Saturday, June 7, 2008

Weird Bells of Wozzeck

Web of Mystery Weekend kicks off with another horrific theme, just lay back, close your eyes, and imagine the most spine chilling, mind numbing, nightmare inducing inanimate object of all time. So, did you see a bell? Yeah, probably not… but today and tomorrow I have a couple creepy tales about bells that could very well change your mind. Or not.

From the June 1952 issue of Web of Mystery #10







13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome,that was one of the most engrossing vampire stories you've posted,the bell connection was tenuos,but a nice touch.i love how everyone takes notice of the Countess,even the women-folk;"who is that fascinating woman?well..it is a purple tiled castle...just kidding.as for bells in horror as a device,i think their use is valid,from the churchyards where these superstitions began,to Poe's THE BELLS,the whole setting of HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME,the church bells in the '31 FRANKENSTEIN(which are almost a soundtrack in some scenes),the beginning and ending with ringing bells in CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF to announce the beggars arrival and Leon's death.and my all time favorite bell moment in horrordom...the corpse in the bell at the beginning of DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE!,any i missed?

Tim Tylor said...

Just hope this time they think of putting up a "Bad Vampire. Do Not Remove Dagger" note. People always forget these things, or make them needlessly vague - If Pin Be Drawn, Vienna Mourns or suchlike.

silvano said...

Funny vampire story ( and with a cool vampress which is one of my fave horror themes ); of course it's not at the same level of the EC line , but somehow it reminded me of Mario Bava's BARON BLOOD movie...

Anonymous said...

ANOTHER ACE CLASSIC! I DONT AGREE WITH SILVANO, I THINK THESE WEB OF MYSTERY STORIES ARE EASILY ON PAR WITH THE EARLY ERA EC STORIES. WONDERFUL ART AND WILD PREMISE. THE BODIES BURIED IN STATE ALONG THE WALLS IS A CREEPY TOUCH, AND LIKE SILVANO SAID, VERY MUCH LIKE BARON BLOOD.

Mr. Karswell said...

I think you covered it HP, but The Bell from Hell ('73) is another, and one of my all time favorite horror films ever... highly recommended viewing.

And Tim is right, give a sucker a warning label or sumptin'... shit man. I also agree about Baron Blood, looks like we have a good crossover comparison on hand here today with film.

Anonymous said...

colorful spooky tale today

this would have for sure made a good movie in the 60s and the countess is a dead ringer for vampira too! ooooo la la!!!!

T. R Xands said...

Hah, I enjoyed that, I wanted to say something about a damn warning label too but I got beaten to it. Although, everyone should know by now not to screw around with the dead, especially in Europe. Don't you people watch movies?

Anyway, great story.

The Vicar of VHS said...

Yeah, in Paul Naschy's films someone always pulling out a silver dagger from a corpse or removing silver bullets or stakes or doing some damn thing that sets tragedy in motion. I agree, clarity in the warnings is called for. Maybe we should get the Surgeon General on this.

Story didn't grab me as much (maybe I'm just missing the cheesecake!) but I loved the watchman's line: "Who are you! You look like death and smell of the grave!" If I had a nickel every time I've had to tell a chick that...

Marc Burkhardt said...

Another evil seductress rockin' the black gowns!

Although, if vampires can't see their reflections could that shield trick really work?

Oh well .. guess I'll just credit this victory to good old American know-how!

(Even if a bloody American did free the countess in the first place!)

Anonymous said...

"You look like death and smell of the grave!"

What a way with the ladies!

And can anyone explain why they reburied the vampire with the another blade sticking out of the crypt for ready removal? Why not seal the thing in concrete or something? It's like they want someone to release the monster.

Frederick said...

Karswell,

I like the new banner graphic! The skeleton: nature's 100% all natural monster!

Mr. Karswell said...

>I like the new banner graphic!

Thanks Fred! I hope everyone enjoys the new banner, I was getting a little tired of the other one (it is almost a year old now afterall) but I kept with the skeletal vibe none the less, only more simplified and less crowded... even skeletons need a little more boney elbow room now and then when they're attacking.

And I think by now everyone knows what "THOIA" stands for so if you happen to stop by and suddenly feel lost or something just sound it all out slowly and keep telling yourself... it's only a blog... it's only a blog...

The Vicar of VHS said...

Yeah, great new banner, Daddy K! You must have had a burst of creativity lately...