31 Nights of Halloween: Clap Clap

During the 31 Nights of Halloween, even simple things--like house-sitting--can lead to dire consequences, especially if you fail to follow instructions....

Clap Clap (2017)
Starring: Aaron Burt and Andrew Burt
Director: Brandon Piskorik
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars



As far as I recall, this is the second short film we've featured here that revolved around "The Clapper" (or similar devices). Click here to see how another filmmaker treated this subject during the 2018 season of the 31 Nights of Halloween.

Pet Sematary by Hatchem Social

This eerie, jazzy version of "Pet Sematary" may be one of the most undeservedly obscure, most creative, best executed, and creepiest renditions out there! It was recorded for a 2014 limited edition EP.

31 Nights of Halloween: My New Cellphone

When you get a new cellphone, should you make a clean break, like you do when upgrading from one lover to a new one? Will it be easier when replacing the center of your universe? The young woman in tonight's offering should have asked herself those questions.

My New Cellphone (2018)

Starring: Yoon Joo

Director: Inchun Oh

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Tuneful Tuesday with Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish is a teen-aged singer/songwriter who burst onto the pop music scene in 2017, and has enjoyed a number of Top 40 Hits over the past couple years. (She first began to grow her following with a song she released on SoundCloud.)

Among her hits is "Bury a Friend", which is a spooky song that has a supremely creepy video directed by horror film director Michael Chaves. If you're looking for something to stir the Halloween Spirits, then this is it! (I give it Eight Out of Ten Stars!)


And it's a sign of how out of touch I am with popular music these days; I hadn't heard of this young lady until I went looking for short films and music videos to showcase during this year's 31 Nights of Halloween celebration. (If you're old ad out of touch like me, you can learn more about Eilish and her debut album--"When We Fall Alseep, Where Do We Go?"--at her website by clicking here.

31 Nights of Halloween: Dual

While it's the time of year when ghoulies and ghosties wander the land, it is also the time when imaginary friends may manifest themselves. That could be good or bad... depending on where you are on the friend scale. We present tonight's short film as a case study.

Dual (2018)
Starring: Jack Scaggs, Julianna Drajkó, Anthony Rocco Kraft, and Troy Antoine LaFaye
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars


(This film is ultimately predictable, but it presents this well-worn subject expertly, and the cast all give great performances. What's even better, the director seemed to understand his budget and technical limitations, so we aren't subjected to bad computer graphics or other lamely executed special effects.)

31 Nights of Halloween: The Whistle, Chapter 2

We led into this year's 31 Nights of Halloween short film celebration with the introduction of a mysterious creature and the even more mysterious whistle that is heard when it is near, in The Whistle. Now, the creature returns in a direct sequel... with the mystery deepeing and the story expanding in many different directions. This saga is one that is worthy of telling in the every-deepinging shadows of October, and Chapter 3 will be found in this space on Sunday, October 27. Be sure come back for it!


The Whiste: Chapter 2 (2018)
Starring: Klaus Quirin, Vanessa Sacco, Laura Welter, and Kai Bost
Director: Klaus Quirin
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars


One particularly noteworthy thing about the first two Whistle films is that they're essentially silent pictures. (Yes, we get some horror movie sound effects, but I think these would be just as spooky if all we had were the visuals and the music.)

Pet Sematary by Midwinter

I'm not a fan of the speed-/death metal where the lyrics are growled in a fashion that almost always puts me in mind of the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. Nonetheless, Midwinter turned out an excellent cover of "Pet Sematary" and included it on their 2010 CD Between Wisdom and Lunacy.


(I can't really fault a band for their chosen style and genre, but I think that the lead singer of this band has more potential than is heard here. There seems to be a really good voice shining through every now and then.)

31 Nights of Halloween: Hello

Sometimes, I watch a short film and wish it was just the beginning of a feature. "Hello", a tale of mysterious phone calls and serial killings, was one of those! (And even if you don't find yourself imagining where a story might go if the action continued past the end credits, I'm pretty sure this will help stir the Halloween spirit within you, as the 31 Nights of Halloween continue!)

Hello (2013)
Starring: Claire J. Foy, Hugh Sweeney, and Iggy Roddy
Director: Hugh Sweeney
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

31 Nights of Halloween: NoEnd House

Haunted House attractions are popular this time of year, and they pop up everywhere; some of you may even attend one or three to enjoy some safe Halloween scares. Just be sure they really are just safe scares, or you may end up the hero of tonight's short film.
While there are a couple missteps in "NoEnd House", it is generally tense and creepy... and great use of sound design, lighting, and some very subtle visual touches crack up the tension as David (Keene) tries to make it through the house's scary rooms.


NoEnd House (2018)
Starring: Connor Keene
Director: Ethan Lindner
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

31 Nights of Halloween: Lilith

Tonight's selection is a sharply focused and spooky tale of a young mother, her baby, and a baby-stealing demon. It's strong effort that, sadly, doesn't end as powerfully as it should. Still... it's well worth the five minutes it will take to watch it.

