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.

A scene from last year's Halloween party at Hotel ZaZa. Superheroes never go out of style.

News, Shelby, Hotel ZaZa Halloween, Oct. 2015 Rick and Jennifer Kline, Amanda Hammond, Carlos Zubizarreta

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

A scene from last year's Halloween party at Hotel ZaZa. Superheroes never go out of style.

event-planner

Movie Review

28 Years Later revives zombie franchise for new generation

Photo by Miya Mizuno

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams in 28 Years Later.

The 2000s brought two of the best zombie movies ever made in 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. Both films, despite being made by different filmmakers, featured intense action with fast-moving zombies, harrowing sequences, and real emotional connections with their main characters. Now the original director and writer — Danny Boyle and Alex Garland — have returned with the first of a possible three sequels, 28 Years Later.

The rage virus from the first two films that turns humans into insatiable monsters has successfully been contained to the United Kingdom, and one group of survivors has managed to band together on a small island off the coast of England. We’re introduced to the group through Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), his wife, Isla (Jodie Comer), and his son, Spike (Alfie Williams).

Isla is sick with an unknown illness, while Jamie is set to take the 12-year-old Spike on his first trip to the mainland to hunt zombies. That trip not only gives Spike an education as to the different types of feral zombies that now populate England, but also a clue that other people have survived there. When he discovers that one of them may be a doctor, he makes plans to take his mother there in hopes of finding a cure for whatever ails her.

While the first two films were notable for their brisk pace that kept the potency of the stories high, Boyle and Garland almost go in the opposite direction for much of this film. The first 90 minutes are relatively slow, with only a couple of sequences that raise the blood pressure. The final half hour or so go a long way toward filling that void, so it’s clear that the filmmakers were biding their time for the story to come in the sequel. A bit more balance in this film would have served them well, though.

What they do show involves some weird, wild stuff that is objectively upsetting, even for fans of the genre. The zombies have evolved in strange ways, giving them a variety of body shapes and abilities to suit the environment in which they live. These storytelling choices may thrill some and have others scratching their heads. Another human character living on his own (played by Ralph Fiennes), appears to have gone the way of Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now, with a revelation that is bone-chilling.

Boyle, who’s directed everything from Trainspotting to Slumdog Millionaire, doesn’t have a signature style, and he makes some choices in this film that test your patience. He occasionally employs an odd technique in which the film stutters, for a lack of better term. It’s a bit jarring, especially since it doesn’t seem to improve the storytelling. He also inserts scenes from older films involving medieval warfare that emulate the bow-and-arrow weaponry used by characters in this film, but the exact connection he’s trying to make is unclear.

The young Williams has a lot put on his shoulders in the film, and he proves to be up to the task of carrying the story. He isn’t precocious or annoying, instead reacting almost exactly like you’d expect a boy of his age to do when faced with extreme situations. Taylor-Johnson and Comer are good complements for him, drawing him out with their polar opposite characters. Fiennes makes a huge impression in the final act of the film, while Jack O’Connell makes a very brief appearance, teasing a bigger role to come.

It’s difficult to fully judge 28 Years Later because it’s designed to only give you part of the story; part 2, The Bone Temple, is due in 2026, while a third film will follow if the first two do well. This film has its moments and winds up on the positive side of the ledger, but it’s also a frustrating experience that could have used a more stand-alone story.

---

28 Years Later is now playing in theaters.

movies film