Halloween season is upon us and nothing gets you in the spirit like curling up on the couch to a spooky film.
KnightNews.com’s resident film buffs Thomas Harbaugh and Devon Trevathan collaborated to put together 10 of the best movies in no order to put you in the Halloween spirit this fall:
Funny Games
When Michael Haneke released Funny Games, his goal was to force audiences to deal with the emotional implications of the sadistic violence portrayed on screen. The film follows two young men who hold a family hostage and torture them with games, all revolving around the structure of film. It was a movie created in opposition to the way American filmmakers portrayed violence on screen; remaining, to this day, one of the most tense films ever made and easily one of the best additions to a Halloween horror marathon.
Hocus Pocus
This movie has everything you’d expect from a 90’s classic: teen angst, oblivious parents and a poorly animated talking cat. Throw in three fabulous witch sisters, an elaborate child-eating story line and you have the horror glory that is Hocus Pocus. I suggest you all honor a tradition as old as Samhain itself and bust this puppy out with a cauldron full of candy. Amuck, amuck, amuck!
The Thing
Once John Carpenter had established himself as a master of horror with Halloween, it was hard to imagine he could surpass such an achievement. In 1982 he released The Thing, which tells the story of an Antarctic research team, who are horrified to find that their base has been infiltrated by a parasitic, extraterrestrial life form, capable of imitating any one on their crew. While you could debate whether or not The Thing is objectively better than Halloween, it does manage to present itself as a worthy competitor thanks to impressive animatronics, which still hold up visually to this day. If you’re looking for a paranoia filled creature feature, then The Thing is not to be avoided.
The Addams Family
The Addams family is the black-clad family you never knew you wanted until you saw how gleefully morose they were in this cinematic treasure. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll develop an unhealthy obsession with Wednesday Addams and her endless sass. This is a must-watch.
Cabin in the Woods
Lately the best horror movies have been those that satirize the entire genre, in an attempt to please critics and challenge audience members. But what makes Cabin in the Woods so remarkable, is the film’s ability to both mock horror clichés and allow viewers to relish in them. It follows simple plot about a group of college kids who go to spend time at a remote cabin in the woods, but it quickly becomes one of the funniest, most horrifying and intelligent films released in the last few years. If you’re looking for something to watch this Halloween that’s a little lighter on the scares, then Cabin in the Woods is sure to impress.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
If you see this title and don’t immediately fall into a heavenly bubble of childhood nostalgia, then I’m sorry for you. Join the Peanuts gang as they ready themselves for Halloween and watch Charlie get rocks instead of candy. Oh good grief!
Beetlejuice
What’s more Halloween than a story about ghosts? Specifically a young ghost couple who find themselves haunting their former home and its new inhabitants with the help of another ghost named Beetlejuice. Directed by fantasy godfather Tim Burton, this movie is equal parts funny and insane, plus it features a song and dance number that will make your day-o.
Psycho
To me, a “classic” film is one that can be viewed, decades after its original release and it still retains the same significance and impact as when it was originally released. A film like Psycho more than embodies this definition. When I first watched the movie a few years ago, I was blown away by the anxiety inducing tension it possessed, along with how the music still managed to sound unique and distinct for a horror film. It raised the bar for how much violence could be shown on screen, and to this day perfectly illustrates why Alfred Hitchcock was one the best directors to have ever lived. Even if you shy away from older films, I highly recommend giving Psycho a chance. It might have been released 54 years ago, but it has not shown a single sign of age, since.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
THIS IS HALLOWEEN, THIS IS HALLOWEEN! HALLOWEEN! HALLOWEEN! HALLOWEEN! HALLOWEEN! Also, Jack Skellington and his fierce pinstripes. ‘Nuff said.
OR
Have you ever wondered what would happen if your two favorite holidays magically collided? No? Well don’t worry, Tim Burton did it for you. This stop-motion classic follows Jack Skellington, who is charged with leading the annual Halloween Town celebration. He then accidentally opens a portal to Christmas Town. Shenanigans ensue.
American Psycho
American Psycho is, both, one of the most disturbing and hilarious films I have ever seen. It follows Patrick Bateman, a wealthy investment banker who thrives during the 1980s, both in his profession and as a serial killer. The movie blurs the lines between reality and fiction, often while satirizing the uniformity of society at the height of Reaganomics and how little people pay attention to anything but themselves. It’s dark, comical, stomach churning, violent and the perfect, modern, slasher film.
