Happy Halloween! Best Horror Films Part 3 - Best of 2023-2024

 Happy Halloweeeen!  🎃👻

So I've chosen the past year to mean 2023-2024 because some movies are still on the way and it wouldn't be fair?

Plus, keep in mind that there are some movies I didn't see until 2024 because I waited until they were streaming.  

Speaking of, I cheated twice with two late 2022 movies, because they weren't released to home streaming until later, and some I still haven't seen yet like Smile 2, LongLegs, Alien Romulus and the American version of Speak No Evil, which were just released/still in theaters.

And remember, none of these are slasher or zombie films or vampire films - sorry. 

The reason is, most slasher films are long on gore, short on story and sillier than they are scary. As for zombie and vampire films, I just think they've been done to death, but I'll watch if there's a good story, too.

Also, I wouldn't say that any of these - or at least most of these (with the exception of maybe "Smile") - would make the previous "best" list of either the decade or best ever, but worth a watch?

Late Night With the Devil (2024)

A late night TV host doesn't make a deal with the devil (or does he?), but he comes anyway - in the form of a little girl.

Oddity (2024)

Dead men (and women) tell no tales, but wooden ones do, if made by a witch? 

Essentially, a twin sister owns an oddities shop in Ireland, and uses the occult items to solve her sister's murder.

The First Omen (2024)

After The Conjuring 2, the current trend is nuns, possessed nuns or nuns carrying Satan's baby - this one delivers both!

Immaculate (2024)

Once again, we apparently love the devil messing with nuns? lol.  This one has an ending which you understand, and yet perhaps goes too far?  

Also, with these movies about Satan's baby/the Antichrist, can you not just take Satan's baby and get him baptized by a real priest or the pope or something? 

Problem solved! 😂

Talk to Me (2023)

This Australian entry gives us a new story, about a haunted wooden hand with strange markings, that  possesses you and let's you talk to the dead, but only for 20 seconds - until something else decides it wants to come out and play!

Smile (2022)

A smile isn't always a good thing - there are evil smiles, and in this one, the transferring demon smiles at you, and if you see it, it's too late!

I didn't see this one until late 2023, when streaming, but this is probably the best of the bunch and is an "alternate" for the best of the decade list.

The only reason it isn't, is it dragged in parts - but it did scare the bejesus outta me at times.  Also, I understand the ending was setting up for a sequel, but it was predictable and left me wanting a better ending.

The Infinity Pool (2023)

When you read the description of this story, you'll assume it's a ridiculous B flick, but it's not.

Essentially, a couple goes on a secluded island vacation, and ends up partying with, messed with, committing crimes with, and being be tortured by some other wealthy vacationers, for which they receive the death penalty in the island country, only to find out that the group's rationale for this hedonism - and having no empathy or morality - is the country has also figured out how to immediately clone a person upon death, for which they pay the big bucks - but is it an excuse?

Expertly acted by one of the Skaarsgard boys and Mia Goth, this one's a a new, disturbing twist on the usual horror fare. 

Influencer (2022)

So when you see the title, you're almost  not sure who to root for, a self-absorbed social-media influencer or the villain, but in the end, we like the influencer, but we're hoping that she - and we - rethink what personal information we put on social media, especially when traveling abroad!

Again, there are some out this year that I have yet to see, but that's all I have time for today, but I'll post a runners-up post soon.  

Just one more thing - one movie that people raved about that I thought was entirely ridiculous ...

Night Swim (2024). 

A haunted pool?

Dohkay.  It was better than I thought, but still absurd lol.

Happy Halloween!

Best Horror Films Part 2: The Last Decade (2014 - 2024)

So it's been a minute since Part 1, Best of All Time, but just a refresher course - there will be no overly gory slasher films or zombie films on this list!  (Sorry.)

(In fact, the only exception for zombie movies I've ever seen is South Korea's "Train to Busan," but still not enough to make this list.)

The reason for this is slasher films are often short on story and long on gore, and as for zombie films?  Though my husband can't get enough, I think they've been done to death! 

A couple of these will be repeats of my Best of All Time series, so I'll say less about them than I did in the first post ;)

I've chosen 10, but there are some other runner-ups that just didn't "wow" me as much, for whatever reason?

Also, there are a few that I missed, so forgive me if I don't have something on this list and you go "Wait a minute, what about _____?"

Chances are, I just haven't seen it yet.  But I will. Oh yes, I will! Muhahahaha!

(Oh, sorry, just getting carried away in the spirit of things.)

Most likely, they are foreign films that are subtitled, which I do watch, but cannot be doing other things while I do so, so it makes it difficult.

Without further ado, in no particular order (with the exception of the first one, which IMO is the scariest film of all time), I give you the best horror films of the last decade ...

Hereditary (2018)

Again, since I've discussed it previously: Scariest of all time (in that it was the only film on any of these lists that gave me nightmares as an adult), will never watch it again, and yet it's also testament to how well made this film is!

A Quiet Place (2018)

Who wouldda thunk it, that America's sweethearts, John Krazinski and Emily Blunt, could've cooked up this monster scare, about aliens who hunt by sound?

Thus, the movie is largely silent and all communication is done in emotive American sign language, which somehow keeps you glued to your seat, both to intently watch what's being communicated, as well as waiting for the unfortunate moment that someone drops something on the floor or trips over a box (particularly the children) or laughs, burps or farts!  😂

It's also the story of a testament to strong families weathering anything to survive, all members of the team developing their own duties based on skill, regardless of gender or "disability" (one of the children is deaf - thus, the knowledge of ASL, which helped them to survive longer than others.)

Well-cowritten, acted and directed - by John Krazinski and Emily Blunt (and special mention of young, hearing-impaired actress, Millicent Simmonds.

Get Out (2017)

Jordan Peele has no shortage of original horror ideas that also give us plenty of social commentary conversation pieces, but his best film so far is the psychological horror flick "Get Out."

