Halloween Science Fiction Movies
Some of My Favorites for a Movie Night
Get the complete Brendan Murphy saga in the Fallen universe (which will continue after his character arch with Dormition). Veteran Brendan Murphy is assigned as a liaison to the mysterious alien race Sabia. Can he stop war, balance covert agendas, and save his own sanity? Now, both are also available on Kindle Unlimited!
Please remember to leave a review once you finish it. Also, I’d love to hear directly from you about your thoughts!
Science Fiction Flicks for Halloween
Last year, in my post about my own encounters with high strangeness, I included a list of some of my favorite Halloween movies. This year, let’s take a look at some of my favorite science fiction Halloween movies and where the “science” in science fiction in them occurs.
Alien Film: The Thing
The Thing is hands down one of the creepiest and most terrorizing science fiction films. The idea of an alien as a sort of mimicking parasite that could sprout into various forms made the entity a horrifying sight. Yet, it was more than a monster, as demonstrated by the Thing building a UFO. Maybe it was trying to get out and take over the Earth, or perhaps it wanted to go back home instead. However, for whatever reason, the Thing never communicated its desires, whether out of fear, indifference, or malice. This movie makes you think of so many possibilities when it isn’t scaring you half to death.
Deep Space Horror Film: Event Horizon
Alien is the go to movie for many when it comes to space horror. However, the once panned and now cult classic Event Horizon is a great flick that takes horror to the stars. An experimental vessel that used folding space as a means to do faster than light travel mysteriously disappeared only to reappear years later at the edge of reachable space. What a salvage crew finds raises questions: did the crew go mad, did they find Hell, and did anything come back with the ship? This film features the science of space travel and inter-dimensions intersecting possible true evil in a scary and frightening way.
Ghost Film: Ghostbusters
The beloved 1980s classic is a film about a couple white collar and blue collar guys trying to start their own business hunting ghosts in a world where most don't believe in the existence of spirits. Much of the film's lore comes from Dan Aykroyd's beliefs in ghosts and his deep knowledge of the history of paranormal research. While many think of the movie as more of an urban fantasy, the use of parapsychology/pseudoscientific (depending on who you ask) tools caught my interest. One of the film's first scenes involves testing for psychic abilities via ESP Zener cards. Additionally, the PKE meter the ghostbusters use to find ghosts is inspired by electromagnetic frequency meters that "real" ghost hunters use. Even the proton packs that capture the ghosts have real science as an inspiration. Finally, the butting of heads between the ghostbusters and the regulators speaks not only to businessmen who struggle against red tape but also to scientists who have to overcome public obstacles getting research approved and implemented.
Haunted House Science Fiction Film: Cabin in the Woods
Cabin in the Woods has the premise of many fantasy horror films: a lone cabin, a group of young friends, and supernatural monsters. However, the twist is that the government has mastered ritualistic sacrifice to elder gods down to a science. Not only are many fantasy horror creatures available to terrorize victims, but the government even made some of the creatures like clowns, robots, and more. Mind-altering chemicals, electric shocks, cameras to monitor, explosions to prevent escape, and subminimal audio are all used to influence the victims, while those in control have office betting pools and parties. Even office bureaucracy and rivalry between departments come are featured.
Vampires and Werewolves Film: Underworld
After World War II, there was a trend to change vampire and werewolf stories from supernatural tales of damnation to one of scientific explanations. Most of these were to show the dangers of science without morals, as the monsters were the products of horrible experiments. Then, as the horror of science creating the nuclear bomb wore off (more on that in another post), the genre advanced further down the science route. The trend became one of natural evolution creating the two species, with their masquerading as humans being centuries old. Into this subgenre is Underworld, the B action film that features a centuries-old battle between grungy werewolves versus stylish gowns and latex wearing vampires. Instead of holy water or wolfsbane, the monsters shoot ultraviolet and liquid silver bullets at each other. And instead of a supernatural curse, a virus mutates its host, which in turn causes the transformation. Meanwhile, being bitten by both species results in death because of the cellular-level fighting between infections. Outside the scope of science fiction, the use of practical effects over CGI is a nice treat, which sadly was not continued in the much inferior squeals.
