October Horror Movie Challenge: Addams Family (1991, 1993)

When regular "family" channels start showing Halloween movies then you know October is in full swing.  These were on today and I thought I'd catch them while do other things.  Are they Horror?  Maybe not. But they are certainly in the spirit of Halloween and that is what matters to me.

The Addams Family (1991)

Gomez: Tish, when was the last time we waltzed?
Morticia: Oh, Gomez. Hours.

I have said it before, I'll say it again. Gomez and Morticia Addams might be the two most loving characters of all time. And no one does Gomez with the same flair and attitude as the late Raul Julia. Sorry John Astin, but it is true. If he were the only bright spot in this movie that would be enough. But we have chameleon actor Christopher Lloyd as Fester, a very young, but already brilliant, Christina Ricci (who claimed to be channeling Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz for her role), a regal Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams, and a great supporting cast. 

The movie deals with the return of Uncle Fester, but that is really not the point. You don't enjoy the Addams Family for its plot. You enjoy it for its wonderful campiness, its weirdness, and to paraphrase the old Addams Family TV series, its creepiness, and cookieness. 

Addams Family Values (1993)

Morticia: Wednesday's at that very special age when a girl has only one thing on her mind.
Ellen: Boys?
Wednesday: Homicide.

Why this movie wasn't spun off into a Wednesday Addams featured movie (or direct to video) still raises questions, because seriously. Christina Ricci outright stole this damn movie as teenage homicidal maniac Wednesday.  It is easy to see why Wednesday eclipsed the other characters here because she is just so much damn fun. It would later give us Adult Wednesday Addams from Melissa Hunter (which was taken down). 

The plot of this one, such that it is, is reminiscent of the first. Fester being manipulated to steal all the Addams' money. Maybe why it didn't fare as well in the box office. But that doesn't matter, the movie is fun and funny. 

Frankly, it would not be Halloween if I didn't catch one or the other of these.

NIGHT SHIFT and Old-school Content:  

I have talked about witch families in the past. I think what we have here is a very functional, loving family that just happens to be really weird.  It got me thinking, why do all D&D characters have a tragic backstory and are orphans? Well I guess that loving families don't produce adventurers any more than they produce Batman.  But what would an adventuring party of siblings be like? Wouldn't that be fun? I get along great with my sibs, taking them on an adventure would be fun. 

So what are the D&D classes of the Addams?

Gomez: Rogue
Morticia: Bard
Fester: Artificer (basing this on the old TV series)
Pugsly: Barbarian
Wednesday: Assassin
Grandma: Witch
Lurch: Golem Fighter
Thing: Familiar?

Ok, not a perfect fit, but something to have some fun with.

Watched: 13
New: 9

Friday Night Videos: Burning Witches

It's Friday! It's October! Let's start some Friday Night Videos!

Since I am also doing my October Horror Movie Marathon posts I am writing these posts early to autopost.

So let's get started.

Last week I did the Hex Girls, a fake all-girl band.  Tonight lets do a real all-girl, witch-themed band.  And these women have more in common with the Ostrogoths than they do with eco-goths.

Here they are, The Burning Witches!

Jay, Romana, Laura, Larissa, Lala

They have seen some line-up changes over the years, but right now the current coven consists of lead singer Laura Guldemond, guitarist and founding member Romana Kalkuhl, bass player Jeanine "Jay" Grob, Lala Frischknecht on drums, and newest member Larissa Ernst on guitar.

This is the first video of the Witches I ever saw and features their former lead singer Seraina Telli (now of Dead Venus) and former guitarist Sonja "Anubis" Nusselder. 

After this Lead singer Laura Guldemond took over and oh does she has some energy!

And just released two weeks ago, The Circle of Five! With new Witch Larissa. 

I am looking forward to seeing some more new material with Larissa!

Links

• Main Website
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October Horror Movie Challenge: The Manitou (1978)

Watching Bigfoot this morning made me think of this oldie and how much it freaked me out as a kid.

This movie typifies the later 70s, post Exorcist, mood of American Horror.  Lots of psychic phenomena, some satanism, and if you can work in Native American or Eastern mysticism all the better.

Tony Curtis is great as a fake psychic and tarot card reader that gets pulled into the drama around a tumor growing on his ex-girlfriend's, Susan Strasberg's, back.  X-rays show the tumor to look like a rapidly growing fetus.

Karen (Strasberg) goes to see Harry (Curtis) the day before her surgery (and they drink a lot of wine before hand).  Harry does a tarot card reading for her and they all come up the same (the tower, the moon, the devil, and death).

That night Karen mutters something in her sleep in a language that Harry doesn't understand (he thinks it is Swahili).

Karen goes into surgery but the doctors are prevented from cutting into the tumor.   At the same time, Harry's psychic ability becomes real.  They take part in a séance and learn about the Manitou. They go and see Dr. Snow (Burgess Meredith in a surprise role) and learn more.

