Ellen’s Four Favorites for October

Greetings, minions! Long time no read, right? Apologies- I’ve been a bit busy running around with Evening and penning an ode to my pet hamster.

But like a two-week-old burrito you thought was okay to eat but isn’t, I’ve come back to haunt you with some truly terrifying stuff. Here are my four favorites- a podcast, a TV show, a book and a movie- for October!

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Knifepoint Horror

I had a feeling Knifepoint Horror was going to be good when I saw this freaky picture as its icon.

You know that feeling you get when you sense someone is behind you, but when you turn around, no one is there? Imagine that in podcast form. The show is, in layman’s terms, atmospheric and creepy AF.

Produced and written by Soren Narnia, this podcast employs a single narrator and very little use of music or sound to create a pure, untapped source of horror. Whether a strange neighbor or an ominous tract of land, Narnia explores a variety of stories that all have one thing in common- giving Ellen the heebie-jeebies.

The lack of sound effects and the presence of a singular voice feels like a confession, a friend or a colleague revealing a terrifying story to you, and you alone. My favorite episode so far is staircase.

You can listen to Knifepoint Horror pretty much wherever you find your podcasts- I listen on Spotify.

Over the Garden Wall

Over the Garden Wall is like a warm hug, a strange dream and a walk through the autumn woods, all at once. This limited animated series on Cartoon Network tells the story of two brothers lost in a strange forest. Along the way, they meet a suspicious woodsman, a very flippant bird, and vaguely threatening creatures with pumpkins for heads.

Yes. Vaguely threatening creatures with pumpkins for heads. Sign. Me. UP.

But, besides those good old creepy feelings- inject them directly into my veins, please- this is a beautiful work of animation. There are so many gorgeous scenes, and with an equally gorgeous story, it’s a true favorite of mine. It gets a re-watch every year and fills me with autumnal joy. You can watch Over the Garden Wall on Hulu.

Dread Nation

The zombie apocalypse + historical fiction + an amazing protagonist = Dread Nation

The sudden appearance of zombies has interrupted the Civil War, changing the nation forever. We follow Jane McKeene as she studies to become an Attendant, who are young Black women trained in combat and etiquette to protect wealthy white women. Of course, Jane wants more than this. When people start disappearing in the supposedly safe area of Baltimore County, Jane is drawn into a dangerous conspiracy.

Man oh man, is this a fantastic book by Justina Ireland. I blazed through it, and am ready to drop some cash on the second half of the duology, Deathless Divide. It effortlessly mixes action and terror with compelling characters, and digs deep into the racism and white supremacy of the United States.

You can buy Dread Nation wherever you buy your books, although might I recommend your favorite local bookstore or Bookshop.org?

The Witch

Y’all, you know me. I’m all about living deliciously. Experiencing the good life. Sampling Seattle’s fine cuisines. Buying pumpkin spice scented candles. And on every single one of my social media profiles, I ask the question- wouldst thou like to live deliciously?

Well, that question comes from one of my favorite horror films, the atmospheric and eerie The Witch. In short, a Puritan family is banished from their town and forced to live at the edge of a very creepy forest. Which may or may not have a witch living in it. Also, there’s a cute lil’ goat named Black Phillip. Chaos ensues.

And this movie has, dare I say, a happy ending? I mean, at least I believe it does. And it’s fine if you think otherwise. You’re entitled to your wrong opinions.

You can watch The Witch on YouTube.

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Now, go forth and enjoy this strange, spooky season! Stuff your face with candy! Carve a pumpkin! Call forth an eldritch god! And after you have said god under your control, tell him to follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!

Happy haunting!