Lilith (2019)
Starring: Andrea Gilder and Aria Gilder
Director: A.M. Borbón
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

Pet Sematary by Helalyn Flowers

In 2013, Helalyn Flowers included a cover of "Pet Sematary" on their White Me In/Black Me Out CD. This Italian rock duo put their original spin on the song while still maintaining the spirit of the Ramones throughout. My only complaint is that the mixing seems off; I wish the lead vocalist was a little clearer.

Still, it's an excellent version that should have you nodding your head to the beat as the October shadows grow darker during this Halloween season...

Tuneful Tuesday with Lindsey Stirling

Lindsey Stirling, the Dancing Violinist, performs her original composition "Moon Trance" and attends the biggest zombie dance party since the one Michael Jackson threw in the 1980s...

Every Tuesday from today through Halloween. there's be another fun or spooky music video to help get you in the proper mood, as we once again celebrate the 31 Nights of Halloween here at Terror Titans. 

31 Nights of Halloween Double Feature!

There's some thing lurking around deserted parking lots at night... so beware! We're starting this, the second week of  the 31 Nights of Halloween with two cautionary tales. We'd hate for any of our visitors to fall victim to the Moonlight Man!

(These are both really nicely done mini fright films, especially the first one. It's particularly nice the way writer/director Danny Donahue varies the tone of the two shorts.)


The Moonlight Man (2016)
Starring: Casey Fichtner and Philip Kreyche
Director: Danny Donahue
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars




The Moonlight Man (2017)
Starring: Bradley J. Herman and Philip Kreyche
Director: Danny Donahue
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

31 Nights of Halloween: Okay Google...

Tonight's selection for your 31 Nights of Halloween viewing pleasure is another example of how horror always keeps pace with the march of technology. It's a nice little chiller... but I feel like it ends just as it's starting to get good!

Okay Google (2019)
Starring: Calvin Young
Director: Levi Morgan
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

31 Nights of Halloween: Curtain

There was a time when the only place horror movie characters were safe was in the bathroom... because no-one in Movieland ever went into bathrooms. Those days are long gone, however, as you'll see in tonight's mini fright-film!

Curtain (2019)
Starring: Allison Elaine and Vincent Bombara
Director: Greg Vogt
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars


If you're a seasoned horror movie watcher, there isn't anything in "Curtain" that will shock you (or even surprise you), but it's well-acted, features some nice cinematography, and great sound design. It's a well-done little bit of filmmaking.

31 Nights of Halloween: Scratch

I watched tonight's selection twice, and I still am left wondering what exactly is going on in it. Maybe that's because I've never been a drug-addled 1950s housewife, maybe it's something else... but despite the cartoon question marks floating in the air above my head, this is a perfectly crafted, excellently acted, very creepy, and highly engaging piece of work that's worthy of the 31 Nights of Halloween. Check it out! Tell me what's happening in this film in the comments, please!


Scratch (2016)
Starring: Bel Deliá, Camron Robertson, Kate Avery, and Alexandra Bard
Director: Emma Bell
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

31 Nights of Halloween: Agatha

Bathing is potentially a very dangerous activity for beautiful young women during the 31 Nights of Halloween, as tonight's offering shows. My advice, ladies? Use wash cloths, plenty of deodorant and an extra dash of perfume from now until November 1.

Agatha (2017)
Starring: Devyn LaBella
Director: Alex Goyette
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Pet Sematary by Starcrawler

This cover of the Ramones masterpiece was played during the end credits of the 2019 remake of the "Pet Sematary" movie. It's a great cover, in that Starcrawler has unquestionably made this song their own, but you can still feel the spirit of the Ramones hovering in the background.




FYI, Starcrawler is spending this October touring the American West and Midwest. Click here for their schedule; if they're going to be near you, maybe you should see if there are still tickets to the show!

31 Nights of Halloween: Suggestion Box

If you live in an apartment or condo, you know how nice it can be to have responsive management and maintainance staff. You also know how annoying it can be to have busybodies who stick their nose in everyone's business. Both of these everyday situations form the foundation of this neat little slice of domestic horror.


Suggestion Box (2016)
Starring: Nikyah Christie and Dale Christie
Director: Tarrell Christie
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

31 Nights of Halloween: Larry

It's the time of year when the Terror Titans blog shambles from the grave to bring you short films to help get in you in the mood for the Big Night of ghosts and creepy-crawlies! Welcome to the 31 Nights of Halloween!

Our first offering will be especially relatable if you work the night shift, alone, and in an isolated spot. It's a nicely staged little horror morsel.

Larry (2017)
Starring: Joe Calarco
Director: Jacob Chase
Rating: Six of Ten Stars