The contact a Native American Shaman played by the always amazing Michael Ansara (Kang of Star Trek and Kane of Buck Rogers) and learn that this tumor is really the ancient Shaman Misquamacus.
At one point Misquamacus tells John Singing Rock (Ansara) not to help them.  I was half-hoping he would stand up and tell them "you are on your own white people."

Misquamacus is born (I seem to recall it being scarier in 78) but is held in place at first by John's circle. 

The "demons" summoned by Misquamacus are quite cool.  They have a sort of Lovecraft/August Derleth quality to them. They are even called "the great old ones."  In the end, the evil spirits are destroyed by computers, manifesting as laser blasts from a naked Karen.   Lest we forget this was the 70s.

This really is a cut above my normal fare in terms of acting ability even if the story is a little silly. 

Watched: 11
New: 9

Night Shift Content

A couple of thoughts here. 

First, there is a wealth of material in Native American folklore that I just have not explored and honestly, I am just not even remotely familiar or even qualified to write about them despite all the stories I have read or watched over the years. 

I'd love to get more of this sort of thing for my Valhalla, AK game.  While the Bigfoot stuff from earlier today went on the silly side, this would be more of the horror side of things. 

October Horror Movie Challenge: Sasquatch, the Legend of Bigfoot (1976)

I talked about this movie back in June. So I added it to my Amazon watchlist.  And then I forgot about it.  I decided to pull it up for today.

This one can only be described as Previously Watched.  I think I might have watched it a few dozen times back when my family got Showtime back when it was new to our town.  Not a bad choice though for my first re-watch of the season.

The movie is a pseudo-documentary about the "North American Wildlife Research" group taking a group into British Columbia. It had the same feel of a lot of pseudo-documentaries on various "alternative science" that were popular in the late 70s. 

Watching it then, when I was about 10 or so, it seemed like the real deal.  Watching it now? Yeah, I am a little embarrassed I was taken in.

The movie is not great, or even good, but it was a good distraction.  And for a G-rated movie it has some scares in it.  I still remember that howl of the Bigfoots.

The ending is still surprisingly scary.

Watched: 10
New: 9

Night Shift Content

It is not a stretch of the imagination at all to consider this movie the "Event Zero" of what became my Valhalla, AK game.  Of course, the sasquatch in Valhalla is a bit different than this one.  

In a normal NIGHT SHIFT game, the Sasquatch would be more of a threat, like this movie.  In my Valhalla, AK game...well the sasquatch was more of a nuisance.  

Every night the townspeople of Valhalla would be awoken by the sounds of moose braying in the night followed by the unholy sound of something else. I would play the sasquatch sounds at this point.  The old locals of course know this is a sasquatch.  So the PCs investigate, expecting to find dead moose. They don't find any at all.  Quite the opposite really, they find all these female moose just hanging about this one strange clearing.  Turns out that there is a young male sasquatch, a teen really, and has been having sex with the female moose (mooses, moosen, miice?) after the sun goes down.  The townsfolk have been hearing his amorous escapades.  The adventure resolves when they can lure the sasquatch back to his own people.

A bit silly? Yes.  A bit ribald? Sure. But that is exactly the sort of thing I want to happen in Valhalla, AK.

DMSGuild Witch Project: The Witch - A 5E Class

We continue this first full week of October with full witch classes from the DMSGuild.  

I grabbed this one because I rather liked the cover. Let's hope the text can live up to my expectations.  For those following, I have set up some rules for myself that you can see here.

The Witch - A 5E Class

This PDF is listed as 9 pages, but the revised PDF is actually 13. There is a cover page, but the rest is content.  Unlike many of the other products on DMSGuild this one has it's own style of layout.  In truth, it is a nice change of pace.

We get all the expected elements for a full class for 5e; level advancement charts, quick builds, as well class and spell information.  This witch is a Wisdom caster.  

A couple of things stick out.  One, this witch needs a special sort of spell focus known as a Staff of Hexes.  Without it she can't cast spells.  Also this witch has something called "Magicka" points.  So a little different than other casters.

The archetypes or subclasses for this witch are called different "Wonders"; ie "Wonder of the Grimoire", "Wonder of the Cauldron", "Wonder of Voodoo", "Curse of the Hag" (not Wonder of the Hag), "Wonder of the Hedge Witch", "Wonder of the White Witch", and "Wonder of Prophecy".  While I am not overly fond of the name I do like what they do.  I think I would have gone with "Path of the ..." myself.

The archetypes seem well balanced and thought out.  

There is a spell list, but no new spells.  There is no art, save for the cover.

This is another PWYW item with a suggestion of $2.00.

The layout is crisp and very utilitarian. It doesn't scream "Witch" to me, nor does it feel "D&D." Although it is attractive and very functional.

