Mainstream Horror Goes a Little Gay...

Just in time for the Halloween season, there's a new film debuting this month. Well, technically, it's four films, each from the mind of a notable director of twisted scary movies. Dubbed Chillerama, it's most certainly not for the faint of heart or anyone with a distaste for the somewhat perverse. But if you're fine with porn stars, killer sperm, Hitler, and zombie spoofs, then it just might be up your alley. And the first film happens to be more than just a little gay-friendly.

Somewhere between the fictional worlds of Grease and Twilight, I Was a Teenage Werebear fits in quite neatly. In this musical comedy takes lycanthropy in a whole different direction. Set in the 1960s, it's the story of closeted teenager Ricky (Sean Paul Lockhart, a.k.a. Brent Corrigan) who runs into a rebellious gang who turn into a leather daddy "werebears" (one played by Ron Jeremy) when turned on by other guys. I'm serious. I kid you not. Don't believe me? Check out the trailer:


Now I have to give kudos to Sean for being one of the first porn stars to successfully make a leap from adult films to regular cinema. (Some of you might remember him as the merman from Another Gay Sequel.) While the other films sound just as weirdly amusing, I'll confess I'm slightly disappointed in one of them. And that would be The Diary of Anne Frankenstein. It's not because of the storyline (a comedic version of Hitler trying to create the perfect human killing machine); it's because when I first heard about it, I thought it was a different Diary of Anne Frankenstein. Unlike the one in Chillerama, the off-Broadway play of the same name seems a lot more hilarious. I just wish I had seen it when it was playing, but at least there's the video interview for Under the Pink Carpet:


That would've made this a truly must-see movie in my eyes! Still, I'm sure this film won't disappoint. You can catch the world premiere this coming week on Thursday, September 15th, at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Other dates are being added to the official website as they are arranged. I'm sure such a risque film might not necessarily make it to a theater near you, but you can always wait for it to come out on DVD and watch it later.

Experimenting with Ghost Humor...

Sometimes, life can get a little overwhelming. Even the paranormal can get that way. I've been taking a bit of a break this week from things; getting off social networking sites as much as possible, stepping back from research, and watching some movies (which I haven't taken the time to do in many months). But I do have some interesting things to write about, even if it might be another week or so before I get to it.

In the mean time, I thought it was time for a little humor. That's something that's been sorely lacking these past few months. So without too much blabbering, here's a little blast from the past. What would the Muppets have to say about ghost hunting? Well, here's your answer:

The Hunt for Humor Never Ends...

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I miss Ghost Hunters, Inc. Say what you will, it was always entertaining to see the latest adventures of the gang--with plush Scooby Doo in tow--exploring the weird, forgotten, and mythical places around Pennsylvania and New York. Back when I first started out on AOL writing up local legends, browsing their site was a favorite pasttime. Even if they didn't find anything remotely paranormal, there was plenty to laugh about. Nick, Gow, Greg, and the rest of the gang were always entertaining. I'll admit I was jealous that my own paranormal group never came close to being that fun. Maybe that's why I let it die a slow, agonizing death.

There was, of course, their movie The Graveyard Shift before things sort of fell apart. Still, some of the people involved lingered on. Jason Gowin had Extreme Paranormal for a little while. Greg, Dana, Nick, and a few more people took a dive into the skeptical humorous side (more than was normal for GHI) and created Who Forted? to keep the funniness going. As glad as I am that some of the core people are still out there doing what they do best, I can't help but get a little nostalgic. Long before bland paranormal television, we had the most entertaining bunch in Ghost Hunters, Inc. And they really didn't even find ghosts. Ever. Well... there were those few questionable times...

When I had the chance to watch and review the new(ish) documentary film done by the old gang, I had to jump at it. The Bigfoot Hunter: Still Searching takes part of an unfinished older project from 2006 (GHI vs. Bigfoot) and expands upon it. It features bigfoot hunter (and all-around paranormal enthusiast) Tim Holmes from Elmira, New York, and his gal pal Becky Sawyer on two journeys into the remote wilderness in search of Sasquatch. The one-hour film, produced by Fight or Flight Productions, is planned to be unveiled at a theater in Toronto this fall. If you have the chance to be there for it, I highly recommend it.