New Risen Review
It’s always a good sign when someone compares Risen to a well beloved Japanese anime. The review also captures the influence of Christianity on the main character’s development.
Other Independent Book Promotions
The Black Wizard: A Defenders of Vosj Novel by Kevin P Hallett - Book for $3.99
In her darkest days, Brodia is cutoff from her magic and must endure hourly beatings as she watches them prepare her pyre. Should she accept an easier death or fight for freedom but risk them burning her alive? Can she solve this mystery of the magic-robbing helmet, before their pyre is ready? Her family already believes she died, so no one is coming to help the Green Wizard, held captive by her despised enemy.
This prison and helmet also deny her knowledge. How is the rebellion progressing? Do they even miss her, or has the entire movement collapsed because she isn’t there to lead them. If she cannot escape this diabolical trap, then her entire realm may be lost and her young daughter slaughtered.
Shadow Game by Caitlin Demaris McKenna - Free Novella
When his ship is damaged, retired assassin Gau Shesharrim finds himself stranded on a hostile world. To repair his ship, he will have to sneak into a jungle spaceport crawling with Terrans and their scaly Urd allies.
An impossible task. Until help comes from an unexpected source.
Arkk just wants to evade the Urd hunting him. A chance encounter with Gau offers him temporary refuge, and something more: a way to get justice for his slaughtered paddock. But first they have to get off-planet.
Can Gau and Arkk work together to escape before their enemies catch up to them?
Shadow Game is a story of serendipity, retribution, and empowerment set in the thrilling universe of the Expansion space opera series.
The Red Destiny: Book 2 of The Red Tomorrow Series by Joseph Cruz - Free Advanced Review Copy
After the tumultuous events of *The Red Frontier*, a fragile peace has begun to take shape on the red planet. Dr. Raymond Redmin, with the mysterious Ark in his possession, has become a beacon of hope for the struggling people of the Red Frontier. Alongside his trusted companions—Kira, the fierce warrior; the robot fox Swift; and Zeltan supersoldiers Darien and Marucs, Raymond seeks to build a future for Mars free of tyranny and fear. But that hope is about to be shattered.
When Tristan, the brash and arrogant warrior prince, stumbles upon a secret that could spell doom for his "friends," his world is turned upside down. He must decide whether to continue down the path of selfishness or rise above his past to protect those he is starting to care about. Can the prince of privilege shed his arrogance in time to stop a threat that could destroy them all?
Meanwhile, Ghost, the cybernetic assassin created by the sinister Corsairs, is unleashed on a brutal quest for vengeance. Tortured and transformed into a deadly weapon, Ghost’s thirst for retribution knows no bounds, and his mission brings him dangerously close to his past. Torn between vengeance and redemption, Ghost's actions may determine the fate of everyone on Mars.
As tensions rise and old enemies resurface, these characters find themselves caught in a conflict that could plunge Mars into chaos. With epic battles, heart-pounding action, and intense moments of choice, *The Red Destiny* takes readers deeper into the intrigue and conflict of the Red Tomorrow series, where alliances are tested, friendships are forged in fire, and the fate of a planet hangs in the balance.
For fans of high-octane adventure and sweeping science fiction, *The Red Destiny* is an unmissable next chapter in this thrilling saga. Will Mars’ fragile hope survive, or will it be extinguished by the darkness closing in?
Until Next Time
Next time, I’ll share my newest short story readers magnet, a fun paranormal adventure for Halloween. Then, the first chapter of Dormition *should* be released.
As always, please leave a comment with any questions, reviews, thoughts, whatever about Fallen, Risen, Dormition, An Odd Pilgrimage or whatever else I have discussed. I promise to reply!