I certainly would try a couple of these archetypes/subclasses out.  Some interesting ideas.

October Horror Movie Challenge: Malenka / Fangs of the Living Dead (1968, 1969)

I am sure I had seen this one.  But like SO MANY Italian, French and Spanish horror films from the late 60s and early 70s plots, scenes and even whole movies were recycled.  I mean this one even has the same music as "The Night She Rose From the Grave" which I am getting too later and is on the same DVD as this movie.  Though that could even be because of the disk.

This movie has been known as "Malenka", "Fangs of the Living Dead" and "The Vampire's Niece" with various dates between 1968 and 1969.

Anyway, this one features Anita Ekberg, so that is a good reason to check it out.

The movie starts with a nice creepy, "Dracula's Guest", feel to it.  Sylvia Morel (Ekberg) learns she has inherited a fortune, a castle, and a new title.   Julián Ugarte plays the Count, Sylvia's uncle, Count Walbrooke.  Sylvia becomes the Harker stand-in and Walbrooke is Dracula.

I think I was getting this one confused with the Thirst from 1979. But while the beginnings are similar, they become quite different movies. This movie was the obvious prototype for Satan's Slave (also known as Evil Heritage) in 1976 and many Franco movies like A Virgin Among the Living Dead (1973).

We learn that Sylvia's grandmother was burned at the stake as a witch and she was able to turn her children into vampires.

The basic story cleaves very, very close to the Dracula tale. So nothing really new here.
Until the end, and there is a neat little twist. It really saved the movie for me.

Kind of a fun little flick really.

Watched: 9
New: 9

NIGHT SHIFT Content

So many of these movies have old cursed families with a suspension of witchcraft and vampirism.  

I think what I need, both for NIGHT SHIFT and maybe even my various witch books is a family of witches, in decay, whose members become vampires after death.  Not all are powerful vampires, some are little more than ghouls really, but a few.  Take notes from the Karnsteins and movies like this.

In some ways the Montblancs in NIGHT SHIFT's "Ordinary World" can cover this. Maybe this is a direction I could take them.  The American Montblancs are an old family, but the European Montblancs are ancient and maybe a little more evil.  Combine this with my Byleth idea from last week.

Maybe that is how I separate them, the American Montblancs are featured in NIGHT SHIFT but the "European" Montblancs would be featured in my Witch books for Basic-era.   I would need to have a map for the run down, but still better than anywhere you have lived, Château Montblanc.

Wayward Sisters for NIGHT SHIFT

Tonight is the premiere of the FINAL season of Supernatural. I can't believe it.

With the Supernatural RPG out of print, NIGHT SHIFT is the best choice for playing a Supernatural-style game, where the PCs are largely normal people fighting against something far beyond their own power levels.

So this seems like a perfect time to bring back my favorite show that never was, Wayward Sisters!

And like I said for the Amazing Adventures post, I never found a windmill I couldn't tilt. 

Oh, there are Spoilers here for the Wayward Sisters up to Season 15, Episode 12 "Galaxy Brain."

Jody Mills

8th Level Veteran, Human

Strength: 12 (0) s
Dexterity: 14 (+1) P
Constitution: 15 (+1)
Intelligence: 15 (+1) s
Wisdom: 16 (+2)
Charisma: 15 (+1)

HP: 46 (8d8)
AC: 7
Fate Points: 1d8

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +4/+3/+1
Melee bonus: +3 (+11)  Ranged bonus: +5 (+13)
Saves: +3 to all saves

Special Abilities: Combat expertise, Supernatural Attacks, Tracking 90%

Skills: Steady hands (Dex) x2, Resistance (Con), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Cha)

Languages: English, Spanish

Equipment: Leather jacket, service revolver.

Notes: Jody is the unofficial "mom" of the Wayward Sisters. 

Donna Hanscum

7th Level Veteran, Human

Strength: 13 (+1)
Dexterity: 13 (+1) P
Constitution: 12 (0)
Intelligence: 14 (+1)
Wisdom: 17 (+2) s
Charisma: 16 (+2) s

HP: 33 (7d8)
AC: 7
Fate Points: 1d8

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +4/+2/+1
Melee bonus: +1 (+8)  Ranged bonus: +5 (+13)
Saves: +3 to all saves

Special Abilities: Combat expertise, Supernatural Attacks, Tracking 85%

Skills: Driving (Dex), Steady Hands (Dex), Insight (Wis), Wilderness Survival (Wis), Convince (Cha) 

Languages: English, French

Equipment: Leather jacket, revolver, shot gun

Note: If Jody is the mom, then Donna is the fun aunt.

