Weekend Event Planner Halloween Edition

Procrastinator's Guide to the craziest and most fun Halloween parties and happenings

Still not exactly sure how to celebrate Halloween weekend? From an '80s themed costume party to bar crawling Montrose with other revelers, we've got you covered on what to do from Friday through Monday.

Friday, October 28

National Museum of Funeral History Haunted House

For those interested in a firsthand experience of the process of death, a visit to the National Museum of Funeral History is just the place for you. This museum has a haunted house open all weekend aiming to scare visitors "to death" all while still providing a bit of education. Pull out your best "casket ready" costume for this haunt. Tickets: $3-$5

Scream World

In order to incite the most scare factor, Scream World skipped no detail when creating its five haunting attractions. A slaughterhouse, the underworld, and a zombie dungeon are just some of what awaits you at Scream World through Saturday. Who's the scariest of your friends? You'll definitely find out here. Tickets $16-$42

Scream on the Green

Have a spooky good time at Houston’s ninth annual citywide costume contest and Halloween celebration for the whole family at Discovery Green, with prizes, a Halloween spectacle, movie, music by DJ Astra and more. It's free.

Hotel Zaza Halloween

The Hotel Zaza will again become a "World of Wonders" for Halloween with a live DJ, specialty drinks, and delicious bites as costumed guests party the night away. A party at ZaZa is always a night to remember. Tickets: $75

Saturday, October 29

Houston Zombie Walk presents The 2016 Houston Halloween Fest

This free family-friendly event includes a extensive music lineup, a kids carnival with rides and games, pumpkin patch for photos, charity walk, food trucks, laser tag, zombie belly dancers and more. Participants are encouraged to wear their finest Halloween costume.

10th Annual Montrose Bar Crawl

The annual Montrose Bar Crawl is always a sight to see, for both participants and those passing by. "Crawlers" will drink the night away at 12 bars, including Poison Girl and Stone's Throw while DJs keep the party atmosphere alive with tunes. Along with enjoying your drink of choice, there'll be prizes at each stop for the best costume/outfit. As a special bonus, a portion of the proceeds from drink sales will benefit the Houston Area Women's Center; make your partying count.

Halloween at Market Square

Enjoy a night of festive fun at the historic downtown park, with a Time Warp dance workshop at 7 pm, followed by a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, presented by the Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow.

'80s Party at Triniti

Break out your best '80s horror film costume as Sanctuari Bar at Triniti celebrates Halloween with a costume party from 4 pm to close. Specialty cocktails, bar bites and '80s horror flicks will all be on tap as Triniti continues its "80-proof" Happy Hour series with a Halloween twist.

Fright Night at Mo's

As Mo's readies to close, it will be going out with a bang. Join Fright Night for a night of revelry with drink specials, a costume contest, and a DJ to end an era with one of its biggest Halloween parties ever.

Easter Seals Greater Houston presents The Bash: A Halloween Happening

Always one of the season's most fun Halloween parties, this edition features live music by Skyrocket! and DJ Damon, free flowing spirits, tasty eats, a raffle, and a one-of-a-kind costume contest. Tickets: $200

Ronald McDonald House Boo Ball: The Lost Lagoon

Whether you opt for black tie attire or your scariest costume, you can dance the night away for a cause at the Ronald McDonald House Boo Ball. Take part in the live and silent auctions or embrace your inner oenophile by participating in their "bone chilling" wine auction. A spookingly good night awaits at this charitable party. Tickets: $150

Mischief on McGowen

Mongoose vs Cobra and Leon's Lounge are teaming up for Mischief on McGowen, creating a few nights of fun at their ivy covered bars. These Midtown haunts will be a part of the Houston Halloween Pub Crawl, serving up some debilitating drink specials. The Outlaw Dave Show will broadcast the mischief live and serve as a judge for the costume contest.

Strange Castles

Travel from The Mansion (Zimm's) to Transylvania (Grand Prize) on this groovy, Rocky Horror-themed party. Chef Adam Doris will keep partygoers fed as they venture between the two bars for body-moving tunes and drinks.

Sunday, October 30

Pawtastic Howloween Pet Promenade

Join the human and pet costumed promenade at Rice Village from 10 am to noon, with such contests as Best Dog Crooner, Best Pet Wig, Best Homemade & Almost Homemade Pet Costume, and Most Stylish Pet and Human Pair.

