Halloween Movie Thread

I know I just did one of these.

I saw House, from 1985 (or 1986 -- it was out in limited release December 1985, then full nationwide release February 1986), on Amazon Prime. With William "Greatest American Hero" Katt, George "Norm" Wendt, and Bull from "Night Court."

I kind of loved it.

It starts out as a sort of grounded, low-key, more serious movie. William Katt is a Vietnam vet troubled by nightmares about his time in the jungle. This is exacerbated by the fact he's chosen to right a memoir about his time in 'Nam, so he's dealing with those memories more than he ever has before.

Don't worry, he's not the Hollywood stereotype "crazy vet" or dysfunctional. He's a successful author and has his act together. He just has nightmares and bad memories.

What is making him a little crazy is that his young son disappeared without a trace when he was visiting his aunt's house under strange -- supernatural? -- circumstances.

After his aunt's death, he moves into the house to write his book. And he starts seeing things.

George Wendt shows up as a neighbor who's a little too eager to make friends with Katt.

And then things start going from reasonably grounded and realistic to... goofy.

And the transition is great. I'm the kind of guy who usually criticizes abrupt shifts in tone, but the director here manages it. It's a tonal shift, but a confident one. I didn't feel the shift in tone was due to the director not knowing what he was doing, but rather, he did know what he was doing, it's just that he wanted to do something odd.

Anyway, it's a lot of fun. Is it scary? Um, no. It's got rubber suit monsters which are called "ghosts," but it's not scary, except for a couple of good jump scares.

But it's a little trippy -- the house isn't your normal haunted house. It's got an odd property which I think most of you have seen a few times by now, but it was probably fresh in 1985. (This odd feature was also present in House 2, which I did see before. Also a good movie, but now that I've seen the first House, I think the original is better.)

William Katt is a good hero. The Vietnam vet thing comes into play because when demons and ghosts show up, he's not some pussy who goes crying home to mama. He doesn't even call the police, or the Church. He just gears up and gets to work.

In other words: He's Ash, but without the Bruce Campbell over-the-topness.

I think this movie is very influenced by Evil Dead 2 -- the trippiness, the rubber suit monsters, the odd wavering between horror and humor, and the unexpectedly fearless action hero protagonist. It's not as good as Evil Dead 2, and not as original of course, but it is a well-done Evil Dead 2-type movie. Much less gonzo-gory than that one, if gore puts you off. (In fact... I'm not sure there's much gore at all, except chopping up a ghoul or two.)

Whoops: Evil Dead 2 came out in 1987. So maybe, Evil Dead? Though that was less humorous and Ash wasn't a big badass in that one.

Who knows, maybe Evil Dead 2 was influenced by House! I hate to admit it, because Evil Dead 2 is one of my favorites and is so original, but maybe it's not so original! Maybe it's a rip-off of House!

Only three criticisms:

In a haunted house movie, especially one called House, you'd think the house itself would be scary. Yes it has grim visions and ghouls, but the house itself is clean, well-lit, cheerful, and cozy. The exterior has an Adams-Family-like complicated roofline, but other than that, it's just a nice suburban home. Some directors can take the mundane and cozy and make it seem ominous and sinister -- this director isn't one of them.

The "Vietnam" flashbacks are clearly stages just filled with some palm trees and fronds, and are only a little more convincing than the Gilligan's Island sets.

And the final confrontation would have been better if the movie flipped back to horror instead of remaining goofy. I liked the goofy stuff -- just not in the climax. I would have liked a more serious, real-horror-movie ending.

But it was lots of fun. Free if you've got Amazon Prime.

Might be good for a group watch.

Speaking of:

I have a good recommendation for a Halloween movie for a specific circumstance:
When you're with a group of people looking to watch a Halloween movie together.

Is it the best horror movie? No. Is it the scariest? No.

Is it great? No. It's merely pretty good.

But it's the best Halloween movie to watch with several friends, or your kids, as long as they're older than about 14.

Here's why it's the best group watch Halloween movie:

1, it's a Halloween movie, not just a horror movie. It's set in some town that is fanatical about Halloween traditions, and there's a superstition that if you fail to follow the rules (like for trick-or-treat), something terrible will happen to you. So it's wall-to-wall Halloween theming. After you watch it, you will have no confusion about whether you watched a Halloween movie or not.

2, it's funny. It's not very serious. It's a movie that's about Halloween shenanigans and having fun at Halloween. The light tone is good for a group.

3, it has the right amount of gore. I grew up with 80s horror movies so yes, for a Halloween movie, I want some blood and violence. But I don't usually appreciate that very serious, dark, almost unbearable way of presenting violence that you see in, for example, the Saw movies. Yes, give me a quick splash of blood that I can turn away from, if I have to. No, don't focus on a woman screaming for a full minute as she's cut with a knife. That's hard to take as a general matter, but that's not what you want with a movie a group of various tastes to watch.

The violence in Trick 'R Treat is the kind that makes you go "Aah!" and then laugh. Or say "Good kill." It's not the kind that will give you nightmares.

4, It's lively. Someone is always talking or doing something or getting rekt. Although quiet suspense is very effective for scaring people, especially when they're watching alone at night -- The Conjuring made me turn it off and watch the rest of it during daylight -- it can be deadly boring in group situations. Also, it only takes one guy to make a joke during a quiet, tense sequence and defeat the purpose of the silence, so better stay away from that kind of horror movie when watching with others.

5, it's very knowing, in a good way. The writer-director likes Halloween and the tropes of horror movies, and he knows the audience does too, so he plays with that for humorous effect. The stories in the movie aren't deep and are just variations of old campfire stories. But the movie is about taking pleasure in traditional spooky tropes.

And also, playing with the audience's genre knowledge of horror.

6, regarding the movie's liveliness, it's actually four short stories, but they're not like horror movie anthologies where each story is separate and unconnected to the others. All of these stories are taking place in the same town on the same night -- Halloween, of course -- and, as in Pulp Fiction, characters can therefore cameo in other character's stories. It's a fun way to tell the stories. So even if there is one story (or two) that aren't wowing you, you know they'll be cutting soon to another story.

So there you go. A fun, light, Halloween-themed Halloween movie.

Will it scare you? Well it'll jump-scare you a times!

It's not too proud for jump scares.

I do have one caution: I know that many people hate Child-In-Danger scenarios. This has two stories featuring Children-In-Danger. So that may be a turn-off.

On the other hand, the movie very much knows it's a movie, and that it's all fake, and all a lark, so it's not as if you ever buy that these are real children and are really in danger. The movie's self-aware/self-parodying nature provides a lot of distance from the events shown on the screen.

But I thought I'd mention that.

Oh, and I just saw this: It was produced -- not written or directed -- by noted pedo Bryan Singer. That might be another big turn-off.

Like I said, not the greatest horror movie, and maybe even more of a knowing tribute to horror movies than a real horror movie itself. But fun for a group-watch.

It's on Max. It has also been playing on AMC's streaming service from time to time -- I wanted to tell people it was on Monday, so they could record it, but I forgot to mention it. (And forgot to get someone to record it for me.) But it might pop up on AMC again.

And you can rent it on Amazon for $4.

Have you got any RECCOMENDATIONZZZ for Halloween viewing?

Here's some Bugs Bunny from a 1978 Halloween special. It's mostly a compilation of old monster-themed shorts.

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 04:00 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Recently watched “Abigail”, which was an enjoyable vampire flick

Posted by: UGAdawg at October 25, 2024 04:03 PM (W6jfi)

2 No love for The Far Side Halloween Special?

Posted by: Scott1M at October 25, 2024 04:03 PM (O9uxk)

3 Pearl is interesting.

Posted by: Dr Spank at October 25, 2024 04:06 PM (g+JZp)

4 >>>2 No love for The Far Side Halloween Special?

never heard of it, is it good?

Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:06 PM (KRtlO)

5 Just saw Shutter Island.
It wasn't a Halloween movie.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at October 25, 2024 04:06 PM (ufFY8)

6 Deer Camp '86 was pretty good.

Low budget.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at October 25, 2024 04:07 PM (ufFY8)

7 It was an "abrupt change in tone" that soured me on "Parasite." I liked the first half.

By doing a 180 half way through, I thought it cheated the audience.

Posted by: mnw at October 25, 2024 04:07 PM (NLIak)

8 ugh Abigail

I'll hold my tongue on that

but yeah! House is fun! Trick R Treat is a favorite as well!

I have to get to the other Terrifier and related films I guess ... not super excited but maybe the earlier ones are less ridiculously gross

I like Bell Book and Candle for a Halloween film and it's not a bit scary at all

for scary just normal Halloween. The Original.

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 25, 2024 04:09 PM (s3qiR)

9 7 It was an "abrupt change in tone" that soured me on "Parasite." I liked the first half.

By doing a 180 half way through, I thought it cheated the audience.
Posted by: mnw at October 25, 2024 04:07 PM (NLIak)

=======

The Korean movie?

I've always seen it as tonally consistent: darkly comic.

The turn is more plot based, going into the private prison (surprisingly regular in Korean culture, it seems).

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:09 PM (GBKbO)

10 Not movies, but the "Treehouse of Horror" Simpsons episodes used to be fun, because they were non-canon, so the writers could play around with the characters.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 25, 2024 04:09 PM (PiwSw)

11 speaking of bugs bunny and that stuff, i read that for years only mel blanc got credit for 'voice characterizations' in those cartoons because it was in his contract. i guess with him gone and the contract not valid any more, you'll see june foray also credited; she was the voice of rocky the flying squirrel among others

Posted by: gnats local 678 at October 25, 2024 04:10 PM (CWTWj)

12 Spaced Invaders - Silly Retelling of War of the Worlds, when some dumb Martians try and invade a small town.

Posted by: Bill Anderson at October 25, 2024 04:10 PM (5t4ww)

13 The idea of a kumswalla presidency is scary enough for me.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at October 25, 2024 04:11 PM (VXcWv)

14 Wild, I'm watching Pulp Fiction right now.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at October 25, 2024 04:11 PM (MeG8a)

15 Trick or treat
Smell my feet
Give me something nood to tweet

Posted by: andycanuck (hovnC) at October 25, 2024 04:11 PM (hovnC)

16 Can we just watch the Cheers Halloween episodes instead?

Posted by: SH (no more socks) at October 25, 2024 04:11 PM (sX1BW)

17 I'm such a wimp that the most I can take in the way of Halloween shows is The Great Pumpkin.

Posted by: bluebell at October 25, 2024 04:11 PM (79pEw)

18 I've never had any stomach for scary movies.

For Halloween, I always run "Young Frankenstein".

