HALLOWEEN EVENTS 2025 / Boo-zie, Bites & Frights

By Jenny Robinson

Every year, we try to add something new to our celebration of all things Halloween. This year, we checked out Street Food Cinema’s Boo-ze, Bites & Frights night at the Heritage Square Museum—and we were especially excited to attend their Friday the 13th screening.

This was our second event at the Heritage Square Museum; our first was the family-friendly “Cemetery Lane” back in 2022. I was curious to see how an adults-only Halloween experience would compare at this location.

Street Food Cinema hosts pop-up events all over Los Angeles, and earlier in the month, their Boo-ze, Bites & Frights series featured screenings of Terrifier 2, American Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Menu, and Ready or Not. We decided to join on the night they screened both Friday the 13th Part 2 and Part 3—the latter shown in its classic 3D format. It was incredible to watch one of my favorite slashers come to life in such a fun, immersive setting.

The event was put together really well, and I’ve got to give major props to the sponsors for that. One of the coolest parts was the PlutoTV Bar, set up inside the museum’s old church. Themed drinks were fun and festive, and the prices were pretty much what you’d expect at a Halloween event—but what really stood out was how strong those pours were! Definitely got your money’s worth.

There was a Trick-or-Treat house where you could actually choose a DVD to take home. Patrick and I ended up picking Pet Sematary: Bloodlines and Scream 5, which felt like the perfect choices for the night. Around the area, these little Sidewalk Robots rolled by, loaded with PlutoTV hats and even Smart Sweets candies like Sour Zombie Gummies and Worms. It was such a quirky, fun touch.

Some of the other houses had prize games where you could win tickets to Paranormal Activity Live on Stage or Evil Dead in Concert. Even if you didn’t score a big prize, you still left with something—stickers, tattoos, or other spooky little treats. It really felt like Halloween for grown-ups, in the best way.

To soak up some of the cocktails (the “Boo-ze”), we made our way over to the food area (the “Bites”) before Friday the 13th 3D (the “Frights”) began. There were plenty of delicious options for everyone—even for a gluten-free vegan like me! I also picked up an amazing pair of earrings from Wicked Liz Shop—a fun nod to Mrs. Argentina from Beetlejuice, with one earring showing her top half and the other her bottom. Such a perfect spooky touch.

If I had one small regret, it’s that I didn’t jot down the names of some of the other vendors. There was a cookie booth with quite literally the best wheat-free, vegan cookie I’ve ever had, and another that sold some seriously awesome horror tees. Sadly, I didn’t grab a card, and their info seems to have vanished along with the event page. Still, that just gives me another reason to attend more events hosted by both Street Food Cinema and the Heritage Square Museum—this time with a notepad in hand—so I can find all those amazing small businesses again. It was the kind of event that leaves you already excited for the next one.

MOVIE REVIEW / Tubi Halloween

By Jenny Robinson

Have you ever found yourself endlessly doom-scrolling through every streaming app, only to come up empty-handed when trying to pick a movie? Because same — that’s basically my life these days. With Halloween creeping closer and my craving for all things spooky in full swing, I decided to explore Tubi’s horror collection. And honestly? I was pleasantly surprised. You don’t need to shell out for yet another pricey subscription — Tubi only asks for your email. Sure, there are a few commercials here and there, but they’re brief, infrequent, and a small price to pay for such a solid (and free!) lineup of scary movies.

Tubi’s lineup this year did not disappoint — packed with horror favorites like Christine, Hellraiser, 30 Days of Night, and so many more. For once, the challenge wasn’t finding something to watch, but deciding what to watch first. So, after plenty of late-night scares and popcorn refills, I’ve narrowed it down to my top two horror picks of the season. Grab a blanket, turn off the lights, and join me… if you dare.

I honestly don’t know how this movie slipped under my radar. This 2016 release ended up being the gateway film that convinced me to finally sign up for Tubi. My best friend and I are constantly swapping horror recommendations, and even she was shocked I had missed this one. The Void’s atmosphere (written by Jeremy Gillepspie and Steven Kostanski) reminded me a lot of the 2010 remake of The Crazies — that same eerie, small-town vibe with a local cop (Aaron Poole) desperately trying to make sense of a world gone mad. Set largely inside a small, isolated hospital surrounded by what appears to be a sinister cult, the movie wastes no time throwing you straight into chaos. With its chilling practical effects, it feels like Hellraiser had a love child with John Carpenter’s The Thing. The characters are compelling, the plot keeps you guessing, and every twist pulls you deeper into its nightmarish void.

