Favorite Halloween flicks wanted!

In My Humble Opinion
21

Ummmm…you sure about that, hoss? heheh…I like the movie, myself. There are three kinds of horror movies in my book: slashers, creatures, and creepers. A good creeper is hard to make, but I think Blair Witch pulled it off.

Another film I’d like to add to the list is Candyman. Judged “nicely creepy” or better by everyone I’ve shown it to. You might get a kick out of Stir Of Echoes, although I found the ending kinda disappointing.

For gore with humor, get Dead Alive but be prepared for absolutely BARRELS of blood and assorted gunk to fly with reckless abandon. For gore without the laughs, I like the Cronenberg version of The Fly.

22

Funny scary-Rocky Horror Picture Show and Little Shop of Horrors.

Scary scary-It. I read the book when I was 12 and it has scarred me for life.

23

Scary: Psycho (actually, I think many of Hitchcock’s movies are suitable for Halloween)
The Haunting (one of the best horror movies ever made, IMO)
The Innocents (a version of “The Turn of the Screw” starring the incredible Ingrid Bergman)
Def by Temptation (a little-known film with an all-black cast)
The Wicker Man
The Creep Show
Funny: Little Shop of Horrors (the musical)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
any really bad horror movie – you can laugh your kiester off

24

This movie, despite the title is a cartoon about Halloween:

**Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas **

25

My three Halloween must-sees have already been listed here, but I’ll give 'em another plug:

The Nightmare Before Christmas
Beetlejuice
Army of Darkness

Okay, I’m a wuss. I’ll go away now.

26

** Cape Fear ** the Robert Mitchum one, not the silly DeNiro one.
** The Hitcher ** Rutger Hauer and C. Thomas Howell, this one STILL scares me even after having seen it at least ten times.

As Cal mentioned, for horror films, I still like the oldies but goldies, Lon Chaney Jr.'s ‘Wolfman’ and Boris Karloff’s ‘Frankenstein’ [I’ve gotten my son hooked on this, so much, he’s collecting monster guys now! MY personal contribution to bettering society! ;)] and of course, Bela Lugosi’s ‘Dracula’. * No body does it betterrrrr * ::::::::::::::: Anti going off humming Carly Simon’s song:::::::::::::::

27

“Suspiria” (1977) dir. Dario Argento (look for the uncut version)

“Martin” (1978) dir. George Romero

“Dellamorte Dellamore” dir. Michele Soavi (Was released in this country as “Cemetary Man.” I have a tape of an uncut Japanese laserdisc, so I don’t know if there are any edits or other tinkering that often gets done to foreign horror films when they are released here.)

“Night of the Living Dead” (1968) dir. George Romero

“Braindead” (1992) dir. Peter Jackson (released here as “Dead Alive,” make sure you get the uncut version)

“Halloween” (1978) dir. John Carpenter (though it really deserves to be seen on the BIG screen with the sound cranked up)

“The Thing” (1982) dir. John Carpenter (with a great creepy score by Ennio Morricone)

Someone earlier mentioned different versions of Dracula.
The Spanish languge version filmed in 1931 on the same sets as the Lugosi one is superior cinematically to the rather stagey and slow Tod Browning film.

so many more…

sidxiii

“So I sat there drinking more, thinking about drinking more”
Dillinger Four

28

sidxiii:

I’m the guy who mentioned the Dracula films.

The Spanish version wasn’t available when I performed by experiment, but I have a copy now. I agree that the direction, lighting, and camera work are far superior to Tod Browning’s over-rated work. And the Spanish version doesn’t have the stupid armadillos in it! See Sklar’s book “Hollywood Gothic” for details on the Spanish version.

For the record, Jack Palance’s Dracula is pretty good, as is the original silent version of “Nosferatu”.

29

No-one’s mentioned “An American Werewolf in London” yet?!? That thing scared the crap outta me when it hit the theater. Also second “Reanimator.” I found one on video a few years ago that had some really off-the-wall creepiness to it: “Near Dark”. A band of redneck vampires cruising the country in an old RV. Favorite line: after chomping voraciously down on the neck of a victim (complete with cartilage-popping sound effects), “I hate it when they ain’t shaved.”

30

The Bad Seed. Look it up on the IMDB. GREAT overlooked movie.

31

How, pray tell, could you leave out Trick or Treat?

Ok, it’s not total slashtastic horro-rama, but it’s excellent anyway (Pointless aside: it has the most realistic representation of Metal listeners I’ve ever seen!).