The film is about a supposedly  "liberal" family, who also recognizes they can profit off of the powerless and most vulnerable minority within American society, of people of color, by using their youngest daughter to lure them in under the guises of best friendship with women and engagement with men, then the psychiatrist mother hypnotizing them under, so that the neurosurgeon father can perform neurosurgery that restricts emotion and prevents them from not doing exactly as they're told, so that they can sell them to wealthy white people as house workers and husbands. 

The premise doesn't get much scarier than that, until you realize that American society is currently headed back to this mentality, more than they are forward, away from it.

Though far-fetched, you can still see how if anyone wanted to do this in our society, they certainly could and get away with it - and how even liberal-voting people can contribute devalue people of color and prey and profit off of them.

Though not the biggest "jump scare" movie every made, it's still chill-giving.

And a word to the wise - don't expect to see one of Jordan's Peele's movies with people you can't openly have a conversation about the social commentary with, later; particularly, this one.

The Witch (2015)

A young, barely recognizable Anja-Joy Taylor plays the leads in this Puritan-times horror flick, where she is taunted by witches and the devil pursuing her to join their coven, by systematically removing everyone and everything from her life, until she has nowhere to go and no one to tell, despite her prayers.

The freezing ambience is palpable, as is are her desperate prayers in vain.  Much like Hereditary, this one will hang on you for a bit afterwards, and yet (spoiler alert)  - at least she lives? 

His House (2020)

Prepare for the British re-entry into the horror space - because aren't British ghost stories the scariest?

Except this one has a twist.  Two South Sudanese seek asylum in the UK, but are tormented by something - is it really a curse, ghosts and hauntings,  or is it the result of unprocessed trauma, guilt, and grief - or is it both?

Watch and see.

The lighting, the story-telling, the dialogue, the editing, sound - there's a reason why this movie has a 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes!

The Night House (2020)

In a similar vein, a woman retreats to a the lake house formerly shared by her husband, who has recently committed suicide. 

Convinced her husband is haunting her, she grows increasingly withdrawn, as well obsessed with communicating with him, as well as why he committed suicide, exploring all avenues.

Is she being haunted or is she descending into grief madness and obsession, or both? 

Once again, watch and see - plenty of jump scares, to be sure!

Speak No Evil - The original 2022 Danish film (haven't seen the current American version)

As stated above, I haven't seen the US version that is still in theaters, but I did see the original Danish film by the same title - and it scared the bejesus out of me. 

There aren't any ghosties in this film - just two families who met and got along famously while on vacay, when one family invites the other to their home - and trouble ensures.

Just the story of some greedy, garden-variety sociopaths, taking advantage of our often false belief that we truly know people we've only briefly encountered, as well as doubting your own perception versus being gaslighted. 

It's a slow burn that's truly disturbing, but this one makes the list because it disturbed my husband for days instead of me!

Last Shift (2014) 

There has been a remake of this movie called "Malum," which is essentially the same tale with a bigger budget, but worse reviews. 

The original is a low-budget entry, but sometimes those offer the best scares!

The film quality is low and it's filmed at one location -  but that doesn't mean sound, editing, directing and acting aren't!

A new police department has been built, and a rookie cop is assigned to keep night watch at the old police station until everything has been moved over.

Of course, it's haunted by former cult killers - or are some still alive?

AND, the police know it - or are they part of it?

Why was she chosen to work "the last shift?

And which is scarier - ghosts of Satanic cult members or actual Satanic cult members?

Watch and see.

Barbarian - 2023

Another pleasantly-horrifying-surprise, low-budget film, filmed in my husband's hometown, his beloved Detroit - in the abandoned district, it's already scary even before anything happens! 

Even if you took every "creepy pasta" Reddit story about Airbnb stays that have gone horribly wrong, this story tops them all, and will make you think twice before ever renting a home for vacay ever again!

A woman books a cheap Airbnb by herself, in Detroit, in preparation for a big job interview and finds it already occupied, but chooses to stay.  Soon, trouble ensues - but is it her new, strange roommate or someone/something else?

Tune in to see.

Now, this last one is the weakest of the 10, because although well-filmed and keeps you guessing, you're still yelling at the screen like ...

"Girl, why are you staying even one night, get the F out and sleep in your car!"

- and - 

"B*tch, don't go down in that creepy basement.  Why you going in the basement?" 

😂

____________________________________

Acclaimed movies I have yet to see in the last decade: 

Subtitled: 

Gonjiam Asylum (2018) - South Korean, subtitled.

Exhuma (2023) - South Korean, subtitled.

The Wailing (2016) - South Korean, subtitled.

Huesera the Bone Woman (2022) - Mexico/Peru, subtitled. 

Under the Shadow (2016) - British produced, Farsi speaking (subtitled).

English-Speaking

The Boy Behind the Door (2020)

Something about kids and kidnappers makes a hard watch.

My Heart Won't Beat Until You Tell It To (2020)

I dunno, haven't seen it because vampires have been done to death.

Relic (2020)  

I actually thought I had seen this one, but it was actually The Taking of Deborah Logan, which is a so-so-watch.

Midsommar (2019)

Actually, I started this movie late one night, turned it off due to the gore, and have yet to finish it?  After Hereditary disturbed me enough, plus the gore, it may be a "no, thank you?"

The Babadook (2014)

Unfortunately, I saw the end of this movie only, so I'd have to go back and rewatch the whole thing to give it a fair shake.

Movies that everyone raved about, but I found "meh."

It Follows (2015)

Loved the early-80s horror-movie vibe, complete with terrible editing that made you go "WTF," I hated the ending, and otherwise found nothing new to see here, move along

Skinamarink (2022)

Boring!  Interesting concept, with the camera angles and mostly just hearing things off screen and those creepy old cartoons, but my husband actually fell asleep!

Saint Maud (2019)

More madness than supernatural spooky, it was just ... sad.

Censor (2021)

Great concept, sputtered between action scenes.  A slow, spooky build is okay, but the action should be worth it?

