With apologies to Jim Emerson….

Well, I survived Dawn of the Dead — and registered a personal best for visits and page views, thanks to the enthusiasm of Greencine’s David Hudson. And, thanks to the world famous, super cool Dennis Cozzalio (the first cinephile blogger I’ve met in the flesh, not counting myself), I’ve even survived the more goreiffic than I expected, Seed of Chucky, which also exceeded my expectations in terms of laughs, chills, Jennifer Tilly’s great performance, and great voice work by Tilly, Brad Dourif, and Billy Boyd as the Chucky-spawn.

But, when you get down to it, no zombie or knife-wielding doll is as scary yet hypnotic as this…..

SUBTLE REMINDER: THE FOSSETHON IS COMING. 11/10/07.

And even though Bob Fosse didn’t direct or choreograph the 1990’s Sam Mendes-directed stage revival of Cabaret, I’m throwing in something apposite from the Tony Awards of 1998 featuring the genius of Alan Cumming. Today is a sad day in San Francisco, I understand, for this year’s Castro street fair Halloween festivities has been canceled, at least at the official level — which is about as thinkable as canceling the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. This might offer some consolation to distressed Northern Californians because, well, it’s both really good and, if not 100% gay, then reasonably bi-curious.

And, Mel Brooks has some words of wisdom for the mayor and people of the foggy little city by the bay….