I’m really emotional that another Scarecrow Video Psychotronic Challenge is over. In another rough year, this was something I really looked forward to and even got to fly across the country to visit Scarecrow right in the middle of all of this.
Here’s an overview of what we watched. You can also check out the Letterboxd list, as well as our lists for 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Day 1. RE-ANIMATED: Businesses are opening back up (we did!) and things are getting back to “normal” so to kick things off you get to watch a movie where something gets brought back to life. We’re baaaaaack!
Erotic Nights of the Living Dead
Day 2. MASKS ARE STILL REQUIRED: You know it, at least one character has to wear a mask for the entire movie.
Day 3. HIGH SPIRITS: Tickle your funny bones with a side splitter, a gut buster, a real scream. Go on, laugh your head off!
Day 4. WHEN THE TABLES TURN: Victim becomes stalker, hunter becomes the hunted etc.
Day 5. REEKING HAVOC: Sewer dwellers making a mess of things up on the surface.
Day 6. IT CAME FROM THE SEA: Some kind of threat from below the brine.
Day 7. IT CAME FROM THE SCREEN: One where a TV is a major part to the story.
Day 8. CRAFT NIGHT: Cast your eyes upon the screen, whence a witch’s spell is surely seen.
Day 9. SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL: One with a misunderstood freak/mutant/abomination etc.
10. RITUALS: It’s good to have a routine, even if it’s evil.
Doctor Strain the Body Snatcher
Day 11. SKINS & NEEDLES: Body art or body harm? When getting the mark leads to all hell breaking loose.
Day 12. CAMPFIRES & FLASHLIGHTS: One where a character tells a scary story and then… flashback.
Day 13. THE RUBY ANNIVERSARY: Watch something that came out in 1981. The redder the better, right Ben?
Day 14. SPOILED ALERT!: Watch something with grotesque eating in it. Or at least some expired food. Yuck.
Day 15. KILLED BY TECHNOLOGY: The gadgets will getcha (<-autocorrect that one, phone).
Day 16. VIDEO STORE DAY: This is the big one. Watch something physically rented or bought from an actual video store. If you don’t have access to one of these sacred archival treasures then watch a movie with a video store scene in it at least. #vivaphysicalmedia
Day 17. HEADS OFF AT THE PASS: Something with a decapitation in it.
Day 18. ALL THUMBS: Picking up a hitchhiker can be risky… lift with your legs, not your back.
Day 19. CAN’T YOU HEAR ME KNOCKIN’?: When you let an unexpected guest in, you may be in for a long night.
Day 20. CASTLEMANIA: Something that takes place in, where else, a castle.
Day 21. BARN HOWLS: There are strange things afoot at the farm. Bonus points if you see a pumpkin patch!
Day 22. BEASTS OF BURDEN: One where a horse/donkey/mule/ox etc is doing some serious work.
Circle of Fear “Dark Vengeance”
Day 23. DEPT. OF INDUSTRY & LABOR: A story based on doing a job. Speaking of jobs, yours ain’t finished yet, 8 days to go!
Day 24. 2 CLOSE 4 COMFORT: A main character suffers from claustrophobia.
Day 25. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE*: Sleep deprived and still alive… for now. (*Does not have to be set in Seattle)
Day 26. DAY OF THE SERPENT: There better be a motherf*ing snake in this motherf*ing movie.
Day 27. ARTIFICIAL LIMBS: Robot arms, wooden legs or even a transplanted thing… whatever grabs you.
Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight
Day 28. THESE FISTS BREAK BRICKS: In celebration of the excellent new book, watch a martial arts movie.
Day 29. DOUBLE TROUBLE: There’s gotta be some twins in there somewhere.
Day 30. MARTINI SHOT: Blow off some Challenge steam with a hardy party scene.
Day 31. THAT’S A RAP: Watch one with a rapper-turned-actor in it, even if Samuel L. Jackson does not approve.
Now, I ask that you look into getting involved with Scarecrow Video.
As a nonprofit organization, they put your support to good use: expanding the film collection, hosting exciting in-store events, offering community programs, and celebrating film arts 363 days a year. For more information and to donate, visit their site.
B&S About Movies 