Readers beware, you are in for a scare when you watch these flicks. Halloween is just around the corner, and there is the perfect time to watch horror movies. For this terrifying evening of terror and frights, I wish to recommend a curated list of nightmarish flicks for your viewing pleasure.
“Halloween” (1978) by John Carpenter is about Michael Myers returning to Haddonfield, Illinois, in search of more victims after escaping Smith’s Grove sanitarium for murdering his sister at the age of 6 in 1963. This horror classic is certain to bring terror to viewers, having them at the edge of their seats, wondering when Michael Myers might strike again. It is similar to “Jaws” in that it brings a sense of paranoia about where he could be next. While, trick-or-treaters are knocking on your door, who knows? You might just see the boogeyman outside stalking you from afar.
“Trick r’ Treat” by Michael Dougherty is about an interconnected series of stories taking place on the same Halloween night surrounding Halloween traditions in a small town. This film is guaranteed to stick in your head with stories about girls letting the beast out of them, respecting the dead with pumpkins. Be careful with your candy and do not be a grouch this Halloween. This film will send you chills down your spine being back memories of campfire stories and horror comics such as “Creepshow.” Or else our little friend Sam might just have to make a visit to your house this Halloween night.
“House of 1000 Corpses” by Rob Zombie is about two young couples writing a book about roadside attractions left to take on the hospitality of a psychotic family after their car breaks down during Halloween. This film wears its inspiration on its sleeve from “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “The Hills Have Eyes” as we watch as this psychotic family torture these young couple and alludes to the mysterious serial killer Dr. Satan. This film comes from the wonderfully twisted mind of Zombie, will take you on a thrilling ride of sadism, colorful language and gore with its unique set design and music video-based editing.
What is a horror movie list without a haunted house? “Hell House LLC” by Stephen Cognetti centers on a group of Halloween haunted house creators as they prepare their Halloween attraction, Hell House, only for tragedy to strike on opening night. This haunted house flick takes a different turn than other films of the same genre, being shot as a documentary with the supernatural experiences that have already occurred, leaving only found footage tapes as evidence. This film has constant replay ability as always outside of the corner of the shot dark figures are always hidden waiting to strike.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” by Jim Sharman is a horror classic when a newly engaged couple stuck with a flat tire are left to take housing in an eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a transvestite scientist. While this movie may not be your ordinary horror flick with musical numbers instead of jump scares and serial killers, it is a must-watch for all horror fans. This film will excite you with its colorful cast of characters such as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Riff Raff (Richard O’Brien), Eddie (Meatloaf) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn) and its intense tale of the loss of innocence and sexual exploration with our newly engaged couple, Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) being subjected to experiences they never known before. This movie is certain to excite you into doing the “Time Warp” as you watch this rock opera.