Today I snooped on my neighbors. Ostensibly I was getting a bit of exercise and fresh air but, I couldn’t help noticing …

Whoa, who’s that leaping into the woods from the top of a garage?

It’s a fine looking buck with an amazing set of antlers!

Most of the houses in my neighborhood were built in the 1940s and 1950s: Basic three bedroom, two bath houses set on a piece of land large enough for a swing set. A few of them have been torn down over the years and gaudy McMansions built in their place. Still others have been remodeled using the same basic footprint. And then, there are the original cottages of yore.

This lamppost sits in front of one of the oldest houses. It’s been empty for years now, although from time and time I’ll see people wandering around the property and then I’ll worry that one day this familiar sight, distinguished in its rusty, weedy location, will be gone.

I hope they keep some of its charm but it sits on a fairly large corner lot so who knows.

Many of my neighbors have set up security cameras on their garages. Bah humbug! How can a snoop be a snoop with cameras catching her every move? All you really need is a Guard Squirrel like the fellow above. Can you see him/her watching me? At any moment ready to attack.

These same folks set out water on the driveway for thirsty wildlife. We haven’t had rain for almost two weeks so it’s a kindly thing to do.

I found an old penny lying on the street. It was so abused that I couldn’t tell what year it was. A good cleaning revealed it was a 1988 and thus not worth much. Kind of a so-so year as I remember, 1988. Ah well.

I ended with a swing by the local theater to see what’s happening. Given what’s going on in the United States right now, I think this series is mighty timely, don’t you? FEAR, FAITH and HORROR. Oh yeah, we’ve got all that going on.

Below are the movies they plan to moderate. I doubt I’ll be able to see them all. Have you seen any of them? If so, which ones do you recommend?

DEF by TEMPTATION (1990)

A deadly succubus is preying on libidinous black men in New York City and all that stands in her way is a minister-in-training, an aspiring actor and a cop who specializes in cases involving the supernatural. Blood, gore and non-PC humor ensue. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Bill Nunn (Radio Raheem in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing) and Minnie Gentry.

RETURN of the GREAT GOD PAN (2024)

A baby of mysterious origin disrupts the lives of a troubled suburban couple and brings a renegade priest and a Pagan cult into a conflict that threatens to end the Christian era. Who will emerge victorious? Inspired by Arthur Machen’s The Great God Pan, with music by Los Saicos, the Phantom Surfers and Bobby Beausoleil (Lucifer Rising).

JIGOKU (SINNERS of Hell) (1960)

A group of sinners involved in interconnected tales of murder, revenge, deceit and adultery all meet at the Gates of Hell. Not much fun for them, but a party for every gore-hound!

IMAGE of the BEAST (1981)

Terrors of the Antichrist run One World Government where those who refuse to receive the Mark of the Beast are guillotined by UNITE (United Nations Imperium for Total Emergency) stormstroopers.

Cavalcade of Shorts

Highlights of “Christsploitation” masters Ron and June Ormond’s collaborations with Pastor Estus E. Pirkle, providing a compelling contrast with the comparatively refined approach of Image of the Beast. “Blood will flow like water!”

MUD and FIRE: Turkish Theological Horror (1974)

Scenes of exorcism and a mystic mano a mano in the fiery underworld from two Turkish horror movies that seek to elucidate the relation between humans, demons and Allah.

Reliquary: Confession (2024)

Peer into the abyss where dead ancient gods dwell and demand that faith in them be demonstrated.

The Data is Wrong (2024)

Imagine a cross between two classic works of the Twentieth Century:Arkady and Boris Strugatsky’s science fiction novel Hard to Be a God and the Alice Cooper song “Second Coming.” 

A Portrait of God (2023)

A disturbing response to the age-old question, “What does God look like?” As YHWH (or “I Am”) says in the Book of Exodus, “no man shall see me and live.” Sam Rami and Jordan Peele have signed up to produce the feature version.

Eyes of Fire (1983)

An adulterous preacher and his followers flee to “the promised land” of the American colonial frontier only to enter a valley of lust, madness, pagan vengeance and hallucinatory terror.

Eye of the Devil (1966)

The persistence of pagan practices among the French peasantry in the Nouvelle-Aquitanine region presents a sticky wicket for David Niven. When times are tough… human sacrifice! With Donald Pleasance, Sharon Tate and Deborah Kerr.

God Told Me To (1976)

A jaw-dropping horror/science fiction/police procedural starring Tony Lo Bianco (The Honeymoon Killers, The French Connection) with golden age of Hollywood star Sylvia Sydney (whose film career spanned 1926 to 1998) and a brief appearance by Andy Kaufman.

Alucarda (1977)

An incredible visionary masterpiece of Satanism and demonic possession from one of Mexico’s all-time great cult directors.

At any, this series will provide a safe place to scream and scream and scream which is what many of us feel like doing these days.