31 days in October, 31 movies on my Halloween movie watching list.
Days 1-7 are what I call my "New Classics" picks. They are newer films (2000 and newer) that are smart and creepy and fantastic.
Week Two is Found Footage Week. There's something really enticing about a good use of the found footage trope.
Days 15-21 are all about the laughs during Horror Comedy week.
And the last ten days are dedicated to some Horror Classics.
So many movies, so few days. I had to categorize them in order to actually narrow it down. There's aren't necessarily the absolute best or scariest horror movies. Just some of my favorites, and some that are easily accessible for most people just getting into the genre. I want you to watch these, so I'm leaving things like Audition, Cannibal Holocaust, Haute Tension, or Martyrs off the list.
I tried my best not to give away very much of the plot, or any big spoilers. I also tried to keep the good stuff out of the screencaps. Enjoy!
My first film is one of my favorites from last year. Suspense and tension aplenty. It never felt cheap. The symbolism of what the monster actually represents is up to you. But sex and morality are definitely key elements. Filming it the deteriorating city of Detroit is perfect. This one will stick to your bones, hanging around long after the credits roll.
This is the original French version. The story of coming to terms with that which you fear, befriending it, loving it, is beautiful and etherial. And poignant for me now more than ever. If subtitles bother you, the American remake works in a pinch. The remake is a good film, and very similar to the original, but loses some of its magic.
I've always been fascinated by literary descents into madness. The Babadook plays in this playground in a new way. It's a wonderful tale of a mother struggling to keep her unruly son safe from a monster that haunts them after the death of her husband. It doesn't rely of jump scares or gore. Just beautiful symbolism, suspense, and intelligence. Another one that will stick around after you've experienced it.
Have you been looking to scratch your haunted house itch without jump scares or cheap tricks? Do you love Guillermo Del Toro, and anything and everything he does? Watch The Orphanage. Another movie with subtitles, this one Spanish, but there is no remake. Honestly, the less you know about this one the better.
The oldest of the "New Classics". A exquisite, elegant period peace. A wife awaits her husband's return from World War II, when dark forces threaten her and their children. So many questions to unravel. This is not the most original story in the lot, but the building sense of foreboding is masterful.
Directed by the incomparable Frank Darabont (of Shawshank Redemption and The Walking Dead fame), with a screenplay he adapted from Stephen King, The Mist is an under-appreciated gem. It hovers just this side of campy, and the fear and suspense are thrilling. And that ending. Chances are it will piss you off.
Shot only with natural light and indoors, the only created lighting was candles. It evokes the struggle of Puritanical life in a harsh environment. It has an interesting view of religion, and of the devout's view of God in the face of unrelenting hardship. Also, Black Phillip.
This is what found footage should be. It looks like real life. It feels like real life. And the use of unknown actors makes it feel more genuine. More subtitles. If they bother you, the American remake Quarantine is pretty good. Not as good, but pretty good.
This movie's marketing was genius, and probably wouldn't work today. People thought it was real for a while there, which wouldn't happen in today's social media world. To be honest, it is not the best film in the category (that is [REC] easily), but it really sparked a movement.
Do you like shaky-cam? I hope you like shaky-cam. If you don't like shaky-cam, you're gonna have a bad time. Usually I don't care for it (I'm looking at you, Bourne franchise), but for this kaiju flick, it works.
Certainly the most financially successful one of the lot. They had a limited release and had an online vote campaign where you could request the movie come to your city. One million votes later, it was a hit. Budget: $11K.
The next two films are Netflix finds. Netflix is a great source of horror films. Horror movies tend to have smaller budgets and struggle to find distribution. The Taking of Deborah Logan was fantastic directorial debut, focusing on a documentary crew telling the story of an Alzheimer's patient and her daughter. As you may imagine, bad stuff happens.
Another Netflix find. Another subtitled film. Norway's answer to the found footage, giant monster movie. It's as glorious as it sounds. I love the dark humor, existential philosophy, and matter-of-fact violence of Scandinavian cinema.
