Since I work basically all the time, my heart breaks this Halloween. I'm missing most of the great programming that comes on this time of year. It makes me year for years past and remember those movies that scream, "It's Halloween!". Now you have horror movies, then you have movies that belong on television on Halloween. Here are ten that, at least to this blogger, bring out all the creepiness, gore, witches, ghosts, and the basic necessities that make Halloween the best holiday of the year. In no particular order:
1) Halloween. How could I not list this film first? The entire plot is based on the holiday and AMC plays this little gem (and all of its gem sequels) all day and night long on Halloween. "Halloween" set the standard for teen slasher flicks. All the rules of modern horror? They came from "Halloween" and the boundaries it set. Much of the fright-factor comes from two basic plot elements: horror in suburbia, and being chased by a guy in a mask on Halloween. This guy could be anyone, he's wearing a mask! Unlike other horror movies, the masked killer actually fits in. It is Halloween, afterall. This could be the guy walking ten steps behind you while you take your kids trick or treating. The late sixties saw a rise in slasher films like this, but few took place in your own neighborhood. Jamie Lee's character is secluded with neighbors all around. You think your safe because your neighbor can see into your living room? Think again.
2) Hocus Pocus. I grew up with this movie, and to this day it is still one of my favorites. Also taking place on Halloween, "Hocus Pocus" isn't quite the slice-em-up fest that "Halloween" is. It's a Disney movie, and it's great. The three witches are hysterical, there's a talking cat, a little teen romance, and a zombie. Great fun for the whole family!
3) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This film has almost no plot and its entire purpose is to show you the true ugliness of the American family unit. They're cannibals, chasing around a bunch of stoned teenagers in the 70's. As with anything good and Halloween related, there's a guy in a mask! It's just a mask made out of a human face. Interestingly, this movie isn't actually that gorey. No, really. A trick to this movie is the *implied* gore of what's going on. What your brain imagines is probably worse than anything they can actually put to film, so they let you do that. The image of Leatherface is so ingrained that it is one of the most popular Halloween costumes out there for men, and it never stops scaring the kids. And adults, too.
4) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. No, not that Johnny Depp film. The 1949 Disney short that for many years Disney played every Halloween night. Yet another classic with which I grew up, I'm biased I guess. That image of a skinny, nearly silent Ichabod Crane has never left me. Sorry Johnny, you just didn't do it for me. It breaks my heart that Disney no longer shows this and it's almost impossible to find a copy (I don't think it's even been formatted to DVD). However, if you can, take the 34 minutes to watch it. It puts a smile on your face and inspires some serious pumpkin carving.
5) Scream. The ultimate horror spoof. Wes Craven is such a genius, that he managed to make a spoof actually scary. Taking most of its cues from "Halloween", it unabashedly rips off most slasher movies made since then. It still manages originality and genuine fright. The late-nineties saw a rebirth of teen slasher films, and "Scream" was their godfather. Instead of the uber-depressing films of the 70's that played on the horror that is humanity, and the awful campiness of the 80's, "Scream" incorporated intelligent humor to keep things light, while throwing in just enough darkness to keep it scary. It's a brilliant homage to John Carpenter and it has yet to get old. The sequels to it sucked, but the original never fails as good background music for a Halloween party.
6) The Amityville Horror. This is a toss-up between the original and the 2005 remake. With the original, you have, you know, a good movie. With the remake, you get Ryan Reynolds shirtless. Take your pick. I prefer the original, but I do love me some shirtless Ryan Reynolds. "Amityville Horror" plays on one of our most basic fears: our own homes. It takes the standard old-house-bad-history route, but what is more scary than your own house possessing you? You're supposed to possess the house, not the other way around. It has very creepy music and you won't be able to turn off any lights in your house for a week after watching it. The image of the house itself is iconic as the ultmiate haunted house. Those gags you neighbor does every year are downright lame in comparison.