I really don't want to give away too much, but here's the trailer to give you a taste:


Honestly, you can't go wrong with a "former Merchant Marine" going on and on about Bigfoot, "fake footage", and a never-ending stream of weirdness and random thoughts. I'm not sure what's scarier: being out in the woods in the middle of nowhere with Tim or Nick Foust being that heavily armed (and, apparently, very excited about it). You have to love GHI for their bravery; not many people would choose to venture out far from civilization with someone quite like Holmes. The action may be minimal, but the comedy lasts throughout. The "recreation" of a bigfoot encounter is priceless... as are the short clips of Nick and Gow dressed and ready for ladies night.

Overall, it was a very well-crafted documentary. For those snobbish people who dislike anything that isn't shot in high-quality, professional grade video, you'll be disappointed by this one. But if you're not hung up on petty things like that and love watching crazy people doing and saying crazy things while turning something as mundane as wandering the woods looking for a hairy inhuman beast into an amusing look at the people and experiences in question, this is right up your alley. As a fan of documentaries, I'd be glad to add this to my DVD collection. Let's hope they decide to release it at some point.

Weird World News...

It's time again to break from reality and take a peek at some of the more bizarre things that have happened in our world.

Three Cheesus Pizza...

The Holy Trinity might need to be re-written as dough, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. Last month in Brisbane, a pizza emerged from the oven at Posh Pizza bearing the likeness of Jesus.A fluke or miracle, the unlikely image quickly became the talk of the town. While many see Jesus, others see a variety of famous bearded men (including Viggo Mortensen and Christian Bale). ''It's open to interpretation as many of these crazy, out there things are,'' employee Maree Phelan, who made the pizza in question, told the Herald Sun. The store auctioned the vacuum-sealed pizza on Ebay, raising $153 ($164 US) for charity.

Your Plasma or Your Life!?

Aaron Homer, 24, was sentenced to three years of probation in an Arizona court last month for stabbing his roommate, Robert Maley. The incident occurred following an argument over sucking blood. Homer and his girlfriend Amanda Williamson initially claimed self-defense when police arrived following a report of gunfire at the apartment. The couple later admitted to stabbing 25-year-old Maley after he refused to let them suck his blood. Homer told police he became enraged when Maley made fun of the couple for being pagan and into "vampire stuff." (Police report available at Smoking Gun) Maley fled the scene, fearful of arrest on outstanding warrants.

Homo Erectus Flamboyantensis?

Have scientists found an early case of homosexuality? Here's what infoMania's Brian Safi has to say:

Ghosts and Goblins Get Down and Dirty...

Everywhere you look these days, paranormal and supernatural themes are quite popular. Some of the most talked about books and movies feature ghosts or vampires. Even on television, the inundation of witchcraft, hauntings, and monsters is extremely obvious. As a society, we love the mysterious, the unknown, and the surreal. And it reflects in everything... including subjects of a more adult nature.

Yes, believe it or not, even pornography has crossed over into these supernatural realms in the past few years.

I debated for a long time whether to touch on the subject here at Spooked! I've always tried to keep subjects humorous yet not too risqué. But in all honesty, we tend to be very sexual beings and at the same time, you can't help but laugh sometimes as these films. So now, I'd like to take a moment to finally give those of you who enjoy such things a little interesting insight into the world where porn meets the paranormal. And for those of you who wish not to subject yourself to such material, feel free to stop reading now and skip along to a different post.

Continue Reading...

I See a Bad Moon Rising...

It's early Monday morning, there's thunder outside and the rhythmic sound of rain falling. It may be close to dawn, but there's still enough "dark and stormy night" to make me forget all the stress, drama, and insanity of recent time and think back to Halloween's approach.