Otherwise, yes - there will be some runner-ups at the end of this series, which will include movies like "The Conjuring 1, 2, plus Annabelle" - which were fairly good, but a little sappy and OTT in parts.

I think it's partly because we'd heard or seen all of the Ed and Lorraine Warren stories already.

However, I have to agree, there's a reason that other movies have swiped the side story of the demon nun from The Conjuring, a little known part of the story, that is super scary!

UPDATE: Quest Diagnostic's Excellent Response, and Vindication Feels Good!

I have a half-written post as the second post on my horror-movie series, which I'll post tonight, but I just wanted to post a positive about Quest Diagnostic's response to these errors.

And let me just say, before any guesses are made on race - all of these people are white (except for the last MA, who did the test correctly).

As mentioned, all's well that ends well - and despite having to be walked through how to do the hair-follicle test by corporate at the local LabCorp office at Walgreens -  the test came back negative, I'm hired, and I will start soon at the best-paying job of my life! 😍

(Hair follicles are best anyway, as they detect both recent AND chronic drug usage.)

So as mentioned, since the local Quest Diagnostics office had promised to rectify the incorrect lab test and billing in a handwritten note on my receipt, I was not going to "tell" on anyone to corporate.

However, when my OB/GYN's office called me, confused about why the hormone-level test done in office from last April was repeated in September and I had to explain, this led me to investigate billing.  

In fact, my insurance had been billed for the blood test (who will reject it and I would have to pay out of pocket, which is around $250).

Additionally, on the same day my OB/GYN called me, I received the urine drug screen test from the same lab, which came back "negative-dilute" - as if I'd flooded myself with water first - but I didn't.

So when I called billing due to the lab office's error, explaining that I had a handwritten note from the manager stating the test would be canceled and I would not be billed.

Billing said that I would need a letter from my OB/GYN stating they did not order this test.

I asked billing that if it was the lab office's mistake, why I had to involve my OB/GYN, when she did nothing wrong?

They explained they were third-party billing and had no authorization or ability to cancel the test or bill without an authorization from an MD and Quest doesn't have one on site.

At this point, though I don't want to be a Karen - and I'm not into leaving reviews (positively or negatively because someone else's experience could be different than mine), preferring to resolve things privately - since there is no way to contact the local office directly by phone to rectify the situation, I had no choice but to contact the corporate office, by calling the 1-800 customer service line, as well as writing an email (because I tend to write better than I speak, especially when nervous). 

After customer service listened to my story, they were appropriately horrified and escalated my story to their leadership team as a Priority 1.

In response to the email, I received a call from the actual office manager. 

As it turns out, the person who wrote the handwritten note on my receipt about the test mix-up and billing cancelation was NOT the office manager - she's the medical-assistant team lead.

Apparently, there IS no manager on site, the manager  covers different regional offices. 

The actual manager was super apologetic, super embarrassed, super horrified, and super mad at her staff.

I told her I wasn't mad, I was worried - not only for my job, but if this happened to anyone else but it was a medical test that was wrong - they could end up in the ER or worse.  

I explained that I worked in healthcare, I can tell they are short-staffed and I get it, as well as how things can snowball very quickly if not caught early, but I would've never would've said a word, until my OB/GYN's office called me, confused, plus I was billed, and then this new strange test result.

I told her that I tend not to speak up unless the issue either affects my wallet, it affects someone else I care about, or the is issue bigger than me lol.

I said I would've called the direct office again, but there's no local number.

She explained that she can clearly see what happened and everything that had been done, and it was exactly as I said. 

She verified the third-party services that employers use for background checks and drug screens  scheduled my appointment at 12:30 on 9/17 for a urine drug-screen, and she could also see that I DID check "drug screening" as the reason for my visit at the digital kiosk.

She explained there are two systems: One for medical labs, the other for drug employment screenings.

However, no one ever checked the employment screening system for my name or the order that entire day of 9/17.

They assumed I was here for medical labs - despite my prospective employer clearly scheduling the appointment and my checking "employment drug screen" on the digital check-in kiosk, and it printing out to the back-office staff.

Worse, the MA/phlebotomist checked the medical-lab system, she could've easily seen the older date of lab order, that it was done in my OB/GYN's office and sent directly from their to the main Quest Diagnostics Analysis lab from there, and it had been completed - with results. 

I told her that I always try to look at what I could've done differently, because that's all I can control, and I should've printed up and brought in the email stating urine drug screen from the company.

She said "No, even THAT isn't your fault - you shouldn't have to.  The company scheduled it, you chose it at check-in, and it prints up in the back. And you did double-check her, but I understand not wanting to push back too hard on a drug test, plus we're supposed to be the professionals"  

Then she asked how her staff was when I returned to the office.  

Now, I had already said the MA/phlebotomist was defensive, but didn't go into detail. 

She asked exactly what "defensive" meant.

Me:  "Before I answer, please understand that I am not trying to get anyone in trouble, which is why I never mentioned her defensive response until you asked.  I just wanted the bill canceled, and at most, a policy change or perhaps retraining for the staff because this can get worse for someone else if not addressed." 

"I can also tell that you don't have the budget you need for a full, appropriate staff, which I'm going to mention to corporate when they call me to follow this up. 

Manager:  "Yes ... thank you (a smile in her voice). But I need you to tell me so that I can address how they resolve problems."

Only then, did I proceed to tell her what the MA did/said when I returned to the office to correct the mistake.

I explained since there is no direct office number, I had to visit in person.  I signed in for "drug-screening" as I now had until the end of day to get the correct test done or I have no job.  It was 1:00 p.m. and the lab closes at 3 p.m.

I also knocked on the door to the back.  The same MA/phleb that drew the blood test by mistake answered the door.

Me: (As quietly as I could):  "I'm so sorry - but I think we somehow did the wrong lab.  I have until day's end to get it rectified."  

 

MA/Phleb:  "Did I do it?" 

