I am haunted by phantasms, of late-
kept company by their tittering laughter,
told stories and been diverted by
flashing eyes, white hands fluttering.
A chorus of ghost girls has come to tea.
Glittering masks and bony arms,
they’re always hungry but never
say much. They seem to be smoking,
but you can’t smell it. Strange
ladies, these friends who are
here, and not. Glamourous, grim.
Have you met them on the stair?
Long skirts snagged on a nail,
a handful of snarled hair, a scrap
of shirtwaist in feedsack flowers.
Elegant shades and spectres in tatters
and smeared makeup, blood lipstick.
Violent hues of heliotrope and azure,
shredded petal and dirty amethyst.
Ghostly girl
Too light to stand on the ground
Nothing you do is done
All I can tell
You are not real
Girl, what are you doing here
I don’t know why I am here myself
No one else seems to know
Nobody likes a spook
Or so I’ve deduced
But I have loved some ghosts in my time
But that doesn’t mean I want them around
I’d rather be lost than found
I thought I would lose my mind
But through your eyes I see
Past the billboards to the trees
And the flowering weeds
Grow through the cracks of the city
And all these things will go
And all these seeds will grow
And you’ll be home in the sky
- Ghostly Girl by Jolie Holland
You can listen to it here, if you like.
Can you imagine what it would be like
to be of their ilk? Passing through each
other when waltzing, and never tasting
the cake or the fruit of life again? For all
their allure, I’ll take my aches and every
flavor be it bitter or no. I won’t stand at
that window staring, willing it to be a door.
This is their favorite time, the twilit blue hour. Mine, too.
Do you know the song of the two sisters?
Mlle. Ghoul posted about it recently,
a funny coincidence as I’ve been thinking
about that song all the time lately. It’s one of
my favorites. My papa taught it to me, a long time
ago- I love to hear him sing it, though I prefer to
sing a different version. There are so many!
This looks like a still from El Orfanato, no? But, is it?
Any clues on the origins of this, and all the preceding
images would be very welcome. I’m afraid I don’t know
know who to attribute them all to – apologies, admiration
and thanks in advance. I always try to be good about
crediting the source of a photo, but in this electric
labyrinth, they can be hard to track down.
☛ A few years ago, I decided to go on a horror flick rampage.
I watched all the films that terrified me as a child, and
discovered some eternal favorites. You can read all
about it here: Scare Tactics
I’m very curious to know about your favorite horror movies-
I’m running out of things I haven’t seen! Any recommendations?
☛ For the last month, we’ve been watching nothing but scary movies!
On our list: Silent Hill (which I thought was great, despite being based
on a video game), Eli Roth’s entire oeuvre (can you call three films
an oeuvre? Whatever.) What else? We have Sheitan still to watch.
The French really have one over on us, as far as disturbing goes.
We finished watching Martyrs tonight, and I can say without a doubt
that it was the most disturbing horror film I’ve ever seen. Very
masterfully done, but so upsetting. If you’re affected in a lasting way
by intense films, I would perhaps caution against seeing it. Really.
The director, Pascal Laugier, also did Saint Ange (House of Voices),
which I liked. His films stay with you a long time. Hope I can sleep tonight!
☛ During Fantastic Fest here in Austin a little while back, I met a
charming Argentinian filmmaker named Andy Muschietti,
who told me about his short film “Mama”, which caught the
attention of Guillermo del Toro, who has become something
of a mentor as the film grows into a feature. I can’t wait to see
it – if the three minutes of the short film are any indication,
then we can expect a very frightening debut!
You can watch it here, if you dare: Mama
☛ The night before Halloween, we visited a haunted house,
Austin’s famed House of Torment. It was lovely, very layered
and detailed. When I get scared, I tend to laugh a lot- which
only encouraged the monsters to follow me around more.
Nothing can beat the utter creepiness of my experience
in a near-abandoned haunted house in Vienna a few years
ago, however. A story for another time, alas. Remind me later?
Let’s see, what else? I told you I wasn’t done with Halloween yet!
