October Horror Challenge - Terrifier 2 (2022)

I already talked about the original Terrifier earlier in the month, so I figured Terrifier 2 would be the perfect "All Hallows Eve" movie. 

Plot

The Miles County Killer returns and his connection to Sienna Shaw and her brother Jonathan will tear their family and community apart... literally.

Review

It's the end of the month and I'm getting lazy. If you want to read an extended review of the film, check out this one I did last year. I rewatched the flick earlier this evening. While I didn't have the initial shock I did with the first viewing, I still had several wtf reactions during it. If you can stomach the chaos, its a gory and disgusting good time. 

The poster for Terrifier 3 has been linked and it's not going to be a Halloween flick... it's going to be a Christmas one!

In Your Game 

These stats are repeated from the ones I posted earlier in the month (though I did add the Evil Reborn trait).

Art the Clown (Outsider)
Armor Class: 12
Hit Dice: 36 (6 HD)
Move: 12
Actions: 2
Attack: By Weapon
Special: Fearless, Master of Pain, Regeneration (2 HP a round), Total Sadist, Toughness +2, Evil Reborn (will always come back)

Bonuses: +4 to Attack rolls, +2 to damage, +5 to Stealth

Alignment: Evil

Morale: 8

Madness: N/A
Terror: 15

HDE: 4

Master of Pain: Art can choose to make a devastatingly painful attack. If the attack hits it only deals 1 hit point of damage. However, the victim suffers Disadvantage on all skill checks and physical attacks for 1d4 rounds.

Total Sadist: Once Art begins to brutalize a target, he has a problem stopping until they are utterly tormented and dying. He must 

October Horror Challenge - Five Nights At Freddy's (2023)

Instead of doing "Remake is Better than the Original," which would have been Fright Night. Instead I went with the alternate "Video Game Movie" because I really wanted to watch FNAF.

Plot

A man haunted by his brother's kidnapping and struggling to take care of his younger sister, must take a job as a nightwatchmen at a rundown family entertainment center. 

Review

This movie has been shredded by most critics, but had an amazing box office opening and is great a lot of praise from fans of the series. The game's creator, Scott Cawthon wrote the story, screenplay, and served as a producer with Jason Blum. I have to say, that I'm a fan of Five Nights At Freddy's. I'm not an obsessive one, but I do enjoy the franchise and appreciate the deep lore it has. I thought the film was engaging and had great atmosphere. While I would have been fine with more gore, I understand the emphasis on implied horror rather than visual horror to cater to the younger fanbase. I do think a few extra jump scares would have been nice though, considering that's what the game is known for.

The animatronics looked great. They really do like like they walked right out of the game. I'm a fan of Josh Hutcherson and I think he plays a great, regular guy trying to do his best. Piper Rubio was fantastic as his little sister, Abby. Matthew Lillard was phenomenal too. There are some Youtube personality cameos that are a nice touch too. The story deviated enough from the established story to be its own thing, but still included all the important beats and hallmarks of FNAF. I know there isn't a lot of competition, but I'd say this is one of the best video game flicks of all time.

Finally this one is for any FNAF fan reading this. I believe the voice spelling out "Come Find Me" at the very end of the credits is Puppet (who I bet is Garrett in this continuity).

In Your Game 

For the spirits of the murdered children, use the stats for Ghost, Spirit of Pain, when they aren't possessing the animatronics (though they are neutral, not evil).

Animatronic, Possessed Fazbear (Construct)

Armor Class: 10

Hit Dice: 4+3
Move: 12
Actions: 1
Attack: Bite (d6)
Special: Immune to mind-affecting effects, Madness, Poisons, Being Sickened, Diseases, and Critical Hits, Toughness +2, electricity stuns for d4 rounds

Bonuses: +2 to hit, +4 to Melee damage, +4 to Dancing,  +5 to Art & Music

Alignment: Neutral 

Morale: 10

Madness: NA
Terror: 11

HDE: 4

Trick or Treat!

 This random loot table from Lady Tiefling includes some magical candy for your D&D game.

Music Monday - A Grave Mistake

I was going to share the conclusion to Welcome to Horrorwood, Meat and Great tonight, but since it's Devil's Night I am sharing INK's Crow-inspired track. Skip to about the 4 minute mark get into the actual song and past the album's meta narrative. 

I think I prefer the acoustic version.

