FRIGHT NIGHT (1986)
No, not the recent film starring Colin Ferrell put that out of your mind forever and check out the Tom Holland original. This film gives the feeling of living within an episode of a late night monster movie show, back when the horror hosts were kings. The film also brings back those old days where you watched one two many movies late at night and assumed that dog outside was something more sinister. 'Fright Night' takes the vampire tropes and gives them some creativity and vigor while still keeping the spirit of those films of old. Check this one out with a group and you'll have fun.
THE EXORCIST III: LEGION (1990)
Yes, I am going outside the norm and bringing a sequel that deserves much more attention than it gets. The lack of publicity was likely due to the dry valley that was 90's horror flicks and its a shame 'Legion' got lost within the decade because it's almost on equal footing with the 1973 classic. George C. Scott, Brad Dourif, and Jason Miller are some of the best actors in film history and they all pull off their very best here. 'Exorcist III' has a very dark and quiet tone to it, making even the quieter moments so unsettling that your just wishing for something to happen so the uncomfortable silence will end. Dare I say, 'The Exorcist III' is creepier than the original and I highly recommend it. And the director this time around is the author of the novel himself, what more do you want?
HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982)
Everyone knows John Carpenter's 'Halloween' is possibly the best modern horror film of all time, so I really don't want to put it here as I hope most people have seen it by now. What I would like to put here is one of its highly underrated sequels. Yes, I know about all the complaints: No Michael Myers, No connections to the series however when going over the franchise as a whole, 'Season of the Witch' stands out as a much better film than most of the other sequels. The film tells a solo tale of a creepy small town where masks are being manufactured to kill all the children of the world, giving the film almost an alien invader scenario mixed with the background of Halloween. The film captures the holiday perfectly, from its costumes, to its set design and even its creepy synth score by Carpenter himself. Please ignore anyone who wants to be negative about this film, check it out for yourself. I think you'll be surprised.
EVENT HORIZON (1997)
'Alien' meets 'Hellraiser' in director Paul Anderson's 'Event Horizon' a surprise film that I checked out on the television one afternoon back in the day and have fallen in love with it ever since. The film has been notoriously butchered and edited heavily due to its content, but what is there is still enough to fuel those nightmares at night. I will admit the film has many flaws, possibly due to the editing but its hard to ignore the choppy story and lack of interesting characters. Still, the film's visuals and short length is more than enough to warrant a late evening viewing. If only Anderson could make the 'Resident Evil' films as well as this one.
THE HAUNTING (1962)
The final pick here is one that is a little bit older, but doesn't lose any of its charm or horror. A much more psychological horror film than its 1999 remake which I wish to forget about, 'The Haunting' shows the slow break down of a troubled young woman who may or may not be experiencing paranormal activity all leading up to a well executed climax. The film is very much about the visuals rather than a straight story. Do not expect non stop sequences of action through this one, its meant to be appreciated and to give you a discussion afterwards with your friends. I simply love this film, and why shouldn't it be a great film? Robert Wise (Sound of Music) is the director after all.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
James Wan is the best horror director of the modern age bar none and 'Insidious' is his masterpiece. This film genuinely terrified me, and those who know me know that is a hard feat indeed. There's so much to discuss here, however we will be getting into this one later next month.
DEAD SILENCE:
Mr. Wan again in his second effort about a deadly ventriloquist ghost. 'Dead Silence' is a precursor to what would become 'The Conjuring' and 'Insidious' but this one doesn't quite have the same polish. Still, worth checking out.
THE WOMAN IN BLACK:
Daniel Radcliff, Hammer Films, a Haunted House and a creepy old lady ghost. What about this combination of things is a negative in any way? Great flick, but recommended to those who can handle slower paced films.
THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL:
Ti West's 2nd outing is his best effort to date. Set in the 1980's, the film gives that nice retro feel that brings you back to the days of renting old monster movies from the video store every weekend. The film is also a beauty to look at as well but it is not for the squeamish. Be forewarned.
CRIMSON PEAK:
Guillermo Del Toro brings Gothic horror and romance together in this recent effort. The film is beautiful in both its gore and its visuals, with every scene detailed and set up expertly. It may lack some of the precision of Del Toro's other films, however its a perfect choice for the holiday.
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