It's a Danse Macabre Monday

Halloween is here, the ghouls and goblins are dancing and the witches and wraiths are flying! To get the most fun celebration of darkness off to a good start, we bring you this great music video for Camille Saint-Saens's immortal classic "Danse Macabre" constructed of clips from (and even a complete) from silent films!

Halloween is coming...

... and we're here to get you in the mood with another spooky short film!

Misery (2019)

Starring: Vanit Pela Sung

Director: Daniel De Silva

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Take a look inside a mind that's melting down...

 "Misery" is another student film that we discovered in a distant corner of YouTube that we found interesting and that we think you will, too. It's a moody, non-narrative piece with a moody dreamlike quality that is either an abstract view within a breaking mind, or it's a man walking through the ground floor of a building as his psychic powers run out of control.

Both of those interpretations are based on filmmaker's Daniel De Silva's comment about it -- "a depressed guy discovers something within him" -- and no matter which one is correct, this film is a minute of visual creepy fun.

Check out "Misery" by clicking below. We're sure you agree that there's an abundance of Halloween Spirit contained within it. And if you feel so inclined, leave a comment letting everyone know what YOU think is being represented in the film. 

An important announcement from the Slaughter Valley Authority

There's some critical information that we want make sure all of our fellow Slaughter Valley residents to know regarding the Similarity Agents that were introduced earlier this month. Please watch this short informational video. (We also encourage you to check it out if you intend to visit us at any time in the near future.)

Saturday Strangeness with Xing Xu

Mushrooms (2022)
Starring: Laura Dromerick
Director: Xing Xu
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A woman wanders a lakeside orchard and... oh, just watch it. You tell ME what makes a good summary.

YouTube is a great place for filmmakers to share short films that otherwise might never be seen by random members of the public. Sadly, they mostly end up in obscure corners of the site, so while they may now be out there to be discovered and appreciated, they still go mostly unseen. But at least they're there for ME to find and feature in post here, upping the chance of these creative efforts to be seen.

Every so often, I come across one such film that makes me say, "I don't think I know what this film is about, but I like everything about it!" The latest of these is "Mushrooms" from New York City-based writer/director Xing Xu. She describes herself as an artist who makes "music videos and magick art".

I might classify "Mushrooms" as a music video--the spooky, sometimes chilling music by Nurse With Wound is a prime driver in this two-minute film--if not for the free-verse narration. It's a non-narrative bit of filmmaking that I THINK is about beginnings and ends and the life that exists between them, but it could also just be a bit of spookiness that I should have saved for the 31 Nights of Halloween extravaganza crossover with Terror Titans in October.

But why don't you take a couple minutes (literally) to check out this neat little bit of art. And, like I asked above, if you can give us a good "teaser summary"--share it!

(Also, keep an eye out for another work from Xing Xu on a future Musical Monday.)

Musical Monday with Len Lye's Peanut Vendor

In 1933, New Zealander sculptor, animator, and puppeteer Len Lye made "The Peanut Vendor"/"Experimental Animation", a short film featuring a singing spider monkey puppet. It was something to show prospective investors as he tried to raise money to produce a feature-length puppet/stop-motion animation film.

Lye's efforts were in vain, and his puppet movie was never made... but a little bit of his dream survives to this day, for us to smile and marvel at.

The version embedded below is perhaps the highest quality and most complete one that's available for easy viewing. I've seen some commentators describe it as "creepy". Personally. I think it's rather cute.

But why don't you check it out and judge for yourself. Let me know if you, too, find it creepy... or if it perhaps filled a spider monkey-shaped void in your life that didn't even know was there until today.

But wait! There's more music with Len Lye's monkey!

One of the joys of this digital age we live in is that all sorts of fun, weird stuff is available in obscure corners of even the most well-known sites. Take for example this funky video where someone took Lye's spider monkey puppet film and replaced the soundtrack with that of the Beatles warming up (or just goofing off) during a recording session.

'The Session' is worth attending

The Session (2012)
Starring: Alice Bristow and Niloo Ravaei
Director: Emelie Claxton

Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A girl (Bristow) undergoes hypno-therapy with disturbing results.

