# If you like Halloween/Horror Films Check This Out... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760 "2015-09-12T00:25:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/61 "2015-10-05T22:07:49Z")
Babadook > **[The Babadook (2014) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2321549/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)** > > The Babadook: Directed by Jennifer Kent. With Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney, Daniel Henshall. A single mother and her child fall into a deep well of paranoia when an eerie children's book titled "Mister Babadook" manifests in their... Yet another brilliant small film from Down Under. Its heartbreaking; single mother and son living parallel nightmares. Definite Halloween night viewing. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/62 "2015-10-05T22:33:41Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Regarding cinematography, narrative, dialogue…everything, really, it seemed like _It Follows_ was produced by a film school sophomore, who’s now a dental technician. Apparently dental technicians make some decent films–who knew? The movie does have an interesting “vibe”. It is probably the most low-key horror movie I have seen. I think there is a valid comparison to Carpenter’s _Halloween_, particularly with the music cues, but also the slow pacing and bare bones plot. The lackadaisical pacing also reminded me of a film from 2010, _[Monsters](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470827/)_, having to do with surviving an alien invasion. That film was as much about tone as it was story. Two things that bothered me about the movie were… One, its resemblance to _The Ring_, in that it involved a curse that could only be removed by passing it on to another. Two, that they did not think of the end “solution” sooner. Understanding the rules of the curse they way they did, it should have been obvious how to deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/63 "2015-10-06T15:27:17Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > Apparently dental technicians make some decent films–who knew? > > The movie does have an interesting “vibe”. It is probably the most low-key horror movie I have seen. I think there is a valid comparison to Carpenter’s _Halloween_, particularly with the music cues, but also the slow pacing and bare bones plot. The lackadaisical pacing also reminded me of a film from 2010, _[Monsters](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470827/)_, having to do with surviving an alien invasion. That film was as much about tone as it was story. > > Two things that bothered me about the movie were… > > One, its resemblance to _The Ring_, in that it involved a curse that could only be removed by passing it on to another. Two, that they did not think of the end “solution” sooner. Understanding the rules of the curse they way they did, it should have been obvious how to deal with it. I never really considered any similarities to _The Ring_ but I guess I can agree they are both really really rich in tone and atmosphere. And, please forgive my stoopid, but by end “solution” are you referring to the whole swimming pool scheme? Even after having watched it several times now, I’m not sure what, if any “logic” they used to come up with that plan, and it it didn’t work any way, right? If you have a different insight into it I’d love to hear it. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/64 "2015-10-06T17:32:23Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I never really considered any similarities to _The Ring_ but I guess I can agree they are both really really rich in tone and atmosphere. And, please forgive my stoopid, but by end “solution” are you referring to the whole swimming pool scheme? Even after having watched it several times now, I’m not sure what, if any “logic” they used to come up with that plan, and it it didn’t work any way, right? If you have a different insight into it I’d love to hear it. I’m with you in also wanting to know. I liked the fact that although it was sloe it was relentless. You could never run away from it. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/65 "2015-10-07T02:25:54Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > If you have a different insight into it I’d love to hear it. > [@madsircool](#): > > I’m with you in also wanting to know. I liked the fact that although it was sloe it was relentless. You could never run away from it. What I was referring to as the “solution” was… [Spoiler]having her sleep with a guy friend and then having that guy sleep with a prostitute. The prostitute would then keep passing the curse on to a constant supply of men, who would then have their own chains of curse passing. They showed the Paul character cruising past a couple streetwalkers right before the end. In the next couple scenes he was at ease and not particularly situationally aware. The movie never explained what the curse was or gave any clues on how it could be stopped or appeased, but they did make it perfectly clear the rules of passing it to another. If you had no idea on how to terminate the chain, yet still wanted to live, it seems only logical that you would find a way to create a very long chain, so that you would not have to worry about it coming back to you.