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:12 PM (LxER7)

19 Gotta be tough to be influenced by "Evil Dead 2", when "Evil Dead 2" came out in 1987 and "House" came out in 1985.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:12 PM (asXVI)

20 I saw Don't be Afraid of the Dark years after its release, one day after school. Why I was allowed to watch it as a kid, definitely younger than 10, I'll never know. All by myself. I was terrified for decades. Still haven't rewatched it since.

Posted by: nckate at October 25, 2024 04:12 PM (4bYb7)

21 Willowed:

Kamala has basically shut her campaign down. One fundraising rally in Houston and then a speech in DC on Tuesday.

That's it.

Also, for those worried about the steal, remember how confident Dems were 4 years ago, with all their "don't worry" and "I guarantee" statements.

Absolute silence from them this time.

Posted by: Shenanigans at October 25, 2024 04:12 PM (FWaX/)

22 19 Gotta be tough to be influenced by "Evil Dead 2", when "Evil Dead 2" came out in 1987 and "House" came out in 1985.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:12 PM (asXVI)

========

Hush, you!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:12 PM (GBKbO)

23 18 I've never had any stomach for scary movies.

For Halloween, I always run "Young Frankenstein".
Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:12 PM (LxER7)

Blucher!

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 25, 2024 04:13 PM (PiwSw)

24 I watched The Shining pitch meeting !

Posted by: runner at October 25, 2024 04:13 PM (V13WU)

25 The one scary movie that has actually scared me in my adult life:

The Babadook.

Dolley still hates me for watching that with her. If it scared me, it fucking terrified her.

Recommended!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:14 PM (GBKbO)

26 That Bugs Bunny compilation was fun and brought me back to my youth. *cough*

Posted by: Seems Legit at October 25, 2024 04:14 PM (jyAD3)

27 The best Halloween movie is Arsenic and Old Lace.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 25, 2024 04:14 PM (lTGtQ)

28 I also like the Wishbone "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" episode.

Posted by: bluebell at October 25, 2024 04:14 PM (79pEw)

29 Awk awk awk awk!

Posted by: Kamala Harris at October 25, 2024 04:14 PM (sTEP1)

30 I liked Signs with Mel Gibson...I'm not a blood and guts lover .. I also like Rocky Horror Picture Show and Nightmare before Christmas.. I'm a wuss

Posted by: It's me donna at October 25, 2024 04:15 PM (IyPmt)

31 Willowed:

Kamala has basically shut her campaign down. One fundraising rally in Houston and then a speech in DC on Tuesday.

That's it.

Also, for those worried about the steal, remember how confident Dems were 4 years ago, with all their "don't worry" and "I guarantee" statements.

Absolute silence from them this time.

Huh, she, Bruce, and Barry are in Philly on Monday.

Posted by: Mick at October 25, 2024 04:15 PM (KOTG6)

32 The one scary movie that has actually scared me in my adult life:

The Babadook.

Dolley still hates me for watching that with her. If it scared me, it fucking terrified her.

Recommended!
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:14 PM (GBKbO)

=====

A gal in my office told me last week she watched that with her niece, and basically said it was the scariest movie she'd ever seen.

Posted by: Jordan61 at October 25, 2024 04:15 PM (DRSnL)

33 Kwaidan. Still a great movie.

Posted by: electronic means at October 25, 2024 04:15 PM (VV/8N)

34 28 I also like the Wishbone "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" episode.

Posted by: bluebell at October 25, 2024 04:14 PM (79pEw)

I like the 50's Disney version with Bing Crosby narrating

Posted by: It's me donna at October 25, 2024 04:16 PM (IyPmt)

35 The Brooklyn Nine-Nine "Halloween Heist" episodes were good.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:16 PM (LxER7)

36 "...the Bruce Campbell over-the-topness."

But...BRUCE CAMPBELL!
I like his over-the-topness, because Bruce Campbell.

[as an aside, I just came back from voting. 15 people in front of me, only 1 after me. The poll workers said it was a steady stream of busy all day, and since voting opened earlier this month.]

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at October 25, 2024 04:16 PM (Rbu5d)

37 Wasn't the Babadook some kind of gay test? If you're terrified or repulsed, you're straight, if not you're gay?

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at October 25, 2024 04:16 PM (73voq)

38 33 Kwaidan. Still a great movie.
Posted by: electronic means at October 25, 2024 04:15 PM (VV/8N)

======

Too zen for Halloween.

But, if you're open to more Kobayashi...you should dig in. Samurai Rebellion is great. The Human Condition may be 9 hours long, but it's great. Harakiri is great while also being deeply, deeply anti-Bushido, which is interesting (same as Samurai Rebellion, honestly).

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:17 PM (GBKbO)

39 from last thread:
After that though, if we apply 2024 knowledge to what happened in 2012, it's like some people with bags of money, and lots of influence told him to take a dive.

This, too, is the story of Scott Walker.

(Actually, that's unfair and I don't know that. But, he sure looked great after he beat the recall and such. Then-- nothing.)

Posted by: Lance McCormick at October 25, 2024 04:17 PM (1Idb6)

40 "The writer-director likes Halloween and the tropes of horror movies, and he knows the audience does too, so he plays with that for humorous effect."

---

The writer-director seems to be part of the Bryan Singer crowd, so he'd certainly know a little something about horror.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 25, 2024 04:17 PM (dGCAG)

41 Awk awk awk awk!
Posted by: Kamala Harris at October 25, 2024 04:14 PM (sTEP1)

QUACK

Posted by: Ducks for Trump at October 25, 2024 04:17 PM (v0R5T)

42 I like the 50's Disney version with Bing Crosby narrating
Posted by: It's me donna at October 25, 2024 04:16 PM (IyPmt)
-------

We have that one too!

Posted by: bluebell at October 25, 2024 04:17 PM (79pEw)

43 I recently caught "Dr. Sleep," the sequel to "The Shining." I thought it was pretty good, but it does have a very awful child-in-danger scene.

Posted by: Frasier Crane at October 25, 2024 04:18 PM (bNf8H)

44 The Brooklyn Nine-Nine "Halloween Heist" episodes were good.
Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher

The Halloween episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer were good, too.

All the real demons and monsters took the night off because it was too commercialized. Hipster vampires, heh.

Posted by: mikeski at October 25, 2024 04:18 PM (DgGvY)

45 Not movies, but the "Treehouse of Horror" Simpsons episodes used to be fun, because they were non-canon, so the writers could play around with the characters.
---------
They all sucked from the Island of Dr Moreau parody one onwards.

I knew the show had bitten the big one when even the Halloween Specials were crap when I tried watching them after I had stopped watching the regular weekly shows, hoping that they'd at least get it up for Halloween but alas no.

I thought it jumped the shark relatively early -- whatever one had the mini-interlude of stop-motion Davy and Goliath bombing an abortion clinic. Maybe Homer at an animation convention??

Posted by: andycanuck (hovnC) at October 25, 2024 04:18 PM (hovnC)

46 When watching Trick R Treat, it helps to know that Brian Cox the bus driver.

You'll understand if you watch it or have already seen it.

Posted by: tankdemon at October 25, 2024 04:19 PM (9kiXr)

47 >>>22 19 Gotta be tough to be influenced by "Evil Dead 2", when "Evil Dead 2" came out in 1987 and "House" came out in 1985.

huh. Would you believe, Evil Dead one?

Posted by: Maxwell Smart at October 25, 2024 04:19 PM (KRtlO)

48 I saw some of House when a small child and was terrified. I still remember decades later. Lol

Posted by: brak at October 25, 2024 04:19 PM (4sYV0)

49 47 >>>22 19 Gotta be tough to be influenced by "Evil Dead 2", when "Evil Dead 2" came out in 1987 and "House" came out in 1985.

huh. Would you believe, Evil Dead one?
Posted by: Maxwell Smart at October 25, 2024 04:19 PM (KRtlO)

=======

The one that's not a comedy at all?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:19 PM (GBKbO)

50 For fun Halloween viewing, though it's from Japan so there's no Halloween involved, check out the Yokia movies.

100 Monsters (196

The Great Yokai War (196

Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts (1969)

They're not gory or sexy and they mostly just showcase this folk legend of yokai, which are very bizarre monsters.

https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/91756/images/backdrops

There's, like, an incredibly long snake-neck lady and something that looks like a modron but is more like an evil, ambulant umbrella.

Spooky, creative, fun.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:19 PM (asXVI)

51 * The PBS Dracula adaptation

* Cabin in the Woods (fair bit of gore though)

* Happy Death Day. Basically Groundhog Day with a murder victim that has to figure out the killer. Way better than it might sound and the sequel is just as good.

Posted by: Are you sure about this sir? at October 25, 2024 04:19 PM (zOD0w)

52 Not exactly Halloween ,but I did manage to watch Hannibal. Ridley Scott is a great filmmaker, and creates visually stunning masterpieces, as in this case. There is a sequence in the beginning when Lecter is mailing a letter -watch it. The script was meh. The best scenes are with Gary Oldman's Verger.

Posted by: runner at October 25, 2024 04:20 PM (V13WU)

53 Just finished Trap. It's on the Max.

About the same as Old. Kind of okay.

