October 31st is getting closer, which means it’s that time of year again when the monsters come out from under your bed and the dead come alive to give you the fright of your life – in the movies, anyway! There are tons of films to choose from to watch on Halloween night, and I’m here to make sure you watch some really ghastly and frightening tales.
Here are my top ten choices for your “Halloween movie fest”:
10. Zombieland (2009): This recent addition to the horror film genre is sure to become a classic in the years to come. While it is a comedy, Zombieland has some true jump-in-your-seat moments as well as some seriously disgusting scenes. Trust me, it takes a lot to get me squirming, but Zombieland certainly had me screaming “Ew.” The film is about a group of strangers who are battling the odds and trying to survive the scourge of the zombies. It stars up-and-coming actors including the passively comedic Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin of Little Miss Sunshine. It also stars the established man’s man and anti-hero Woody Harrelson (a fan favorite among viewers), as well as a surprise cameo by everyone’s favorite caddy and Ghostbuster. Zombieland has certainly established itself as the American answer to British cult favorite Shaun of the Dead and does so with its own unique storytelling devices and style. Overall, if you’re going to watch one horror comedy this Halloween, make sure it’s Zombieland.
9. The Shining (1980): “Heeeeeeeeeere’s JOHNNY!” This classic horror film by Stanley Kubrick has been referenced everywhere from The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror to a music video by Slipknot. Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duval portray a couple taking care of a hotel that was built over an Indian burial ground. Through ESP, their son can see the numerous wraiths lurking about the hotel grounds. It’s only a matter of time before Nicholson’s character is driven over the edge and… well, you’ll just have to see what happens next. This film is perfect for Halloween because it has you on the edge of your seat at every twist and turn, even when nothing is actually happening. It can all be attributed to Kubrick’s unique directing style, using such camera techniques as tracking shots and the wide-angle lens. This is a must-see on Halloween night.
8. Dawn of the Dead (1978): One of the greatest classic horror films is the original Dawn of the Dead. George A. Romero has a series of Dead films, but out of all of them I found Dawn to be the most worthwhile. It doesn’t have any popular stars, but the film is very riveting. Much like Zombieland, there are four protagonists in the film who are trying to find a citadel to hide away from the zombie outbreak. They decide that there is no better place to hide than the mall. Plenty of action combined with just the right amount of suspense has justly made the original Dawn of the Dead a true classic.
7. Nosferatu (1929): A Dracula adaptation from 1929, this bone-chilling tale kicks off when a sailor on a ghost ship opens a coffin, thereby releasing a vampire named Count Orlok, who sets off on a rampage of terror aimed at a real estate agent and his comely wife. The black-and-white film is silent, but it’s a terrifying horror classic that may have you hiding behind the couch when you watch it alone with the lights off this Halloween. Nosferatu is a piece of movie history that is a must-see for true horror film fans, as this is where the genre got its start.
6. Battle Royale (2000): While not a typical horror film, this Japanese import lays on the gore in this movie about an alternate, dystopian future where something known as the ‘Millennium Reform Act’ is a means of terrorizing the population and keeping the rebellious youth in line. According to the rules, every year since 1947, 50, third-year junior high school classes are isolated. Each class is required to fight to the death for three days until one student remains. If you’re in the mood to see a lot of blood, guts and mayhem this Halloween, Battle Royale is the movie for you.
5. Scream (1996): Scream is such a loyalist to the horror franchise that it actually references the genre repeatedly within the film itself. With the simple plot of a serial killer on the loose killing high school teens, Scream definitely takes the typical set-up and turns it into more than just another slasher flick. With some satirical elements added in as well as homages to its predecessors, Scream is one of my personal favorites when it comes to scary movies. It’s a very entertaining movie that a lot of people have seen many times. It should definitely be considered for a re-watching this Halloween.
4. The Evil Dead Series (1979-1992): No Halloween movie list would be complete without the Bruce Campbell. Most people know Sam Raimi as the director of Spiderman, but long before he brought Peter Parker to the big screen he was making cult movie history. The original Evil Dead was made on a shoestring budget. It was just a typical horror film about a bunch of teens on vacation in the middle of the woods. Their trip becomes gruesome after they find an audiotape that unlocks evil spirits. This film garnered a cult following for its utter B-movie status and spawned two sequels. Evil Dead II is essentially a remake of the first, but also continues the story and follows Campbell’s character Ash. Unlike the first, Evil Dead II is deliberately a black comedy. Army of Darkness has a life of its own spawning many memorable quotes that have been referenced many times. If you haven’t already seen the series, or haven’t seen one of the parts, definitely check it out this Halloween.
3. Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: It goes without saying, you have to watch at least one of these movies to make Halloween night a true Halloween night. And, of course, make sure you watch the originals. Nothing beats the actual classics that always have and will always have people afraid of falling asleep, scared of going away to camp, and wary of taking road-trips through the South.
2. Resident Evil (2001): Based on the video game franchise, Resident Evil is an unappreciated gem when it comes to horror films. I always make sure I watch this one every Halloween. I praise the film’s streamlined story that cuts straight to the chase and makes sure that not a single scene in the film is just in to fill the time. The gore is phenomenal and there are loads of pulse-action scenes to go around. I will admit that I’m upset that the sequels didn’t live up to the original’s quality. The ending of this movie is absolutely amazing, and along with the images and soundtrack choices, it is simply chilling.
1. Halloween (1978): Is this really a surprise? It’s not a Halloween movie fest without Halloween, especially the original one. Everything about this film is perfect: the look, the soundtrack, Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, and of course, Michael Myers himself (by the way, Michael Myers’ mask is actually a William Shatner ‘Captain Kirk’ mask painted white. Who knew Captain Kirk could look so scary?) Nothing beats the original Halloween film. John Carpenter’s use of suspense along with the chilling theme makes this one hard to watch all alone in the dark! I’d also like to add Halloween II along in this entry. Often overlooked, Halloween II is one of those sequels that can be categorized as being possibly better than the original film. After the murderous rampage of Michael Meyers, the sole survivor, played by Curtis, is hospitalized with grave physical and emotional wounds as the skeleton crew of the night shift is being killed off one by one… A pair of films you should definitely not leave out on Halloween night!
So there you have it! My top 10 horror films you should definitely check out this Halloween night!
Other films that deserve honorable mention: Psycho (1960), The Funhouse (1981), Terminator (1984), The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Ed Wood (1995), Dracula (1931), The Frighteners (1996), Godzilla (1954), Poltergeist (1982), The Re-Animator (1985), The Exorcist (1973), Dr. Giggles (1992), and Child’s Play (1988).
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