☛ Halloween playlists from the inimitable John Coulthart:
His lists of spooky music and voodoo music, inspiring a trip to the record store!
☛ Looking Miss Roxanne Carter’s Halloween costumes over the years
always delights me- especially her Last Unicorn, and her Marchesa Casati!
☛ Oh, and a very happy (belated) birthday to Coilhouse Magazine!
Two years, y’all! So thrilled and proud to be a part of such a fantastic thing.
12 Comments
I was going to suggest Martyrs, or ask if you’d seen it – I have yet to watch it. It really intrigues me, but I know I am going to have to be in a very dark mood to watch it, as I am pretty light-hearted. I DO love mind-fucks, though, but that one makes me wary. My favourite horror is the first Saw movie (not a fan of the rest, really, though the second was okay).
Have you seen High Tension? I liked it, but most horror fans LOVE it.
I’m a bit late to the party, but I only just saw Polanski’s “Repulsion” with a very young, very disturbing Catherine Deneuve. Fucked up my simple, wee country head something fierce for the last week.
And from a similar dusty bin, the mid-70s “The Changeling” with George C. Scott is always worth a re-peek.
More recently, I’m quite enamored with “Quarantine,” (and its Spanish original, “Rec”), and the same directors’ earlier, non-remake film, “The Poughkeepsie Tapes.”
But the one that crept under my skin most acutely, and stayed there festering the longest, was “Funny Games.” Either the original German or the U.S. Naomi Watts version will do. Same director on both. (Me, I like Mz. Watts, and I don’t speak German, so it was preferable.)
Unpleasant dreams, my lamb,
T.
You have shared so many things here that I do not even know where to start. That image, the one you say reminds you of El Orfanato…I am certain that I have seen that just recently…maybe in the past day or so, and I too found it struck a chord in me that brought to mind that film. By the way…did you feel that the movie – though creeping and hauntingly atmospheric most of the way through…sort of built up to a Disneyfied ending? Kind of like..”oh! well now. I guess that wasn’t scary at all!” Hm.
“Keep doubting Etienne” (I don’t know why I have to turn everything into a fashion opportunity, heh : http://www.polyvore.com/keep_doubting_etienne/set?id=8797857)
I saw Martyrs at the beginning of the summer…I was prepared for it mentally, I think, but I am still not sure what I thought. The Man and I spent at least an hour on the IMDB forums afterward reading other viewer’s theories. Some of them were surprisingly high brow! (You do have to wade through the required foolishness though : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1029234/board )
Some horror movies I have seen this year that left an impression upon me are:
Laid to Rest – In the vein of old-school slashers, not very glamorous, but pretty gory.
Tenebre – Typical Argento, but he can do no wrong.
Plus great early 80’s score, and I say that without a sense of irony.
Alucarda – Pretty spanish vampire film
Demoniacs – Pretty Jean Rollins lady-ghouls
Lemora: A child’s tale of the supernatural – Pretty , pretty coming of age tale of the weird set in an eerie southern shanty town (that’s a bad synopsis, but it’s all I remember)
Let’s Scare Jessica to Death – My favourite of anything I watched this year. Set in the 70’s I think, so it’s got that hazy, soft core feel to it.
Beyond lovely.
I am off to listen to the song you posted above, it sounds lovely, and right up my alley!
Found this picture of m.i.a. today . . .
Well, It’s not my favorite, but “Eyes of Fire” is fun- though hard-to-find (the 1983 version). The wood witch who stores souls in trees (shivers)= beautiful.
…et voila, my dear lady!
El Orfanto-esque photografie: (a genius Swede, Denise Grünstein)
http://cameralink.com/photographers/denise-grunstein/editorial/17157
And I knew Jolie Holland sounded familiar, I have A Blue Woman anthology in which she’s moaning about morphine!
You have shared so many things here that I do not even know where to start. That image, the one you say reminds you of El Orfanato…I am certain that I have seen that just recently…maybe in the past day or so, and I too found it struck a chord in me that brought to mind that film. By the way…did you feel that the movie – though creeping and hauntingly atmospheric most of the way through…sort of built up to a Disneyfied ending? Kind of like..”oh! well now. I guess that wasn’t scary at all!” Hm.