Shyamalan should stop writing his own stuff. Also, his daughter can't act for shit.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:20 PM (GBKbO)

54 House: It's never lupus garou!

Posted by: andycanuck (hovnC) at October 25, 2024 04:20 PM (hovnC)

55 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at October 25, 2024 04:20 PM (Zz0t1)

56 Best movie for Halloween is Night of the Living Dead.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:20 PM (v6JzV)

57 "....a blast to sit through."

- - - CHUD.com

LOL!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at October 25, 2024 04:20 PM (Zz0t1)

58 Trilogy of Terror.

Karen Black was perfectly cast and that little voodoo doll gave me the creeps.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:21 PM (LkLld)

59 >>>* Happy Death Day. Basically Groundhog Day with a murder victim that has to figure out the killer. Way better than it might sound and the sequel is just as good.

that's kind of fun.

you mention the PBS Dracula production -- do you mean the Dan Curtis one with Jack Palance? I want to give that a watch. Saw it as a kid, but remember it being a big damp.

Posted by: Maxwell Smart at October 25, 2024 04:21 PM (KRtlO)

60 I don't watch scary movies.

My parents let me watch (on TV in our living room) the War of the Worlds movie with Gene Barry. That was not smart on their part, because I had nightmares for weeks afterwards.

But Dad took us two kids to see the original Godzilla in a theatre, and I loved it and didn't get frightened at all.

Go figure.
Kommie-la and the other democrats scare me more than anything, these days.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at October 25, 2024 04:21 PM (Rbu5d)

61 My fam loves to watch Clue! as well. Not really Halloween, but campy and fun.

And, well, Colleen Camp cleavage is *chef's kiss*

Posted by: SimoHayha at October 25, 2024 04:22 PM (KfVMM)

62 I watch horror movies all month even if not Halloween related. Hereditary is a good horror movie.

Posted by: Dr Spank at October 25, 2024 04:22 PM (g+JZp)

63 huh. Would you believe, Evil Dead one?
---

That's the second time I've fallen for that this week!

---
The one that's not a comedy at all?
---

It's not INTENTIONALLY comedy.

"We can't bury Shelley! She's a friend of ours!"

https://clip.cafe/the-evil-dead-1981/you-cant-bury-shelly/

Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:22 PM (asXVI)

64 61 My fam loves to watch Clue! as well. Not really Halloween, but campy and fun.

And, well, Colleen Camp cleavage is *chef's kiss*
Posted by: SimoHayha at October 25, 2024 04:22 PM (KfVMM)

========

Murder by Death > Clue

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:22 PM (GBKbO)

65 Bob's Burgers has some fun Halloween episodes.

Posted by: Jordan61 at October 25, 2024 04:22 PM (DRSnL)

66 I ended up watching Rocky Horror Picture Show on Hulu last night.

It's as weird and goofy as I remember it...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 25, 2024 04:23 PM (7fElN)

67 I'm such a wimp that the only way I could try to get through The Exorcist at a Halloween party one year was to get completely hammered.

They threw me out because I got so obnoxious and started cat-calling.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:24 PM (LxER7)

68 46 When watching Trick R Treat, it helps to know that Brian Cox the bus driver.

The world "is" should be inserted between the name of the actor and "the bus driver."

I inadvertently write something PG-13 on this almost, but not quite, family-friendly blog.

Posted by: tankdemon at October 25, 2024 04:24 PM (9kiXr)

69 Shyamalan should stop writing his own stuff. Also, his daughter can't act for shit.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:20 PM (GBKbO)

=====

She was by far the worst part of the movie.

Posted by: Jordan61 at October 25, 2024 04:24 PM (DRSnL)

70 Murder by Death > Clue
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:22 PM (GBKbO)
-------

I actually like and can watch both those movies.

Posted by: bluebell at October 25, 2024 04:24 PM (79pEw)

71 I've never really liked House. It's too silly.

Trick r Treat is quite good.

Other recs: Infinity Pool flew under the radar. It's kinda sci-fi, kinda horror. It's quite good. Possessor is another that flew under the radar that falls into the same category (kinda sci-fi, kinda horror).

The Korean movie Exhuma is solid supernatural horror. In the last several years, there has been a lot of good foreign horror movies.

Anti-rec: Bodies Bodies Bodies. Virtually all the characters are woke AF, and you'll hate them from start to finish.

Posted by: The horror, the horror at October 25, 2024 04:24 PM (FXHeD)

72 >>>And, well, Colleen Camp cleavage is *chef's kiss*

you know that's right

Posted by: Burton Guster at October 25, 2024 04:24 PM (KRtlO)

73 Murder by death I've only seen once, and it didn't really grab me.

Which is very odd since I love Agatha Christie. So the Poirot and Marple parodies should have been great.

Posted by: SimoHayha at October 25, 2024 04:25 PM (KfVMM)

74 ========

Murder by Death > Clue
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:22 PM (GBKbO)

Truman Capote makes me laugh every time.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:25 PM (LxER7)

75 Babadook...yeah, was mentioned here in the past. Is it a slasher or a psycho thriller like The Shining ? What makes it scary ??

Posted by: runner at October 25, 2024 04:25 PM (V13WU)

76 My fam loves to watch Clue! as well. Not really Halloween, but campy and fun.

And, well, Colleen Camp cleavage is *chef's kiss*
Posted by: SimoHayha

Lesley Anne Warren. Hubba hubba.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:25 PM (v6JzV)

77 >>>I actually like and can watch both those movies.

yup

Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:25 PM (KRtlO)

78 Bob's Burgers has some fun Halloween episodes.
Posted by: Jordan61 at October 25, 2024 04:22 PM (DRSnL)

Never got into that show.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at October 25, 2024 04:25 PM (Zz0t1)

79 both Clue and Murder By Death start out slow and boring with the introductions. They get good, but the beginnings are rough

Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:26 PM (KRtlO)

80 It Follows.

Posted by: Dr Spank at October 25, 2024 04:26 PM (g+JZp)

81 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is also a good Halloween movie. Very creepy.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:26 PM (v6JzV)

82 I generally hate horror movies. I love House and still use quotes from the movie on a regular basis.

Anything/one who annoys me: You're pissing me off, Roger.
Some critter wandering by in the night, making a lot of noise: So it's like Cujo the racoon.

My brother was in the military when he saw this and recommended it by saying...
"Just remember.. Little boy, big grave, Vietnam."

Another one I actually liked was April Fools Day. The one from the 80's. Nice suspense, a bit of gore, awesome twist. Thumbs up!

Posted by: Madame Mayhem (uppity wench) at October 25, 2024 04:26 PM (4XwPj)

83 >>I ended up watching Rocky Horror Picture Show on Hulu last night.

When I was living in Boston they used to run that every Friday night at an old theater. There was a group of people that went literally every Friday. They would dress as characters from the movie and they knew every single line in the movie and would shout out key lines and sing along.

These people made me feel much better about myself.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (LkLld)

84 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is also a good Halloween movie. Very creepy.
-------
I hate squid too!

Posted by: andycanuck (hovnC) at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (hovnC)

85 I loved Bruce Campbell's Army of Darkness.

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (XMwZJ)

86 The only that got me (in the 90's) was John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness. Weaving the uncertainty about what would happen with Y2K with the main plot was effective. I remember the "dream" sequences were especially unnerving.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (PiwSw)

87 71 Anti-rec: Bodies Bodies Bodies. Virtually all the characters are woke AF, and you'll hate them from start to finish.
Posted by: The horror, the horror at October 25, 2024 04:24 PM (FXHeD)

====

I read from some people that they saw it as a critique of wokeness.

I watched it. It's not.

It's just stupid. It's stupid woke characters arguing over about who's the most woke as they try to figure out a murder mystery (that makes no sense). It's earnest as hell, but that earnestness can come off as parody when seen in the right light.

It'd be a great group movie to make fun of. Best of the Worst kind of stuff.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (GBKbO)

88 Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp..

A bit gory but entertaining...

Posted by: It's me donna at October 25, 2024 04:28 PM (IyPmt)

89 Can I put in a plug for Honorable Mention? The Geico Horror Movie ad makes me laugh every time. The look on the guy's face and the sad little shake of his head is priceless.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:28 PM (LxER7)

90
If you want a good cartoon movie for the kids our family liked "Monster House" 2006. Its kid scary without being overkill.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 25, 2024 04:28 PM (+oR7L)

91 75 Babadook...yeah, was mentioned here in the past. Is it a slasher or a psycho thriller like The Shining ? What makes it scary ??
Posted by: runner at October 25, 2024 04:25 PM (V13WU)

========

Wait until nightfall, and let is surprise you!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:28 PM (GBKbO)

92 These people made me feel much better about myself.
Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (LkLld)
---------

Admit it. You were there throwing toilet paper along with them every week.

Posted by: bluebell at October 25, 2024 04:28 PM (79pEw)

93 81 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is also a good Halloween movie. Very creepy.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:26 PM (v6JzV)

=======

I just got that 4K yesterday!

Looks really good.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:28 PM (GBKbO)

94 The Barbie movie was pretty scary, I turned it off after 5 minutes.

Posted by: Dr Spank at October 25, 2024 04:29 PM (g+JZp)

95
Silent Night, Deadly Night. 1984

It's got Christmas, and bloody murder. Cover 2 holidays at one time.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 25, 2024 04:29 PM (+oR7L)

96 The Dating game murder movie on netflix is not very good .A little suspenseful in a few places but otherwise, bleh. And annoying that the costume designer apparently can't distinguish between early 1970s clothes (tMarcia Brady dresses and fringed leather vests) and hairdos and 1979 hairdos and clothes.

Posted by: LASue at October 25, 2024 04:29 PM (lCppi)

97 94 The Barbie movie was pretty scary, I turned it off after 5 minutes.
Posted by: Dr Spank at October 25, 2024 04:29 PM (g+JZp)

========

"It was hell."
-Werner Herzog

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:29 PM (GBKbO)

98 So many celebrities are going away if Trump wins there may never be another movie made.
That's really scary boys and girls.
I loved Count Floyd.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:30 PM (LpSeU)

99 If you want a good cartoon movie for the kids our family liked "Monster House" 2006. Its kid scary without being overkill.

