Editor’s note: The individuals listed as sources in this article are stated using their usernames as they were contacted through an Oregon State University specific online platform.
The rain rolls in and darkness blankets Oregon as Halloween is upon us once again.
Houses are covered in fake webs and skeleton memorabilia as students prepare to celebrate Halloween, or as I like to call it: The Month of Spook, all month long.
One way that Oregon State University students like to partake in the festivities is by watching movies and TV specials that are either themed around the holiday or have some sort of horror element to them.
A favorite among many is the TV mini series, “Over the Garden Wall”, that aired on Cartoon Network in 2014 revolving around Wirt and Greg, two brothers that get lost in a strange forest and must find their way home with the help of the talking bluebird, Beatrice.
Members in the Corvallis Creative Collective Discord, such as Arcaneknight23 (discord username), cite many reasons why they enjoy the show.
One common point of praise among students is the show’s atmosphere that’s complimented by the moody lighting and shadows as well as the strange happenings and creatures the pair encounter.
Both of these things combined form a unique vibe, especially once the looming threat is established. The characterization of the two brothers and their reactions to the denizens of the forest are also a point of praise.
Member Mr_Devious_Mischievious (discord username) also loves campy horror films, especially ones that have over the top gore accompanied by an absurd premise.
One particular film that might be told around the campfire on a foggy night is the “Re-Animator” franchise, based on H.P. Lovecraft’s “Herbert-West’s Reanimator.”
“Re-Animator” revolves around Herbert West, a medical student that concocts a serum capable of reanimating dead bodies and begins to test it on human corpses. The film series revolves around mis-adventures involving the serum.
One point about the franchise that students gravitate towards is the absurdity of the many scenarios the characters end up in.
“What other series would have a guy stealing an iguana during the middle of a fire fight in the jungle? Or fight a reanimated cat corpse in a himbo’s basement,” Mr_Devious_Mischievious said.
It is still the dawn of The Month of Spook, a time of scares and delicious treats and hopefully students’ recommendations inspire readers to try something they’ve never thought of watching that could become a new Halloween tradition.
