Welcome to the Bizarrechats of Michael F. Housel, Author of the Abstract, Amazing and Arcane:

MICHAEL F. HOUSEL has authored several novels for Airship 27 Productions, including THE HYDE SEED, MARK JUSTICE'S THE DEAD SHERIFF: PURITY & THE PERSONA TRILOGY, with his short stories appearing in THE PURPLE SCAR, THE PHANTOM DETECTIVE & RAVENWOOD, STEPSON OF MYSTERY. He is also a faithful contributor to Eighth Tower Publications' DARK FICTION series, various popular-culture periodicals and a frequent associate producer for MR. LOBO'S CINEMA INSOMNIA.

Thursday, April 2, 2026

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

SALLY THE ZOMBIE CHEERLEADER'S SCHOOL OF HORROR: THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1963)

Sally the Zombie Cheerleader's School of Horror presents a comedic gem that teams William Castle with Hammer Films: The Old Dark House.

Directed by Castle and scripted by Robert Dillion, this Dark House is at most a loose remake of James Whale's 1935 classic (which made it a point to adhere to J.B. Priestly's 1928 novel, Benighted), but if one favors The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, it's apt to tickle the funny bone. Its opening credits were even rendered by beloved, macabre cartoonist, Charles Addams.

For the color, 1963 redux, Tom (Zotz!/The Bob Newhart Show/Newhart/Mork & Mindy) Poston stars as Tom Penderel, an American, car salesman in London, on a Dartmoor, Devon excursion for his roommate, whose family resides in gloomy Femm Hall (the same, movie site featured in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Vampyres, The Brides of Dracula, Plague of the Zombies and The Legend of Hell House). The situation takes a troubling turn when the members' dangerous eccentricities become more than poor Tom can handle, with each seeking a substantial inheritance.

To heighten the gallows humor, the supporting cast brings out the best in Poston's excellent "everyman" and includes Robert (The African Queen/Around the World in 80 Days 1956) Morley; Janette (Day of the Triffids 1963/Paranoiac) Scott; Peter (The African Queen/Dr. Strangelove) Bull; Mervyn (Scrooge 1951/Dead of Night 1945) Johns; Fenella (Drop Dead Darling/The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood) Fielding; Joyce (The Bells of/The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's) Grenfell; and Danny (The 7th Voyage of Sinbad/The Lady Killers 1955) Green.

Sally performs another outstanding service by enlightening her avid Fleshies on the movie's production (and its occasional goofs), tossing her tasty tidbits from a number of pedagogical angles.

I like this episode a lot, both the film and Sally's wily wraparounds. You will, too. Catch the old, dark hijinks at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdDH47L8lGc

PINUP TIME: JENNIFER BEALS IS EVA (THE BRIDE)

REMIND MAGAZINE (APRIL 2026): EN GARDE! SWASHBUCKLERS SALUTE

The grandeur of swashbuckling adventure hits a revived high with ReMind Magazine's April 2026 issue.

The contents cover the high-flying antics of Zorro, Robin Hood, Batman, Spartacus, Captain Blood, the Black Pirate, the Crimson Pirate, Jack Sparrow, Long John Silver, Conor McLeod, Rob Roy, Andre Moreau, the Musketeers, the Count of Monte Cristo, Sinbad and ... Perseus, along with the charming gents who portrayed them: Tyrone Power, Guy Williams, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Duncan Regeher, Errol Flynn, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Sean Connery, Cary Elwes, Dick Guatier, Robert Newton, Stewart Granger, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, Robert Urich, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Harry Hamlin, Liam Neeson, Christopher Lambert, Robert Shaw ... and Johnny Depp.

For the sake of Nottingham's generous hero, there are even delightful scoops on the character's stellar stars. In addition, one will find pleasing pieces on "The History of Blackbeard" and the fair maidens and damsels in distress behind the plethora of heroes, including Olivia de Havilland, Maureen O'Hara, Raquel Welch, Lana Turner and Kiera Knightley.

For further fun, the April 2026 issue offers puzzles, trivia, cartoons and prizes, buffered by a point-by-point retrospective on the far-out year, 1967.

Order this derring-do triumph today (and while you're at it, why not subscribe?) at

https://www.remindmagazine.com/

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: BATMAN, ROBIN & BATGIRL MEET GODZILLA

SALLY THE ZOMBIE CHEERLEADER'S EASTERWEEN SPECIAL

Sally the Zombie Cheerleader's Easterween Special is an educational romp from 2022. Watching it has become a tender tradition for her many devoted Fleshies.

For the episode, Sally enlightens her students on how pagan rituals phased into Christian ones, with the former's residue becoming a colorful fringe for the uppermost, holy holiday.

To supplement the historical overview, Sally presents tasty filler, including Easter-based, fertility-terror trailers for The Being, Rottentail, Bunnyman 2 and "the Citizen Kane of Horror," The Wicker Man 1973. There are also nostalgic commercials to view and that classic, Silly Symphony short, "The Cookie Carnival," to occupy one's allegorical, Easter basket.

I gotta say, I learned lots from this episode, and so will you; plus you'll have lots of fun in the process.

Hop on over at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6grQ79zbfmo&t=1318s