# It is October and it is time for horror movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320 "2004-10-03T14:11:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/1 "2004-10-03T14:11:51Z")
Since I have a Netflix subscription this year, I’m going to try to watch at least one horror movie each day during October. Here is what I’ve already seen: Friday the 13th Halloween Rear Window Rope Silence of the Lambs The Mummy (Boris Karloff) The Ring What else should I watch during this month? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/2 "2004-10-03T14:36:45Z")
Am American Werewolf in London Alien ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/3 "2004-10-03T14:39:06Z")
Well Catwoman was pretty horrifying! 😃 Have you seen Magic with Anthony Perkins? That one is VERY creepy. How about Pyscho? Seems like thats the grand daddy of the slasher flicks. ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/4 "2004-10-03T14:44:22Z")
If you can find it, you need to watch _May_ . It is a creepy little flick about a girl and her dolls. Excellent horror fare. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/5 "2004-10-03T14:50:07Z")
Psycho is in my Netflix que. I’ll probably see all the Hitchcock films. ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/6 "2004-10-03T16:01:13Z")
I think **Mr. Blue Sky** ’s suggestion of _An American Werewolf In London_ is a great suggestion. I see it as a modern classic, along the lines of _Exorcist_, _Omen_, and _Hellraiser_. I like your idea, and though I won’t be watching a movie per day, I do plan on renting some lesser known movies (to me) this month. I’ve seen _The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari_ suggested on this board, and plan on renting it. I’ve also wanted to see the reportedly camp _The Lair Of The White Worm_, since I saw a few scenes from it during another show. Those two are available through Netflix, if you’re interested. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/7 "2004-10-03T16:05:19Z")
> [@melondeca](#): > > If you can find it, you need to watch _May_ . It is a creepy little flick about a girl and her dolls. Excellent horror fare. :eek: Yes! I recommended this one a while back. Definitely gonna be a midnight cult classics in years to come. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/8 "2004-10-03T16:15:10Z")
> [@Krisfer the Cat](#): > > Have you seen Magic with Anthony Perkins? That one is VERY creepy. That would be Anthony Hopkins. “Psycho” is with Anthony Perkins. ---
**Author:** ![Spudo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Spudo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spudo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/9 "2004-10-03T16:42:39Z")
While not a straight horror movie, **Se7en** is very creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/10 "2004-10-03T16:49:29Z")
Exorcist Exorcist 3 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/11 "2004-10-03T16:52:51Z")
1. The original Dracula with Bela Lugosi 2. The original Frankenstein with Boris Karloff 3. The Howling 4. Pumpkinhead 5. Rawhead Rex 6. The original Wolf Man with Lon Chaney Jr. 7. Underworld 8. Nosferatu 9. The Craft ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/12 "2004-10-03T17:06:19Z")
I went through the Netflix list and here are some of my recommendations: 1. From Dusk To Dawn 2. The Shining (1980) 3. The Gift 4. Dawn of the Dead 5. Jacob’s Ladder 6. Any of the Evil Dead movies 7. Hellraiser 8. Wait Until Dark 9. My Little Eye 10. Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer 11. The Last House On The Left 12. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 13. The Birds ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/13 "2004-10-03T17:11:54Z")
For nostalgia purposes, I’d recommend the Universal Monsters DVD collections that came out a few months ago, as part of the “Van Helsing” merchandising wave. Each set – Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man – contains ALL the movies that Universal made that revolved around that particular character, as well as trailers, extras, behind the scenes stuff, and loads of fun. Only twenty bucks each, too. Just wish they’d do a Mummy and Creature version… even though the Creature only got three movies… but the Creature also had Clint Eastwood in the first one, and John Agar in the last one! ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/14 "2004-10-03T18:23:29Z")
Here’s a guilty pleasure from 1964: “Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors” _Five men in a carriage on a train journey are joined by the mysterious Dr Schreck who produces a set of tarot cards and offers to tell the fate that will befall each of them._ Look for Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Donald Sutherland. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/15 "2004-10-03T18:25:25Z")
In the category of oldies-but-goodies, find Tod Browning’s FREAKS … ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/16 "2004-10-03T18:28:06Z")
Near Dark - underrated vampire flick The Star Wars Holiday Special 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/17 "2004-10-03T18:49:54Z")