To add some gaming related content to this one, I just want to remind folks that there is a cinematic adventure for The Crow using the 5e take on d20 Modern, Everyday Heroes.

The Crow Cinematic Adventure

Eric Draven Miniature

Forsight's Folly (Prequel PDF adventure)

Will You Open The Final Door?

Want another free horror game? Mapgpie games has temporarily made the pdf for their Powered by the Apocalypse game Bluebeard's Bride free. 

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WILL YOU OPEN THE FINAL DOOR?

A young bride is wed to an ugly, but powerful man with a blue beard. He invites her to explore the house...but one room is forbidden. Eventually, the young bride falls prey to her curiosity and opens it, discovering the gruesome display of former brides murdered...

Explore Bluebeard's mansion and create your own beautifully tragic version of the dark fairy tale with Bluebeard's Bride. Experience the nightmarish memories that haunt the rooms of this broken place and discover the truth of what happened here. But it is up to you and your friends to decide whether or not you are a faithful or disloyal bride.

In this book, you get:

Five playbooks, each representing a different aspect of the Brides personality

Detailed instructions for running the game and playing to find out what happens

Tools for creating your own custom servants, rooms, and horors for Bluebeard's Bride

Tips and tricks for managing horror at your table, including safety mechanisms

Bluebeard's Bride is an investigatory horror tabletop roleplaying game that makes use of the same rules-light engine as Apocalypse World, Monsterhearts, and Urban Shadows to create stories of feminine horror in the vein of Crimson Peak, American Horror Story, and The Company of Wolves.

3-5 players | One-Shot Play | 2-4 hour sessions | Rated Adults Only | Powered By the Apocalypse

Free Nordic Horror Goodness

I have never played Vaesen, but the game looks gorgeous and you can snag the pdf today only at the amazing price of free.  

Here's info from the product page:

Welcome to the Mythic North – northern Europe of the nineteenth century, but not as we know it today. A land where the myths are real. A cold reach covered by vast forests, its few cities lonely beacons of industry and enlightenment – a new civilization dawning. But in the countryside, the old ways still hold sway. There, people know what lurks in the dark. They know to fear it.

Vaesen – Nordic Horror Roleplaying is written by Nils Hintze and based on the work of Swedish illustrator and author Johan Egerkrans. Vaesen presents a dark Gothic setting steeped in Nordic folklore and the old myths of Scandinavia. The game mechanics utilize an adapted version of the award winning Year Zero Engine.

Key features:
· Ten ready to use archetypes let you create a character in minutes – or use the included life path tables and let the dice decide.
· Quick and flavorful rules for combat, investigations and horror.
· Rules for developing the player characters’ headquarters during campaign play.
· A detailed gazetteer of the Mythic North setting and the town of Upsala.
· A score of bloodcurdling vaesen to encounter, all beautifully illustrated by Johan Egerkrans.
· An introductory Mystery called The Dance of Dreams.

Go here and grab your pdf today!

Music Monday - You Can Hang

I've shared these videos before, but it spooky season and I love them, so here we are.  You Can Hang is JT Music's tribute to the video game, Dead by Daylight.

I'm the hero of the story, make a villain quit

Was a survivor, now I'm the one killin' it!

You can also check out the origin of their original killer, Killer Hook by watching this Dead by Daylight fan film.

October Horror Challenge - Green Room (2015)

While "Man Is The Real Monster" is a pretty common theme in horror films I decided to go with the most monstrous of people in real life, Nazis (and their discount Neo-Nazi descendants). 

Plot

When they witness a violent crime a punk band becomes trapped in an out of the way Neo-Nazi club. The find themselves besieged by skinheads that want to silence them permanently.

Review

I believe this is one of the first A24 flicks I watched. It's a brutal flick and hard to watch, but fantastic nonetheless. Anton Yelchin is lead, playing the band's bassist Pat. Imogen Poots plays Amber, the other lead. She's not a member of the band, but friend of one of the skinheads that's also trapped in the venue. The entire cast does an amazing job. You know they won't all survive but you really root for the band as they use whatever they can find, including a boxcutter, to fight back. The owner of the club and lead skinhead is played by Sir Patrick Stewart, in a chilling change of pace from his norm. 

If you like movies like John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 or other tense horror-thrillers, this is one to check out. Again, it's not an easy one to watch, but it's good. 

In Your Game 

Add these bastards to your game and let them get slaughtered with impunity. 