[/Spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/66 "2015-10-07T04:06:58Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > Apparently dental technicians make some decent films–who knew? > > The movie does have an interesting “vibe”. It is probably the most low-key horror movie I have seen. I think there is a valid comparison to Carpenter’s _Halloween_, particularly with the music cues, but also the slow pacing and bare bones plot. The lackadaisical pacing also reminded me of a film from 2010, _[Monsters](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470827/)_, having to do with surviving an alien invasion. That film was as much about tone as it was story. [http://www.avclub.com/article/david-robert-mitchell-his-striking-new-horror-film-216215](http://www.avclub.com/article/david-robert-mitchell-his-striking-new-horror-film-216215) From the interview with the director I posted earlier… > [@](#): > > There are production design elements from the ’50s on up to modern day. A lot of it is from the ’70s and ’80s. That e-reader cell phone—or “shell phone”—you’re talking about is not a real device. It’s a ’60s shell compact that we turned into a cell phone e-reader. So I wanted modern things, but if you show a specific smartphone now, it dates it. It’s too real for the movie. It would bother me anyway. So we made one up. And all of that is really just to create the effect of a dream—to place it outside of time, and to make people wonder about where they are. Those are things that I think happen to us when we have a dream. I think it’s interesting if you watch the film as the visual interpretation of someone’s dream. It gives more of an understanding of the atmosphere, the mixture of things from different eras, the technology (or lack of) etc. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/67 "2015-10-07T16:43:07Z")
> **[Enter Nowhere (2011) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1631707/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)** > > Enter Nowhere: Directed by Jack Heller. With Katherine Waterston, Scott Eastwood, Sara Paxton, Shaun Sipos. Three strangers arrive one by one at a mysterious cabin in the middle of nowhere only to learn they've been brought together for a reason. A quick shout out for this little film. Its Twilight Zonish and very entertaining. If you are lookimg for horror you wont find it here but if you like this type of film it wont matter. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/68 "2015-10-07T18:03:47Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > What I was referring to as the “solution” was… > > [Spoiler]having her sleep with a guy friend and then having that guy sleep with a prostitute. The prostitute would then keep passing the curse on to a constant supply of men, who would then have their own chains of curse passing. They showed the Paul character cruising past a couple streetwalkers right before the end. In the next couple scenes he was at ease and not particularly situationally aware. > > The movie never explained what the curse was or gave any clues on how it could be stopped or appeased, but they did make it perfectly clear the rules of passing it to another. If you had no idea on how to terminate the chain, yet still wanted to live, it seems only logical that you would find a way to create a very long chain, so that you would not have to worry about it coming back to you.[/Spoiler] Okay, I don’t want to further the hijack but I don’t believe he slept with the prostitute(s). Just as I’m pretty sure Jay didn’t sleep with any of the dudes that were out on the lake. I think they both contemplated it, because as you say, giving it to someone who is likely to spread it quickly is about as close to a solution that you could get, but I don’t think they did. I believe that’s what’s supposed to make the ending ambiguous; is the figure following them at the end "it? There’s a thread around here somewhere that we can resurrect if anyone is interested. To me, there is _so_ much to be said about this film but I don’t want to harp on it here. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/69 "2015-10-07T18:08:10Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > [Enter Nowhere (2011) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1631707/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) > > A quick shout out for this little film. Its Twilight Zonish and very entertaining. If you are lookimg for horror you wont find it here but if you like this type of film it wont matter. If this is the one I’m thinking of, yes, a very nice little mystery Is this the one where they try to leave a cabin in the woods and keep ending up there, and there’s a timeline twist? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/70 "2015-10-07T18:10:45Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Okay, I don’t want to further the hijack but I don’t believe he slept with the prostitute(s). Just as I’m pretty sure Jay didn’t sleep with any of the dudes that were out on the lake. I think they both contemplated it, because as you say, giving it to someone who is likely to spread it quickly is about as close to a solution that you could get, but I don’t think they did. I believe that’s what’s supposed to make the ending ambiguous; is the figure following them at the end "it? > > There’s a thread around here somewhere that we can resurrect if anyone is interested. To me, there is _so_ much to be said about this film but I don’t want to harp on it here. Its fine to harp on these films. Thats why I made the thread so fans of this genre can find a place to find and discuss them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/71 "2015-10-07T18:11:46Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > If this is the one I’m thinking of, yes, a very nice little mystery > > Is this the one where they try to leave a cabin in the woods and keep ending up there, and there’s a timeline twist? Yes it is…if you like the twist check out Triangle…which is a better and far more bloody film. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/72 "2015-10-07T19:04:19Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Yes it is…if you like the twist check out Triangle…which is a better and far more bloody film. Another great one; you and I are on the same demented wave! People, take note; we’ve got some good scary movies up in here. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/73 "2015-10-08T00:43:36Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Another great one; you and I are on the same demented wave! People, take note; we’ve got some good scary movies up in here. Yeah, I had forgotten about _Triangle_. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/74 "2015-10-08T22:58:54Z")
I just watched _Trianagle_. It is definitely bloody and definitely worth a viewing. One nag is that it is not always internally consistent–they cheat for effect at critical times. Regardless, it is a fun movie and has an ending the wraps things up in a satisfying manner. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/75 "2015-10-08T23:21:34Z")
> **[April Fool's Day (1986) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090655/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4)** > > April Fool's Day: Directed by Fred Walton. With Jay Baker, Pat Barlow, Lloyd Berry, Deborah Foreman. Nine college students staying at a friend's remote island mansion begin to fall victim to an unseen murderer over the April Fool's Day weekend, but... April Fools Day (1986) This is a really 80’s film that some will like and others will hate. To say more will spoil. It is worth a view if you are a fan of 80s culture or the slasher genre. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/76 "2015-10-08T23:29:02Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > I just watched _Trianagle_. It is definitely bloody and definitely worth a viewing. One nag is that it is not always internally consistent–they cheat for effect at critical times. Regardless, it is a fun movie and has an ending the wraps things up in a satisfying manner. I dont know if you have ever seen Law and Order:Criminal Intent but the lead actress in Triangle is a dead ringer for actress Olivia D’Abo. Ms D’Abo plays the fascinating yet psychopathic character Nicole Wallace who is almost deserving of a horror movie of her own. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/77 "2015-10-09T15:29:39Z")
> **[A Haunting (TV Series 2005– ) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0484243/?ref_=fn_al_tt_6)** > > A Haunting: With Anthony D. Call, Andrew Ragan, Terry Jernigan, Kelley Davis. An American paranormal anthology previewing stories told by the victims. Victims tell their terrifying encounters with the paranormal. This show contains narration,... A Haunting Lets not forget this Discovery Channel ghostly show. Its fun but I hope those people are faking it all. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/78 "2015-10-09T16:09:05Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > [A Haunting (TV Series 2005– ) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0484243/?ref_=fn_al_tt_6) > > A Haunting > > Lets not forget this Discovery Channel ghostly show. Its fun but I hope those people are faking it all. This is a fun series to kind of binge watch / veg out to. One may start off thinking it’s typical cheesy paranormal experience stuff (which I guess it technically is) but there’s actually something very compelling about it. If anyone likes older movies and hasn’t seen it, [Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058213/?ref_=nv_sr_1) is classic Bette Davis. Not to mention the outstanding Olivia DeHaviland and a super fun performance by Agnes “Endora” Moorehead. I remember seeing it for the first time as a child and just being . . . chilled to the bone. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/79 "2015-10-11T16:50:17Z")
> **[Jeepers Creepers (2001) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263488/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)** > > Jeepers Creepers: Directed by Victor Salva. With Gina Philips, Justin Long, Jonathan Breck, Patricia Belcher. A brother and sister driving home through isolated countryside for spring break encounter a flesh-eating creature which is in the midst of... Jeepers Creepers A soon to be classic that is one of the best horror films I have seen. Very good in every respect. You will probably be watching this one more than once. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760/80 "2015-10-11T16:52:28Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > If anyone likes older movies and hasn’t seen it, [Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058213/?ref_=nv_sr_1) is classic Bette Davis. Not to mention the outstanding Olivia DeHaviland and a super fun performance by Agnes “Endora” Moorehead. I remember seeing it for the first time as a child and just being . . . chilled to the bone. Seconded. Was over at a friends house for a sleepover when we were nine and watched this. Freaked me the hell out. Great film. The backstory is just as interesting. Joan Crawford was supposed to play the de Haviland role but was fired. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-halloween-horror-films-check-this-out/730760.md?page=5)