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31 Scary Story Nights: October 2nd “The Furry Collar”

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Hello and welcome back to my 31 Scary Story Nights series celebrating the Halloween month and the scary campfire stories we know and love!  Tonight’s story The Furry Collar has a colorful history all its own.

It began as a story within a story in a popular novella called The Gentleman from America by Michael Arlen.  Arlen’s novella captured the imagination of everyone who read it, including Alfred Hitchcock who had it adapted for “Alfred Hitchcock Presents…” in 1956.  The Furry Collar developed a life of its own outside the novella, however, and became a popular story to tell on dark and stormy nights changing and evolving with names changed along with the time period in which the story takes place.

Without further ado, let’s light the campfire and settle in to read…The Furry Collar.

***Writer’s Note:  We here at iHorror are big proponents of responsible parenting.  Some of the stories in this series may be too much for your little ones.  Please read ahead and decide if your kids can handle this story!  If not, find another story for tonight or simply come back to see us tomorrow.  In other words, don’t blame me for your kids nightmares!***

The Furry Collar as retold by Waylon Jordan

Julia and Bessie were the best of friends, though the two couldn’t be more different.  Julia was brave and outgoing while Bessie was quiet, shy, and always seemed to be afraid.

On Halloween night, Bessie’s family had to be away and she was afraid to stay alone so she asked Julia to stay the night with her.  Julia, of course, agreed to stay to protect her friend from her fears.  Bessie’s family home was off the beaten path, you see, and a bit gloomy so even Julia understood that one might be nervous staying alone on Halloween night.

Julia arrived in late afternoon and the girls spent their time talking about the things that 15 year old girls do.  They made themselves food and were really having a marvelous time as the sun slowly set.

Before long, it was time to go to bed.

“I can’t wait for you to see my new nightgown,” Julia exclaimed, and she took her candle and ran from the room to change.

Bessie changed into her usual white cotton nightgown, all the while wondering what her friend might have to show her.

Julia returned to the room bathed in the soft glow of her candle.  Bessie was awestruck at the sight of the gorgeous red silk gown that her friend wore and even more at the beautiful rich black fur that lined the collar.

The girls climbed into Bessie’s large canopy bed and lay there chatting for the longest time.  It was well beyond midnight when they suddenly heard a sound from downstairs.

scratch, scratch, scratch…

The girls turned to look at each other, Bessie’s fear shining in her eyes.

“What was that?”

scratch, scratch, scratch…

Julia sat up in bed.

“It’s probably a cat…” she replied.

scratch, scratch, scratch…

“I’m going to go down to see,” Julia said.

“NO!” Bessie cried.  “You can’t leave me here alone.”

“Don’t be a baby,” Julia said more harshly than she intended.  “It will only take a second.  I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“No, please, Julia!”

“I know!  I’ll lock the door behind me so no one can get inside.  How about that?”

Knowing she couldn’t talk her friend into staying, Bessie quietly agreed.

Julia climbed out of bed, lit a candle, grabbed the key for the door and stepped out into the hall.  Bessie sat in the quiet holding her breath as she heard the click of the key in the lock.  She heard her friend retreat down the stairs followed by the sound again…

scratch, scratch, scratch…

Bessie fell back onto the bed and pulled the covers over herself listening as intently as she could.  After a few minutes, she heard the sound again followed by footsteps moving up the stairs.

Scratch, Scratch, Scratch…

Bessie shivered as both sounds stopped right outside her bedroom.  She heard the key turn in the lock and the creak of the hinges as the door slowly opened.  She pulled the covers from over her head only just then realizing how very dark it was in the room and that Julia had taken their only candle.

“Julia?  Julia, is that you?”

She heard the soft rustle of fabric move to the side of the bed…

“Julia, if that’s you, light the candle!” Bessie cried.

When no one answered, Bessie slowly reached out until her fingers brushed the silky fabric of Julia’s gown.

“Julia…?”

Bessie ran her hand up higher along the gown until she felt something wet.  Her fingers trembled as she pushed her hand higher over the soft fur collar and then, suddenly, there was nothing.  Nothing but a bloody stump where her dearest friend’s head should have been.

Julia’s body fell to the floor as Bessie’s screams shattered the night.

When her parents returned in the morning, they found Julia’s body on the floor of the bedroom and Bessie curled into a corner of her room.  Her hair had turned solid white.  Julia’s head was never found…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for joining us for our story night!  We do hope you’ll join us again for tomorrow’s story, and in the meantime, happy haunting’s readers!

(If you missed yesterday’s story, click here!)

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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