 
"The Session" is another student film I came across while trawling through YouTube for things to watch and write about in this space. It was made primarily to show its creator's competency with three-point lighting--which she demonstrates that she had--but it is also a very interesting, very creepy silent film that's well worth the few minutes of your time it takes to watch. I hope she got a good grade for it!

I admit that I don't know what to make of the patient's mindscape... but she probably has many more therapy sessions in her future.



Note: The creator of this film graduated from film school in 2015, and she has gone onto be a working director-for-hire. You can visit her website by clicking here.

Important announcement from Slaughter Valley

The citizens are dancing in the streets in response to the news.

 
There are changes coming to Slaughter Valley (where the Shades of Gray offices are located). We want to make sure all our readers and visitors are made aware, because we don't want our friends to run afoul of the authorities.

Notification about a new outbreak

 While Covid-19 is fading as a dire and global threat, we're dealing with a new, even more insidious threat here in Slaughter Valley, where the Shades of Gray offices are located. We recommend you postpone any planned visits until we tell you the danger has passed.

The video embedded below explains everything that scientists know about the current situation so far.

Is she infected? Signs point to 'yes'

A Word from the Slaughter Valley Authority

She may be stuck like this...

We're sharing this important announcement from our sponsor, in case any of you want to come visit us at our Slaughter Valley office. Watch this before you take the trip, especially if you're going to stay overnight.

 

A caution for those traveling to or within Slaughter Valley

If you're planning to visit us here at Shades of Gray HQ, you might want to delay the trip. Here are a few problems with getting around at the moment. This video will explain:

An important announcement from our sponsor

We at Shades of Gray want to extend a big Thank You to the Slaughter Valley Cultural Development Office for inviting us to relocate our offices to this most scenic part of the world. We have been very happy here. We hope that you come visit us soon.

In the meantime, we have an important announcement from our sponsor, the Slaughter Valley's Slaughterfield Experimental Geometry Services; click on the video below to see it, especially if you're one of our neighbors here in Slaughter Valley. They are doing exciting work, and hopefully everyone everywhere will soon get to experience the fruits of their labor!

A word from our new sponsor!

The Shades of Gray blog was banned from the Google Ad Sense program a year or two ago due to "shocking content". We weren't told WHAT was so shocking, so we're assuming it's the general monochrome environment, which we refuse to address, so we remain banned. Fortunately, we now have a sponsor, the Slaughter Valley Tourism Colloquium. Here's the advertisement that's been provided!

And while you're visiting beautiful Slaughter Valley, be sure to attend a Tree Ballet performance. It's a regional art and a cultural experience that you won't find anywhere else!

When horror movies go to the dogs...

... you get a fun little take on so very many of the short films that're featured over at our sister blog Terror Titans.

Horror Movie For Dogs (2020)

Starring: Koda

Director: Caleb Herring

Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A family dog (Koda) is left alone in a haunted house.

 

Filmmaker Caleb Herring wrote about "Horror Movie for Dogs: "I shot this the night before Halloween because I was insanely bored and my girlfriend was out for the night, leaving me and our good boy home alone."

His boredom is our blessing, because this is a nicely done short film. It's concise and not a moment of screen-time is wasted. The only complaint I have is that the soundtrack is a bit overblown and too omnipresent. A little more quiet in this film would have made it a lot more effective.

That aside, this is an amusing effort that is well worth checking out (which you can do from this very post). I think that those people who are down-voting it have no hearts, sense of humor, nor sense of what makes a good film.

In memory of Edgar Allan Poe--"The Raven"

Edgar Allan Poe passed away on October 7, 1849, at the age of 40. In his short life, however, he wrote many dark poems and short stories that form part of the foundation upon which modern horror stories stand. We suspect that if you're reading these words, you're already family with one of Poe's most famous works, "The Raven". If not, you should take a few moments to read it now. And if you are familiar, it can't hurt to read it again. Perhaps you should read it out loud, so you can get the full experience of the rhythm of the sentences. 