Me:  "Well ... yes? You drew my blood on Monday, but it was supposed to be a urine sample." 

 

MA/Phleb: "Oh, no! I don't remember, but we'll fix it. Did you check in?" 

 

Me:  "Yes. I now have until day's end or they'll rescind the offer. " 

 

MA/Phleb:  "Okay, I'll take you back next, right after this person."

Up until this point - perfect, no problems at all.

Then 5 people go in ahead of me.  It's now 2 p.m. and I have until 3 p.m. 

When she calls the 6th person back, I stood up and said:

 "No, no - I'm sorry, but I'M next.  I'm sorry (to the person called), it's just I was here earlier and there's a huge mix-up that has to be resolved by 3 p.m. or I'm out of a job."

My husband was with me and said he was so proud of me, because I had been shaking having to confront this lol. I didn't yell, I wasn't mean, I just was assertive and she DID say I would be next 5 people ago, we were running out of time.

 

MA/Phlebotomist:  "I will get to you when I'm good and ready and not before!  These people have scheduled appointments, you're a walk-in." 

 

Me: "I had a scheduled appointment, too - 3 days ago - but received the wrong test and I will be out of a job if we don't get this rectified by day's end. You did say I'd be next, 5 people ago." 

 

MA/Phleb (yelling):  "Are you saying I don't know how to do my job! I KNOW how to do my job!"

 

Me (stunned, exactly what I feared would happen and why I was shaking):  "No, no - I'm saying a mistake was made and we need to fix it by 3. I don't care how it happened, I just need it fixed by day's end." 

 

MA/Phleb:   "These people have appointments and you don't.  I will fix this problem when I'm ready to, especially since you're insinuating I don't know how to do my job." 

 

Me (now raising MY voice): "No, I had an appointment  ... look, is there someone who can check or mediate?  Because this isn't working!"

 

The lead MA walking down the hall because of her yelling - whom I was told was the manager - was already walking down the hall due to her yelling.

MA/Phleb: "Can you ... because I CAN'T with her."  

 

Lead MA:  "Come on in my office and let's talk.  X, go back to your office, please."

 

I tell the MA what happened, and K is standing outside the office door (which is open).

She suddenly walks in the Lead MA's office - who I'd been told was the manager - despite her having told her to wait in the other room.

MA/Phleb:  "You told me you were here for hormone levels!" 

 

Me: "No, I didn't.  Why would I do that, if I had 72 hours to get a urine drug screen?  I DID try to tell you." 

 

MA/Phleb:  "No you didn't! 

 

Me:  "Yes, I did. I asked you if the test was for X Company and if you were sure. Remember when I asked to go to the bathroom as I'd been holding it for the test? I figured if I kept pushing you, it would seem like I didn't want to be drug tested, but I knew it was the wrong test." 

 

MA/Phleb:  "No you didn't!" 

 

Me:  "Okay, I'm not going to waste time going back and forth with you on this yes I did/no you didn't stuff.  I just need the correct test done, that's all." 

"But it IS interesting that you didn't remember me at first, but now you suddenly remember.  Whatever, let's just fix this" 

 

MA/Phleb:  "I KNOW how to do my job, don't tell me I don't." 

 

Me:  "I am NOT saying you don't know how to do your job, you keep saying that!  I'm saying a mistake was made somewhere and it doesn't matter, we just have to fix it." 

"And you're misreading me.  I'm not mad at you, I'm scared!  Look, I'm shaking? Not because I'm mad, but because I hate speaking up for myself, because it never goes well AND because I have one more hour to get this done or I don't have a job."

She softened a bit with that, even slightly smiled, and said "Okay" and left the room.

At this point, the lead MA gave me the correct test, a urine one, and wrote on my receipt "Misunderstood - gave blood test instead of urine.  Blood test canceled."

The test came back negative and we were good to go.

Back to the manager on the phone.

 

Manager: "OMG, like you'd tell her you needed your hormones checked when you have 72 hours to get a urine sample for a job!" 

"And the fact that she kept trying to find various ways to blame you, and you're actually still partially blaming yourself!  How she handled it in general, the "I can't with her"  - all of that actually bothers me way worse than anything else you've said!  Not that the lab errors aren't bad,  of course they are, but I just have a thing about how my staff handles things and that was way, way rude and refusing to take any responsibility and blaming you? Nuh uh.  This was her error, she didn't check both systems or listen to the patient, she just operated on her own assumptions." 

 

Me:  "Oh, I've seen worse, believe me - that's why I was shaking - again scared, not mad lol.  But I will say the MA Lead or whoever was great. It's just she didn't cancel the test and billing.."

Manager: "Well, I'm madder than you are! lol. And just super embarrassed and so, SO sorry.  And can how can I say this?  

"That MA/phleb is a floater, hired to go to different locations, who is supposed to be trained better than in-office staff, and let me just say this - this is going to be a good lesson for her in humility that everyone will appreciate :)"  

"I'm also mad at my Lead MA, who didn't tell me any of this had gone on and wrote you a handwritten note on a receipt instead of a formal apology letterhead to give to your boss? So she was trying to hide it. And if she canceled the test and bill, like she said, I wouldn't have known." 

"AS for the new "negative-dilute" result, you said that you watched her do everything, initialed it, and that MA - who is one of my senior MAs - did everything right, thank goodness, - so that was something at the toxicology lab and it just happens sometimes, even with people that don't over-hydrate, and we don't know why, it just happened to be you, that time, which is why we retest." 

 "Lucky you, after all we put you through.  I'm sorry to lose you to LabCorp, but glad the hair test came back clean and you're hired, that's the main thing.  I think that one was just a fluke we've seen happen occasionally from the main lab, it's just unfortunate it was you on top of the other stuff."   

