Roughly every seven years Halloween falls on a Sunday and as you know, that's what's happening in 3 days time. So a decision had to be made: do we run the terrific new episode 406 (which is totally awesome, by the way) or... do we hold off on the new episode until next week to allow everyone who wants to go trick or treating this Sunday dressed like a ghost or a zombie or Amy or Caleb (!) to be able to enjoy themselves, without freaking out that they are missing a new episode of Heartland?
So: Halloween won out, and this week CBC will be broadcasting the popular spooky episode from last year, "The Haunting of Hanley Barn." Click though to the blog post for a video message from Amber Marshall, and some stuff about the episode you never knew!
This was a fun one, as those of us who saw it last year will attest to and, as Amber points out (whilst sitting beside her wonder dog Remi) Mark Haroun, who wrote the episode, has been nominated for a Gemini Award in the category of Best Writing in a Dramatic Series!
The Gemini Award, which is the Canadian equivalent of the Emmy, will be handed out on November 3 and I know you'll be wishing Mark good luck along with everyone at Heartland! Go Mark!!!!
But back to the episode. I spoke with Mark recently, and he told me some interesting stuff that I'd like to share with you:
First, the barn set was an actual set from a movie starring Christophe Cain and Jon Voight entitled "September Dawn." Coincidentally, Shaun Johnston - who we all know and love as Jack - had a big role in that film!
The barn was constructed on a plot of land and then was never torn down when filming on the 2006 movie was completed. When the need for a spooky barn came up, Heartland's locations and production design departments remembered the old abandoned set. Without too much fixing up (as you can no doubt tell!) it became the Hanley Barn set.
This brings us to the great character actor who played Mr. Levon Hanley - Julian Richings.
No stranger to creepy films, Mr. Richings has appeared in such films as "Saw IV," "Shoot 'Em Up," "The Salem Witch Trials," "Urban Legend," "Wrong Turn" and "Skinwalkers."
Mark Haroun had Richings in mind when he created the role of Hanley. Julian has a distinct look and he is such an amazing actor it was natural, Mark said, to write a role based on his abilities.
And another bit of trivia for you - those who have seen the episode will remember Caleb going "Heeeeeeeeere's Johnny!" That's taken from a creepy moment seen in Stanley Kubrick's horror classic,"The Shining." Take my advice: don't watch it alone.
So if you haven't seen "The Haunting of Hanley Barn," be sure to watch it, either on Sunday night or online. And if you have seen it, it'll be fun to see it again!
Have a fun, safe Sunday - either celebrating Halloween or watching Heartland, and remember - next week the CBC will have a brand new episode for you to enjoy.
I'll leave you with the story of a girl who deliberately caught a cold a few days before Halloween so she would have a raspy voice and could hardly speak. A friend asked her what costume she was going to wear when she went trick or treating and she, of course, said, "I don't need one - I'm a little hoarse!"
Get it? Hoarse? Horse? HILARIOUS!!! Sometimes I crack myself up.
Ahem, okay... Until next week...
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jen wrote:
Posted October 28, 2010 9:30 PM
Can't wait to watch! I love this show!
TC wrote:
Posted October 28, 2010 9:49 PM
Wow, BW... That ... joke ... you retold, you sure can repeat some real groaners.
Thanks for the interesting trivia regarding 'The Haunting of Hanley Barn'.
I'm so torn between rooting for Mark Haroun for 'Heartland' and Ian Weir for 'Flashpoint' when it comes to Best Writing in a Dramatic Series.
I guess I'll be content if either one of them wins; disappointed if neither wins.
-TC
KMA88 wrote:
Posted October 28, 2010 10:40 PM
REMI! She was so cute on set and definitely ate up the attention while I was there. All that fur will come in handy this winter!
3blindmice wrote:
Posted October 29, 2010 3:36 AM
BW, thanks for the great blog post once again! You're so awesome to do this for us every week!
'a little hoarse' ...so bad!!
Julie the french girl wrote:
Posted October 29, 2010 7:25 AM
Are you the girl in question ? lol
I wish we had episode 406 but, well, I'm not the one who decides^^ I shall wait one week more...
Elli M. wrote:
Posted October 29, 2010 1:06 PM
I loved amber's message!
I had to laugh because the dog couldn't keep still!
;D
Tiffanie wrote:
Posted October 29, 2010 2:42 PM
I'm really glad they're showing a re-run of "Hanley's Barn" I would hate to miss parts of a new show while giving out treats. Don't know who's idea it was but certainly a good one. Looking forward to next week & a new show.
(No, I don't think BW is the girl with the hoarse voice. I've heard the joke before.
susie wrote:
Posted October 29, 2010 7:15 PM
aha nice classic groan joke BW! Can't wait til the episode. I remember it from last year and it was awesome. That's cool that the barn used in that episode was also used in another film. So excited for the new episode next sunday!
farmergirl... wrote:
Posted October 30, 2010 1:18 PM
Remi is soooo cute! amber is so lucky to have him
-equus- wrote:
Posted October 30, 2010 4:03 PM
OMG! That's my dog, they are twins. I'm serious about this, I just had to look at her and they do look so much like. My sister agrees!
Anyway, I can't wait for the new episode next week!
Trinity wrote:
Posted October 30, 2010 5:23 PM
This is a good epsode
The_Heartland_Fan wrote:
Posted October 30, 2010 7:29 PM
HAhhahahahahaha good joke Blog Whisperer!!
Want to hear mine?
Why do ghosts go to baseball games?
A. Because they want to boo the umpire!!
haha get it...ghosts go boo when they frighten people...don't worry, it's one of my dads jokes : )
[Blog Whisperer: ARGH! that one was even worse than mine! ;-) ]
Lou wrote:
Posted October 31, 2010 10:09 PM
Disappointing - this was not the best show the first time around, and a re-run is a let-down. I am not watching.
crazyellowhorse wrote:
Posted October 31, 2010 11:18 PM
Oh, thank goodness!! I thought I missed something with the episode tonight....I guess I did. Thank goodness for The Blog Whisperer!!
Annie wrote:
Posted November 1, 2010 12:42 PM
I just watched the preview for S04E06, and when janice said "race you to the other end" i was like, duh!
canadiangurl wrote:
Posted November 1, 2010 1:20 PM
Hy BW whats the link for the USA heartland website Thanks :)...u rock
Allison wrote:
Posted November 3, 2010 12:29 AM
This was always one of my favourite episodes! Im happy they showed it again, I loved to watch it!
Like BW points out, dont watch The Shining alone, some pretty spooky stuff happens, but if you like horror flis watch it! (:
I cant wait for next episode. I never really like Janice, that much so i cant wait too see her in this episode. (:
-Allison