Or you can just drop down to the bottom of the post for Jandzi Lorber's fabulous animated tribute to the poem. Made with cut-out animation, it took Lorber ten weeks to make the two-minute film.

THE RAVEN

By Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
   While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
''Tis some visitor,' I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber door -
         Only this, and nothing more.'

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
   Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
   From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

     And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
   So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
   ''Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
         This it is, and nothing more,'

  Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
'Sir,' said I, 'or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
    But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
   And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
         Darkness there, and nothing more.

  Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
   But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
   And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, 'Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, 'Lenore!'
         Merely this and nothing more.

  Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
   'Surely,' said I, 'surely that is something at my window lattice;
   Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
         'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

  Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
   Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
   But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
         Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
'Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, 'art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
         Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'

  Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
   For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
   Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
         With such name as 'Nevermore.'

  But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
   Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
   Till I scarcely more than muttered 'Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow will he leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
         Then the bird said, 'Nevermore.'

  Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
'Doubtless,' said I, 'what it utters is its only stock and store,
   Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
   Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
         Of "Never-nevermore."'

  But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
   Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
   Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
         Meant in croaking 'Nevermore.'

  This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
   This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
   On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
         She shall press, ah, nevermore!

  Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
   'Wretch,' I cried, 'thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
   Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
         Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'

  'Prophet!' said I, 'thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
   Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
   On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
         Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'

  'Prophet!' said I, 'thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
   Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
   It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
         Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'

  'Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
'Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
   Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
   Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
         Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'

  And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
   And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
   And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
         Shall be lifted - nevermore!

--

Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven

Director: Jandzi Lorber

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

In honor of the great Edgar Allan Poe

The great writer of chilling poetry and horror short stories, Edgar Allan Poe, passed away on October 7 in 1849 at the young age of 40. Please enjoy this song from Voltaire in his memory, and as part of our effort here at Shades of Gray to get you in the proper mood for Halloween! (As an extra treat, we've picked a fan-made video to feature. You can click here if you want to visit YouTube for the version uploaded by Voltaire himself.)

It's that moment when...

We don't post many straight-up art film here at Shades of Gray; we're simple folk, with simple tastes. But when we came across "Moment" on YouTube, we thought it was so excellent that it deserves to be seen by as many people as possible. 

Take a couple minutes to enjoy this bit of visual and spoken poetry.

Moment (2021)

Starring: Jean Lodescar, Jr.

Director: Jean Lodescar, Jr.

Rating: Nine of Ten Stars

A Mother's Day silent movie

In May of 2012, YouTuber Libby Thomas uploaded a cute and funny short film she made with her siblings that was equal part tribute to the silent films we write about here (like these, for example) and Mother's Day card. Check it out... it's bound to make you smile, and perhaps even laugh!




Oh... and Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there.

Behold--Vulgar Man!

I came across this goofy little spoof of silent-era melodramas on YouTube, and it made me chuckle. I hope it will do the same for you, so I've embedded it below.

Vulgar Man (2013)
Starring: Paul Hogan and Gemma Ryan
Directors: Peter Donelley and Paul Hogan
Rating; Six of Ten Stars


(Yeah, the voice-over in the beginning could have been a little clearer, and one could quibble over the fact that the visuals are more in style with later silent films rather than early ones... but why?)

2019

The tragedy of 'One Cookie Left'

Taken for what this is, "One Cookie Left" is an amusing pastiche of early silent comedies. It's not brilliant, but it's also not bad, and there are several chuckle-prompting moments that you can enjoy right now, because I've embedded the film below. (That said... where did the guy's mustache in the first scene disappear to?)


One Cookie Left (2012)
Starring: Jessie and Max
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

In the Twilight Zone.

A girl. A guy. A guitar. A curious, version of a classic song that builds to a cheerful finale. A fitting performance for... the Twilight Zone




(This strange little cover was performed by Tess Gaerthe (vocals) and Thomas Zwijsen (guitar) of the Netherlands. I hope you enjoy it. I came upon it while amusing myself posting a whole string of "Twilight Zone" covers to Facebook. It seemed to fit better here, though.)