"So here's what I'm gonna do.  First, I'm canceling your billing.  Second, my entire staff will be receiving a performance review over this - and it's not going to be pretty.  Third, they will all have to go through mandatory retraining - not only how to do tests, but on customer service " 

 

Me: "Oh, wow - I didn't expect or need all of that, but thank you!  Yeah, my goal was just to address it, which I wanted to do personally, but there's no way to contact the office directly.  I don't want anyone fired, just retraining at most -  because with me, it was just a job, but with someone else on medical tests, mix-ups like this could end up with them in the ER or worse, and someone could get legal.  Not me, but it's a wake-up call, for sure." 

"To be honest, you're kind of lucky it WAS me, and that I've been in healthcare as long as I have and I know how mistakes can happen and things snowball.  Sometimes I've seen the ball get dropped somewhere along the line with everyone who touched it, we call them "cursed reports" lol.  I bet it won't happen again, though! lol." 

Manager: "No, no, you wrote it out very well in your email and on the phone to the CSR. Wow, your memory is super good, most people can't rely on memory, but everything checked out exactly as you said, when I trace the paper trail and logins with dates and times." 

"And you're clearly not mad, just concerned.  And as I said, I'm more mad than you are!  lol.  I'm sorry we lost you to LabCorp, but I don't blame you.  Just know that I am going to do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again to anyone and hopefully gain back your trust at some point." 

"And this is my personal cell phone - if you receive a bill or have any problem at all, you can call or text me, anytime." 

Me: "Thank you SO much for listening to me, and for saying that about my memory.  I've had to have a good one, both professionally and personally - more than I care to remember, actually! lol." 

"I was afraid you'd dismiss me as some druggie trying to hide it or something, rather than the truth. I'm actually very sensitive to any medication, I don't even like to take prescribed meds, so there's no way I'd ever do drugs of any kind, legal or not.  In fact, I married and divorced that, once lol" 

She was a super cool lady, we're actually very similar in philosophy, and she handled it exactly as I would have, as a manager.  We actually laughed a few times, which helped break the tension on both sides - a sense of humor helps you get through anything!

Anyway, I'm very satisfied with Quest's response.

But again, what I said below still stands with both Quest and Labcorp - corporate has cut these offices down to a skeleton crew, with no receptionist to check in just a digital kiosk, no nurse, doctor, or even an on-site manager, and no direct phone number to call for questions or concerns.

I understand the cost of healthcare is astronomical, but you've cut back too far - and it won't be by me, but at some point, you're gonna end up having to pay out big bucks for the mistakes being made after having done so.

Nuff said. 

Otherwise, I gotta say, this feels good - vindication feels good.

Because there have been several times in life that though I was telling the absolute truth and could prove it, people just went with what they wanted to believe or covered their own asses..

Thank you, Quest Diagnostics!

UPDATE: All Clear

 

My hair-follicle test came back earlier than expected and was all clear and I am hired.😊

And yet the below post will remain up as a cautionary tale for those companies using these little one-or-two-person-manned, local-branch labs for Quest and LabCorp, who have replaced nurses and MDs with untrained medical assistants for low pay, no oversight, and no way to contact the local lab office directly for any questions or concerns, just a 1-800 number.

This is what happens, Quest and LabCorp, when you cut your staff - particularly nurses - to save yourselves a buck.

Nothing against medical assistants, I know some great ones - but I also know they are overworked and asked to do things outside of their level of training at low pay.

In fact, this is not my first run-in, in this town, with an error from a medical assistant that was asked to do more than she was trained for at low pay, in fact - which nearly put me in the ER, until the doctor caught her error.

I understand the astronomical cost of healthcare and the need to operate on a shoestring budget, but at some point - and it won't be by me - somebody is gonna get legal and you'll really have to pay big bucks for doing so anyway - or worse, the patient will end up with not just job loss, but in the ER with injury, or even death.

Just something to think about ...

Lab Issues: At This Point, Time to Write a Public Post On This

Now, I realize how this story sounds, which is why I'm hesitating on saying or doing anything further about it in real life, or even who I could contact about it.

However, I'm so anxious about it that I can't sleep - so I hope writing it down here will help relax me, like a message in a bottle that never sends and letting it go. 

I mean, I have had so much crazy sh*t happen in my life that I'm not sure that I believe me anymore lol.

Hell, if I heard someone else tell this story, I probably wouldn't believe them either lol.

Well, I do have proof - but has that ever mattered?

I mean, people aren't really concerned, these days, about proof and truth, are they?

They prefer to go with what they already want to believe.

Regardless, here goes - bear with the somewhat lengthy true story.

So as mentioned previously, the job I've had for the last 5 years as a contractor has dwindled down to almost no work for the last year.  I hung in there as long as I could, because I love my boss dearly - and I loved the work, it was the most interesting I'd ever done - but there's just little to no work, so I started looking elsewhere, while still picking up for her if any work came in.   

Believe me, she's been biting her own nails off for the last year, too.  I think we both thought this was it - the job we'd retire on. 

Thus, for the past few months, I've been trying to find something else that isn't contract work - no more contract work, regular pay, no more self-employment tax, maybe even benefits again.  No more nail-biting, right? 

Wrong!

But first, before I tell this story, I need to be very clear that I have never received a positive drug-screen result, and I still haven't, despite these lab problems  - that isn't the issue.

That is because I don't use drugs and have never used drugs.  In fact, I don't even like to use pharmaceuticals, because they scare me - I'm very sensitive to medication and if I do ever have to take any, I'm on the lowest possible dose.

Anyway, about 4 weeks ago, I accepted a job position, after thinking I'd been passed over for a different, more lucrative job. 

This job used a third-party organization who did a background check (which was of course clear) and they also scheduled my drug-screen appointment at Quest Diagnostics.

When I arrived for my appointment, I checked "drug screen" on the check-in digital kiosk as my reason for visit (the local Quest office has no receptionist), and I also told the lab worker who took me back that I was there for a drug screen for (Name of Company), who scheduled this appointment.

She told me the only lab order she had in the system was for a blood test. I told her the email they'd sent me was for a urine test, but I didn't bring the email. I figured it wasn't necessary, since the third-party company for my employer scheduled the appointment.