Posted by: Frank Barone

My son loved that movie back in the day. Except he would get too scared past a certain point and we'd have to turn it off.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:30 PM (v6JzV)

100 Never got into that show.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at October 25, 2024 04:25 PM (Zz0t1)

=====

Oh I just can't even with you.

Posted by: Jordan61 at October 25, 2024 04:30 PM (DRSnL)

101 Lesley Ann Warren always reminds me of a less slutty Susan Sarandon.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at October 25, 2024 04:30 PM (NCmV5)

102 94 The Barbie movie was pretty scary, I turned it off after 5 minutes.
Posted by: Dr Spank at October 25, 2024 04:29 PM (g+JZp)

yeah.. I made it through and wasn't sure what I had watched.. I was certainly on Ken's side against that harpy Barbie

Posted by: It's me donna at October 25, 2024 04:30 PM (IyPmt)

103 Can I put in a plug for Honorable Mention? The Geico Horror Movie ad makes me laugh every time. The look on the guy's face and the sad little shake of his head is priceless.
Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:28 PM (LxER7)

Funny. the cute blond chick saying "can't we just get in that running car?"

Which reminds me of "Tucker and Dale vs. Evil." Super funny movie.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 25, 2024 04:30 PM (Ad8y9)

104 I recommend Marianne on Netflix. It's a mini-series (8 1hr episodes IIRC). It is about a witch, so sort of connected to Halloween. Plenty of jump scares (small bit of nudity, some gore, so older teens and above only). Dubbing is ok, but can be watched in French (w/ or w/o subtitles depending)

Posted by: Chuck Martel at October 25, 2024 04:31 PM (fs1hN)

105 >>Admit it. You were there throwing toilet paper along with them every week.

Nuh uh. I went one time. That was enough.

But the theater was right next to Newbury Street where many restaurants and bars were located and every Friday night it was the same cast of characters walking around.

I'm weird but not that weird.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:31 PM (LkLld)

106 I loved Count Floyd.
Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:30 PM (LpSeU)

Dr. Tongue's 3-D House of Pancakes.

"Would you like some more...syrup?"

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:31 PM (LxER7)

107 >>I ended up watching Rocky Horror Picture Show on Hulu last night.

When I was living in Boston they used to run that every Friday night at an old theater. There was a group of people that went literally every Friday. They would dress as characters from the movie and they knew every single line in the movie and would shout out key lines and sing along.

These people made me feel much better about myself.
Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (LkLld)
---
There's a whole subculture built around that movie. Watching it in the theater with a bunch of other folks is pretty interactive, I hear.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 25, 2024 04:31 PM (7fElN)

108 I don't watch a lot of horror flicks, but I do remember liking Trik'r'Treat.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 25, 2024 04:31 PM (Ad8y9)

109 The Witch is one of the creepier movies to come out in the last decade. The whole film just feels unsettling without being gory. Good to watch with others that like horror.

Posted by: brak at October 25, 2024 04:31 PM (4sYV0)

110 >>> Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp..
A bit gory but entertaining...

i like that one, even though I don't like the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp tweeness. But the photography of the woods and village are so amazing.

Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:31 PM (KRtlO)

111 There are some old movies that are scary because of the acting instead of the special effects.

The Picture of Dorian Gray
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with Jack Palance

Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (lTGtQ)

112 Joe invited me over for trick or treating. He says the hair smells great!

Posted by: Kamala Harris at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (9+eKa)

113 Legend of Hell House. 70s. Good spooky.

Roddy McDowell(?) And... Burton Clive? Or Clive Burton. Or something.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (NCmV5)

114 We need more like this...

Zoomer Alcibiades
@HellenicVibes
Incredible things are happening in Spanish television

https://tinyurl.com/5n7e26v9

Posted by: Mister Ghost at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (TGPs7)

115 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is also a good Halloween movie. Very creepy.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:26 PM (v6JzV)

=======

I just got that 4K yesterday!

Looks really good.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

Hopefully, you got one with intact subtitles. The version they show on TCM has the bottom part of the subtitles cut off. But I know the plot so it's not really a problem.

Casablanca's Major Strasser, Conrad Veidt, in a very early role.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (v6JzV)

116 I'm such a wimp that the only way I could try to get through The Exorcist at a Halloween party one year was to get completely hammered.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:24 PM (LxER7)

Ugh, I can't watch The Exorcist. Even the commercials scare me. I saw it once years and years ago, and will never see it again.

Posted by: hobbitopoly at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (k9OZB)

117 Which reminds me of "Tucker and Dale vs. Evil." Super funny movie.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 25, 2024 04:30 PM (Ad8y9)

=====

I love that movie! JD Vance looks exactly like Dale, by the way.

Posted by: Jordan61 at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (DRSnL)

118 I thought the black and white and silent Nosferatu was scary. Since I'm spending the night at a motel in the wilderness I'm prepared to hear the music of the children of the night.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (LpSeU)

119 >>>The Dating game murder movie on netflix is not very good .A little suspenseful in a few places but otherwise, bleh. And annoying that the costume designer apparently can't distinguish between early 1970s clothes (tMarcia Brady dresses and fringed leather vests) and hairdos and 1979 hairdos and clothes.

i thought it was decent. I can't comment on the costuming.

I liked the guy playing the psychopath.

Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:33 PM (KRtlO)

120 The only that got me (in the 90's) was John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness. Weaving the uncertainty about what would happen with Y2K with the main plot was effective. I remember the "dream" sequences were especially unnerving.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (PiwSw)
---
The first time I watched it, I couldn't go to sleep because that image was haunting my own dreams. VERY creepy.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 25, 2024 04:33 PM (7fElN)

121 Killer Clowns from Outer Space if you want something utterly ridiculous

Posted by: It's me donna at October 25, 2024 04:33 PM (IyPmt)

122 118 I thought the black and white and silent Nosferatu was scary. Since I'm spending the night at a motel in the wilderness I'm prepared to hear the music of the children of the night.
Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (LpSeU)

========

Also check out Vampyr by Carl Th. Dreyer. Similar vein.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:33 PM (GBKbO)

123 The new Mel Gibson film "Monster Summer" looks like the kind of popcorn Halloween movie I would like to take the kids to. Like a sort of "Goonies" type flick.

It has an audience rating of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Mel Gibson insulting Kamala might be all the incentive I need.

Posted by: Blago at October 25, 2024 04:33 PM (x4HYe)

124 I work Halloween so will have to squeeze in 'Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown' and 'Night of the Living Dead' sometime during my next break. FYI, 'Night of the Living Dead' is free on YTube. Or was last year.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at October 25, 2024 04:33 PM (sAmhv)

125 87 71 Anti-rec: Bodies Bodies Bodies. Virtually all the characters are woke AF, and you'll hate them from start to finish.
Posted by: The horror, the horror at October 25, 2024 04:24 PM (FXHeD)

====

I read from some people that they saw it as a critique of wokeness.

I watched it. It's not.

It's just stupid. It's stupid woke characters arguing over about who's the most woke as they try to figure out a murder mystery (that makes no sense). It's earnest as hell, but that earnestness can come off as parody when seen in the right light.

It'd be a great group movie to make fun of. Best of the Worst kind of stuff.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (GBKbO)

I gave that some thought as a watched it: whether it was an attack on these wokesters or the writer simply didn't understand how repellant they are. Like you, I concluded the latter. Not that the audience has to see it that way (kinda like a lot of left-leaning stuff that ends up resonating with conservatives who see the same thing a different way). But it's very, very hard to enjoy either way.

Posted by: The horror, the horror at October 25, 2024 04:33 PM (FXHeD)

126 The one with Louise Jordan. Some combined characters IIRC but pretty faithful.

59 >>>* Happy Death Day. Basically Groundhog Day with a murder victim that has to figure out the killer. Way better than it might sound and the sequel is just as good.

that's kind of fun.

you mention the PBS Dracula production -- do you mean the Dan Curtis one with Jack Palance? I want to give that a watch. Saw it as a kid, but remember it being a big damp.

Posted by: Are you sure about this sir? at October 25, 2024 04:33 PM (zOD0w)

127 In the Mouth of Madness with Sam Niell.

Of course, Event Horizon.

The middle part of Predator.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at October 25, 2024 04:34 PM (NCmV5)

128 Colleen Camp starred--first role?--with pre-Eastwood Sondra Lock in "Death Game". Seymour Cassell is at home alone on his birthday and these two show up soaking wet and end up seducing him.

He pays dearly for his indiscretion. And they are all naked in the tub at one point.

Dumb, dumb ending, but otherwise better than you'd hope.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (asXVI)

129 The only that got me (in the 90's) was John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness. Weaving the uncertainty about what would happen with Y2K with the main plot was effective. I remember the "dream" sequences were especially unnerving.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (PiwSw)

=====

Late 80's, actually. I saw it while I was still in high school. Drive-in double feature with The Serpent and The Rainbow.

Posted by: Jordan61 at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (DRSnL)

130 Ahhh, the Spanish series is Bella Artes...

Posted by: Mister Ghost at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (TGPs7)

131 Every director has/had his actor, doesn't/didn't he. Scorsese and diCaprio, Burton and Depp...Huston and Bogart.

Posted by: runner at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (V13WU)

132 I love that movie! JD Vance looks exactly like Dale, by the way.
Posted by: Jordan61 at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (DRSnL)

Guess JD forgot to mention that in his book.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (Ad8y9)

133 One of the best horror movies I've ever seen is Train to Busan

Posted by: PA Dutchman at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (QyT5w)

134 110 >>> Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp..
A bit gory but entertaining...

i like that one, even though I don't like the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp tweeness. But the photography of the woods and village are so amazing.
------------
Me too. It just needed moar cow bell.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (AdHga)

135 131 Every director has/had his actor, doesn't/didn't he. Scorsese and diCaprio, Burton and Depp...Huston and Bogart.
Posted by: runner at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (V13WU)

=======

Herzog and Kinski...

