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New Pitch Black & Old Shocktober Ads!


Welcome to the second week of X-E's Halloween Countdown. Oh, the times we'll have. Let's kick it. You've heard the rumors, and the rumors are true: Mountain Dew Pitch Black IS BACK. Sort of. It's back in ICEE Freeze form. This isn't as big of a cause for celebration as a legit Mountain Dew Pitch Black III in cans & bottles would've been, but it's something, and it's allll good. Read all about it!

It got really hot this weekend. If the sun doesn't knock it off and let the leaves do their orange thing, I'm going to beat it up.

Oh, remember my tribute to former NY television station WPIX's old Shocktober events? If not, and you don't feel like reading a two-year-old article, I'll summarize: What later became the WB Network in New York was formerly WPIX, a mostly identity-less station that managed to stay relevant with its weekday afternoon airing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and reruns Saved By The Bell. The station also ran popular-but-obsolete movies on a regular basis, but nothing was as cool as their "Shocktober" events, where horror/slasher/spooky films were broadcast with all the good parts and dirty lines cut out almost nightly.

If you want to know more about Shocktober, read the old article, but new for today's post are two of the movie-specific promos that fell under Shocktober's umbrella. In the original article, I talked about the Shocktober kickoff ad. Here are some of that ad's children...


A lot of people like The Gate, and they should, because the movie holds up with equal levels of nostalgic and horror appeal, kind of like the less good-looking cousin of The Lost Boys. The Wraith was more of a science fiction film, and a pretty poorly received one at that. Both movies came off looking aces in their Shocktober promos, because Shocktober promos were AWESOME. They used WPIX's standard voice-over guy, but that guy had range, and knew how to make something sound creepy even if it really wasn't.

I have such fond memories of those long ago Shocktober months. Sometimes I'd watch 'em alone, sometimes a few friends and I would feel all privileged by being able to both stay up late and watch scary movies. Some of the movies were better than others, obviously, but as every commercial break was littered with Hallmark Halloween commercials and promos for other Shocktober movies, who cared?

Click here to download the Shocktober promo for The Gate.
...or here for The Wraith.

Posted by Matt on 09/17/2006. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 92 comments

Annnnnnnd…. Just listened to the new hallo’jukebox and im daaamn glad to hear that halloween by the misfits is on it, my all time favourite band, now im officially gettin in the fiend-club spirit!!
And Matt: The countdown is awesome so far, cant wait to see what other crazy shit you have for us this year!

Chestnuts roasted by JoshC @ 09/18/2006 8:47 PM

Hey damn you matt..

I offered to give you the Gate 2 for a movie review.. and now here I see something about the Gate. ja heez

I wanted a pitch black icee today at work. Alls I got was a cherry one at BK. Shit.

Chestnuts roasted by Don @ 09/18/2006 9:51 PM

There’s a small “mom & pop” 99 cent store that opened near my house and they have cases of last year’s Pitch Black II. Of course it’s way past it’s best by date, but how bad could it taste after a year? Should I buy it?

Chestnuts roasted by Tim X Sinclair @ 09/19/2006 12:24 PM

They’re at the Target in Eureka, for anyone on the North Coast.

Chestnuts roasted by chris @ 09/19/2006 1:23 PM

Deuce
As soon as I read that I bought it off of Amazon. My 3D Freddy deliciousness arrives overnight mail tomorrow. 44.95 is a small price to pay to see that ending again. I just wish there were multiple pairs of glasses.

Chestnuts roasted by Old E @ 09/19/2006 3:16 PM

Dear Matt:
Once again, by reading your words of wisdom, I have learned that I am not alone in the world. Sure, an abnormal affection for Stinkor and a firm conviction that no leader will ever replace Optimus Prime are traits that many people likely share across this country. Today, however, we sync’d on a whole new level…
You are the first person I’ve heard confirm my theory that the Taco Bell’s in stores or gas stations give you a lot more food for your money!!! Thank you for confirming that it wasn’t just the gas fumes at that Speedway station that made my burrito supreme feel massive in my hands.

Chestnuts roasted by John @ 09/20/2006 9:45 AM

I happened across the Pitch Black Icee totally by accident as well… I was in Target planning to get a cherry Icee (which they did not have) when I saw the Pitch Black and hear a choir of angels singing…or should that be devils? Anyway, it tastes heavenly. Or the opposite of heavenly. Whatever, it’s awesome. The best part is it tastes like the ORIGINAL Pitch Black with none of that disgusting sour aftertaste that Pitch Black II had.
Also, if you let the Pitch Black Icee melt, it tastes just like the soda (except less fizzy…)

Chestnuts roasted by Lizzi @ 09/20/2006 5:55 PM

Hey Matt, the PB ICEE reaches all the way over to Phoenix, so you’re not alone in your glory…

Chestnuts roasted by Drew @ 09/21/2006 2:39 AM

I wish Pepsi Blue would come back. Sigh…

Chestnuts roasted by Draca @ 09/21/2006 3:53 AM

Pepsi Blue was the devil. And it sucked. I actually worked at Pepsi when it came out, and the sales bombed. And it sucked, too.

It’s funny, the first thing I thought when the Halloween season approached was if/when PBIII would be coming in. Fond memories will they be now when I’d come into the office and line up my three daily bottles of sweet grapey delight to the grimaces of my coworkers. Living in Vermont, the closest Target would probably be the one Matt went to. *sighs* So sad am I…

Chestnuts roasted by Sodee Pop McD @ 09/21/2006 11:49 AM

Do you think if enough people begged Pepsi, they’d bring back the Pitch Black soda next year? I mean, that was the ONLY Pepsi product I bought so they’ve completely lost my business by not selling it anymore :P (ok except for the Icee version…)

HEY EVERYONE- Write to Pepsi:
http://www.pepsiworld.com/help/index.php

I am drinking a Mountain Dew Pitch Black Icee right now. I can’t believe how good they are! I’m really glad they taste like the “original” Pitch Black drink and not like the “improved” Pitch Black II– I did not like that “sour bite” AT ALL.

Chestnuts roasted by BK @ 09/21/2006 5:22 PM

The Gate is in my top 20 horror films of all time!

Chestnuts roasted by DanDan @ 09/24/2006 5:47 PM

Just to let you know, I went to Target (a thing that I, sadly, hardly ever do because it’s no-freakin-where near where I live)…

but I went in there JUST to check out their halloween goodness (because of YOUR recommendations – they should PAY you dammit).

I saw MANY sections of the store done up as Halloween special spaces:
- a dollar zone when you first enter the store
- a special candy selection area
- and a HUGE arena of so many wonderful Halloween items that I swear I almost wept for the sheer beauty of it all.

After buying some stuff (housewares mostly) I stopped at the food “court” (not sure WHAT it was. Not Taco Bell, Not Pizza-”anything”, but just a spot to eat hot dogs, kids meals, sammiches and generic pizza slices) and Lo! There was an ICEE machine!

I quickly bought a cup and filled it to the rim with ICEE PITCH BLACK.

Not being a fan of grape flavored ANYTHING (usually) this had a slightly deeper flavor that comforted my mouth like licking Vamerella’s breastesses (well… if they were ice freakin’ cold enough to give me a mild brain freeze, which, seeing as how she’s supposed to be “dead” or “undead” or something, they SHOULD be cold, but still comfortingly soft and intoxicating).

Anyway, I’m telling you that I really liked it!

The wife… not so much.
Which only increased it’s halloween-authenticness with me.

ThanX!
~P~
P-TOR

Chestnuts roasted by P-TOR @ 09/26/2006 1:54 PM

Sorry.
I didn’t mean Vamperella.

I had Vampira and Elvira both goin’ on at once.

Hmmmm… that doesn’t sound bad at all.

;-)

~P~
P-TOR

Chestnuts roasted by P-TOR @ 09/26/2006 2:04 PM

When pitch black first came out two years ago, the 7-elevens around here had pitch black slurpees as well. They also had lime wire and code blue ones during the summer time. The one pictured above almost looks like a grape misty freeze from dairy queen.

Chestnuts roasted by Byrd man @ 09/27/2006 9:42 PM

The Wraith is my favorite movie ever! Clint Howard.. Charlie Shean. Magic. As I sit in my cube eating pumpkin seeds.. Im picturing going home and busting out the vhs.

Chestnuts roasted by Veronica @ 10/20/2006 6:26 PM

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This entry was posted on Sunday, September 17th, 2006 at 6:50 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.