Skinhead, Human (Humanoid)

Armor Class: 10

Hit Dice: 1
Move: 12
Actions: 1
Attack: knife (d4-1) or 5' chain (d6-1)
Special: Disadvantage on Courage Saves and Morale checks unless leader is present. 

Bonuses: 

Alignment: Evil

Morale: 6

Madness: 1 (8)
Terror: -

HDE: 1/2 point

Items: denim vest, knife

October Horror Challenge - Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)

Because the movie I'm watching tomorrow is so heavy, I wanted something life to "Sci-Fi Horror" so I went with Killer Klowns From Outer Space.

Plot

Mike, a teen, and his friends witness a shooting star crash outside of their small town. They investigate and find that it's actually a space ship inhabited by horrifying alien Klowns. They do their best to warn the authorities and save their town.

Review

Confession time... this movie is one of the reasons I was afraid of horror movies until I was in my early 20's. I saw the dinosaur shadow puppet scene on HBO as a kid and it scarred me. However, today I think this movie is a well-crafted loving send up of retro-sci-fi horror covered in Klown makeup. The movie is genuinely creepy, despite also being goofy as Hell. The costume and set designs are fantastic. There are thrills, chills, and laughs to be had if you check this one out. 

The Klowns are still around. Spirit Halloween creates merchandise based on the property(product page). There is a new asymmetrical horror game coming out (watch here), a short film (watch here) was released a few years ago, and the creators would love to do a series (read more here). 

In Your Game 

I've posted several stat blocks based ok the Killer Klowns. I've decided to update them and reshare below.

Killer Klown From Outer Space (Alien Outsider)

Armor Class: 12
Hit Dice: 3
Move: 12
Actions: 1
Attack: Popcorn Gun (d4, 50' range) or Capture Device (Target makes Critical save or is bound)
Special: Weak Spot: Nose (ignore all other damage)

Bonuses: +2 to Hit

Alignment: Anarchist

Morale: 10

Madness: NA
Terror: 12 (once true nature is revealed)

HDE: 2

Any popcorn from a popcorn gun not destroyed will turn into a PopKorn Klown

PopKorn Clown (Alien Outsider)

Armor Class: 12
Hit Dice: 1
Move: 8
Actions: 1
Attack: Bite (d4-1)
Special: -

Bonuses: -

Alignment: Anarchist

Morale: 8

Madness: NA
Terror: 10

HDE: 1/2 pt

They were definitely not referred to as Klussy in the movie, that's a moniker I gave them.

Female Killer Klown From Outer Space aka Klussy (Alien Outsider)

Armor Class: 12
Hit Dice: 3
Move: 12
Actions: 1
Attack: Unarmed (1-2)
Special: Can inflate bosoms, attackers must make a DC 10 Wisdom check to be able to attack, Weak Spot: Nose (ignore all other damage)

Bonuses: +5 to seduction rolls

Alignment: Anarchist

Morale: 8

Madness: NA
Terror: -

HDE: 1

Jojo the Clownzilla (Alien Outsider)

Armor Class: 10

Hit Dice: 10
Move: 16
Actions: 2
Attack: Slam (2d6)
Special: Great Strength (capable of breaking walls, flipping cars, and other unbelievable feats ofstrength), Weak Spot: Nose (ignore all other damage)

Bonuses: +2 to Hit

Alignment: Anarchist

Morale: 10

Madness: NA
Terror: 15

HDE: 10

David S. Pumpkins... Any Questions?

Another spooky "Let's Play D&D With..." has been release. This time the article features David S. Pumpkins. You can read the original article here. For alternate 5e stats, check out the one's my friend Josh did on his blog, Bernie the Flumph. Also if you'd prefer a Mork Borg flavored Pumpkins, go here.

He also makes a brief appearance in:

Fuccubus Friday

More glorious Succubus cosplay from Kay Bear

October Horror Challenge - Vampires (1998)

It really was a toss-up for my "Favorite Horror Director." There are so many horror directors I love. Wes Craven and Stuart Gordon was in the running for favorite, but ultimately it came down to Guillermo del Toro and John Carpenter. As you can tell from the blog's title, Carpenter ultimately won out.

Plot

Jack Crow is an orphan that was raised by the Catholic church to hunt vampires. When his team is ambushed and killed by a master vampire, he and his partner team up with a young priest and sex worker that's slowly turning to a vampire to take out the master and get his revenge.

