Between October 1,2014 to October 31,2015 FWYW artist and founder Bradley Beard created a series of 421 horror-themed portraits and released them daily on Facebook for 396 consecutive days. This self imposed challenge has become known as the 13 Months of Horror and to commemorate it’s 5th anniversary, Bradley is sharing it once again on Facebook and Instagram. FWYW will be collecting each week’s and sharing them in our blog so please enjoy as we present to you The 13 Months of Horror – Revisited.
DAY 22 – HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS & BLACULA
I would like to offer fangs to all who have enjoyed my art so far so in honor of your support, I DEAD-icate this as vampire day. My first design is of Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins from the 1970 MGM Studios classic House of Dark Shadows directed by Dan Curtis. This is a well-paced spinoff that departs from the plodding 1960’s Dark Shadows soap opera. My second design is of William Marshall as Blacula from the 1972 American International Pictures classic of the same name. Marshall also starred with Pam Grier in the sequel Scream Blacula Scream. These were produced during the height of the 1970’s blaxploitation film movement and are among the best of the genre. I will see you again tomorrow… after sunrise.
DAY 23 – PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE & BLOOD OF DRACULA
Have you ever watched a movie that’s so bad that it’s actually good? Or maybe one that’s SO bad that you just have to keep watching in disbelief? Well, today is bad movie day. My first design is of Swedish wrestler Tor Johnson from the 1959 Valiant Pictures “classic” Plan 9 From Outer Space; voted worst movie ever made. Director Ed Wood was posthumously awarded the Golden Turkey Award for being the worst director ever. My second design is of… no, it’s not Eddie Munster in drag on LSD! It is Sandra Harrison as Nancy Perkins from the 1957 AIP “classic” Blood of Dracula. In a nutshell, Nancy is sent to boarding school, gets hypnotized with an ancient amulet, and turns into a vampire. Luckily Dracula is nowhere to be found; he was wise and stayed away. But don’t you stay away, join me again tomorrow.
DAY 24 – THE EXORCIST & IT’S ALIVE
It’s time to rock the cradle… today we are going to take a look back on a couple of truly creepy kids. My first design is of Linda Blair as Regan from the unbelievably terrifying 1973 Warner Brothers classic the Exorcist. It was the first horror movie to be nominated for best picture. To this day, it is the ONLY movie that has ever completely terrified me and I still will not watch today. My second design is of the monstrous puppet baby from the 1974 Warner Brothers film It’s Alive. The “baby” was created by special effects genius Rick Baker. This is a creepy movie that examined the effects of pharmaceutical medications on an unborn child. The movie wasn’t successful until its re-release in 1977 and spawned 2 sequels. Sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite… so until tomorrow, sweet dreams.
DAY 25 – FRANKENSTEIN 1910 – EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN
Today is Frankenstein day. My first design is of Charles Ogle as the monster from Thomas Edison’s 1910 silent version of Frankenstein; a movie that takes us to the dawn of cinema. Once thought to be a lost film, it is worth watching for its historical value alone. My second design is of Australian wrestler Kiwi Kingston as the monster from the 1964 Hammer Studios classic The Evil of Frankenstein; also starring Peter Cushing as Dr. Frankenstein. In this movie, the monster is used as an instrument of revenge by a disgruntled hypnotist. The truly terrifying aspect of Cushing’s portrayal is that he is so bent on the outcome of creating life from the dead that he never sees the horror in his actions. Remember to join me again to see what tomorrow brings to life.
DAY 26 – HORROR OF DRACULA & THE MUMMY
Today is a tribute to horror legend Christopher Lee. My first design is of Lee as Count Dracula from the 1958 Hammer Studios classic Horror of Dracula which also stars Peter Cushing and Michael Gough. Lee’s portrayal of the Count is so ominous and foreboding that his on-screen presence becomes palpable. My second design is of Lee as Im Ho Tep from the 1959 Hammer Studios classic The Mummy which again stars the legendary Peter Cushing. The relentless nature of the mummy in this movie is quite disturbing as it will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. With these movies, Hammer Studios redefined the horror genre in the 1950’s with its Technicolor portrayal of gothic horror. Stay tuned tomorrow for another double dose of sheer terror.
DAY 27 – DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
Today is a good day to Hyde. There’ve been many versions of this classic story over the years and today I present two of the earliest. My first design is of John Barrymore as Mr. Hyde from the 1920 silent classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; a truly atmospheric interpretation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel with German expressionistic overtones. Barrymore’s portrayal takes the role to the lunatic fringe; imaginably quite terrifying for its day. My second design is of Fredric March as Mr. Hyde from the 1931 MGM Studios classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde directed by Rouben Mamoulian. March is the quintessential Hyde in both image and portrayal; one of my favorite movies of the classic horror cycle. March’s single scene transformation was once a long guarded secret. Don’t try to hide… tomorrow will find you here.
DAY 28 – THE FLY AND THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE
It’s MAD SCIENCE day; I offer two instances of science gone awry. My first design is of David Hedison from the 1958 20th Century Fox classic The Fly which also starred Vincent Price; a true classic of the 1950’s sci-fi genre. Nobody who’s ever seen this movie can forget the creepy “Help me” screamed by the human headed fly trapped in the spider’s web. My second design is of Richard Crane from the 1959 20th Century Fox classic The Alligator People. It features Lon Chaney Jr. as “the hook armed hate maddened Cajun”. My favorite line is when he yells, “I’ll kill you alligator man… just like I’d kill any four legged gator!!” The alligator man make-up wasn’t convincing even by 1950’s standards but the movie is worth watching for Chaney’s performance alone. So please “Help me…HELP ME” and be back here tomorrow.