October (and all the festivities that come with it) is a time when we all want to be someone... or something... else for a little while, even just to pretend for a few hours. And what best exemplifies this desire than the shapeshifter. Werewolves and other humanoids have been a part of lore for centuries. We've been terrified by the thought of people who could become animals while the moon was full, though secretly, we all would like to have that ability: the power to change who we are and live differently for a brief time. Let's face it. None of us is completely happy with ourself or life as it is. There's something intriguing out there that catches everyone's fancy.

Still, as I always say, there's humor to be had in everything. And in light of the fact that life can get insane, overwhelming, and downright difficult, I think it's time to get a little amusement out of that inner animal inside us all. And an ingenious man online did just that... having a little fun with Shakira's song "She Wolf". I can't help but laugh watching this one. Well, ok... perhaps between chuckles I think he's not too bad to look at:

When "Horny" is a Bad Thing...

Want the holy ghost in you? Feeling possessed by one of those pesky gay demons? Well, you might be in luck. All you need is a little help from the friendly folks at Manifested Glory Ministries of Bridgeport, Connecticut. After all, they helped someone out recently. The church held an exorcism to rid a teen boy of his homosexuality, hence equating it with demonic possession.

Reverend Patricia McKinney and her cult... I mean congregation... performed what they called a "casting out of spirits" (because she thinks the 'exorcism' label isn't accurate) three separate times on a 16-year-old boy (the reverend claimed he was 18) at his request. he writhed on the floor, vomiting up the "evil", while onlookers made such priceless statements as "Loose your grip, Lucifer!" and "Right now in the name of Jesus, I call the homosexuality, right now in the name of Jesus!"

When did homosexuality suddenly become an object or energy? I missed that memo.

So, what do you to when you get rid of the "homosexuality demon"? You post it on YouTube, of course! I guess they figured they already had a website and the best way to scare the hell out of people (no pun intended) is to be were the action is. Activist groups and citizens are up in arms about the video, since taken down by the flock. But the church stands by their actions. McKinney, who calls herself a "prophet", told the press, ""Every Sunday we call people up to the altar who want to be delivered from any spirit that causes them to not be able to function. We were just beginning to worship the Lord and all of a sudden he hit the floor."

"Manifested Glory Ministries is not against homosexuality. We do not hate them," the reverend said. "We do not come up against them. We do just not believe in their lifestyle." I'm sure it makes sense to someone. Is that anything like a double negative?

And did their purging work? According to the executive director of True Colors, Robin McHeavin, the boy told their organization he has since been "engaging in risky behavior". I guess if you take something out of someone, you just have to put it back in.

This is actual footage from the "exorcism":

A Spirit of No Importance...

When the great playwright Oscar Wilde died penniless in a cheap Paris hotel room in 1900, he never would've imagined his posthumous fame. Yet after decades of silence regarding the writer, somewhat humiliated publicly by the trials concerning his sexuality, he is today viewed as one of the greats. In 1962, The Letters of Oscar Wilde was published and accepted by a more open-minded population. That same year, a lesser-known event occurred: Oscar Wilde apparently returned from the grave.

It happened in a séance room belonging to Leslie Flint, often regarded as one of the great British mediums who held up to ridicule and testing. Flint was known to contact both common people and celebrities in his time through an ectoplasmic "voice box", which would appear during mediumship, making the words come not from his own lips but the nearby air. On the 30th of August, a spirit came through in the presence of George Woods and Betty Greene. After much aloofness, it declared itself as Oscar Wilde.

The author spoke of his life and afterlife, and views of many differing topics for quite some time before fading away from "lack of energy". Given Flint's fame as a medium, audio recordings were taken of each session starting in 1955. The recording of "the spirit of Oscar Wilde" has survived and can still be listened to today. Many recordings can be found on this website. The full 30-minute recording of the Wilde séance is available online through this link. A partial excerpt and transcript is provided on "Oscar Wilde Returns". British videographer Jim Clark took an excerpt of the recording and jazzed it up slightly. Here is his computer animation of a photograph of Oscar speaking the words recorded almost 47 years ago:

Cannes You Vote for Voodoo?