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (GBKbO)

136 119 >>>The Dating game murder movie on netflix is not very good .A little suspenseful in a few places but otherwise, bleh. And annoying that the costume designer apparently can't distinguish between early 1970s clothes (tMarcia Brady dresses and fringed leather vests) and hairdos and 1979 hairdos and clothes.

i thought it was decent. I can't comment on the costuming.

I liked the guy playing the psychopath.
Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:33 PM (KRtlO)

Like a lot of things, I'm apparently at odds with most of America, because I find Anna Kendrick really unappealing. Plastic, false. If she's in it, I'm already Jessica Chastain levels of unenthused.

Posted by: The horror, the horror at October 25, 2024 04:36 PM (FXHeD)

137 Also, The Ring, the US version with Naomi Watts. Good scares and original, creepy 'monster'. Plus, did I mention Naomi Watts?

Posted by: Chuck Martel at October 25, 2024 04:37 PM (fs1hN)

138 Oh, man, forgot about that one. Probably watch it tonight!

...
Which reminds me of "Tucker and Dale vs. Evil." Super funny movie.

Posted by: Are you sure about this sir? at October 25, 2024 04:37 PM (zOD0w)

139 The Serpent and The Rainbow.
Posted by: Jordan61 at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (DRSnL)

Took my wife to see that one. It did not go well. She's still mad that I have it on DVD.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 25, 2024 04:37 PM (Ad8y9)

140 From Beyond, 1980s, HP Lovecraft-esque.
Cute scientist gal in sex fetish gear included.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at October 25, 2024 04:37 PM (VXcWv)

141 I always liked House 2 the second Story, it was more fun, Like Evil Dead 2.

Watching with my son (11) Something Wicked This Way Comes, when Disney could make good moral stories.

Monster Squad, LOL holy crap I had forgotten how fun that movie was and How unPC it is, They use Faggot, call the Fat Kid well Fat Kid. and I always liked the German Neighbor that was a Holocaust survivor saying he Believes in Monsters and you see his Tattoo.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at October 25, 2024 04:37 PM (FCrpy)

142 As a kid the most scary scary movie I remember was House on Haunted Hill.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 25, 2024 04:37 PM (AdHga)

143 Both "Fright NIght" and it's remakes are good flicks. Colin Farrell is awesome in the newer one, and the original, which I watched constantly as a kid, is the 1980s in all it's unmatched majesty.

Posted by: UGAdawg at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (SliEf)

144
When i was a kid, that TV series "V" the final battle used to scare the crap out of me. The peeling of the skin and the snake skin underneath.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (+oR7L)

145 137 Also, The Ring, the US version with Naomi Watts. Good scares and original, creepy 'monster'. Plus, did I mention Naomi Watts?
Posted by: Chuck Martel at October 25, 2024 04:37 PM (fs1hN)

=======

Can a monster be original if it's a remake of a Japanese original?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (GBKbO)

146 I recently caught "Dr. Sleep," the sequel to "The Shining." I thought it was pretty good, but it does have a very awful child-in-danger scene.
---
Yeah that movie is way too underrated, as far as I care.

The scenes of them extracting the Shine from the kids is ... those are gut-kicks.

And too, way too close, to the andrenochrome rumors.

And it's the reality of the child trafficking the Democrats are profiting from.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (zm1uS)

147 I thought the black and white and silent Nosferatu was scary. Since I'm spending the night at a motel in the wilderness I'm prepared to hear the music of the children of the night.
Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (LpSeU)

Great backstory to that flick. It was obviously based on the novel "Dracula," but the German producers neglected to purchase the rights from Bram Stoker's estate. Bram's widow got wind of it, sued for copyright violation, and won. All prints of the film were supposed to have been destroyed. But, obviously, some survived, fortunately.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (v6JzV)

148 I saw an Amish type horse and buggy today. A series of murders near an abandoned Amish settlement might be creepy.
The power goes out then the clip clop of horse hooves would be creepy.
What sound do cloven hooves make?

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (LpSeU)

149 Incredible things are happening in Spanish television

https://tinyurl.com/5n7e26v9
Posted by: Mister Ghost

Sorry. I shouldn't have cheered during a horror thread.

Posted by: t-bird at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (yb6pe)

150 10 Not movies, but the "Treehouse of Horror" Simpsons episodes used to be fun,
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 25, 2024 04:09 PM (PiwSw)

I like the monkey paw one. "The turkey is a little dry?! What demon from the depths of hell created thee?"

Posted by: Bacon Jeff at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (VGRuw)

151 Oh and always, Alien, the original. Aliens ok too, but different.

I hear Alien Romulus probably another fail in a long line of Alien sequels.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (fs1hN)

152 There's a whole subculture built around that movie. Watching it in the theater with a bunch of other folks is pretty interactive, I hear.||

You hear that, do you? Around here, it's been such a tradition, it made the news when the guy who had been leading the show for past 50 years died.

|| do you mean the Dan Curtis one with Jack Palance? I want to give that a watch. Saw it as a kid, but remember it being a big damp. ||

That made an impact on me as a kid. It was my second Dracula (after Nosferatu) or maybe third (after Lugosi).

I re-watched it recently and it's still pretty good. For a TV movie, well above average.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (asXVI)

153 Monster Squad, LOL holy crap I had forgotten how fun that movie was and How unPC it is, They use Faggot, call the Fat Kid well Fat Kid. and I always liked the German Neighbor that was a Holocaust survivor saying he Believes in Monsters and you see his Tattoo.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at October 25, 2024 04:37 PM

---------

Wolfman's got Nards!

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (+oR7L)

154 147 Great backstory to that flick. It was obviously based on the novel "Dracula," but the German producers neglected to purchase the rights from Bram Stoker's estate. Bram's widow got wind of it, sued for copyright violation, and won. All prints of the film were supposed to have been destroyed. But, obviously, some survived, fortunately.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (v6JzV)

=======

It's was Weimar! There were no rules!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:38 PM (GBKbO)

155 I like The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Posted by: redridinghood at October 25, 2024 04:39 PM (NpAcC)

156 Killer Clowns from Outer Space if you want something utterly ridiculous

Posted by: It's me donna

I watch that a few times a year. I still can't believe it didn't win best picture.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 25, 2024 04:39 PM (lTGtQ)

157 >>>143 Both "Fright NIght" and it's remakes are good flicks. Colin Farrell is awesome in the newer one, and the original, which I watched constantly as a kid, is the 1980s in all it's unmatched majesty.

disagree on the remake but the original is one my most-loved movies.

Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:39 PM (KRtlO)

158 When I was a kid my friend and I bugged his mother to take us to a movie called Beast of Blood. It was gory and scary as hell but the worst part was the theater was in Newark.

I don't know what scared me more the movie or Newark at night but I didn't sleep for like 3 days.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:39 PM (LkLld)

159 "The Haunting" is one of my favorites. The original with Julie Harris, that is, not the lousy remake with Liam Neeson. A great psychological thriller.

Posted by: hobbitopoly at October 25, 2024 04:39 PM (k9OZB)

160 Surfer dies after reportedly being impaled by swordfish

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at October 25, 2024 04:39 PM (VXcWv)

161 Evil Dead 2 was just a remake of Evil Dead with a better budget, so it might have been what drove House. However, House seemed to me to be more driven by the special effects with the plot being put in to allow the SFX to be linked together in a story.

That might have been why it was a bit disjointed.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 25, 2024 04:40 PM (D7oie)

162 Herzog and Kinski...
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (GBKbO)

Bergman and von Sydow..

Posted by: runner at October 25, 2024 04:40 PM (V13WU)

163 The Serpent and The Rainbow.
Posted by: Jordan61

Yeah, that's a freaky one.

Voodoo, coming to a midsize city near you.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:40 PM (v6JzV)

164 the original story for House was written by Fred Dekker, who wrote Monster Squad. (and then lost his career with Robocop 3)

Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:40 PM (KRtlO)

165 I second the love for the original _House_ movie.

It's so wonderfully off-kilter. It's creepy and weird, and sometimes funny.

It doesn't really explain what's going on in detail. Here's my head-canon: most of the time the house can't actually hurt you. It can only mess with your head. As evidence, when the protagonist interacts with the ghost of someone who died in the house, that ghost says "the house tricked me! It will trick you, too!" (But the young son really did disappear so I guess the house can sometimes have a real impact in the real world?)

It also has a really satisfying ending.

Posted by: mr_jack at October 25, 2024 04:40 PM (9w3M/)

166 There's a new version of Nosferatu coming out with Willem Dafoe. Trailers online

Posted by: brak at October 25, 2024 04:41 PM (4sYV0)

167 Good indie horror movie that didn't get a big reception was "Talk To Me" (2022) from Australia.

Group of teens finds a strange embalmed, cut off hand and almost like a Ouija board, lets them talk to the dead. chaos ensues.

Posted by: Blago at October 25, 2024 04:41 PM (x4HYe)

168 Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is hilariously wrong for making you laugh at gruesome deaths.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 25, 2024 04:41 PM (zm1uS)

169 >>>
Like a lot of things, I'm apparently at odds with most of America, because I find Anna Kendrick really unappealing. Plastic, false. If she's in it, I'm already Jessica Chastain levels of unenthused.

i don't love her either, but I wouldn't put her down at Jessica Chastain levels!

Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:41 PM (KRtlO)

170 It's not a Halloween movie, but Zombeavers is a great hack and slash young people making all the wrong decisions movie.

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 25, 2024 04:41 PM (r+J3S)

171 Halloween movies--

"The Gate" weirdo movie about a kid opening up a portal in his back yard.
"House" the Japanese one. Very odd, to say the least.
"Night of the Demons" the trashy 80's one with Linnea Quigley. It's dumb but "Stooge" is memorably vulgar.
"Return of the Living Dead" a classic.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at October 25, 2024 04:42 PM (CHHv1)

172 >Monster Squad

Wolfman's got nards!