When I was a kid, one thing I liked about Halloween was the movies local channels would show around the week of Oct 31st. The thing my friends and _really_ liked about these movies was that they were extremely low-budget - but nobody cared. These are probably _not_ the movies you had in mind but does anyone remember these? [Fire Maidens From Outer Space](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046977/) [The Unknown Terror](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051137/) [The Brain Eaters](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051432/) [The Leech Woman](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054020/) [Monster From Green Hell](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050723/) ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/18 "2004-10-03T19:02:54Z")
Can’t believe no one has mentioned _Poltergeist_ yet. That movie always really creeped me out! Lots of good recommendations here. Think I’ll go on a renting spree (good thing I work at Blockbuster). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/19 "2004-10-03T19:05:24Z")
> [@Master Wang-Ka](#): > > Just wish they’d do a Mummy and Creature version… even though the Creature only got three movies… but the Creature also had Clint Eastwood in the first one, and John Agar in the last one! The Mummy, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Invisible Man Universal Legacy sets will be released on DVD on 10/19. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320/20 "2004-10-03T19:37:15Z")
A warning about the 1931 _Dracula_ — it’s very slow and static. After the first twenty or so atmospheric minutes, showing Harker’s visit to Dracula’s castle, it bogs down into a talky drawing room melodrama once we get back to England. I’ve always preferred Hammer’s more lurid 1958 [Dracula](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0051554/combined) (known in the USA as _Horror of Dracula_), with Christopher Lee baring his fangs for nubile Englishwomen. But I do love the old stuff, and so I recommend on DVD: 1. [The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0010323/combined) (1920). One of the first great movies that can be watched on its own merits without having to make concessions for its age. The scene in closeup of Cesar slowly awakening remains eerie today. 2. [Nosferatu](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0013442/combined) (1922), an unauthorized version of Stoker’s _Dracula_. Full of innovation and filmed on authentic European locations by the masterful director F.W. Murnau. 3. [The Cat and the Canary](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0017739/combined) (1927), the original old dark house comedy-melodrama, with a group of heirs forced to spend the night together. Remade twice, this one is the most fun. 4. [Freaks](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0022913/combined) (1932) uses real circus freaks for its cast, treating them sympathetically, but woe to the non-freak who violates their code of honor . . . 5. [Island of Lost Souls](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0024188/combined) (1933). This adaptation of an H.G. Wells science fiction novel about a mad doctor who converts animals into semi-humans still has the power to creep you out. “Are we not men?” 6. [Bride of Frankenstein](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0026138/combined) (1935), the arch and over the top sequel to the already great _Frankenstein_, thanks to the black humor of director James Whale and the touching performance of Boris Karloff. 7. [The Hunchback of Notre Dame](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0031455/combined) (1939), the Charles Laughton version, is perhaps the epitome of studio-era Hollywood’s capabilities, with medieval Paris recreated on the RKO backlot. 8. [The Devil and Daniel Webster](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0033532/combined#comment) (1941). Old Mr. Scratch tries to tempt the American statesman into corruption. A thinking man’s fantasy, with sexy Simone Simon as the devil’s handmaiden, and Bernard Herrmann’s Oscar-winning score. 9. [The Ghost and Mrs. Muir](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0039420/combined) (1947). OK, this isn’t a horror movie at all, just a ghostly love story. But everything about it is first rate, including crusty sea captain Rex Harrison and lovely Gene Tierney in the title roles. 10. [The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0041094/combined) (1949), Disney’s delightful adaptations of an episode of Kenneth Graham’s _The Wind in the Willows_, and Washington Irving’s classic short story _The Legend of Sleepy Hollow_, with country schoolmaster Ichabod Crane being chased by the Headless Horseman through the Hudson Valley one dark night. 11. [Invasion of the Body Snatchers](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0049366/combined) (1956) relies on one of the most basic and unsettling themes in science fiction: loss of identity. Punchy direction by Don Siegel. 12. [Night of the Living Dead](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0063350/combined) (1968). After all of the sequels, remakes, and parodies (this year’s _Shaun of the Dead_), there’s George Romero’s undiminished original, showing how good a low-budget horror movie can be. 13. [Halloween](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0077651/combined) (1978). With each passing year, the original teen slasher movie looks better and better. That theme music alone can send shivers down your spine. I’d like to recommend several of the understated classics that [Val Lewton](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0507932/) produced in the 1940s, like _Cat People_, but they are not yet available on DVD. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-october-and-it-is-time-for-horror-movies/267320.md?page=2)