“Keep doubting Etienne” (I don’t know why I have to turn everything into a fashion opportunity, heh : http://www.polyvore.com/keep_doubting_etienne/set?id=8797857)
I saw Martyrs at the beginning of the summer…I was prepared for it mentally, I think, but I am still not sure what I thought. The Man and I spent at least an hour on the IMDB forums afterward reading other viewer’s theories. Some of them were surprisingly high brow! (You do have to wade through the required foolishness though : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1029234/board )
Some horror movies I have seen this year that left an impression upon me are:
Laid to Rest – In the vein of old-school slashers, not very glamorous, but pretty gory.
Tenebre – Typical Argento, but he can do no wrong.
Plus great early 80’s score, and I say that without a sense of irony.
Alucarda – Pretty spanish vampire film
Demoniacs – Pretty Jean Rollins lady-ghouls
Lemora: A child’s tale of the supernatural – Pretty , pretty coming of age tale of the weird set in an eerie southern shanty town (that’s a bad synopsis, but it’s all I remember)
Let’s Scare Jessica to Death – My favourite of anything I watched this year. Set in the 70’s I think, so it’s got that hazy, soft core feel to it.
Beyond lovely.
I am off to listen to the song you posted above, it sounds lovely, and right up my alley!
our co-worker angela at the pied cow in portland had a series of photographs taken in the kitchen of said establishment with different cameras belonging to a few different folks- in all, her head was not shown. i mean, the heads of the other people right beside yer were, the collar of her dress showed.. but no head. the area behind where her head would have been was even clear- like window pane, etc…theres a pattern…
Vampyr – Der Traum des Allan Grey is always a favorite of mine! beautiful post as always my dear, thank you
your bee-log is always such a gift.
The el Orfanado is Denise Grunstein; see:
http://www.cameralink.com/photographers/denise-grunstein/editorial/17157
KYLEE:
That’s going on my list! Thanks lady!
MLLE. GHOUL:
Thank you for your horror movie recommendations- I can’t wait to watch them!
The only one I’ve seen is Lemora, which is an all-time favorite!
I love your polyvore sets so much- and the fact that you made one inspired by Martyrs is just amazing.
I love the hideous face of poor La Criatura juxtaposed with the white ruffles and demure Santa Maria di Novella!
Good call on Denise Grünstein- I should’ve guessed! She is so amazing!
I adored her pumpkin couture- one of my favorite photos last fall:
http://www.angeliska.com/2008/11/russet-bone/
You are an endless fountain of wow, my dear! I wish it was easier to comment on your tumblr blog-
I am constantly amazed by the magic you post there. Happy Autumn to you!
KELLEY:
Yes! Eyes of Fire is one of my very favorites! Something about the spirits in that part of the country, those woods…
Makes me think of the energy behind Blair Witch, eh? Super, super creepy!
TODD:
Isn’t Repulsion freakin’ incredible? My goodness, it really gets under your skin.
Hard to look at crack in the wall and bunnies the same way ever again.
The Changeling is in my netflix queue, and REC is sitting right here waiting patiently in its little red sleeve!
Can’t wait. I saw the German original Funny Games years ago with Miss Pea in New Orleans.
Definitely a “feel-bad” film. I’ve held off on seeing the re-make, as that little twist just kind of ruined it for me.
I moosh you from afar! Moosh! Moosh!
LORRA:
Yes, I’ve been on a French horror kick it seems. The French are so perverse, and generally just make better films –
at least, I’ve been fairly impressed so far. High Tension, though… Man, what a nasty film! Some of the imagery
has really stayed with me. That beautiful decapitated head with the long black hair! However, I had a lot of issues
with that one – again, with the annoying twists! Have you ever seen Ozon’s See the Sea? Goddamn chilling.
MICHAEL:
Thank you, kind sir!
I have not seen See the Sea, but I checked out a synopsis, sounds intriguing.
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