Day 21: M3GAN (2022) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
M3GAN (2022)

10 days left--it's the Final Countdown!  (Queue the song of the same name by Europe.)  

While I half expected M3GAN to open her mouth and say "Hi, I'm Chucky.  Wanna play?", it was a mostly fun addition to the Robot-as-Best-Friend-Turned-Homicidal-Killer genre.  And the M3GAN dance became a sort of short-lived meme or sorts and rightly so: if I saw a robot with an uncanny valley face suddenly, randomly dancing like that, I do believe I would be wetting my pants--this time with terror.

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STEP ONE:  Here are the hastily scribbled digital pencils done on a 2,550px x 3,300px canvas.

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STEP TWO:  Here are the digital inks.  I decided to just silhouette the dancing for two reasons: First, that many tiny M3GAN's seemed a more graphical element and evoked the Apple iPod ads from back int he day (like the "Attack the Block" last week).  Second, and most obvious, I was running out of time.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished digital painting. 

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Done digitally in Clip Studio Paint.

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Day 20: Splice (2009) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
Splice (2009)

Hey, hey!  Twenty days down, eleven more to go!

The creature, Dren ("Nerd" spelled backwards), from "Splice" (2009), is visually unsettling.  The eyes are too far apart, and some other bits of anatomy are off just enough to fall into that Uncanny Valley and hit every rock on the way down.  It's a story of genetic research gone horribly wrong.  There is also creepy sexual tension (and worse) as the creatures grows older and begins to go through puberty of a sort.  And then the killing begins...

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STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

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Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 19: Basket Case (1982) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
Basket Case (1982)

This time it's Belial, the titular and literal Basket Case of the movie.

I haven't watched the original "Basket Case" in quite a while, but have vaguely fond memories of it--a mixture of sub-optimal special effects, campy gore, and vague attempts at humor, but all with a sort of goofy charm.  Although, I'm sure if I watched it now, it was have a number of... problematic scenes no doubt.  Then again, there are a number of 80's movies which I enjoyed as a kid/teenager and if I looked at 'em now, would probably blanch at them now (what can I say, it was the 80's--a lot of the media was cringe-worthy when looked at today).

I do remember watching "Basket Case 3: The Progeny" (1991) and was mildly surprised that it was a fairly decent and humorous film which built upon the story, rather than just seeming to be a sort of franchise cash grab.

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

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Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 18: Young Frankenstein (1974) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

  31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
Young Frankenstein (1974)

For Franken-Friday, it's the classic, "Young Frankenstein" (1974).  Or, should it be "Young Frankenstein's Monster", to be pedantic.  Or, "Young Frankensteen"?  It's a great pastiche that uses actual props from the original "Frankenstein", and it actually funny.  And, of course, "Putting on the Ritz" it worth the price of admission, alone.

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

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Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 17: Ready Or Not (2019) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
Ready or Not (2019)

"Ready or Not" (2019) is the story of a cursed family that must play a version of Hide-and-Seek, and find and sacrifice the woman they are chasing before dawn or else they all die.  IMHO, it is both shockingly gory at times and had underlying darkly comedic elements which made the movie a notch or two above what it would have been.

This is not to be confused with the 2005 thriller/horror, "Hide and Seek", which starred Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning.

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

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Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 16: The Howling (1981) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
The Howling (1981)

Hey, it's over the halfway point of this mad endeavor!  

For some reason, most werewolf movies don't really appeal to me, but there are a couple exceptions.  "American Werewolf in London" (1981) is one, and "The Howling" (1981) is another.  Of course, both movies have quite a pedigree, with "American Werewolf in London" directed by John Landis and effects by Rick Baker, while "The Howling" is directed by Joe Dante and effects were by Rob Bottin (best known for "John Carpenter's The Thing"), and was co-written by John Sayles.

The poster for "The Howling" is classic and was in just about every Video Shop in the late 80's.

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

* * *

Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 15: Hellraiser (1987) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
Hellraiser (1987)

What would "31 Days of HELL-O-Ween" without a Cenobite in it?  This time, it's Butterball--a rather rotund, smoothed out grotesquery with his trademark dark glasses.

Oh, boy, I'm not quite to the halfway point and starting to fall a little behind--time to kick this rear into gear!

