A Study in Midnight Happyness + MIDNIGHT WARRIOR ATTACK!

(What? If Will Smith spells it that way, it must be cool. Right?)

So, I recently had one of those there blog awards bestowed upon me by the fine folks (really, there's two of them, this isn't another case where I project schizophrenia, I swear) over at CinemaObsessed.com. They offered up the Happy 101 award and, while I agree with their assessment that most blogs are ready for a more advanced course in happy, I am always ready to ponder some of the things that make me happyest (I'm sticking to that "y", The Fresh Prince can't be wrong) in regard to genre and cult cinema. So, here's a list of 10 things that are currently bringing the happy in FMWL's journeys to the darker side of cinema.

1) Italian Horror - I'd made a connection with Argento long ago, but it wasn't until the last couple of years that I really started to dive a little deeper into the likes of Fulci, Bava, et al. There's just something poetic about what these guys were doing over there back in the day. Whether they were slashing or just being gory, they brought their best every time. I rewatched Suspiria the other night, and can't begin to explain how much awesome that movie is. If you don't believe me, check out The Horror Digest's awesome take on the flick.

2) Bad Ronald - Finally got a chance to check out this fabled Made-for-TV horror recently, and fell for its charm darn quick. Young Ronald is an unsound boy forced into a secluded existence after an accident, and living inside the walls of his house drives him loopy pretty darn quick. It's a surprisingly gripping flick that still has me thinking days later. Good stuff.

3) Blobs - Enough said, really.

4) Red Dead Redemption - OK, the only way this is related to the site is that it's stolen my life. Addictive video games of genre rule.

5) Dr. Pepper - Because, like a lot of the movies I watch, I'm never really sure what exactly it is. 23 flavors later, it's a delicious flick companion.

6) Adding a copy of The House of the Devil to my sister's birthday present - Few things make me smile more than passing on flicks I love that most people missed. That's kinda this whole site's purpose. So when I saw a used copy of the flick sitting on a store shelf - and didn't need to buy it for myself - I figured I might as well spread the tension brought by the former Midnight Movie of the Week.

7) Great freakin' blogs - I could list names all day, because there are so many fabulous sites I frequent that make me smile. For now I'll just say that everyone linked over there (------>) is pretty darn awesome. Without so many great reads to inspire me, I wouldn't be able to keep going.

8) Well-written female characters in horror - Unfortunately, us males have done a great job of wasting women in silly roles over the years, but sometimes the stars align and something awesome happens. You could take a look at my recent tribute to 25 Amazing Women in Horror for some ideas of what I mean.

9) Blog Comments! - Borrowing this one from the Cin-Obs' list, because they're telling truths. I often feel like my posts are like a grape lost in Oprah Winfrey's canned ham buffet; and it's nice to see that others actually know what I'm talking about. (Or can at least fake it...)

10) Inside (aka, A l'interieur) - Just saw this French horror, which I'd avoided (because it's French, duh) for a while despite recommendations. I might write about it some day soon, but for now I just have to say that it was pretty much the most intense and affecting horror movie I've seen in a long time. I love it when a good shock comes together.

So, now that I've shared my recent Midnight Happys, I call upon those who once spoke and those who wish to join the speaking.....

MIDNIGHT WARRIORS: ASSEMBLE!!!

If you missed it first time out, here's what this Midnight Warriors thing means. It starts like this with me asking a question of anyone out there who will hear it (and free badges for your site, if you like!), and ends like this or this, with all who respond being featured on FMWL!

What's the topic, you ask? Simple, really: "What's guaranteed to make you happy when it comes to Horror, Genre, or Cult cinema?"

You can respond and join in by emailing frommidnightwithlove@gmail.com. Anyone is welcome, whether they participated previously or are new to FMWL. Bloggers, feel free to post on your site and just send me a link, if that's your flavor. Just respond and let me know by Monday June 21st.

Thanks to all my readers and all my colleagues in the blog world! I look forward to hearing what you all have to offer!