Monday, October 31

Memorial City Monster Mash Spooktacular

Memorial City Mall’s second annual Monster Mash Halloween Spooktacular features live music, trick or treating, arts and crafts, and more. And it's free.

Miller Outdoor Theatre presents Movies at Miller: Night of the Living Dead

A group of people hide from bloodthirsty zombies in a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse. Will they make it through the night? Celebrate Halloween with this terrifyingly fun cult classic. Admission is free.

Revel on Halloween

Prepare to be thrilled at the Revelry on Richmond Halloween party. DJ Rockwell will spin tunes late until the night and a "Thriller" dance off will show who has the best moves "under the moonlight." Bring on your best dance moves; you can rest on Tuesday.

Halloween party at La Griglia

The River Oaks restaurant is always party central on Halloween night as patrons outdo themselves with naughty and nice costumes in what has become a Houston tradition.

Join other revelers and bar Crawl through Montrose.

Photo courtesy of Montrose Crawl

Join other revelers and bar Crawl through Montrose.

event-planner

Movie Review

Houston native Wes Anderson shows off comedic side in The Phoenician Scheme

Photo courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features

Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton, and Michael Cera in The Phoenician Scheme.

If you were to do a poll of the best comedy filmmakers of the 21st century, writer/director Wes Anderson is not the obvious choice to come out on top, but there’s an argument to be made for him. His quirky style doesn’t yield the guffaws that more broad comedies do, but the absurd situations he creates in his films are often more consistently funny than anything else.

Anderson’s inimitable approach is once again on full display in The Phoenician Scheme. At its center is Zsa-Zsa Gorda (Benicio Del Toro), a much-hated businessman who’s looking to complete a number of big projects in the fictional country of Phoenicia. As he seems to be the target of multiple assassination attempts, he appoints his daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton), as his heir to try to ensure his legacy.

Both she and his new assistant, Bjorn (Michael Cera), accompany him around the country as he tries to enact a scheme to have others cover the bulk of the cost for the various projects. Those he attempts to convince include Phoenician Prince Farouk (Riz Ahmed), brothers Leland (Tom Hanks) and Reagan (Bryan Cranston), fellow businessman Marseille Bob (Mathieu Amalric), ship captain Marty (Jeffrey Wright), his Cousin Hilda (Scarlett Johansson), and Uncle Nubar (Benedict Cumberbatch).

Put in Andersonian terms, the film is a mix between the madcap antics from The Grand Budapest Hotel and the impenetrable storytelling of Asteroid City. If you were to try to understand every detail of what’s going on in the story of The Phoenician Scheme, it might take three or more viewings to do so. But the film is still highly entertaining because Anderson fills its frames with his typical visual delights, great wordplay, and his particular version of slapstick.

Much of the comedy of the film derives from Anderson inserting moments that initially come as a surprise and then utilizing them as running jokes. The film features more blood than usual for the filmmaker, but each time a character gets wounded (or worse), it gets funnier. The assassination attempts get broader as the film goes along, and the matter-of-fact way in which they’re treated by Gorda and others is also hilarious.

Of course, Anderson is the cinephile’s comedy director, so the film is also full of high-brow things like allusions to paintings, tributes to other filmmakers, and classical music. Each time Gorda has an attempt on his life, he briefly finds himself in a version of limbo, depicted in black-and-white by Anderson. The cast of characters Gorda finds there - including Bill Murray as God - could come straight out of a 1950s Ingmar Bergman movie.

Del Toro has delivered some great performances over the years, but this one is near the top for him. This is his second Anderson film (following The French Dispatch) and he nails the deadpan method. Also great is Cera, who uses a ridiculous accent to make a big impression. Threapleton, the daughter of Kate Winslet, makes the most of her first big film role. The list of supporting actors is too deep to properly laud everyone, but they all fit in seamlessly.

Opinions will differ, but for this critic’s money, Anderson is at his best when he fully leans into the comedy of his films. He does just that in The Phoenician Scheme, to the point that it doesn’t matter that the story is overly complex. The combination of his eye for visual detail, a witty script, and committed performances make it a success.

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The Phoenician Scheme is now playing in theaters.

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