost a century old, so it has an interesting historical side to it as well (it is the oldest full-length movie I have ever seen).
Lots of random thoughts popped into my head: I kept hoping that “Binky” would turn out to be the horse’s name; does each time zone get their own Grim Reaper every year, or is it more of a regional thing; are there ever any lady reapers (if so, hope they are named Susan); the toddlers in this movie, if they are still alive, are 100+ years old; no autos, but also no other carriages or horses; “Here’s Johnny!”; was everyone back then fond of blaming themselves for the faults of others, or was the main character just lucky that way.
I watched “Viy” just before I watched this one – it was almost like time traveling.
Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened!
I loved this idea and how you put it into practice! I also can’t believe we’re just gone through a complete YEAR – and am very curious to see what your next project is – or if we get another year.
Thanks for a year of horror! I’ve been consistently astounded by the range (in time, nationality, and tone) of the movies you’ve posted, and tickled by the frequent moments of recognition. All hail the Mayor of Horror Movies!
P.S. You know, I’ve still never managed to see Rosemary’s Baby (January 1).
This project was so simply conceived yet so well done that it has been a highlight of my pop-culture education. And now I have a bunch more movies I need to watch. Thank you, Shaenon!
This has been a terrific project and one of my first stops every morning. I’ve been amazed by the breadth and depth, nearly a century of film from almost all over the world. And I still don’t know how you’ve managed to stay so current in horror film with a small child.
Perhaps the only question I’m left with is what you would recommend for the one day of the year we didn’t have in 2018: Leap Day?
Thank you all so much! I’m glad I could bring horror to so many.
I watched The Phantom Carriage a few years ago on New Year’s Eve. At the time, we had a bit of a mouse problem and had put traps down. At two minutes to midnight, we heard a snap. I still pity that poor mouse, having to fetch away the souls of dead mice for the whole following year.
This has been a very entertaining year. Thanks for all the great write-ups!
Thank you Shaenon, it’s your fault I know a lot about a genre I don’t really like.
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