Review

Just going to start this one out by saying I love this flick, despite thinking James Woods is an absolute tool. I 100% cannot stand the dude. All that aside, this is one of my top 5 favorite vampire flicks. Jack Crow, played by Woods, is a pretty badass vampire hunter. I like the supporting cast. Tim Guinee is great as Father Adam. Daniel Baldwin is good as Jack's right hand man Montoya. Thomas Ian Griffith's Valek is classic master vampire and has a great screen presence. 

This one has some great dark humor. There's also some fantastic gore. The scene where Crow's team gets slaughtered is fantastic. Like Carpenter's best flicks, he does the music. It's got a very western sound, and ultimately the flick is kind of a western, disguised as a vampire flick.

In Your Game 

I decided to stat out the movie (and its sequel's) McGuffin for What Shadows Hide and We Die Young. I've included the lore from the movie, but added a bit to it to make it fit into those games (because Valek would definitely not be the first vampire in the setting).

Black Cross of Béziers

This ancient relic was forged in a small French town of the same name. It was used in the brutal reverse exorcism of heretical priest Jan Valek. The process turned him into a vampire, rumored by the Church to be the first, though records show this is definitely not true. 

If a priest performs a reverse exorcism, a vampire can be granted the ability to walk in the sun. This ritual involves the blood of a crusader being fed to the exorcised participant. The priest must complete the exorcism by the first light of dawn to completes the ritual.

Let's Play D&D With Horror Icons (And A Few Oddballs)

Source

I often share Meaghan Colleran's "Let's Play D&D With _____" monster stat blocks. Recently she shared one that is a master post to several of these articles. I wanted to share it and some posts to other 5e monsters she's created. 

• Generic Slasher
• Leatherface
• Pinhead and Lament Configuration
• Ghostface
• Samara
• Pennywise
• Sanderson Sisters
• Weeping Angel
• Dalek
• Predator
• Lady Dimitrescu
• Dimitrescu Daughter
• Zombie Shark (With Legs)
• The Meg

Also going to give a plug to Limitless Adventures' 80's Horror: Tunnel of Terror which is a fun toolkit that allows you to play modern 5e horror. 

Fuccubus Friday - IndieByrd

I may have more a bit of a crush on IndieByrd. 

Social Links

• Twitter
• TikTok
• Twitch

October Horror Challenge - Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023)

Based on The Tale of Timmy Baterman, a prequel to 2019's Pet Sematary dropped on Paramount+ earlier this month and I decided to make it my "New Movie" choice.

Plot

In 1969, Judd Crandall and his girlfriend Donna prepare to leave for the Peace Corps. Unfortunately a series of events and the town's dark history change their plans.

Review

This is a prequel that didn't need to exist, but overall I enjoyed. It was nice to see more about he history of Ludlow, Maine. I enjoyed Jackson White (son of actress Katey Sagal) as a young Jud. He was a likeable handsome protagonist. He does kind of prove useless at the end of the flick though. Speaking of the ending, this one kind of falls apart at the end. I feel that the story is engaging and the cast do a great job. I really enjoyed Isabella Star LaBlanc and Forrest Goodluck as siblings Donna and Manny. Pam Grier and David Duchovny also appear, though they are underutilized in my opinion. The sinister nature of Ludlow is revealed and the story progresses nicely. However, the ending just kind of happens. Lots of quick deaths (which could have been made more elaborate and graphic) and the final confrontation is just meh. 

I like the premise of this movie. I like the lore presented. I like the performances. Overall it was still lacking though. I enjoyed it though, even if it was a bit of a let down.

In Your Game 

I was going to create rules for bringing the dead back, but my friend Tim Knight did so already back in 2019 and even references a SURVIVE THIS!! game. So if you'd like to add the cursed ground and remind your players that sometimes dead is better, check out his review of the original Pet Sematary flick and the new rules accompanying the post.

October Horror Challenge - Deadstream (2022)

"Found Footage" flicks aren't everyone's cup of tea. I get it, and in general, I'm not always the biggest fan. However, when done right they can be fantastic. 

Plot

Shawn is an internet personality that became infamous and lost followers when a prank went bad. To regain follows and keep his last sponsor, he agrees to stay in a supposedly haunted house overnight. He intestinally misplaces his keys and car's spark plug so that he can't escape. 

