My Favorite Things: October
My Favorite Things is a monthly segment where I share my personal and current favorites in seasonal products, health & beauty, food, decor, movies, TV, and more. I hope you enjoy these personal picks!
Movies
Bad Hair
In 1989 an ambitious young woman gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career may come at a great cost when she realises that her new hair may have a mind of its own.
Bad Hair is not necessarily “scary” but it’s commentary on social issues and Black women’s hair is on point. I could relate to a lot of the themes presented in this story and the film made me uncomfortable at times (which I felt the directors were going for). The satirical genius of the film keeps the viewer interested from start to finish and I appreciated the grainy film texture to give the film an added layer to the 80s setting. Most importantly this film is about being true to yourself and embracing your own uniqueness.
Asylum
When Dr. Martin (Robert Powell) goes on a job interview at a British insane asylum, he learns that he must interview the asylum’s inmates in order to be considered for the position. Dr. Rutherford (Patrick Magee), who is wheelchair-bound because of an assault by an inmate, tells Dr. Martin that he will consider him for the position if he can discover which of the inmates is Dr. Starr, a former head doctor at the asylum who suffered a nervous breakdown.
This film along with Tales From the Hood were my favorite spooky/Horror anthologies that I watched in October. I appreciated the classic horror vibe this 70s film was going for and it relies heavily on storytelling and suspense. I loved the way the stories intertwined and the climatic ending that threw me for a loop. Though the movie doesn’t use a ton of special effects it doesn’t take away from the viewer experience.
Monster Squad
Five youngsters find themselves up against the combined might of Dracula, the Mummy, the Gill Man, and Frankenstein’s Monster who arrive in town in search of a magic amulet.
How have I never watched this movie?! I was enamored with the story and characters from beginning to end. I think this will easily become one of my regular Halloween watches. It’s campy, nostalgic, and reminds viewers of the joy of the Autumn season. This movie is just fun to watch and laugh along with. I loved the concept of a kids treehouse club taking on formidable supernatural monsters in the most unorthodox ways. It reminded me of The Goonies except its set around Halloween. A must watch if you like nostalgic films.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe
A coroner and his son conduct an autopsy on a beautiful `Jane Doe’ murder victim, and find increasingly bizarre clues.
This film has been on my watch list for the longest time and I’m glad I finally watched it. The hype around this film being an underrated horror film is totally warranted. The plot is mysterious and the twist and turns of this movie threw me for a loop! I was on the edge of my seat as the suspense factors had me hooked on the story. Having no unnecessary jump scares or unrelated incidents made this film a stand out for me and I think it’s a film that is rewatchable due to the little details you may not catch the first time.
TV
Halloween Baking Championship
There are tricks and treats in this sister show to the seasonal “Holiday Baking Championship.” Bakers are tasked with creating spooky treats in Halloween-themed challenges. As the competition heats up, judges — who have included Lorraine Pascale, Stephanie Boswell, Carla Hall and Zac Young — eliminate contestants. The best keep moving through rounds as the tasks and challenges become more complicated. The champion of the “Main Heat” gets a $25,000 prize and the prestige of being declared winner of the season’s creepiest cooking contest.
I love baking shows and this is my favorite Halloween themed one! I love the challenges level up every year and become more difficult. It’s also equally amazing to see the creativity of each baker and how they bring each theme to life with each delicious concoction.
YouTube
Halloween Feels Different Now
Halloween has changed, and it’s much more than growing up. Trunk or Treat, the economy, climate change, societal pressure, and more have all played a role in how the general vibe for the holiday has changed and what we can do to make it better.
Halloween is definitely different now and it’s not just because I’m adult. This video perfectly sums some of my feelings on how one my favorite holidays has changed and how us as the new generation can try to keep the spirit of the spooky season ongoing.
A History of Zombies
A discussion of the ways that zombies (and other revenants) have evolved in folklore, pop culture, and history. What did Zora Neale Hurston, Wade Davis, and William Seabrook find when they visited Haiti? How did other Haitian events– revolution, stigma about voodoo, American occupation in 1915, dictatorships– shape beliefs and fuel urban legend? How did zombies go from enslaved workers to bloodthirsty plague carriers?
I always enjoy Lex’s video essays so when I saw there was one about the lore of zombies I knew I had to watch. It was interesting to hear how the creation of zombies in fiction got started and how their nature has evolved in different forms of media
Music
Suckin Up by Audrey Nuna
I’ve been a fan of Audrey since her debut album and was recently made aware of her new music from her NPR Tiny Desk performance (which I highly recommend). It’s nice to her some new music from her and this track is my favorite from the new album.
So What by Ourin
I’ve been dicing back into the J-Pop sphere lately looking for new music and found this catchy dance track. Ourin is a solo idol and former member and leader of Ringo Musume and I look forward to checking out more of her music. The choreography is so sleek for this song!
APT. by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
This song is going viral and I can see why! ROSÉ is my favorite member of Blackpink and this new collab single is refreshing to hear. I’m so used to hearing her sing ballads so this song is a welcome change. It’s catchy, easy to sing along with, and I love how her and Bruno’s voice blend together on this song.
What are some of your favorite things from October? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
I’ve been enjoying Tales for Late Night Bonfires by Lytton First Nation writer G.A. Grisenthwaite, which felt just autumn-y enough but not spooky (cuz I’ve been a wimp this year, more than usual).
They are the kind of stories that make you HEAR the author’s voice, like you’re actually eavesdropping on a conversation, but I guess if we don’t live next door to him then a book is the next-best thing.
And in October I was watching Season Three of Atlanta which opens with a fantastic ghost story in the first episode (see, even shows that I don’t think are going to be scary ARE scary which only makes me more of a wimp…I’m watching the fourth season now).
Did you get my email? We’ve been having a postal strike, gah!
I need to watch Atlanta. It’s been on my TV watch list forever. Tales for Late Night Bonfires sounds like a great seasonal read.