Leaves are starting to turn colour and you know what that means donchya? Sledding time is fast approaching, but we can squeeze in some Halloween stuff while we wait for the white stuff right?

Next to sledding Fall is my favorite time of year, how can anyone NOT like deep fried turkey, home made cranberry sauce, sweater weather, rosy cheek kiddies and long restful night buried under a mountain of duvets!

This brings us around to Halloween – I am a self admitted, hardcore Halloweener. I love being scared, (horror movies kind of scared not jump out at me from behind the door kinda scared) and I love my town (except on weekends when I have to fight all the tourist traffic!) The following is a blend of 2 of my favorite things Scugog and Scary enjoy!

MY SCARY LITTLE TOWN the evidence clearly indicates that living in a rural location can only end in … horror. Or so Hollywood producers would have us think. After all they have to get their inspiration somewhere and they all seem to have homes in small towns. Getting goose bumps? You will after you see the connections. I took it upon myself to examine this issue further – no thanks necessary, just doing what’s right for my hometown (never mind that I’m a horror fiend from way back and Halloween is my favorite time of year).Here are some examples of local terror, be prepared to experience our rural piece of Ontario as the sinister Hollywood inspiration it is:#1 – The Birds: The Hitchcock Classic. Brilliant work, because birds, in general, are not scary and this film was.
Scugog Connection: Chip truck off the causeway on 7A. Pretty intense at times lots of swooping and cawing going on, just like…birds, hungry ones!
We have birds. #2 – The Village: By M. Night Shyamalan who after Sixth Sense doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone! This takes place in an isolated countryside village surrounded by forest where mythical creatures roam and everyone speakeths in wordeths that endeth with eth. Terrifying I know, reminded me of Pig Latin in grade four but I digress.
Scugog Connection: Several Conservation areas surrounding us on the Island, out Peterborough way and of course Durham Forest.
We have forests. #3 – Children of the Corn: Stephen King: no explanation required. Who could forget those creepy little brainwashed kids, Malachai and Isaac, taking over the farm town of Gatlin Nebraska.
Scugog Connection: Drive anywhere and try NOT to pass a cornfield, farm or child – just try!
We have farms, corn, and children! #4 – Signs: M. Night Shyamalan (again). Here’s a family that lives in a farmhouse, in the middle of a cornfield that has been targeted by Aliens. That’s not the craziest thing about this storyline; it’s the fact that they manage to keep the aliens out by hammering plywood across the doors and windows. Who knew plywood was so…powerful?
Scugog Connection: Pick a route, Reach Road, Ma Brown, Fralick’s – corn, corn, corn and farmhouses are all over!
We have farmhouses, corn and lumber suppliers. #5 – The Shining: Stanley Kubrick, a Horror Genius. Here’s a film that used all the things that people know: financial opportunity through corn (just kidding, stay with me) I mean new job opportunity, parents, isolation and twins riding tricycles. Turned all these innocents, into that intricately woven descent into madness with Jack Nicholson. Awesome.
Scugog Connection: An isolated resort of our very own on the Island, and parents galore (those children of the corn had to come from somewhere!)
We have an isolated, abandoned resort.So there you have it the recipe to horror, right here in Scugog:
BIRDS
CORNFIELDS
CHILDREN
PARENTS
LUMBER
FARMHOUSESGo ahead, buy the lumber you needed for the farmhouse in the cornfield and stop in at that chip truck for some fresh cut fries – a great treat for parents, children and birds. What A beautiful way to spend a sunny afternoon – or is it…