Normally, when browsing websites, I don't pay too much attention for people asking for votes for much of anything. But when I noticed this short film trying to make it to the Cannes Film Festival (and the dead-eyed dolls), I had to watch, click, and pass it along.

This pin-pricking animated short was filmed by Joaquin Baldwin, originally from Paraguay and currently residing in California (though he did stay for a while in Ohio for college, so I'll consider him a semi-sort-of-local artist). I have chanced across him online a few times, but never had the pleasure of talking to him directly. Which is a shame. He's very good... and the sort of person I think would be great to spend a conversation with. Besides, I have a few personal thoughts on a few possible hidden meanings/subtle nuances which have crossed my mind.

Check out the video, Sebastian's Voodoo, below and click on it to go to the YouTube site where each vote through May 20th counts!

Ghost Property Going Bust?

Foreclosures still plague the United States as our economy maintains its frightening slump. Everyone is susceptible. In Florida, one allegedly-haunted bed & breakfast is the newest victim. But if a group of ghost hunters has their way, the house won't face any wrecking ball.

The Seven Sisters Inn on Ocala's Fort King Street was built in 1888 and remains one of the few magnificent Victorians still standing in the area. The owners, Bonnie and Ken, ran the guest house for 20 years before facing a financial crisis. A failed sale led to the banks demand for total payment, which could not be met. in October 2008, foreclosure proceedings began.

But they're not going down without a fight. Southeastern Paranormal Investigations (SEPI) has helped create a website, Save the Seven Sisters Inn, where visitors can sign a petition and make donations to help the cause. The National Register of Historic Places lists both houses for their historical value. Charity events are being planned in hopes of doing anything possible to avoid disaster. A buyer is desperately wanted by the owners for the two-house B&B, which is priced at $1.3 million.

An episode of Ghost Hunters was recently filmed at the structure and hopes are high for it attracting paranormal investigators in an effort to save the building. Events are still happening at the inn, including the Seven Sisters Haunt in April, so it's not dead just yet. Allegedly, the haunted activity is tied to the land, not necessarily the houses. In the 18th century, a hospital was built on the grounds and treated many injured soldiers who apparently refused to leave.

For an overview, here is part of the Ghost Hunters episode, aired this past fall:



Click here for Part Two of "Ghosts of the Sunshine State".

"Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar"...

Let's face it: the paranormal community can be confusing and filled with misinformation. "Ghost hunting" organizations are a dime a dozen, competing for attention, praise, and even cash. For every website offering the "facts", there is another "true" website out there telling you the exact opposite. The only certainty with the paranormal is that nothing is certain. No undeniable scientific proof of ghosts. No one piece of footage or audio verified to be a ghost. No college-degreed expert in the field with a PhD in ghosts, hauntings, and all things paranormal (sure, some people have more experience and there are a few scattered parapsychologists with degrees, but there is no true degree in "ghost hunting").

We hear a lot of things from a lot of people, amateurs and professionals, saying what they believe. Some speak from personal experience, others from books and websites they've read. There are those who claim to make contact with the deceased. Others are more scientifically-minded, carrying around enough electronic equipment to blackout a small Kansas town. The best psychics in the world are never 100% accurate; even the most tech savvy individuals don't always understand their own equipment or what it detects exactly. Yet everyone is an expert in their own mind. Everyone knows the "right way", what's "undeniably true".

And then, you delve into the muddied waters of speculation and faith-based principles. Some people label certain spirits "demons", or even practice "demonology", often needlessly frightening clients and business owners with unverifiable information biased by their religious beliefs. Another small segment of the field promise to evict a ghost or spirit from a property by "sending it to the light" or making it disappear in a puff of smoke. Still more produce "photographic evidence" which, to the trained eye, is nothing but cold breath, glare from lights, or flying dust-bunnies and mosquitoes. They fail to mention that each above-mentioned item is refutable. There's no proof of demonic entities (and using the term implies a Christian view is the only "right" answer). It's impossible to guarantee the removal of a ghost (how do you guarantee something without proof it exists in the first place; furthermore, if you're dealing with a person having a mental illness and they still "see the ghost", you're up a creek without a paddle). Many pieces of evidence can be replicated quite easily using non-supernatural means, making it impossible to prove that orb is a spirit, that misty smoke covering the lens is a phantom.