In the end, it’s one of those hidden horror gems that reminds you why you fell in love with the genre in the first place — unsettling, imaginative, and impossible to look away from.

I was recommended Hell House LLC by a co-worker, and I’m so glad I took their advice. Normally, I steer clear of found footage movies—not because of the shaky camera work, but because so many of them tend to cut corners when it comes to visually telling the story. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here.

The concept alone is fantastic: a group of struggling horror enthusiasts decide to buy an abandoned hotel in upstate New York and turn it into a full-blown Halloween haunt. The plan is simple—guests buy tickets and walk through the hotel, room by room, getting scared by actors and props. But as the crew documents their setup, things start to take a seriously creepy turn.

What impressed me most is how Hell House LLC (written and directed by Stephen Cognetti) builds terror from the simplest things—like something just barely moving in the background. It’s subtle, unnerving, and unbelievably effective. I tried to watch it alone… big mistake. Fifteen minutes in, I had every light on. Then I hit pause and waited until I had backup because there was no way I was finishing it solo.

It’s been a long time since a movie genuinely got under my skin like that. Hell House LLC scared me silly—in the best possible way—and now I can’t wait to dive into the sequels. If you’re looking for a horror flick that’ll have you side-eyeing every shadow in your house, this one’s your next must-watch.

HALLOWEEN HAUNTS 2025 / Queen Mary's Dark Harbor - Long Beach, CA

By Jenny Robinnson

It’s no secret that my favorite Halloween haunt in the Los Angeles area has always been The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor. Watching it evolve over the past eight years (with a few missed seasons due to the pandemic) has been an absolute pleasure. This year once again proved just how spectacularly this event continues to grow.

One of my favorite features has always been the secret speakeasy bars tucked away within the mazes. In past years, finding them was a full-on scavenger hunt — you had to earn special coins, track down the right cast member, and then discover a secret door. This year, the experience shifted to a paid-access model, where spotting certain symbols on the walls granted entry. It made the process easier, but I did miss the thrill of the no-cost treasure hunt from before.

That said, the cast in the hidden bars more than made up for it. The bartenders fully embraced their characters, and the monsters and goblins roaming through added an extra layer of fun chaos. Plus, thanks to the extensive renovations the Queen Mary has undergone in recent years, guests now get to explore even more of this legendary ship.

This year, I made it farther down into the vessel than ever before — one of the speakeasies was accessible only by an elevator descending around 36 feet underwater. The eerie atmosphere combined with the novelty of being that deep below the surface made it one of the absolute highlights of the night.

The event also introduced some creative new effects. Instead of the classic “swamp” scenes, one maze reversed the perspective to make it feel as though you were drowning at the bottom of a swimming pool. The visual design was incredible — it truly felt like walking along the pool floor, looking up at a floating corpse.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: what makes Dark Harbor such a must-visit Halloween attraction is the sheer coolness of the environment. You’re exploring a haunted ship, for Pete’s sake!

We at Atomic Geekdom highly recommend adding The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor to your list of Halloween haunts if you’re in the area. It never fails to deliver thrills, atmosphere, and pure spooky fun.

HALLOWEEN HAUNTS 2024 / Queen Mary Dark Harbor - Long Beach, CA

So excited to share the return of the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! It’s been four years since we last stepped foot on the legendary haunted ship. It has been said that the ship and it’s hotel is one of the most haunted hotels in the country, but the event had to take a pause during Covid and allow some time to do repairs to the ship. But 2024 they are back and better than ever!

What makes this such a go-to attraction during the halloween season is the simple coolness of the environment. You’re on a haunted ship for Pete’s sake! A marine layer adds some additional natural fog on certain nights that make any fog machines secondary. Walking through the deepness of the boiler room, or down the service hallways (usually without a lot of lights) is pretty darn creepy.

What sets Dark Harbor out from the other haunts is 100% the cast of characters. The event does an absolute fabulous job in casting every member of the event. Lady Mabel, Samuel the Savage, Graceful Gale, every Slider. bartender, food vendor and of course The Ringmaster makes the experience feel intimate no matter how crowded it can get on a sold out night. Add in the opportunity to score a coin from one of them that allows access to hidden speakeasy’s through the event makes this top notch fun in our book.

“The Spirit Rise Once Again” is the perfect welcome back. Catch an epic night to get in the Halloween spirt! Running from September 20th through November 2nd, 2024 at 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach CA 90802.