Ten Scary Movies for a Perfect Halloween
Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½The Omen (1976) Directed by Richard Donner – Gregory Peck and Lee Remick stars in this exceedingly disturbing film about a young boy whose mysterious and horrific deaths that follow him around would indicate he could be the dreaded Anti-Christ. Jerry Goldsmith’s superb Oscar-winning score will really get under your skin.
Frankenstein (1931) Directed by James Whale – This film should be a staple of every Halloween. This best adaptation of the classic Mary Shelley novel still packs a punch even today when Boris Karloff’s look has already been endlessly imitated and parodied. Sprinkled with some camp and dark humor, its sequel, The Bride of Frankenstein is said to be even better.
The Shining (1980) Directed by Stanley Kubrick – Stephen King was reportedly disappointed with Kubrick’s adaptation of his best-selling novel and so are many of the book’s fans. But those who look at it separately from the novel will find this is a wonderfully creepy and borderline surreal and cerebral horror masterpiece from one of the world’s best directors. Time has, thankfully, vindicated it.
Ring (1998) Directed by Hideo Nakata – The film that placed Japanese horror into the consciousness of mainstream world cinema. Few films have ever topped this one which already spawned a sequel, a prequel, a Hollywood adaptation and even a Korean version. The Hollywood version may have better special effects but the Japanese version is guaranteed to make you sleep with the lights on.
Cat People (1942) Directed by Jacques Tourneur – It’s just one of the many great horror films produced by Val Lewton (a box set of all of them is available for purchase). Not to be confused by the awful 1980’s remake, this film about a man who falls in love with a woman (Simone Simon in an outstanding performance) who claims to come from a tribe whose members turn into killer cats. Film is scary yet also a tender, moving love story which would make for a great Halloween date movie.
The Fly (1986) Directed by David Cronenberg – Speaking of Halloween date movie, those whose girlfriends don’t mind disgusting makeup effects to go with their tears would do well as to rent this unconventional film about an ambitious scientist (Jeff Goldblum) whose experiments in teleportation go horribly wrong. Geena Davis plays his girlfriend who watches him slowly lose his humanity as the fly’s genes invade his bodily system. Sure to invite both vomit and tears.
Nosferatu (1922) Directed by F.W. Murnau – This German silent film is an unofficial adaptation of the Bram Stoker novel and it features probably the scariest cinematic vampire ever. Though Bela Lugosi is the best official Dracula, Max Schreck as Nosferatu is the one who will rule your nightmares.
Scream (1996) Directed by Wes Craven – This film singlehandedly revived the teen slasher genre in the mid-1990’s. This darkly comedic self-aware parody of the genre is in itself a scary entry to the genre. A horror movie crazed killer is killing off teenagers in a suburban town. Every cliche is done and done well. Spawned two sequels and numerous subsequent imitations but this one still remains the best of them.
Psycho (1960) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock – What else is there to say that has not been already said by this Alfred Hitchcock classic film? From Anthony Perkins’s creepy performance, Janet Leigh’s famous murder in the shower and “Mother”. Beware the wholly unnecessary 1998 remake.
The Exorcist (1973) Directed by William Friedkin – Despite being over 30 years old and with numerous sequels and parodies over the years, this movie about a little girl possessed by the Devil, still manages to be scary, disturbing and startling and that’s really saying something.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Halloween is not complete without this in your viewing schedule.
These are just 10 scary movies. There are numerous others like Poltergeist, Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Sixth Sense, etc. You do not need to go trick or treating to have a perfectly scary Halloween.