Review

This flick finds an interesting way to justify it's found footage nature. It's a live stream. Folks streaking can also comment and send videos, which allows for brief distracts and changes of settings. The protagonist, Shawn, walks a fine line well. He's like so many annoying af YouTube personalities which means you want to punch him. At the same time, you root for him and kind of feel sorry for him. In a lot of ways he reminds me of Evil Dead's Ash. He's a douche, but he's a douche you root for. Honestly, I feel like this movie wouldn't be out of place in the Evil Dead universe. There is a grossness to the horror that also feels very Evil Dead-esque. 

If you want some laughs and legit gross horror, check this one out on Shudder.

In Your Game 

I thought about statting Shawn out as a pc, but I thought it would be more useful for folks to have an Content Creator stat block for npcs. These could be useful in What Shadows Hide and Bloody Appalachia games.

Content Creator, Human (Humanoid)

Armor Class: 12
Hit Dice: 1
Move: 12
Actions: 1
Attack: Punch (1-2) or by weapon
Special: Toughness +1, +1 to all saves

Bonuses: +3 to Electronics, +2 to Knowledge: Pop Culture, +3 to Performance, +3 to Persuasion

Alignment: Any

Morale: 10

Madness: 0 (8)
Terror: -

HDE: 1/2 point

Items: Cell phone, tablet, camera, headset, laptop, camera rig

Quest For The Murder Sword Review

The infernal Kill-Giant Kharkrazh the Dying finally fell, and around his withering bones cultists and cannibals dug, carved halls and altars beneath the ground in search of a blade most foul. And one night – down there in the blood soaked soil and stone they found His infamous Murder Sword, fully intact in its unholy glory.

 

Quest for the Murder Sword is a one page dungeon by Johan Nohr of Stockholm Kartell/Mork Borg fame. The adventure is system neutral, though it would work great with Mork Borg. I'm thinking about using it in a potential future Old-School Essentials game. While no stats are present, there is a discussion of comparable monsters you can use for them. This is a potentially world changing adventure and I think it would be a gnarly addition to a game. Being centered around a murdered god, it also makes me think of the story for the version of Chainmail that came out in 2001 (it centering around the death of Stratis, a god of war).

You can get the adventure here.

October Horror Challenge - Totally Killer (2023)

I've already watched several "Slasher" flicks this month including Cold Prey,  The Burning, Terrifier, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. I decided to go with something new that I hadn't seen, but heard good things about.

Plot

Thirty-seven years after the murder of three teens, a killer has come back to claim a fourth victim. Her daughter comes face-to-face with the killer and is accidentally transported back to 1987. She teams up with her best friend's mom to try to stop the murders from happening.

Review

Totally Killer doesn't do anything new. It combines time traveling flicks like Back to the Future (which it references a few times) and your typical teen slasher mystery. The thing is, even if it doesn't break new ground, it does what it sets out to do wonderful. The time travel plot was interesting and I like the way it dealt with changes in the past. There is some love shown to classic horror too. One of my favorite scenes sees protagonist, Jamie, walking down the sidewalk and is a fantastic homage to the original Halloween. Kiernan Shipka (who you may recognize as Sabrina from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) is fantastic as the lead. She's charismatic and has some fantastic lines. Her commentary on the 80's is fantastic. There is definitely a Gen Z vibe to the whole thing, but I think elder Millennials (like myself) and younger Gen X folks can also appreciate it. The movie has some nice twists that I appreciated. 

If you want a slasher comedy with heart, Totally Killer is a fun flick.

In Your Game 

The Sweet 16 Killer is a pretty standard slasher, all things considered. 

Sweet 16 Killer (Humanoid)
Armor Class: 13
Hit Dice: 3
Move: 12
Actions: 1
Attack: Knife (d4-1) or Unarmed (1d4)
Special: Toughness +1, can Kip-Up and/or do a backflip, +1 to all saves

Bonuses: +2 to melee attacks, +1 to melee damage, +1 to Initiative, +2 to Athletics: Basic, +5 to Stealth

Alignment: Evil

Morale: 10

Madness: 5 (12)
Terror: -

HDE: 1

The Well of Blood Adventure Review

You have heard worrying news about your friend Bolster the Giant. He is trying to fill a well with his own blood! He says he's doing it for his true love - and that he needs your help. The well isn't filling up properly. There must be a leak that needs to be plugged. That has to be the reason, right? Go down there and have a look.

The Well of Blood is an adventure by Rook of Beneath Foreign Planets. It was there entry for the 2021 One Page Dungeon Contest.

Bolster the Giant is a friend of the pcs and has fallen in love with a beautiful woman named Anne. Unfortunately for Bolster, Anne isn't just a simple woman, but actually a vampire-queen! She has used a potion to bewitch the giant and by having him spill his blood in the well she is letting her husband, the Devil-Bat Zerdix feast lazily. There is a lot going on here. You have some interesting rooms an opportunities. There are multiple magic items including an Anti-Undead bomb (which would take care of most of the threats), a vampire-slaying sword, and a priceless jewel that is cursed to attract vampires. There is a shrine to a vampire god that can bring a body back as a vampire (you could use Tim Brannan's vampire class from Monster Mash if a player decided to do this). There are also other suitors and a vampire-hunter that can be rescued. I know players like to get new pets and followers, and there's a potential for that if they steal the Eye-nemone's eggs. 

Artist Slappy74 enjoyed the adventure and was inspired to do an art piece based on it:

"I really enjoyed this. Here is a gift - not much. I wanted to depict Anne as a corrupt noble (poor giant) and as how a fantasy royal lady may look in funerary. Your dungeon is wonderfully peppered with solutions, problems, the absurd and the dark. It's whimsically dark!"

This one seems like a lot of fun and I want to include it in a future game. If I do so, I think it'd be a good idea to introduce Bolter the Giant early on, giving the players more reason to want to help him. There are no stats to the adventure, but you can easily adapt it to Old-School Essentials, 5e, or something like SURVIVE THIS!! Fantasy. You can download the adventure here.

October Horror Challenge - Queen of the Damned (2002)

I cam up with "Best Soundtrack" with this movie in mind. I'll readily admit that I'm a nu-metal loving Elder Millennial and I still rock out to this soundtrack on a regular basis.

Plot

The vampire Lestat awakens in the modern era and reinvents himself as a rockstar. This draws the attention of the vampire world making many angry at his revelation of their secrets. It also draws the attention of the evil vampire queen, Akasha, who seeks to make him her new king. 

Review

I remember this being a controversial one in the horror circles I ran with back in the day. A lot of folks didn't like the changes made from Anne Rice's original novel. I never read it so I had no dog in that fight. Other folks didn't like that Stuart Townsend was Lestat and not Tom Cruise. I like the nu-metal take on Lestat and couldn't see Tom Cruise playing the role. Stuart Townsend is a sexy man and I thought he did a good job as Lestat. I'd kill to hear him call me a clever librarian. This version was also relatable, unlike the Interview With A Vampire version. Because of the plot, music is an important part of the story. Lestat's vocals are performed by Jonathan Davis of Korn (who plays a ticket scalper in the movie). I loved Korn back in the day (though it's hard to listen to them now because JD has some crazy Qanon level conspiracies). However, because of a contractual obligation he couldn't perform the soundtrack. This actually made the soundtrack even better because the Vampire Lestat's songs were performed by other frontmen of the time including David Draiman (Disturbed), Jay Gordon (Orgy), Marilyn Manson, Wayne Static (Static X), and Chester Benington (Linkin Park). 

The true standout of the film is Aaliyah as Akasha. She is seductive and powerful. She steals every scene she is in and plays the perfect vampire queen.

This is one that no matter the hate it gets, will always have a special place in my heart.

In Your Game 

The librarians of the Talamasca would fit right into the world of What Shadows Hide and We Die Young. 

The Order of the Talamasca

The secret society known as the Order of the Talasmasca research and keep tabs on the supernatural. There work is similar to supernatural anthropology. They have been known to aid C.A.R.E. and other benevolent supernatural organizations in time of great need, but they traditionally have an observe but don't engage directive. Most members are Academics, though the occasional Arcane Thief, Archeologist, or Medium can be found among the numbers. 

Music Monday - Five Long Nights (Remastered)

My favorite YouTube musicians, JT Music, released a remaster of their original Five Nights at Freddy's song with a new live action video. Check it out and get pumped for the release of the Blumhouse FNAF movie Friday.

Idle Hands Are The Devil's Playthings

Idle Hands is a 90's stoner horror flick, but it would be fodder for a session using 80's Horror - Tunnel of Terror. 

If you are going to take a player's hand, I recommend giving them something to compensate. Perhaps they have 1 free inspiration use per day.