I asked her if she was sure about that, because I would be surprised that the new employer would go to the expense of a blood test for a new hire, and she said that was the order in the system for me, a blood test.

I figured if I argued too much, it would seem like I didn't want to drug-test, right?

Thus, I let her draw my blood.

Then my recruiter called me, stating said they'd never received anything at all verifying I'd ever taken a test. I told her I most certainly did, I have the bruise on my arm from the needle stick.

She asked me why that would be, since they'd ordered a urine test?

I told her that that's what I said, but the lab worker insisted she'd ordered a blood test. 

So because there is no way to contact the local lab office by phone, only a 1-800 number for Quest, I returned in person to the lab office. The lab worker that had taken the test became very defensive and said "You told me you were here for a blood test to check your hormones!'

I thought to myself ... "Right. Because of course, I would tell you I wanted my hormone levels checked as my primary concern, though I only have 48 hours to get a drug screen for a job."

But rest assured, I did NOT say that.

In fact, I was literally shaking, because I hate to stand up for myself.  I can stand up and mouth off on behalf of others, or if the issue is bigger than just me, but when it's me, I shake.

So luckily, the manager heard her yelling and came in the room, just as I asked her if there was anyone who could mediate. 

After investigating, the manager discovered that instead of administering a urine drug test, the lab worker had erroneously acted an old lab order for a blood test for hormone levels, from my OB/GYN (that had actually already been done in the doctor's office and sent to the main Quest labs, in April)!

The manager apologized profusely and said though it would've helped if I'd actually printed up the paper and brought it in (true, that's on me), she also said the lab worker should've asked why I was there, to confirm what was clearly printed out on my check-in sheet, that I was there for a drug test - or at the very least listened to me trying to tell her why I was there.

So the manager wrote an apology note for the misunderstanding to take to my employer, which also included her phone number, as well as assurance that the blood test was canceled and I would receive no charge, and then administered the correct test, a urine test, herself.

I sent a screen shot of the manager's note to my prospective employer, and then the test was, of course, negative - and I was hired.

Since the situation was rectified, I wasn't interested in reporting the problem to anyone, we all make mistakes, right?

Oh, but wait - there's more.

Two weeks into the job - which was a great job, I enjoyed it thoroughly, great people - I surprisingly received an offer for the  much more lucrative job that I thought I'd been passed over for.

Unfortunately, I was again sent to this same lab for a drug test by a third party company.

I was a bit nervous after prior experience, but I thought lightning wouldn't strike twice and they'd be sure to get it right, this time, right?

Wrong!

This time, I brought in my printout stating a urine test. Despite only drinking an 8-ounce glass of water an hour before the test, just to ensure that I could pee on demand, the test came back as "negative-dilute," and the company asked me to take another test, which would be my second and only chance.

In addition to this, on that same day, I received a call from my OB/GYN's office, confused about why I'd had the test done twice, when she'd already done one, and I had to explain. And on top of THAT, I discovered I'd been billed full charge, despite the manager saying she'd cancel it all!

Then, I was told by the new company that I would receive a second chance, but this time, I would receive a hair-follicle test.

I requested a lab change, since I'd had such a poor experience at Quest (who seemed short-staffed)., so I went to LabCorp inside Walgreens.

However, when I arrived, the lab worker said she had never done hair-follicle drug tests, only DNA/paternity hair-follicle tests, and she had not been trained - and she was the only one working!

I thought to myself ...

Are you freaking kidding me with this sh*t? 

And these companies depend on you people for their test results for jobs?

But if I say anything, it will look like I'm balking at getting a drug test, when they already think I drank too much water to dilute my urine sample!

But again, of course, I didn't say any of that.

But what I DID do is immediately write my employer, while still sitting in the lab, asking them to please advise me what to do now.

In the meantime, the lab worker viewed my authorization code and called her corporate office, who told her it WAS authorized and they DO perform them, and just to perform it the same way she does DNA/paternity tests.

I didn't hear back from my prospective employer until hours after I'd left, because the onboarding HR department is in India. 

They said this was my one-and-only second chance, despite the lab attendant saying she hadn't performed them before and hadn't been trained!

(I think they didn't believe me.)

Also, I have called a clinic who does these tests, but they have an actual MD and nurse on staff as oversight.

I asked them how a "negative-dilute" result even happens. They said I would've had to drink 1 to 2 L of water beforehand, which of course, I didn't do.

I then asked about the correct protocol for a hair-follicle test, and they informed me of 4 steps - only 2 of which the admittedly untrained lab worker followed - she wore no gloves and took a sample from my already-thinning crown, rather than the scalp near the neck - so now I have a huge, visible bald spot!

Thus, I am terrified that the second-chance sample will be inconclusive or inadequate testing sample, because she admittedly didn't know how to perform it ... and to be honest, I'm a little mad, at this point, too.

Because I have already given notice and left the other job (but am welcome back in 30 days), which I never would've done, if I'd ever thought there would be any problem with drug tests! 

That was also before I realized it would be at the very same lab with the admitted order mix-up 6 weeks ago OR that a second lab admittedly was not trained on the hair-follicle test!

Thus, if the sample she took isn't adequate, I'm out of a job - AND - I have a huge bald visible bald spot now! 

But I feel like if I say another word about this to my prospective company, they'll just write me off as some druggie trying to hide it, rather than the truth :(.

I offered to pay out of pocket for any test or tests that I could take that same day to prove I'm not on drugs, while it was still within the timeframe allowed, but they said to wait and see how the hair sample comes back, if they even get it, rather than a DNA/paternity test, which was the only thing she admittedly knew how to do, and that will be 5 business days from when I took the test last Wednesday - AND - there was no reassurance given that I will get another chance despite their own admitted problems and apologies I have screen shots of!

Now, I have taken these drug tests many times before, working in healthcare for 27 years, and of course they have all been negative, and I have never experienced anything like this!