Posted by: brak at October 25, 2024 04:42 PM (4sYV0)

173 I thought you meant another "House" at first, ace.

The Japanese horror film "Hausu" ("House") from 1977.

https://tinyurl.com/2w847n89
(Wiki article)

https://youtu.be/H0NWIxl2VJk
(Trailer)

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 25, 2024 04:42 PM (6ydKt)

174
John Carpenter's Christine about the '58 Plymouth Fury that kills people is pretty good.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 25, 2024 04:42 PM (+oR7L)

175 86 The only that got me (in the 90's) was John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness. Weaving the uncertainty about what would happen with Y2K with the main plot was effective. I remember the "dream" sequences were especially unnerving.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 25, 2024 04:27 PM (PiwSw)

The Black swirling cylinder, with pure evil inside it. I liked the religious element of the movie

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at October 25, 2024 04:42 PM (FCrpy)

176 || Cute scientist gal in sex fetish gear included.

Barbara Crampton. Still working and looking good. Also the first actress in movie history to get cunnilingus from a disembodied head, AFAIK.

|| Bram's widow got wind of it, sued for copyright violation, and won. All prints of the film were supposed to have been destroyed.

Or, as we say on "The Last Drive-In": Fuck Florence Stoker!

But I think that's harsh. I wanna know how this came to pass. She tried to get royalties and when she couldn't, destroying all the films was her only remaining option.

How did a court award this?

Something to do with the Berne Convention, I think.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (asXVI)

177 I haven't seen it in ages but remember rather liking John Carpenter's Vampires.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (LxER7)

178 I hate Stephen king but I did watch Pet Cemetery and nightmares for days

Posted by: It's me donna at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (IyPmt)

179 Can a monster be original if it's a remake of a Japanese original?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell
___

To be more specific, the depiction, coming through the TV, black and white and contorted and moving erratically. Actually I forget if that's how it was depicted in Ringu

Posted by: Chuck Martel at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (fs1hN)

180 114 We need more like this...

Zoomer Alcibiades
@HellenicVibes
Incredible things are happening in Spanish television

https://tinyurl.com/5n7e26v9
Posted by: Mister Ghost at October 25, 2024 04:32 PM (TGPs7)

Falling Down for modern times.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (KbCG3)

181 What, no one has mentioned Ghost Ship?

The same company also did 13 Ghosts (very unscary premise and House), and either He'll House or House on Haunted Hill remake.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (NCmV5)

182 The MST3K version of "Manos, Hands of Fate" would be a good late afternoon/early evening flick to watch on Halloween.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (v6JzV)

183 177 I haven't seen it in ages but remember rather liking John Carpenter's Vampires.
Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (LxER7)

=======

Ugh...that movie is so bad.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:44 PM (GBKbO)

184 >>I hate Stephen king but I did watch Pet Cemetery and nightmares for days

It

The book was scarier.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:44 PM (LkLld)

185 Posted by: hobbitopoly at October 25, 2024 04:39 PM (k9OZB)

The original was a great movie, Scared me alot as a kid, proving that you don't need to have massive special effects-which they didn't have back then-or gore to make a scary movie.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 25, 2024 04:44 PM (MQJVv)

186 Zombeavers was hilarious

Posted by: brak at October 25, 2024 04:44 PM (4sYV0)

187 178 I hate Stephen king but I did watch Pet Cemetery and nightmares for days
Posted by: It's me donna at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (IyPmt)

========

Pet Semetary the movie is just so flat looking and staccato, jumping from scene to scene. I don't think it works very well.

The Dark Half is better.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:44 PM (GBKbO)

188 John Carpenter's Christine about the '58 Plymouth Fury that kills people is pretty good.
Posted by: Frank Barone

And it's got the Dragnet/Baywatch babe in it.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:45 PM (v6JzV)

189 The MST3K version of "Manos, Hands of Fate" would be a good late afternoon/early evening flick to watch on Halloween.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (v6JzV)

The RiffTrax Live version is way better.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 25, 2024 04:45 PM (Ad8y9)

190 "It was hell."
-Werner Herzog
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:29 PM (GBKbO)

That was the guy with the angels movies right?

I used to watch those when I was trying to be a pretentious movie guy in undergrad.

Posted by: TexasDan at October 25, 2024 04:45 PM (rAsBA)

191 The MST3K version of "Manos, Hands of Fate" would be a good late afternoon/early evening flick to watch on Halloween.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (v6JzV)
----
That's a weird story as it *could* be a very dark, horrific tale of a family that is caught up in a cosmic horror story beyond their understanding.

As it is, it's just a goofy movie that is ripe for being mocked.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 25, 2024 04:45 PM (7fElN)

192 I now see I wasn't the only one who thought of the Japanese film.

I really should read the content from the morons, too.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 25, 2024 04:45 PM (6ydKt)

193 164 the original story for House was written by Fred Dekker, who wrote Monster Squad. (and then lost his career with Robocop 3)
Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:40 PM (KRtlO)

Interesting, because the Christian writer Ted Dekker also co-wrote a novel entitled "House" that also got made into a film.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_(novel)

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 25, 2024 04:45 PM (PiwSw)

194 184 It

The book was scarier.
Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:44 PM (LkLld)

=======

That's the next King book I have to read. I'm sure it'll be a tight read.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:45 PM (GBKbO)

195 || There's a new version of Nosferatu coming out with Willem Dafoe. Trailers online ||

In 2000's "Shadow of the Vampire", he plays Max Schreck, the actor who played "Nosferatu". And the gag of the movie is: He really IS a vampire.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:45 PM (asXVI)

196 Are monster movies horror movies I.e. Godzilla or Cloverfield?

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:46 PM (LpSeU)

197 195 In 2000's "Shadow of the Vampire", he plays Max Schreck, the actor who played "Nosferatu". And the gag of the movie is: He really IS a vampire.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:45 PM (asXVI)

========

One day...someone will release that on Blu-ray.

Come on, Kino...

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:46 PM (GBKbO)

198 The Legend of Hell House1973

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at October 25, 2024 04:46 PM (X6nHF)

199 #177 I highly recommend you get the book and read that. Much better than the movie IMHO.

If you like it, also read _Armor_ by the same author. It does to _Starship Troopers_ what _Vampire$_ does to vampires.

Posted by: mr_jack at October 25, 2024 04:46 PM (Br6tC)

200 187 178 I hate Stephen king but I did watch Pet Cemetery and nightmares for days
Posted by: It's me donna at October 25, 2024 04:43 PM (IyPmt)

========

I have to correct.. I didn't see the movie I read the book..

Posted by: It's me donna at October 25, 2024 04:46 PM (IyPmt)

201 Don't forget the monster movies, either -- King Kong, Godzilla, Gorgo (which scared the heck out of me when I was a kid), etc.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:47 PM (v6JzV)

202 House II was my first introduction to the movies and it is at least as insane and silly as the first.

Interestingly, a DIFFERENT Cheers alumn shows up in THAT one.

Posted by: Moron Pundit at October 25, 2024 04:47 PM (oYKvr)

203 I liked House II. Kind of a parody of the first one.

Posted by: f2000 at October 25, 2024 04:47 PM (eyFhl)

204 I hate Stephen king but I did watch Pet Cemetery and nightmares for days

It

The book was scarier.
Posted by: JackStraw
___

I hate conceding this because I also hate Stephen King (the person) but "It" was a masterpiece I couldn't put down.

Except for the one "ick" part.

Posted by: Blago at October 25, 2024 04:47 PM (x4HYe)

205 >>>198 The Legend of Hell House1973

i want to see that

Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:47 PM (KRtlO)

206 Posted by: Pug Mahon

I left you the answer to your question at the end of the last thread. I might have changed a word but you can probably figure it out.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:47 PM (LkLld)

207 Why does Stephen King need to keep making new Versions of SALEM'S LOT, the one from the 79 is still the best version.

The Guest on Netflix, where a evil spirit uses humans to kill people and a Kid now Priest tries to hunt down the Spirt because it killed his Family, it's Korean.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at October 25, 2024 04:47 PM (FCrpy)

208
I like both newish Sleepy Hollow & Dark Shadows movies.

Here's a 1980 TV version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, starring Jeff Goldblum, Meg Foster (the chick with the eyes), and Dick Butkus.

https://is.gd/N2gKll

Posted by: Soothsayer at October 25, 2024 04:47 PM (jLdR/)

209 .... I'm not alone

Posted by: f2000 at October 25, 2024 04:48 PM (eyFhl)

210 There was a Spanish zombie movie set during the Spanish civil war called Valley of the Dead, which starts with a Nationalist officer and his convicted deserter driver being sent as a courier across partisan held land, where they first find murderous Germans where they shouldn't be, try to find a downed Italian pilot who was crop dusting blue powder, a Partisan Republican guerrilla band, and then discover that the whole valley is full of zombies created by the Germans as a weapon, and the only way out is through the Germans who are squatting on the only exit to the valley that isn't mobbed by the shambling undead.
Formulaic period piece that spends lots of time figuring out what zombies are and vague discussions of the grievances of the civil war, but I loved the uniforms.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 25, 2024 04:48 PM (D7oie)

211 I liked Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers. Saw it a long time ago and enjoyed it. So even Pedo's can do good work.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 25, 2024 04:48 PM (AdHga)

212 I wonder if modern CGI has made horror movies too easy.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:48 PM (LpSeU)

213 And it's got the Dragnet/Baywatch babe in it.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:45 PM

Yeah, and she's has a twin.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 25, 2024 04:48 PM (+oR7L)

214 Oh, Shadow of the Vampire with Willem Defoe is super creepy!!!!

Posted by: Lizzy at October 25, 2024 04:48 PM (Hkcdp)

215 211 I liked Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers. Saw it a long time ago and enjoyed it. So even Pedo's can do good work.
Posted by: Pudinhead at October 25, 2024 04:48 PM (AdHga)

=======

Polanski is one of the best filmmakers of the 20th century.

And he's a fucking terrible person.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:48 PM (GBKbO)

216 We had John Carpenter at the World Drive-In Academy Awards, and Joe Bob had him to interview for "Prince of Darkness".

JB's argument being, "We know all about The Thing [which was the second feature] but we wanna know what the heck is going on in PoD."

