Multimedia Staff Picks: October 2021

Emily’s Picks

DVD: The Orphanage
This Spanish-language horror film is chilling and poignant in equal measure. A woman, Laura, moves her husband and young son into the orphanage where she grew up, with the intention of turning the place into a home for sick children. But on the day of the grand opening her son vanishes without a trace, and soon she and her husband start to experience strange phenomena. Laura must uncover the dark secrets of her former home and of the children who once lived there to find her son before it’s too late. The movie is deeply scary, but doesn’t rely on heavy gore or jump scares to instill fear. Instead it expertly builds a sense of palpable tension and dread. Once you’ve watched it, you’ll never forget it!

Audiobook: The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection by Edgar Allan Poe
Perfect for the Halloween season, this collection features many of the early American horror master’s most famous and memorable poems and short stories, including “The Raven,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Masque of Red Death,” “Annabel Lee,” “The Bells,” and more. They are narrated by two Hollywood horror giants, Vincent Price and Basil Rathbone, whose voicework perfectly captures the eerie and sinister tone of Poe’s work.

 

Jessie’s Picks

DVD: The Addams Family
This classic TV comedy is great to watch around Halloween.  The spooky, and kooky, episodes are fun for all ages.

CD: Ultimate Santana by Santana
This compilation is a good overview of Santana’s career.  It includes the guitar god’s early hits  (Evil Ways) and his hits around 2000 (Smooth).

 

John’s Picks

DVD: 1408
This tense psychological horror film is based on a Stephen King novel. Mike Enslin (portrayed by John Cusack)– an author of a supernatural investigation series –dares to stay in room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel in New York City. Enslin knows that not a single one of the fifty-six guests that have stayed in room 1408 in the last 95 years has survived, yet he insists on spending the night. Does the mysteriously creepy room claim victim fifty-seven or does Enslin walk away with nothing but a new story to share?

Videogame: Hello Neighbor
Sneak into your creepy neighbor’s house to learn all his dark secrets… but don’t get caught!

 

Kim’s Picks

DVD: The Uninvited
Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey play a brother and sister who purchase a seaside Cornwall house that is, guess what, haunted.  Only a granddaughter (Gail Russell) of the original occupants has a handle on the situation.  Film historian Carlos Clarens noted that this 1944 production has a distinctly feminine touch and was one of the first films to present ghosts as malevolent.  The extras on the Criterion Collection restoration are topnotch.

CD: The Definitive Christopher Cross by Christopher Cross
Unfortunately, multi-Grammy winner in the late 70s plus Oscar winner for “Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can Do),” Cross chose not to engage with the MTV generation via music videos.  Here are his big hits, including “Ride Like the Wind,” “Never Be the Same,” “Think of Laura,” “Sailing.”

 

Mary’s Picks

DVD: Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Enchanting Disney classic featuring Angela Lansbury that takes me back to my childhood. I would get such a magical feeling watching this movie.

CD: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by John Williams
John Williams creates the perfect music to accompany Harry Potter. It gives you the true magical feeling of the books and movies. The Harry Potter theme defines the films and has become iconic.

 

Stephanie’s Picks

DVD: Hocus Pocus
“When three outlandishly wild witches are accidentally conjured up by pranksters, they return from 17th century Salem and set out to cast a spell on the town, but first they must outwit three kids and a talking cat.”

CD: Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series
This soundtrack features songs from the hit Netflix series (a great mix of 80’s hits from artists like The Police, Duran Duran, and The Clash) as well as clips of dialogue from the first season. Fans of the series and of 80’s pop music will love it.

 

For previous years’ multimedia staff picks, visit cclsmultimedia.wordpress.com. All quoted summaries come from catalog.ccls.org.