There is one person out there shedding a bit of light on the latter: Patrick H. T. Doyle. This author and paranormal investigator noticed that his YouTube promotional videos were being misinterpreted as ghosts when they were mere parlor tricks. So, Doyle set out to create a short series showing how "paranormal" footage you might find online can easily be faked or misinterpreted. Does this make him a non-believer? Hardly... just observant. In fact, he does investigate hauntings and believes he has experienced supernatural things. But what we see isn't always what we perceive. It's important to learn the difference between natural occurrences and spooks.

Here's a clip from his series... discussing the one topic that annoys me so: orbs.


Now, understand that I'm not saying there can't be balls of light seen by people or cameras (I witnessed a blue ball of light myself one night drop from the sky and rush through a field; not a likely behavior of swamp gas), but please, for the sake of humanity, people, stop calling every "orb" a ghost! Don't add fuel to the fire of paranormal paranoia. Think. Research. Educate yourself. And if you're serious about wanting to capture photographic "proof" of a ghost, put down the digital and pick up a 35mm camera. At least that was you have some hard copy that can be scrutinized by photographic experts.

"I Wish My Brother George Was Here"...

Some of you might remember my post last year about Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens and its resident ghost, Liberace. It's on my long list of places to investigate at some point. Hopefully in the next year or two I'll have an opportunity to have dinner there... and poke around after hours in search of the famed pianist.

The haunting did, for a time, make headlines locally in the Las Vegas area. Even the news did a segment on the hauntings. Here's a clip from a few years back:

A Flame to Light Your Way...

A good many people take their ghosthunting seriously. And others... well, they can't avoid finding the humor behind it all.

Some of you who have watched Most Haunted may remember sensitive Ian Shillito from his appearances in Series 8. Now, the openly gay paranormal investigator has formed London Paranormal. The organization holds tours, gives lectures, and launched the 'London Ghost Festival' last year.

But that's not all. He is also the co-creator of a troop called the Scary Mary's. And yes, they are what you think they are: gay men in search of spooks. Combining a paranormal show's overuse of night vision with a healthy dose of laughter, it's not your typical investigating. It's all about the fun, the bits which normally end up on a cutting room floor. And with names such as "Wampy", "Stella Bagwash", "Waynetta Shillito", "Pooh Bear", and "Steele Magnolia" you can tell it's all about the fun.

Without further ado, I bring you an investigation of the pink sort at Harwich Redoubt Fort:

Part I


Part II

Not-So-Instant Replay...

Once more, I'm behind on posts! I'll have to catch up late tomorrow when I'm back home from the late Thanksgiving dinner with family. Meanwhile, thanks to Chuck over at Creepy Cleveland, the videos from my Halloween appearance on Cleveland's Channel 8 show That's Life are now on YouTube!

And here they are...

Hell Town


CryBaby Bridge

A Disappointed Demon and Nutty Ghosts...

My comedic tastes range from the traditional to the insane. And with the latter, one New York comedy troop comes to mind: The Whitest Kids U'Know. Their sketches range from absurd to offensive, yet comedy (as with beauty) is in the eye of the beholder.

I've been overdue for a good dose of comedy and thought I'd share with you all a few interesting video clips from their program. Surprisingly, they each have a paranormal theme. The first follows a demon assigned to a Ouija board at a slumber party. It's followed by a skit surrounding an office worker plagued by the supernatural. Like most jokes from WKUK, they speak entirely for themselves.

The second video is definitely not safe for work... though it is work-themed.

Ouija Board Demon


Can You See Them?

Feeling Flushed?