If characters die you can bring them back as zombies, like Pnub and Mick. Their creature type changes from Humanoid (Human) to Undead. They get a -2 to their Dexterity and Charisma scores. They gain Damage Immunity: Poison and Condition Immunities: Exhaustion, Poison. They also gain the following feature:

Undead Fortitude: If reduced to 0 hit points, the zombie must make a Constitution save with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.

Strangely, despite their undead nature they can still get drunk and high (though they don't gain the poisoned condition) and charmed.

Now for the titular Idle Hand, I started with Crawling Claw stats and then beefed them up.

Idle Hand

Tiny Undead, Chaotic Evil

Armor Class: 16

Hit Points: 28 (8d4+8)

Speed: 35 ft.

Challenge: 1 (200 XP)

Str 20 (+5) Dex 18 (+4) Con 12 (+1) Int 12 (+1) Wis 10 (+0) Cha 4 (-3)

Saving Throws: Dex +6

Damage Immunities: Poison, Necrotic

Condition Immunities: Charmed, Exhaustion, Poisoned

Saving Throws: Dex +6

Skills: Stealth +6

Senses: Blindsight 30 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 10

Languages: English, understands but can't speak

Traits

Turn Immunity: The spirit possessing the Idle Hand grants it immunity to turning.

Actions

Claw: Melee Weapon Attack. +7 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target, Hit: 7 (1d4+5) bludgeoning or slashing damage (Idle Hand's choice). 

October Horror Challenge - Project Metalbeast (1995)

For "Howl at the Moon" I wanted to go for a werewolf movie I love, but never see anyone talk about. Project Metalbeast was a direct to video werewolf project. I remember watching it on the Sy-Fy channel and loving it. The film is in English, but I couldn't find an English trailer so here's the German(?) one.

Plot

In the 70's a team of soldiers capture a werewolf. Government scientists try to use it to create super soldiers with indestructible skin. 20 years later the now metal skinned werewolf gets loose.

Review

As you can probably tell, this isn't a good movie. However, it's a fun one. The only recognizable names in the movie are Barry Bostwick and Kane Hodder. Bostwick plays the utterly even Colonel Miller. He's not just a "doing what I need to do for the best interest of my country" evil military guy, he's comically evil. Kane Hodder plays the titular Metal Beast, which considering the films budget and such, doesn't look bad. The effects aren't great, but work for a B movie. The plot is dumb, but makes sense in that comic book/kid mentality. The film has surprisingly good pacing. 

While this one hasn't had a DVD or Blu-Ray release in the stats, you can watch if for free on Tubi or Vudu.

In Your Game 

The Metalbeast is a great antagonist for an agent of C.A.R.E. It would also be a formidable foe for another werecreature.

Metalbeast (Humanoid - Werewolf)
Armor Class: 18
Hit Dice: 80 (7 HD)
Move: 18
Actions: 2
Attack: Bite (d8) or Claws (d6). Bite has a chance to spread the curse. The target must attempt a Critical or Magical save at midnight for the next three days. If they fall all , they become a werewolf
Special: Were-beast, The Death Hunt,  Fearless, Dark Vision 60', Seize the Moment +3, Run at X5 Move,  Toughness +8

Bonuses: +10 to melee attacks, +5 to melee damage, +10 to Athletics: Basic, +5 to Initiative, +10 to Jump and Climb, +10 to Listen

Alignment: Evil

Morale: 10

Madness: 12 (15)
Terror: 15

HDE: 8

Music Monday - Vampyre

The lighting in this one is harsh on the eyes, but I dig it. I'm always down for rocker chicks with swords, plus I've had a crush on Ash Costello since I saw her perform live nearly a decade ago.

October Horror Challenge - The Burning (1981)

I've seen quite a few "Summer Camp" slashers, but until tonight I'd never watched 1981's The Burning. If you want to play your own summer camp horror game, you still have a bit of time to back Bloat Games Camp Blood Kickstarter.

Plot

Several campers play a prank of caretaker, Cropsy, and it goes horribly wrong. He is left badly burned and disfigured. A few years later he heads to another camp to get his revenge.