But in times past, they were at an actual clinic with MDs and nurses , with and a local number you could call with questions or concerns, which also had a true receptionist, not a digital kiosk - definitely NOT manned by 1 or 2 people with admittedly little or no training or oversight!

So I guess there's nothing else I can do, is there? 

Anything I say will only make me look worse and guilty, despite being innocent and terrified of drugs!

Thus, it's highly possible - even likely - that because this person was not trained on this test and had never performed the test before, the results will be inconclusive or inadequate test sample - and thus, I will lose out on the best paying job of my life :(

Well, I feel a little less powerless/better about this, after writing the whole story down in rant about it here, but I'm not sure I can sleep yet, or for the next 3 days.  This weekend, the worry about it was overwhelming and brutal, the prospect of being 55 with no job.

(Well, it probably didn't help that I had a COVID and flu shot yesterday, which always makes me more anxious, though I've never had a side effect from those other than tiredness.)

Could you, if you were 55 and the best job of your life was offered, but might be rescinded, not because you use drugs or have ever used drugs, but because admittedly untrained staff kept admittedly screwing up your lab orders and results?

I swear to God, sometimes I feel like I'm cursed or the most unlucky person in the world.

Previously, I would've blamed myself and my own poor choices, but I didn't choose anything, here.

Plus now, I realize how shitty other people can be - especially  corporations trying to save themselves a buck by hiring medical assistants to do nurse's jobs, but with lower pay and no training!

Okay, I'm done.  I think lol. 

___________________

PS - Any friends or family reading this, please do not suggest a lawyer. 

Not only do I not have the money for one, but if I was gonna do that and create a bunch of extra drama, over a job, I would've done it with the company that stole a sample of my voice to use for AI  and sold it illegally, without my permission.  

I'm just not very litigious and don't want to act like a Karen.  

I'm not ruling it out, but it's highly unlikely.  I'll just do what I always do with unreasonable stuff and unreasonable people - walk away.

It sucks, but it's not worth all the extra drama to me.

Retell of My True "Ghost Story" ... 👻

Mark and I are still in the process of watching any supposedly "good" horror movies over the last decade that we haven't seen so that I can finish my horror-movie series, which began here (Best Horror Films of All Time), but in the meantime, I thought I'd retell one of my 2 "ghost stories" - or better put, "unexplained phenomena."

So when my daughter was about 18 months old, we were staying at my grandparent's farm house.  I put her crib in the "front room," which was the living room of the house, with no TV, radio, or anything electronic in the room. (This will become important later.)

My bed was in the next room, with headboard of the bed against the wall between the two rooms.

So, after putting her to bed, I was awakened at 2 a.m. by my daughter giggling and laughing, "talking" to something or someone in the room.

I came in there and turned on the lamp, and there she was, standing up in her crib, talking and giggling to the air, as if someone was standing there.

 

Me:  "What you doing, silly girl?  It's nigh-night time, time for sleeping. " 

 

Daughter:  "Da man, dere (pointing behind me).  Funny."  

 

Me:  "There's no man there, silly goose.  You're dreaming, pictures while you sleep, like a movie, right?  Let's go back to seepy time nigh-night." 

 

Daughter: "Da man, he tickle ma belly." 

 

Me:  "He did WHAT, now? Tickled your belly?!!  Oh, how ... silly.  Well, tell the man nigh-night and let you sleepy time.   Nigh-night man, it's time for sleepy nigh-night!"

So I patted her on the back until she fell asleep, and while sitting there, I swear on her life, I heard a man's muffled voice, sounding as if it was coming through electronics of some kind, but I couldn't understand what he said.

I jumped up and went looking around the house to see if anyone left the TV on in the other room, a radio, if the neighbors about a quarter of a mile away were awake and perhaps the sound carried or something - but there was nothing.

Then I laughed at myself, figuring I must have fallen asleep while patting her back, despite my entire adult life, my generalized anxiety disorder prevents me from falling asleep anywhere, unless it's a bed in a quiet, dark room.

I remember saying aloud to myself "Wow, are you sleep deprived - you're falling asleep sitting up, thinking YOU hear a man, now lol. Get thee to bed, at once!"

So I went back to bed, and about an hour later, same thing - she's up, giggling and talking.

I come back in the room, turn on the light, and ask her who she's talking to?

Daughter:  "Da man, Mommy.  He dere!  Look, Mommy!" (Pointing right behind me.)  

 

Me (turning around to look behind me):  "There's no man there, silly girl.  It's okay. It's just a dream, movies while you sleep.  Let's lie down here and take a lil napper." 

She lies down and looks up at me, but is now turning down her mouth as if she might cry, getting really frustrated and a bit scared - not because of the man, but because I don't see him and will not introduce her or acknowledge "the man" she's pointing to, behind me.

Daughter:  "Mommy!  Who da man?  Who da man, Mommy?!?." 

 

Me:  "Mommy doesn't see a man there, Baby, but it's okay if you do.  But tell the man night-night, see you in the morning time!  Tell him you need sleepy-time now."

Then my daughter gets silent -  and her eyes and head literally follow and track something from behind me to right next to her, in the crib,

I mean, as if she was watching someone walk from behind me to beside her, to the left of her, in the crib.

And here's the chill-giving part ... 

Daughter:  "Mommy, he say 'His house, his homb.' Wat dat?"

 

Me:  "His house, his home, you mean? 

 

Daughter: "Es.  Es, Mommy."  ("Es" meaning "yes," at 18 months old.)

NOW, I'm paying attention?

Because my child-development courses have taught me that 18-month-old children cannot yet use possessive pronouns like "his" and "hers" - they haven't grasped the concept yet, no matter how early they began speaking.

At most, they can say "mine" or "my," but even "you" is a stretch, for an at 18-month-old, and there's no way they can grasp the concept of "his" or "hers" yet, because they won't even learn that others are a separate entity from themselves for another 1-3 years!

