Found It

My thoughts on “Found Footage” type movies: It only really works once, and is dependent on spoilers not being leaked. Blair Witch had a great set up – but this was before we had the tsunami of internet spoilers of today. When Blair Witch came out, my roommate was following all the viral stories and fake interviews and when she finally saw the movie she was so scared she locked the deadbolt on our apartment so I couldn’t get in after a night out. I pounded on her window but she was convinced I was the Blair Witch coming to get her so she didn’t answer me for long enough that I was soaked by the rain when she finally did. My date was laughing his ass off. Good times.

It was really the first big success of it’s kind, but once the cat was out of the bag, it was over. No one ever really recaptured that War-of-the-Worlds type magic with Found Footage movies – the closest may have been Paranormal Activity. Without the general population *believing* that this is real, found footage, it just becomes a poorly filmed, usually kinda boring, movie. I think it has it’s place, but it works much better as something that is supporting the main feature. Like The Ring tape – it’s a film within the film. Found Footage also works as extra stuff for the credits, cut scenes, and bonus features for the DVD, but ultimately, I think it’s going to be really hard to ever make another successful Found Footage full-length feature film.

Bustin’ Makes Me Feel Good

I’m sure many of you have seen the new teaser trailer for the next Ghostbusters movie in the works – this time featuring what’s left of the original cast (?) and helmed by Jason Reitman. I first saw it on the official Blues Brothers Instagram, so it certainly seems as though Aykroyd is supporting it. If you haven’t been exposed to the teaser yet, you can google it or click here.

I saw the original Ghostbusters movie in the theater in 1984, and have been a huge fan ever since. I liked GB2, and I watched the heck out of The Real Ghostbusters cartoon. I loved the 2016 all-women Ghostbusters and thought it was hugely underrated (much like the Munsters reboot, Mockingbird Lane).

We have the original Ghostbusters role-playing game, which posits Venkman has decided to turn the GB into a franchise, and you’ve bought into it. I still think this is a fantastic idea for a film, especially since there are so many “haunted” locations across the world and so much interest in the paranormal. And let’s face it – the original cast is getting on and probably not really up for running around with a proton pack strapped to their back. Stanz would be a perfect mentor for new kids, Venkman would happily take their money, and Winston would eye roll the whole time while checking up on them.
They would all fondly, solemnly drink to Egon’s memory.

And if I were to be granted a wish, it would be that the 2016 movie would be acknowledged as part of the same universe, just that they were in charge of New York now, while the boys went underground for whatever reason. There’s plenty of set up for that in the movie, if they decided to go that route (“the cat HAS been out of the bag before..”. Everyone just needs to get along and enjoy the new stories. The video game that came out was a great addition to it, too, and I wish it had sold well enough that they’d make it backwards compatible for my NextGen system, because I’d like to play it again.

I kind of hate that this is sort of steam rolling over the 2016 movie as a ‘well, fine, have it your way”, but ultimately, I like that we’re getting more Ghostbusters. Yes, more of this. Update it, bring me the snark, bring me the tech, just bring it all to me. Because I will always want more Ghostbusters.

Knock Nøkken

I love learning about monsters from mythology around the world and today I serendipitously ran into a new one to me: Nøkken. I was actually doing research on dollmaker apps and ran across this Nøkken Maker game on Doll Divine.

There’s a nice little description on the site, but basically Nøkken is what you’d get if you mixed a Banshee, The Pied Piper and a Kelpie, and then put him in Viking territory. He’s a shape-shifter who lives in the water, and drowns victims either directly, or by luring them into the water with his supernaturally amazing fiddle or harp-playing.

Adding depth to the myth, Nøkken is also portrayed as sad and lonely, and willing to do you a solid by enchanting your own musical instrument if you leave tribute. Just don’t pull the water lilies from his pond, or you’re done for. As for the banshee/bean sidhe-like trait, apparently he’ll occasionally scream at a spot in the water where a death or tragedy is soon to take place.

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Check out the wiki for some more comparisons to other water spirits. Now, I personally think this is a *fantastic* costume/Halloween haunt idea for anyone who plays the violin/fiddle. A lake or pond effect is easily created with some fake water lilies and a fog machine. Attach a glow-stick to your bow, put on some fancy clothes and go fiddle in the front yard for some trick or treaters! It’s a great way to punch-up a water-ghost theme besides the usual skeletal pirates, or a great addition to them. Maybe that’s how they died? Surround your “lake” with ghosts of all kinds!