Today marks the 8th observance of World Toilet Day. I shit you not! (I'm sorry... that was too easy.) According to the World Toilet Organization, the idea behind it is simple: 'we deserve better'. This means more respect for sanitation workers, elevation of the "social status" of porcelain bowls, and proper potty facilities for the billions of people around the world without a place to pop a squat.

But bowel movements are big business. Recently at the World Toilet Summit, heath advocates have began rallying for "flushless commodes" to curb wasted water. In Australia, there is even contemplation of a Toilet Tax to cut down on wasted water from flushing.

To mark this day celebrating a device which became a standard fixture of homes thanks to the diligent efforts of Thomas Crapper, I thought it fitting to pay homage to the bathroom ghost. While these videos might be legitimate or fake, they are entertaining nonetheless.

A 'Ghost Boy' in a UK Bathroom


Boy 'Apparition' in Bathroom in Venezuela

Dead Comedy Lives Long in History...

"This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be! It's a stiff! ...Bereft of life, he rests in peace! ...He's kicked the bucket, he's shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!"

While Monty Python became famous for these memorable lines from their "Dead Parrot Sketch", the joke itself predates the British comedy routine... by nearly 1,600 years!

A recently republished collection of some of the world's oldest jokes, Philogelos: The Laugh Addict, contains an ancient Greek witticism written in 4 AD about a man returning a recently-purchased dead slave to his seller. "By the gods, when he was with me, he never did any such thing!" replies the seller.

Fortunately for John Cleese and the rest of his comedic comrades, there were no copyright infringements made on the joke since it was written without prior knowledge of the Greek farce. Besides, the author is long since dead... and unavailable for refund, as well.

If you've never watched the Monty Python sketch, or care to revisit it, here's a clip from a live performance in 1976:


You can also get your own plush "sleeping" parrot in remembrance of the classic British comedy skit.

A Shy Ghost From the Old World...

I found this video on YouTube quite a while ago. Luckily, I was cleaning out my folder with bookmarks for this blog and stumbled across it again.

Filmed at an allegedly haunted house in the Romanian town of Bacau, this news footage shows what quite obviously appears to be a ghostly presence in the upper balcony. Is it genuine? I can't state that for certain. But it's intriguing nonetheless. And with my Bohemian roots, I couldn't resist. Even though Romanian is one of the Romance languages, I won't attempt to translate exactly.

I apologize in advance for the overused X Files theme music...

You Can't Keep a Good Gnome Down...

Some of you may remember the "creepy gnome" of Argentina sighted earlier this year and the infamous video circulating the web. It was later determined to be a hoax, though the teen responsible for that footage, Jose Alvarez, still claims it was real.

But now, the creepy gnome tale has resurfaced. Footage was recorded in early October of a "midget monster" near a water fountain in Clodomira, filmed by Juan Carlos Roldan and friends on a mobile phone.

“We were messing about - singing and dancing - when we heard a loud rustling noise from behind us. This tiny thing started running down Avenue San Martin at us. It had a pointy head and dark clothes," said one of the teenage witnesses.

“This little thing was barking like a dog, but running sideways on two legs. It headed off towards the football stadium.”

A photographic expert from Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero has reviewed the footage and believes it could be authentic. Aldegonda Alvarz hasn't found any obvious trickery.

Should Argentina be renamed "Munchkin Land" or is it in fact an animal or little person playing a prank, as skeptics allege? Watch the footage and judge for yourself:

A Spook-Filled British Invasion...

While browsing various videos online for paranormal-related content, I made quite an interesting discovery. The UK's own Chris Halton with Haunted Earth recently traveled across the pond to my own neck of the woods to film some haunted places.

Two videos, concerning the Canal Visitor Center and Tinkers Creek Cemetery, were added to YouTube this month. There were a few errors I am aware of from my research on the locations, though it was still interesting to watch. The EVPs are difficult to discern, but I'll leave that up to all of you to decide.

So, take a little journey to hauntings down the street (literally) from my home!

Canal Visitors Center:


Tinkers Creek Cemetery: