Quoth the Halloween retailer, “Ever more.”
That’s what the experts are predicting for 2021, at least, with record sales expected to hit $10.14 billion, up from last year’s $8.05 billion when people were spooked by the pandemic.
This, according to a USA Today story, quoting the National Retail Federation, which is counting on sales of decorations, greeting cards and costumes. Halloween getups are not just for kids. People are dressing up their pets. Adults dress up, too, though some probably look more like props in a pornographic movie.
It’s all fun and games, of course, unless you are 16 and convince other teens that you are an immortal vampire who is 500 years old.
That’s what happened in 1996, when Rod Ferrell left Murray, Ky., with three others to pick up two vampire cult followers in Florida and run away to New Orleans.
What does this have to do with Halloween? “Cold Blooded” is the true story of how dark fantasy became reality.
The tale not only sends shivers up the spine, but begs the question: Why are we so fascinated with death? We are repulsed and attracted at the same time.
I quote Stephen King in an article in which he theorized about why people love horror movies. It is, “to show that we … are not afraid, that we can ride this roller coaster.”
Pop culture did indeed play a part, with vampire books and movies, which were popular at the time. The undead are back again with lively sales. Apparently, you can’t drive a stake through the legend of Dracula.
In Ferrell’s case, lawyers hired psychologists to probe his twisted psyche and his wildly dysfunctional family.
Nov. 25 marks the 25th anniversary of the real-life horror, where fantasy meets bloody reality.