Halloween lets us get scared in a safe sort of way

Halloween presents lots of commercial opportunities — and there is massive demand for a bit of a scare 

Spooky pirates delighted visitors to the Passage West Halloween Display, brought to life by the Passage West Men’s Shed. All proceeds from the event support Marymount Hospice. Picture: Chani Anderson

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for horror lovers – and indeed, horror writers like me.

But it’s also the time when people lament the demise of plastic bag and plastic mask costumes, as well as the increasing intrusion of Christmas ornament sales on Halloween.