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

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Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 14: Attack the Block (2011) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
Attack the Block (2011)

In 2011's "Attack the Block", aliens land and, um, attack the, ah, block, and local gangs band together and come to the rescue.

OK, I will admit that this was a relatively easy one to do.  The aliens had an unsettling look--pure black with neon blue teeth.  Did I choose this one because it would be so (relatively) easy to do?  It surely didn't hurt as I was extra busy this week with other things, so it was good to have this one in my back pocket.  Although, if I were smart (and I've never been accused of such a thing), I would have just done this one digitally in about 10 minutes.

And, yeah, it does look like the old iPod ads from 2005.  They just need some white earphones and cords and they would be good to go.

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  And here's the finished painting.  For this one, it was the first pass was about 80% covered... and the next pass--here it is finished.  So, I just skipped scanning the mid-point and went with "Annnndddd DONE!".

One mildly amusing thing of note: Originally, I was going to have a graduated color of slightly darker Turquoise Green/Titanium White to a lighter Turquoise Green/Titanium White.  However, the the color difference how much it darkened between when the paint was wet vs. when it was dry was so great, I had to wait for it to dry to see if it worked... and mostly it didn't.  It would be blotchy and mottled as heck.  So, after two failed attempts, I scrapped that and went with a more solid color, cursing myself for not just going digital for this one.

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Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 13: Tales from the Crypt (1989 - 1996) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
Tales from the Crypt (1989 - 1996)

The comic book, "Tales from the Crypt" and all the horror anthology derivations thereof, were a staple of my childhood.  I didn't have too many of them (having gotten a small, box of random issues from a Rummage Sale), but those I had I read and re-read many, many times--poring over the art and the gruesome, O'Henry-esqued endings.

The TV Series run on HBO was also a fun re-telling of some of the stories, and used the similar ironic endings.  And the host of the show was the Crypt Keeper--who told bad puns, told corny jokes (usually built upon bad puns), and engaged in gallows humor (which also used bad puns as the scaffolding).

Somehow, it was also a mid-level Saturday Morning cartoon.

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

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Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 12: Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

I find "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" (1988) to be great fun.  Gross and spooky and funny and pleasantly weird and creative.  Cotton candy cocoons, pop corn guns, people-eating shadow puppets--and that's just the beginning.  Fun, funny, doesn't take itself seriously.

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

* * *

Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 11: The Munsters (1964 - 1966) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
The Munsters (1964 - 1966)

It's Franken-Friday again, and this time it's Herman Munster from the titularly named "The Munsters".  While I was more a fan of "The Addams Family", I did enjoy the occasional episode of "The Munsters" when it came on.  A monster family in the suburbs (produced by the creators of "Leave it to Beaver" no less) assuming they are the normal ones and everyone else is a bit odd.  And, to be honest, they aren't entirely wrong in their premise.

Also, Rob Zombie's "Dragula"--sharing the same name as Grandpa Munster's car, DRAG-U-LA--slaps!  (That's what the kids today say, right?)

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

* * *

Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 10: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack Skellington has grown weary of his duties in Halloween Town and decides to bring some Christmas Cheer to the world by kidnapping Santa and taking over Christmas.  Confused fun and mischief ensue. 

Also, contrary to popular belief, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was actually directed by Henry Selick and not Tim Burton (although it was based on his story and he was the producer)

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

* * *

STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

* * *

Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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Day 09: Village of the Damed (1960) - 31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024

31 Days of HELL-O-Ween 2024:
Village of the Damned (1960)

Based on John Wyndham's excellent "Midwich Cuckoos", "Village of the Damned" (1960).  In an English village of Midwich, everyone falls unconscious for several hours and when they wake up all child-bearing age woman are pregnant.  They all give birth to mind controlling, telepathic kids with blonde hair, who are of extra-terrestrial origin.

Creepy, blonde kids with glowing eyes?  Spooky!

* * *

STEP ONE:  Here are the quick pencils done with colored pencil on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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STEP TWO:  Here's the first pass with Acrylic paint.

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STEP THREE:  And here's the finished painting. 

* * *

Done with Acrylic on 8-1/2" x 11" extra-heavy toned cardstock.

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