Review

I'd heard of this one, but never took the time to watch it. The movie came out the same years as Friday the 13th Part 2 and received negative comparisons. I can see why some folks would feel that way, but I feel it still has merit on its own. It doesn't hold back from the gore or the aftermath of said killings. I kind of dig the screen fading to red after the deaths. The villainous Cropsy is based on the Cropsey urban legend. While you don't see him often in the film, he looks thoroughly creepy. The acting and characterization is fine. It's not great, but its your standard slasher stuff. It was kind of odd to see Jason Alexander and Fisher Stevens play older campers. I kept seeing George Costanza and The Plague (yes that's a Hackers reference). 

This one is definitely worth checking out if you are in a throwback slasher mood.

In Your Game 

Cropsy (Humanoid)
Armor Class: 13
Hit Dice: 24 (4 HD)
Move: 12
Actions: 2
Attack: Garden Shears (d6)
Special: Fearless, Toughness +2

Bonuses: +3 to melee attacks, +2 to melee damage, +5 to Athletics: Basic, +5 to Stealth, +5 to Intimidation

Alignment: Evil

Morale: 10

Madness: 7 (12)
Terror: 12

HDE: 2

Gear: Garden Shears 

First Time View: 6

Total Watched (Including Non-Challenge Horror Movies): 26

 

Invincible Season 2

Invincible returns to Amazon Prime November 3rd. I loved the first season and am pretty stoked for this one. It looks like they will be doing the Invincible War story.

October Horror Challenge - Subspecies V: Blood Rise (2023)

I love the Subspecies franchise. I think they are some of the best flicks Full Moon Features have made. The series main vampire, Radu,  definitely fits the "Monstrous Bloodsucker" mold. Earlier this year a prequel film, Subspecies V: Blood Rise was released. I haven't seen it yet so I thought this was an opportune time to check it out.

Plot

The son of a vampire lord and a demon witch, Radu was taken as a baby and raised by mystic monks. While on a mission for the church he finds out the true nature of his heritage and discovers he has a half brother. 

Review

Not every series needs a prequel, but I honestly wanted to know more of Radu's history so this was a welcome one. It was directed by series creator Ted Nicolaou and Radu is played by the same actor as the other films, Anders Hove. Denice Duff, who played Michelle in previous films, returns as Helena, mother of Radu's half-brother. Kevin Spirtas, who played Mel in the 2nd and 3rd films, plays Radu's father Prince Vladislas. The film shows Radu's fall from grace and how he became the vampire we know and love (or love to hate). The production values for this outing are vastly improved over the previous films, though there are still a few dodgy effects. If you are a fan of the Subspecies films, definitely check this prequel out. It has its predecessors' melodrama and Hove is still wonderful as the villainous Radu. 

In Your Game 

The Bloodstone

The Bloodstone is a holy relic said to be filled with the blood of the saints. It allows a vampire to feed without drinking from a human. The blood tastes exquisite and causes a vampire to temporarily enter a euphoric state. A vampire drinking from the Bloodstone may choose to gain Advantage on skill check they make that night. They cannot use this feature more than once in a 24 hour time period. 

The Bloodstone is also a status symbol and sought out by many powerful vampires.

First Time View: 5

Total Watched (Including Non-Challenge Horror Movies): 25

 

October Horror Movie Challenge - Kill List (2011)

I've already watched one of the greatest pieces of "Folk Horror" this year when I rewatched The Wicker Man. Kill List has been on my to watch list for a while. I recently discovered it was on Tubi and I've seen it described as neo-folk horror.

Plot

Ex-soldier turned contract killer, Jay, his been left mentally and physically broken after a disastrous job. He's broke, which leads to trouble with his marriage. His friend Gal gets him to take on a new job. This job causes the pair to become involved in a strange cult.

Review

This film was surprising. The first part of the film plays out like a crime thriller. It's a slow burn that builds tension until the horror becomes truly visceral. Early on it's hard to watch. It's uncomfortable to see a failing relationship that involves screaming and violence, especially when there is a child involved. Once the movie shifts from thriller to horror, the mood really changes. Honestly this movie and the cult left me with more questions than answers. It's an emotional gut bunch of a film and is well crafted. I could see all of that turning some folks off, but at the same time I can also see why this is on several best of modern horror lists.

In Your Game: 

For the first time this challenge I am at a loss for game stats to create. That being said  you can definitely steal elements of this plot to use for a What Shadows Hide game. Actually the plot would make an interesting campaign idea. The characters are hired killers that find themselves caught up in the mechanizations of a cult.

First Time View: 4

Total Watched (Including Non-Challenge Horror Movies): 24