7) Shaun of the Dead. Okay so "Night of the Living Dead" and its 17 sequels are considered the archetype of all zombie film, "Shaun of the Dead" does what those other movies can't: it laughs at itself. Like "Scream", it's actually a spoof, taking from most zombie films in the past and mocking them incessently. Also like "Scream", it's both hilarious and actually scary. There is more realism to "Shaun" than in any other zombie film I've seen. The characters are goofy, real people, who do strange things because they just aren't thinking clearly. Heck, Shaun doesn't even notice his city is turning into zombie-central for several hours. You shouldn't want to kill yourself after a Halloween movie marathon, so "Shaun" is quite perfect. It's funny, it's scary, and it actually does make you think about how little you DO notice about the world around you.
8) Psycho/The Birds. This one has to be a toss-up of the two scariest Hitchcock films ever made. Hitchcock has other great thrillers, but both "Psycho" and "The Birds" hold the crown for being the most frightening. They both leave you with such a sense of unease at the end it's hard to stop thinking about them. "Psycho" birthed the most recognizable horror track ever and gave cross-dressing a whole new meaning. Really, who saw that coming? "The Birds" does for seagulls what "Jaws" did for the ocean. Both films make you scared to leave your house. Where can you possibly go that's safe? They're just plain classic and set the mood for fall colors and looking over your shoulder.
9) Carrie. Oh, who could forget "Carrie"? Revenge of the nerds at its finest. "Carrie" really isn't that scary until the climax of the film. What makes it scary is knowing what's coming and your inability to stop it. Even those who defended her got it in the end. With great plot elements like a religious fanatic mother, telekenisis, and a good dousing with pig's blood, how can you go wrong with this on Halloween? Innocence corrupted by blood, literally. This film represents every bully's worst nightmare. Oh and it has P.J. Soles in that stupid hat. Yes, this movie is a good one with popcorn on a cool Halloween afternoon.
10) Poltergeist. Last and most certainly not least....They're heeeerrreee. That horrifyingly angelic voice. Trees coming to get you. Clown dolls coming to life. Your flesh peeling off your face in the mirror. Getting literally sucked into the TV. Every aspect of this movie is scary. It takes place in a brand new trackhome. Not your "Amityville" old house that has a history of hauntings. No, this is the place where everyone lives. How can it possibly be haunted? Until "Poltergeist", modern homes simply weren't ever thought of as places for a haunting. That door has now been opened. If you aren't having a scary enough holiday, "Poltergeist" can change that really quickly. God, I love this movie. The effects aren't great, but it combines so many scary ideas it's a great way to have a truly creepy Halloween night.
1) Halloween. How could I not list this film first? The entire plot is based on the holiday and AMC plays this little gem (and all of its gem sequels) all day and night long on Halloween. "Halloween" set the standard for teen slasher flicks. All the rules of modern horror? They came from "Halloween" and the boundaries it set. Much of the fright-factor comes from two basic plot elements: horror in suburbia, and being chased by a guy in a mask on Halloween. This guy could be anyone, he's wearing a mask! Unlike other horror movies, the masked killer actually fits in. It is Halloween, afterall. This could be the guy walking ten steps behind you while you take your kids trick or treating. The late sixties saw a rise in slasher films like this, but few took place in your own neighborhood. Jamie Lee's character is secluded with neighbors all around. You think your safe because your neighbor can see into your living room? Think again.
2) Hocus Pocus. I grew up with this movie, and to this day it is still one of my favorites. Also taking place on Halloween, "Hocus Pocus" isn't quite the slice-em-up fest that "Halloween" is. It's a Disney movie, and it's great. The three witches are hysterical, there's a talking cat, a little teen romance, and a zombie. Great fun for the whole family!
3) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This film has almost no plot and its entire purpose is to show you the true ugliness of the American family unit. They're cannibals, chasing around a bunch of stoned teenagers in the 70's. As with anything good and Halloween related, there's a guy in a mask! It's just a mask made out of a human face. Interestingly, this movie isn't actually that gorey. No, really. A trick to this movie is the *implied* gore of what's going on. What your brain imagines is probably worse than anything they can actually put to film, so they let you do that. The image of Leatherface is so ingrained that it is one of the most popular Halloween costumes out there for men, and it never stops scaring the kids. And adults, too.
4) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. No, not that Johnny Depp film. The 1949 Disney short that for many years Disney played every Halloween night. Yet another classic with which I grew up, I'm biased I guess. That image of a skinny, nearly silent Ichabod Crane has never left me. Sorry Johnny, you just didn't do it for me. It breaks my heart that Disney no longer shows this and it's almost impossible to find a copy (I don't think it's even been formatted to DVD). However, if you can, take the 34 minutes to watch it. It puts a smile on your face and inspires some serious pumpkin carving.
5) Scream. The ultimate horror spoof. Wes Craven is such a genius, that he managed to make a spoof actually scary. Taking most of its cues from "Halloween", it unabashedly rips off most slasher movies made since then. It still manages originality and genuine fright. The late-nineties saw a rebirth of teen slasher films, and "Scream" was their godfather. Instead of the uber-depressing films of the 70's that played on the horror that is humanity, and the awful campiness of the 80's, "Scream" incorporated intelligent humor to keep things light, while throwing in just enough darkness to keep it scary. It's a brilliant homage to John Carpenter and it has yet to get old. The sequels to it sucked, but the original never fails as good background music for a Halloween party.
6) The Amityville Horror. This is a toss-up between the original and the 2005 remake. With the original, you have, you know, a good movie. With the remake, you get Ryan Reynolds shirtless. Take your pick. I prefer the original, but I do love me some shirtless Ryan Reynolds. "Amityville Horror" plays on one of our most basic fears: our own homes. It takes the standard old-house-bad-history route, but what is more scary than your own house possessing you? You're supposed to possess the house, not the other way around. It has very creepy music and you won't be able to turn off any lights in your house for a week after watching it. The image of the house itself is iconic as the ultmiate haunted house. Those gags you neighbor does every year are downright lame in comparison.
7) Shaun of the Dead. Okay so "Night of the Living Dead" and its 17 sequels are considered the archetype of all zombie film, "Shaun of the Dead" does what those other movies can't: it laughs at itself. Like "Scream", it's actually a spoof, taking from most zombie films in the past and mocking them incessently. Also like "Scream", it's both hilarious and actually scary. There is more realism to "Shaun" than in any other zombie film I've seen. The characters are goofy, real people, who do strange things because they just aren't thinking clearly. Heck, Shaun doesn't even notice his city is turning into zombie-central for several hours. You shouldn't want to kill yourself after a Halloween movie marathon, so "Shaun" is quite perfect. It's funny, it's scary, and it actually does make you think about how little you DO notice about the world around you.
8) Psycho/The Birds. This one has to be a toss-up of the two scariest Hitchcock films ever made. Hitchcock has other great thrillers, but both "Psycho" and "The Birds" hold the crown for being the most frightening. They both leave you with such a sense of unease at the end it's hard to stop thinking about them. "Psycho" birthed the most recognizable horror track ever and gave cross-dressing a whole new meaning. Really, who saw that coming? "The Birds" does for seagulls what "Jaws" did for the ocean. Both films make you scared to leave your house. Where can you possibly go that's safe? They're just plain classic and set the mood for fall colors and looking over your shoulder.
9) Carrie. Oh, who could forget "Carrie"? Revenge of the nerds at its finest. "Carrie" really isn't that scary until the climax of the film. What makes it scary is knowing what's coming and your inability to stop it. Even those who defended her got it in the end. With great plot elements like a religious fanatic mother, telekenisis, and a good dousing with pig's blood, how can you go wrong with this on Halloween? Innocence corrupted by blood, literally. This film represents every bully's worst nightmare. Oh and it has P.J. Soles in that stupid hat. Yes, this movie is a good one with popcorn on a cool Halloween afternoon.
10) Poltergeist. Last and most certainly not least....They're heeeerrreee. That horrifyingly angelic voice. Trees coming to get you. Clown dolls coming to life. Your flesh peeling off your face in the mirror. Getting literally sucked into the TV. Every aspect of this movie is scary. It takes place in a brand new trackhome. Not your "Amityville" old house that has a history of hauntings. No, this is the place where everyone lives. How can it possibly be haunted? Until "Poltergeist", modern homes simply weren't ever thought of as places for a haunting. That door has now been opened. If you aren't having a scary enough holiday, "Poltergeist" can change that really quickly. God, I love this movie. The effects aren't great, but it combines so many scary ideas it's a great way to have a truly creepy Halloween night.
1 comment:
um, is it bad that i haven't seen most of these?
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