An anthology film, where indie horror filmmakers make five short piece with an interconnected theme, which is presented as a frame narrative of a criminal group breaking into house to steal a tape with evidence of a crime they've committed. The short films are hit and miss, but the overall effort and how everything came together earn it a place here.
This should probably go in the classics section at the end, because that's exactly what it is. What can I really say about this one? John Landis is an 80's movie god. This is the horror comedy that started it all. If you haven't seen it I'm a little disappointed.
Cabin in the Woods is an homage and a satire of the entire genre all rolled into one. They packed everything in, and it works so well. For maximum effect, watch this movie after every other movie on the list. That way, you can cap on your marathon with a perfect summary and send-up.
NORWEGIAN. NAZI. ZOMBIES.
An alternate 1950s where space radiation turned the dead into zombies. Carrie Anne-Moss' character buys a zombie to do a few chores around the house, even though her husband Dylan Baker's character is a veteran of the Zombie Wars and, gosh darn it, doesn't really like them. Curiosity piqued? Check it out.
I don't believe this one needs any introduction. A cultural phenomenon, which put the idea of the Zombie Romantic Comedy on our radar. We take Pete's car, we drive over to Mum's, we go in, take care of Philip - "I'm so sorry, Philip" - then we grab Mum, we go over to Liz's place, hole up, have a cup of tea and wait for this whole thing to blow over.
The laughs take a decidedly sci-fi turn today with Slither. This was James Gunn's (of Guardians of the Galaxy fame) debut film. This cult classic is great if you like B-movies and you like them slimy.
Just look at that picture and tell me you're not smiling already. This "hillbilly" comedy horror flick is twice as smart as it deserves to be. Another writer director debut, this time from Eli Craig. This one took three years to make, but it was well worth the wait.
I suspect most people have heard of this one, or have hear of the phrase "pod person", but not actually seen it. Selected for preservation by the Library of Congress because of its cultural importance. A film noir tale exploring post-war paranoia in the US.
I'd be lying if I didn't cite this as a source of inspiration for my series of novels. Jacob finds himself experiencing disturbing halluncinations after Vietnam. Is it PTSD? Is it an experimental drug to draw out his aggression?
Yes, Jaws. It may not have the skin of a horror movie, but it is definitely the king of the monster movie genre. Jaws made an entire generation afraid to go into the water, and served as inspiration to most of your favorite horror storytellers. Including me.
Zombies are part of our cultural identity, with a clear definition deeply ingrained in society. Night of the Living Dead is the source of that shared definition. See how far we've come, both good and bad. A metaphor for time and death, shambling ever forward until they consume us all.
They're heeeeeere. Steven Spielberg wrote and produced it, but due to contractual obligations surrounding his work on E.T. he couldn't direct it. Enter Tobe Hooper, of Texas Chain Saw Massacre fame. Rumors were that Spielberg directed it on the down-low while Hooper was the face. I believe it. This won't help with your fear of clowns. And you will never look at leftovers the same way again.
Are there enough superlatives with which one can laud Alfred Hitchcock? I think not. There are so many Hitchcock films that could have made the list. I went with this one, because I thought there should be a good classic slasher film. This one is also in the Library of Congress Film Registry.
Roman Polanski's disturbing classic. A good jumping off point for discussions of women's lack of agency and rape culture. Polanski's a scumbag but this film is important. A bit of trivia: Frank Sinatra divorced Mia Farrow mid-shoot (papers served on set) because he insisted she give up her career when they were married. Part of the National Film Registry club.
What will a mother do for love, to save the life and soul of her child? How do you keep your faith through anguish? This was the first horror film nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. On the Registry. I need an old priest and a young priest! The power of Christ compels you!
Do you like birthday parties? So do I. Birthday parties are fun. The Omen celebrates its 40 year anniversary this summer and it still holds up. So evil and so good. You have been warned.
Who goes there? This movie was originally hated by critics and was released the same day as Blade Runner. But this gritty, dark journey into paranoia is absolutely terrifying, and Ennio Morricone's score helps set the mood. The stakes couldn't be higher, and the monster could be anywhere or anyone. What would you do?