If you want classic gore with a good soundtrack, hunt down Demons.
R-n-R

32

There’ve been plenty of mentions of Night of the Living Dead (and for good reason), but I can’t believe no one’s said Dawn of the Dead yet! Not only is it an excellent continuation of its predecessor, but also one of the best horror movies of all time! It’s one of the few that actually has intelligent characters doing believable things–which, to me, makes it that much creepier. The weak-stomached need not apply, though… you wouldn’t believe what Tom Savini can do with sheep intestines…

Another notable absence is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre! The original has a certain “grimy” quality that works in its favor. Very intense, and very creepy. Again, not for faint of heart. BTW, the sequels were done in a purposely campy, “Evil Dead”-esque style, and are good for laughs (especially Dennis Hopper as a Texas ranger in part 2, having a chainsaw duel with Leatherface).

The Shining and The Blair Witch Project are two of my other favorites, and never fail to scare the hell out of me–though they seem to be the kind of movies that people either love or despise. If I had to make a list of the two scariest movies ever made, they’d be at the top. Oh, and by the way… as Max Torque inferred, TBWP is not based on a true story, it was merely presented as if it were one (though it never actually claimed to be). I think it says a lot about the sheer authenticity of the movie that so many people can see it and believe that it actually happened.

33

slythe – you are the most twisted poster I know. And that’s why I love you! :slight_smile:

RealityChuck – you know, the sad thing is I actually HAVE a copy of Plan Nine… what is sadder is that I LOVE it!

Bottle of Smoke – nothing is as creepy as Charlie Brown with the lights off. {{shudder}}

CalMeacham – I’ve always been partial to the Dracula staring Frank Langella… he’s so sexy! I’ve got to check out “It came from Hollywood” though… sounds like fun!

Palandine – I saw “Re-animator” it was really sick… I liked it!

Poysyn – The Shining is one I actually saw in theater. My sister grabbed my leg, hard, with nails, when that guy got an axe in the chest; I’m sure those folks are still screaming after the blood curdling wail I let out!

Pipeliner – The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a classic! My dad had it recorded on reel to reel and would play it, audio, for us every year. I know it more by “sound” than “sight”!

JustAnotherGuy – “Any fans of MST 2000? That always cracked me up” especially when it’s 3000! You knuckle knob!

AerynSun – I’ve now gotta check out In the Mouth of Madness!

Hastur – wasn’t Blood Feast one of the first horror movies? I saw it a long time ago but I think it’s worth another look after it was used in Serial Mom!

Zebra – I read the book Audrey Rose… I didn’t know it was a movie. I’ll check it out!

Max Torque – I saw The Fly a long time ago… I think it’s worth another look!

hypergirl – I’ve got Rocky Horror Picture Show on tape; a funny scary movie for Halloween! Thanks!

The Peyote Coyote – I’ll have to see The Innocents!

barflyer – that’s one of the few movies I have on tape that I’ve never bothered to watch! Someone gave it to me and I never got into it but hey, I’ll actually watch The Nightmare Before Christmas now that I’ve got a recommend!

Edwardina – Anyone who seconds (or thirds) Army of Darkness is no wuss! In MY book you ROCK!

Anti Pro – oh, I haven’t seen The Hitcher… THANKS! (I think Rutger Hauer is sexy in a scary sort of way!) Must be that “bad boy” attraction of mine!

sidxiii – Dellamorte Dellamore – I’ll have to see if I can find it; it sounds great!

Dijon Warlock – An American Werewolf in London is one I don’t think I’ve ever seen… thanks for the heads up!

Garfield226 – I’m not sure if I’ve seen The Bad Seed… it sounds so familiar but, hey, I’ll look for it!

Rock-n-Rolga – Demons sounds good! I’ll see if I can find it!

Calredic – Dawn of the Dead is also a classic! Thanks!

Whew! I’ve got more movies than I could ever watch in one evening… so I’m going to have to devote SEVERAL evenings to getting my horror share!

Again, thanks everyone for taking the time to post; I really appreciate it! I’ve got such a great list going now! I’m set for creepy movies into Christmas! It’s really going to freak my mom out when I pull up a bunch of scary movies for Christmas! I’ll be sure to let her know she can post here!

:wink:

34

The Bad Seed is a fantastic movie. I first saw it two or three years ago on American Movie Classics and I couldn’t believe how good it was.

AMC seems to show this film every few months so it shouldn’t be too hard to find. This is one movie I would definitely recommend.