Carpenter was super cool.

When they did the montage of all of his movies, people were cheering all kinds of things, including (e.g.) "Escape from L.A." but not "Vampires."

I liked "Vampires" but I was clearly in the minority.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:49 PM (asXVI)

217 I saw House when I was about 7 years old; my dad had it playing on the TV like it was nothing and I found it terrifying on every level. All these years later (I was born in ‘80) I’ve never met anyone in meatspace who had seen it or knew what I was talking about when I described it. Pure nightmare fuel for little kids.

Posted by: Still Scarred at October 25, 2024 04:49 PM (B4Nkq)

218 discover a lead-lined room, containing Belasco's preserved body seated in a chair. Pulling out a pocket knife, Fischer rips open Belasco's trouser leg, discovering his final secret: a pair of prosthetic legs. Fischer realises that Belasco had had his own stunted legs amputated, and that he had used the prosthetics with which they were replaced in a grotesque attempt to appear imposing. Belasco also had the specially built room lined with lead, presaging the discovery of the electromagnetic nature of life after death.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at October 25, 2024 04:49 PM (X6nHF)

219 I have a lot of books in my queue. For King, Carrie and Night Shift are next: I bought them because I saw copies with glow in the dark covers. (Yes, I'm a child.) I'm saving IT and its child sewer orgy till I am near death. Have to have something to look forward to in my oldest age.

Posted by: The horror, the horror at October 25, 2024 04:49 PM (FXHeD)

220 Peter Jackson's "King Kong" was a really decent 90-minute film wrapped in a huge, stinky, pillowy 3-hour bolus of CG dumbness.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 25, 2024 04:49 PM (Ad8y9)

221 Shot out to The Ninth Gate.

Posted by: runner at October 25, 2024 04:50 PM (V13WU)

222 So, the horror movie House is about an eccentric doctor who diagnoses weird cases of demonic possession?

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:50 PM (v6JzV)

223 Polanski is one of the best filmmakers of the 20th century.

And he's a fucking terrible person.
---

The universe cares not for your moral code.

HP Lovecraft (and Conan) were right.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:50 PM (asXVI)

224 Jeepers Creepers, The Mist and Signs were, I thought, fantastic for the first half or so, building the tension.

I don't know how they could have kept that up the whole movie, though.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 25, 2024 04:50 PM (zm1uS)

225 What's the name of that vampire movie where Salma Hayek played a stripper dancing with a snake?

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:50 PM (LpSeU)

226 There’s John Carpenter’s “Vampires” movie with James Woods.

Posted by: Lizzy at October 25, 2024 04:51 PM (Hkcdp)

227 I also have to recommend again... Willie's Wonderland.

Every horror movie cliche' in existence, goofy monsters, and Nicolas Cage never speaks, not one word.

It's hilarious!

Posted by: Madame Mayhem (uppity wench) at October 25, 2024 04:51 PM (4XwPj)

228 223 The universe cares not for your moral code.

HP Lovecraft (and Conan) were right.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:50 PM (asXVI)

=======

Nihilism! Cosmic nihilism!

One day I'll do a retrospective of him. But he's gotta die first. He's still making movies. He's in his 90s, and he sort of released a movie last year (it never got picked up by anyone...anywhere).

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, finding suspense, madness, and humanity with Michael Powell at October 25, 2024 04:51 PM (GBKbO)

229
Dusk to Dawn?

Posted by: Soothsayer at October 25, 2024 04:51 PM (jLdR/)

230 >>I hate conceding this because I also hate Stephen King (the person) but "It" was a masterpiece I couldn't put down.

The scariest thing is his metamorphosis into an aging lesbian.

But that book scared the crap out of me.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:52 PM (LkLld)

231 I wonder if modern CGI has made horror movies too easy.
Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:48 PM (LpSeU)
---
Interesting point. Part of the charm of early horror movies was the low budget, forcing the directors to come up with creative ways to evoke an emotional response from the audience. They had to be efficient and economical because they had virtually no money for anything fancy.

Now, anyone with a bit of skill and knowledge can crank out "better" effects using Adobe Premier Pro.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 25, 2024 04:52 PM (7fElN)

232 It only lasted two seasons but Helix was shaping up to be a good horror series.

Shame.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 25, 2024 04:52 PM (zm1uS)

233 Can't believe that you didn't mention that House II has Bill Maher in one of his first acting roles.

He plays an insufferable prick - that is, himself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yna9yCaE2jA

While you are at it check out his acting work in "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death"

https://tinyurl.com/mahercannibal

Posted by: Viso Latte at October 25, 2024 04:52 PM (a8p5r)

234 I start getting into the Halloween spirit earlier every year. This year has started in early September.

Trick ‘r Treat is the best. All Amicus/Hammer anthologies are awesome. Cabin in the woods is fun. The (original) Haunting is required. Ace’s Late Night with the Devil (available on Hulu) is really good. Someone mentioned Abigail (fun).

Right now I’m watching the Simpsons treehouse of horror marathon.

Posted by: Blutarski at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (Cp1vk)

235 Yeah, The Ninth Gate is not only a great movie, it's the rare case in which the movie improves upon the book (The Club Dumas), which was good too.

Posted by: The horror, the horror at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (FXHeD)

236 Saw Fiend Without A Face when I was six.
Hated horror movies ever since.
I need bier!

Posted by: Diogenes at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (W/lyH)

237 157 >>>143 Both "Fright NIght" and it's remakes are good flicks. Colin Farrell is awesome in the newer one, and the original, which I watched constantly as a kid, is the 1980s in all it's unmatched majesty.

disagree on the remake but the original is one my most-loved movies.

Posted by: ace at October 25, 2024 04:39 PM (KRtlO)

Colin Farrell is the ONLY thing good about the new version, He's Amazing, but the rest of the cast was meh

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (FCrpy)

238 Posted by: Pug Mahon

I left you the answer to your question at the end of the last thread. I might have changed a word but you can probably figure it out.
Posted by: JackStraw at October 25, 2024 04:47 PM (LkLld)

Ha! thank you, sir.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (Ad8y9)

239 @217

I had the same experience. Mentioned at #48, I still remember seeing it decades later. No idea why it was on for me at that age

Posted by: brak at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (4sYV0)

240 Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (v6JzV)

241 What's the name of that vampire movie where Salma Hayek played a stripper dancing with a snake?
---
Dusk to Dawn.

Damn, that was fine piece ... of cinema, I mean.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (zm1uS)

242 “5Nights at Freddy’s” is creepy

Posted by: Lizzy at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (Hkcdp)

243
I liked "Vampires" but I was clearly in the minority.
Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!)
___

FWIW, I also liked it.

Posted by: Blago at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (x4HYe)

244 Am I the only one that has zero interest in horror?

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (KbCG3)

245 I think some episodes of the Kolchak TV series were pretty good.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:54 PM (LpSeU)

246
speaking of James Woods...

New: Here is Mr Woods chatting Megan Kelley, today

https://is.gd/s30acz

Posted by: Soothsayer at October 25, 2024 04:54 PM (jLdR/)

247 The Wifey and I watch Zak Bagans on Ghost Adventures during the Halloween season. That man is the gift that keeps on giving, and a national treasure.

Posted by: Stu Podaso at October 25, 2024 04:54 PM (fQmeC)

248 >>>The violence in Trick 'R Treat is the kind that makes you go "Aah!" and then laugh. Or say "Good kill."

This made me laugh.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at October 25, 2024 04:54 PM (BW/4L)

249 Yeah, The Ninth Gate is not only a great movie, it's the rare case in which the movie improves upon the book (The Club Dumas), which was good too.
Posted by: The horror, the horror
___

I liked the Ninth Gate, I just didn't really understand the ending (or if it was supposed to be left up in the air)

Posted by: Blago at October 25, 2024 04:54 PM (x4HYe)

250 sidebar - the Great Hollywood Purge, you cannot have a real purge without Kathleen Kennedy being fired!

Posted by: runner at October 25, 2024 04:55 PM (V13WU)

251 Excision - 2012 - US with Ariel Winter, Traci Lords, Malcolm McDowell, Marlee Matlin and Ray Wise. Nice idea but horribly executed. MASH had scarier surgical scenes. 3 out of 10

The Inside - 2007 - France. 10 out of 10. Brutally relentless. Woman ready to give birth meets a woman with scissors. If you like Terrifier, check it out.

Ichi the Killer - 2001 - Japan. 10 out of 10. A crime horror movie based on a manga. Beautifully filmed. Pretty bloody for a Japanese movie. Great effects. A crime boss goes missing.

Audition - 1999 - Japan. 10 out of 10. Others here highly recommended it. Beautifully written and filmed. I loved the father - son relationship and the friendship between the guys. Got a bit weird but was still a great movie.

All are on Tubi or Roku free....

Posted by: Stateless at October 25, 2024 04:55 PM (jvJvP)

252 Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park.

Posted by: Yeah, Don't Watch It at October 25, 2024 04:55 PM (2bFN5)

253 The Haunting is a great haunted house movie. Maybe the best IMO. Robert Wise was the director.

The best ones always have the undercurrent of whether the person is crazy or not.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at October 25, 2024 04:55 PM (Vh9CX)

254 Speaking of Lovecraft... Dagon

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 25, 2024 04:55 PM (PiwSw)

255 Am I the only one that has zero interest in horror?
Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (KbCG3)

Nah, plenty of people like us out here. We're just not vocal about it.

Posted by: Run with it! Certified dangerous radical at October 25, 2024 04:55 PM (89Sog)

256 The Hound of the Baskervilles with Peter Cushing as Holmes was pretty good as horror.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:55 PM (LpSeU)

257 A good scary movie to watch for the season is Babadook. Creeps me out just thinking about it. It's a day watch for me. Never at night.

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 25, 2024 04:56 PM (g8Ew8)

258 The Wifey and I watch Zak Bagans on Ghost Adventures during the Halloween season. That man is the gift that keeps on giving, and a national treasure.
----
His new series is really good.
Little episode of haunted history.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 25, 2024 04:56 PM (zm1uS)

259 >>>RECCOMENDATIONZZZ for Halloween viewing

I am going back to the originals (well, '70s originals), many of which I never saw all the way through. Halloween, Friday 13th, Body Snatchers, Exorcist, that sort of thing.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at October 25, 2024 04:56 PM (BW/4L)

260 The remake of The Blob was a fun movie. Kevin Dillon is always good as an antihero.

Posted by: J. Frank Parnell at October 25, 2024 04:56 PM (eb5mD)

261 "House," which I found really enjoyable, was directed by Steve Miner.

Steve Miner directed the second and third installments of "Friday the 13th" and STILL managed to destroy the continuity between both the first and the second AND the second and the third.

"House 2", which is not as good, was directed by the writer of "House", Ethan Wiley. It has John Ratzenberger in it instead of George Wendt, which mae me wonder if they would go through the whole "Cheers" cast.

"House III: The Horror Show" was not a sequel in any way I can determine.

William Katt returns for "House IV", briefly, which has only the lovely Terri Treas and her two enormous talents to boast. And those talents are mostly covered.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my book!) at October 25, 2024 04:57 PM (asXVI)

262 There’s a sleepy hollow version from maybe hallmark from the nineties that I think is really faithful. Then I watch the Johnny depp version.

Posted by: Blutarski at October 25, 2024 04:57 PM (Cp1vk)

263
Do you like bats?

The best intro ever with bats:

https://is.gd/nDgXwD

Posted by: Soothsayer at October 25, 2024 04:57 PM (jLdR/)

264 Am I the only one that has zero interest in horror?
Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer

The weird thing about "horror" as a genre is that it has so many subgenres that are not really closely related to each other:

ghost stories (e.g., The Uninvited);
mad scientist stuff (e.g., Frankenstein);
Undead and zombie stuff (e.g., Dracula, Night of the Living Dead);
Monster movies (e.g., King Kong, Godzilla);
Aliens (e.g., The Day the Earth Stood Still0:
Slasher flicks (e.g., Friday the 13th).

And others that I'm forgetting right now.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 04:58 PM (v6JzV)

265 Newd, nood, nude!!!

Posted by: Gmac - WTF did you think was going to happen? at October 25, 2024 04:58 PM (dsWu9)

266
It's Scooby Doo, since none of you will click on it.

The bats from Scooby Doo.

Posted by: Soothsayer at October 25, 2024 04:58 PM (jLdR/)

267 244 Am I the only one that has zero interest in horror?

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (KbCG3)

Up to a few months ago, I only watched comedies. And mainly older Disney and Nick shows.

Life turned crappy. Bring on the horror and slasher flicks. Nothing has been as screwed up as reality....

Posted by: Stateless at October 25, 2024 04:58 PM (jvJvP)

268 I've watched a few horror movies over my long life and never missed an episode of Kolchak but I would not call myself a horror movie fan.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 04:58 PM (LpSeU)

269 Hey! I apologized for Trump building the White House on an Indian burial ground. No joke. That SOB painted it white too. He should have painted it red, to honor those who used to live there.

By the way, there is nothing wrong with me. My word as a Biteum.

Posted by: Joe Biteum at October 25, 2024 04:59 PM (vFG9F)

270 Just setting aside film quality, I'm thinking what are the actual "most scary" movies you've ever seen.

I still think "The Exorcist" is at the top, just because I actually do believe in it.

Hereditary was also up there, disturbing and scary.

Posted by: Blago at October 25, 2024 04:59 PM (x4HYe)

271 I don’t know how I forgot. Exorcist 3: Legion.

Posted by: Blutarski at October 25, 2024 04:59 PM (Cp1vk)

272 My mom loved Halloween and Christmas. When she worked with pre-schools she grew pumpkins to carve for the classrooms. I wish I had a bit more of her inner kid enjoyment of these holidays, but its not something I stamped out because "have to be adult" it is just not there for me.

Posted by: PaleRider at October 25, 2024 05:00 PM (CKOCg)

273 I think exorcist 3 is scarier than exorcist.

Posted by: Blutarski at October 25, 2024 05:01 PM (Cp1vk)

274 270 Just setting aside film quality, I'm thinking what are the actual "most scary" movies you've ever seen.

I still think "The Exorcist" is at the top, just because I actually do believe in it.

Hereditary was also up there, disturbing and scary.
Posted by: Blago at October 25, 2024 04:59 PM (x4HYe)

I get these choices.

For me, it's Sinister.
That one makes my skin crawl.

Posted by: The horror, the horror at October 25, 2024 05:01 PM (FXHeD)

275 The remake of The Blob was a fun movie. Kevin Dillon is always good as an antihero.
Posted by: J. Frank Parnell at October 25, 2024 04:56 PM (eb5mD)

Agree. It's a well-done remake.

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 25, 2024 05:01 PM (g8Ew8)

276 It's Scooby Doo, since none of you will click on it.

The bats from Scooby Doo.
Posted by: Soothsayer

That was a great opening.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 05:01 PM (v6JzV)

277 The Hammer Studios movie The Devil Rides Out is a great movie. It was released as The Devil’s Bride in the USA. Christopher Lee gets to play the good guy for once. Yeah the effects can be very cheesy but the scene with Charles Gray taking over a woman’s mind that is the definition of suspense.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at October 25, 2024 05:03 PM (Vh9CX)

278 Left off my list at 264: Demonic possession/Satanic cult stuff.

Which I generally refuse to watch on religious grounds.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 05:03 PM (v6JzV)

279 Also, Daphne Blake. Mmmmmm...

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 05:03 PM (v6JzV)

280 The devil rides out is playing on turner classic next week.

Posted by: Blutarski at October 25, 2024 05:03 PM (Cp1vk)

281 "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" is the first collaborative studio album by Brian Eno and David Byrne, released in February 1981. The album features a mix of sampled vocals, found sounds, and rhythms influenced by African and Middle Eastern music, "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" is the first collaborative studio album by Brian Eno and David Byrne, released in February 1981. The album features a mix of sampled vocals, found sounds, and rhythms influenced by African and Middle Eastern music,

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at October 25, 2024 05:04 PM (X6nHF)

282 Robert Wise' "The Haunting" is my pick for most frightening movie.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at October 25, 2024 05:04 PM (CHHv1)

283 Ahhh, the Spanish series is Bella Artes...
Posted by: Mister Ghost at October 25, 2024 04:35 PM (TGPs7)

Ok. The trailer makes it seem fncking hilarious

youtu.be/EMPLKUXZ4CI

Posted by: Kindltot at October 25, 2024 05:04 PM (D7oie)

284 Killer Klowns From Outer Space is a fun flick. Cute young ginger in it, too.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 05:05 PM (v6JzV)

285 239 @217

I had the same experience. Mentioned at #48, I still remember seeing it decades later. No idea why it was on for me at that age
Posted by: brak at October 25, 2024 04:53 PM (4sYV0)
————
My dad had zero kid filters, or something; I remember seeing Poltergeist around that age, too. I can’t imagine what he was thinking.

Posted by: Still Scarred at October 25, 2024 05:08 PM (B4Nkq)

286 Speaking of Hammer Horror

https://youtu.be/XR4KnfcgLm0?si=_UxQ8YBPh4NHb_1e

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 25, 2024 05:08 PM (LpSeU)

287 There's a horror play in Yiddish theater called "The Dybbuk" that I've always wanted to see.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 05:08 PM (v6JzV)

288 American Assassin 2017.
Big fiction. The story shows spies doing their real jobs.

Posted by: Humphreyrobot at October 25, 2024 05:08 PM (J8LnB)

289 Not scary but disturbing if you haven't yet seen it is Nefarious from last year.
Just two guys talking.
Highly recommend

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 25, 2024 05:09 PM (J5RCE)

290 Hammer had the hottest scream queens.

Other than Fay Wray, who was in a league of her own when it came to that.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 05:09 PM (v6JzV)

291 Warlock >> John Carpenter's Vampires.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 25, 2024 05:14 PM (J5RCE)

292 || Other than Fay Wray, who was in a league of her own when it came to that.

The Hammer girls were hot, no question. Right before the lockdowns I saw King Kong and was struck by how gorgeous Wray was in it. You can't tell on a 9" tube TV, but on the big screen? A knockout and rather modern looking.

https://moviegique.com/2020/06/king-kong-1933/

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books) at October 25, 2024 05:15 PM (asXVI)

293 "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts"
____

There's a joke in there somewhere. But I got nuthin

Posted by: Chuck Martel at October 25, 2024 05:16 PM (fs1hN)

294 Oh, so there's a nood.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at October 25, 2024 05:16 PM (v6JzV)

295 nood.

Posted by: 13times at October 25, 2024 05:49 PM (887Oq)

296 How could the Bugs Bunny clip not include the interesting monster/interesting hairdo?

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at October 25, 2024 07:15 PM (Dm8we)

297 I can't believe no one has mentioned the scariest movie ever among those set on Halloween - "The Hollywood Knights". I can't say whether the one-armed violinist, the spiked punch, or the naked crackers dumped in Watts is the scariest part for me.

Posted by: Dagwood at October 25, 2024 07:34 PM (CC0N1)

298 I haven’t seen House since it came out on VHS, which hints at how old I am… I am now planning on watching it again.

Trick R Treat was amusing and a fun way to spend an evening.

If you have a strong stomach, the first two Terrifier movies are WAY over the top, and the third is good as well, as long as kids in peril doesn’t bother you too much, especially because good old Art the Clown lets you know in the first five minutes that all bets are off.

And if you can find a production near you, Evil Dead the Musical is absolutely bug fuck nuts. I saw a production a few years ago and it’s not a GOOD musical, but it’s not intended to be, which is what makes it a great time. Especially if the theater putting it on has a splatter zone. In that case, definitely sit in the splatter zone.

Posted by: Misanthropic Misanthrope at October 25, 2024 10:02 PM (Y2NGV)

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