AND my grandparents built that house, so there was no one who lived there before; however, the land had been in our family since 1732?

Me:  "Okay, I don't know, but he won't hurt you.  It's okay.  Tell the man you need seepy time and night night.  Night night, silly man!" 

 

Daughter:  "Santa Claus. He tickle ma belly. Okay? Okay."

Now, at this point, I'm trying not to freak out -  because she didn't seem concerned until she realized I couldn't see or hear whatever this was - who was touching my daughter, tickling her belly!!!

I don't like this at all, whatever's going on, so I say ...

Me:  "Erm ... okay, but the man needs to keep his hands to himself and let you sleep, so let's go and sleep in mommy's room, tonight, won't that be fun?  Night night, man, see you another day."

A couple of days later, I'm reading Beatrix Potter, and my daughter covers up with both hands the picture of Mr. McGregor. 

Me:  "What you doing, Baby?  Mommy can't read the book if you cover it with your hands lol"

 

Daughter:  "Dat da man, Mommy.  In dere.  No see him.  Like Santa Claus. Go away, man."  

 

Me: "Oh, Mr. McGregor looks like the man in there, because of the beard, like Santa Claus,?"   

 

Daughter: "Es.  Be-ard.  Hat.  He tickle ma belly. No see him."   

 

Me:  "Oh, okay.  It's okay, we'll read another book.  Let's read "Goodnight Moon" then and find the mousie."

Now,  at this point, I thought the most logical explanation for all of this was simply that after reading Beatrix Potter, she was simply having bad dreams starring Mr. McGregor - problem solved, right?

However, she refused to go ever go in that other room and told everyone else not to go in there, including my little sister, calling whatever it was the "Pipba."

She'd say "No go in dere, Auntie Wu.  A Pipba in there."  

I have no idea where she got the word "Pipba," mind you, or what it  means, only that it or he or whatever it is, has a beard like Mr. McGregor or Santa Claus and that she only became scared when she realized no one else could see it, and he tickles her belly.

We moved out into our own place after that, and over time, both she and I forgot all about him.

That is, until one Easter while staying at my grandparents, about 3 years later, when she was about 4 years old ...

While sleeping in the bed I had slept in before together, she suddenly digs her little fingernails in my arm, screaming:

 "Wake up, Mommy, there's a man!  Wake up, he's right there! Mommy, help, HELP!"

I jumped awake, turning on the reading lamp bolted above the headboard, and as I did so, I kicked something sitting up - something that felt hard but soft at the same time - as if there was something laying at the end of the bed, like a dog or cat on the bed - but there wasn't.

Worse, whatever I kicked - released a soft growl.

We both froze - I mean, literally froze, sitting up in bed.  

I remember thinking I was still half-asleep and must've been half-dreaming and that she likely she didn't hear it.

However - she most certainly did.

 

Daughter:   "Mommy, did you hear that?  Something growled?  You heard that, I know you did."

 

Me:  (Grabbing her and holding her tight):  "Okay, but we can both see there's nothing there, right? It's okay, it was just a bad dream. Tell me what happened."

 

Daughter:  "There was a man with a beard and hat, pointing at the bed.  He told me to wake you up, there's a monster down there."

 

Me: (Gulping)  "Um ... did ... you .... just say 'a man with a hat and beard?'"

 

Daughter:  "Yes!  A hat like Pap's, but he had a beard.  He said there was a monster there and wake you up,  you'd get rid of it."

 

Me:  "I think you were dreaming, honey. Everything's okay, honey, it was just a nightmare, Mom's got you."

 

Daughter:  "No, Mommy.  He was there!  You heard that growl, too, I know you did!"

 

Me:  "Yes, but that was probably Pap's old dog, Bugsy, outside the window or something, not in here. It just happened at the same time, is all."

 

Daughter:  "No, it wasn't, Mommy.  You know it wasn't.  She never growls. Mommy, please, do something!  The man told me it was a bad monster!"

 

Me: "I know, honey, but it has to be because there's no such thing as monsters!  That must've been Bugsy growling outside, it had to be. And it's not going to help us to get upset, is it?  So let's just calm down and think about whether or not it was a dream, okay? Mommy will sing to you, okay?"

 

Daughter:  "No, you don't believe me, but it was in here, I know it was.  Do something else, please, Mommy?"

 

Me:  "Okay, okay.  You know what?  Let's go take you in Granny and Pap's room to sleep and I'm going to say a special prayer and make it go away, okay?  It's okay.  Mommy's gonna make it go away, everything is okay now, okay?  Nigh night!  We'll go get ice cream tomorrow."

It's not that I either believed or disbelieved, at the time, as an agnostic - and  had she not said the weird hat-and-beard guy, like she described seeing at 18 months old, I would've just thought it was nightmare. 

So I tried to remember my old charismatic evangelical upbringing and did a special prayer in Jesus' name - which I have never found otherwise to work or be helpful lol.

Then I did ... something else lol.

I got a box of matches, lit one, and said this ...

"Listen, whatever you are - if she hadn't said the beard and hat thing, which we've both forgotten about, and she can't possibly remember from 18 months old, I would chalk this up to a bad dream, and I did hear that growl, too, and kicked - something at the end of the bed. I hoped she didn't hear it, too, but she did."

"Now, I don't know who or what you are, or whether you're trying to help warn us or harm us, but I know this - if you EVER bother my daughter again - if anyone ever sees, hears, or so much as smells you,  I promise, I will burn this MF down, when my grandparents pass, I swear I will - do you hear me?" 

"

But there was no need for that - because it never showed up or was heard from again.  😂

The next day, we all asked her if she remembered ever seeing this man before and she didn't (though she had, when she was 18 months old, a couple of times).

We never mentioned it again, not wanting to make things worse - at least until she was a preteen, kind of tease-asking her if she remembered the "Pipba in dere" at Granny and Pap's house lol.

But she didn't - she didn't remember any of it, thank goodness!

Spooky, though, right?