Annie Jones

3rd Level Survivor/1st level Sage, Human

Strength: 12 (0)
Dexterity: 12 (0)
Constitution: 15 (+1)
Intelligence: 15 (+1) s
Wisdom: 16 (+2) s
Charisma: 15 (+1) P 

HP: 19 (3d4+1d6)
AC: 9
Fate Points: 1d6

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+2/0
Melee bonus: +0 (+1)  Ranged bonus: +0 (+1)
Saves: +3 to death saves

Special Abilities: Open locks 35%, Bypass traps 30%, Sleight of Hand 40%, Move Silently 40%, Hide in Shadows 30%, Climb 75%, Danger Sense 50%, Perceptive 50%, Sneak Attack x2, Read Languages 80%, Lore 25% (special bouns +5% for vampire lore)

Skills: Medicine (Int), Science (Int), Notice (Wis), Deceive (Cha)

Languages: English, Spanish

Notes: Use to be "bait" for a vampire family and was a vampire once. Now she is a nurse.  Of all the Wayward Sisters Annie/Anne/Alex wants to have a "normal" life the most.

Claire Novak

1st Level Theosophist/3rd Level Survivor, Human

Strength: 12 (0) s
Dexterity: 13 (+1) P
Constitution: 15 (+1) s
Intelligence: 15 (1)
Wisdom: 14 (+1)
Charisma: 14 (+1)

HP: 22 (1d6+3d4)
AC: 8
Fate Points: 1d6

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+2/0
Melee bonus: +0 (+1)  Ranged bonus: +0 (+1)
Saves: +3 to all wisdom saves

Special Abilities: See Dead People, Turn Undead, Protection from Undead, Open locks 35%, Bypass traps 30%, Sleight of Hand 40%, Move Silently 40%, Hide in Shadows 30%, Climb 75%, Danger Sense 50%, Perceptive 50%, Sneak Attack x2, Read Languages 80%, Lore 25% (special bouns +5% for angelic lore)

Skills: Resistance (Con), Theology (Int), Deceive (Cha), Intimidate (Cha)

Languages: English, Enochian

Equipment: Angel blade

Notes: She Began as a theosophist due to her religious background and her ability to be a perfect angelic vessel for Castiel. Was a werewolf once.  She is in love with Kaia.  She is the one Wayward Sister that is most like the Winchesters. 

Patience Turner

3rd Level Psychic, Human

Strength: 12 (0)
Dexterity: 14 (+1)
Constitution: 14 (+1)
Intelligence: 18 (+3) P
Wisdom: 16 (+2) s
Charisma: 17 (+2) s

HP: 16 (3d6)
AC: 9
Fate Points: 1d6

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+1/0
Melee bonus: +0  Ranged bonus: +0
Saves: +3 to charisma saves

Special Abilities: Psychic Powers

Psychic Powers: Temporal Senses (Precogniniton, Remote Viewing), Telekinesis

Skills: Athletics (Str), Gymnastics (Dex), Dance (Dex), Knowledge (Int)

Note: Former star high school athlete and scholar. Current psychic and college student. She is staying with the Wayward Sisters to protect her father.

Kaia Nieves

3rd Level Psychic/1st Level Survivor, Human

Strength: 11 (0)
Dexterity: 13 (+1)
Constitution: 14 (+1) s
Intelligence: 13 (+1)
Wisdom: 13 (+1) s
Charisma: 14 (+1) P

HP: 20 (3d6+1d4)
AC: 7
Fate Points: 1d6

Check Bonus (P/S/T): +3/+1/0
Melee bonus: +0  Ranged bonus: +0
Saves: +3 to charisma saves

Special Abilities: Psychic Powers, Open locks 15%, Bypass traps 10%, Sleight of Hand 20%, Move Silently 20%, Hide in Shadows 10%, Climb 70%, Danger Sense 33%, Perceptive 40%, Sneak Attack x2

Psychic Powers: Astral Projection*, Temporal Senses (Remote Viewing)
(*As per the spell, lasts for 1 hour)

Skills: Resistance (Con), Knowledge, Planes (Int), Beast Whisper (Wis), Survival (Wis)

Notes: Kaia is a Dream Walker which can be covered by the Psychic class. Her stint in the "Bad Place" gave her a level of Survivor.  Kaia is also a former drug user to keep herself from dreaming. She is in love with Claire. #dreamhunter.

I imagine that Kaia's and Claire's reunion was a bit like what I wrote for Willow and Tara in The Dragon and The Phoenix, episode 1, Will We Burn In Heaven? 

Episodes/Adventures would have to be named after rocks songs by women-fronted bands; like Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Halestorm (naturally), The Pretty Reckless, Doro, Garbage, and Lacuna Coil.  Taking a page from Supernatural music would have to play an important role.  Come to think of it, you could just use my Daughters of Darkness playlist.  At 39 songs, that's 3 "seasons" of 13 "episodes" each. I love it when a plan comes together.

More Wayward Sisters RPG Posts

• Amazing Adventures
• Chill RPG 3rd Edition
• Supernatural RPG