Halloween Movie Trick and Treats for Grownups

On my last blog, I presented a list of Halloween movies suitable for children, now since we have put them to be, it is the adults turn.

The following are some of my all-time favorite movies for Halloween. They might not be the best, but they are ones which have a special place in my heard. I hope you will enjoy them.

Halloween (1978)- Lets start off with one with the holiday name sake. This is the original, and the best. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis in a role that made her career and introduced the boogie man; Michael Meyers.

Night of the Living Dead (1968)- Dead-Dawn of the Dead (1978)-These two great movies by George Romeo who started the zombie genre. Each is unique and is a necessary view for anyone who loves horror and zombies.

Black Sabbath (1960) AKA Black Sunday- AKA The Mask of Satan. A witch seeks revenge against the decedents who burnt her at the stake. The opening scene where a mask is nailed to the witches face is one of the most horrifying scenes on film.

The Last Man on Earth (1964)- This movie is also on my kids list. It is very entertaining movie. Based on a novel by the great author Richard Matheson.

Zombie (1979)- An Italian movie entering the zombie genre. A zombie fights a killer shark; do I need to say anything else?

The Exorcist (1973)- This is indeed the most terrifying movie of all time.

The Haunting (1963)- Again referring to the original version. What goes on is here is physiological horror.

Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)- Based upon a Ray Bradbury story. I enjoy this movie very much, and it also has a family oriented theme.

Swamp Thing (1982)- It has a mad scientist, a castle and a creature from the swamp. What else do you want?

Pontypool (2008)- A great Canadian horror film. A different kind of zombie movie; the gore is kept to a minimum, and the zombie virus is passed via words. This is a great movie.

Salem’s Lot (1979)- This is actually an excellent TV miniseries based on a Stephen King novel. There is a scene where a vampire scratches at a window, which is one of the scariest scenes ever filmed.

Rare Exports; A Christmas Tale (2010)- Don’t let this name fool you. This is a very scary movie. Santa Claus and his elves are not what you expect. Don’t swear, chew gum, and whatever you do; don’t smoke.

Shock Waves (1979) - Dead Snow (2009) - Two of the best (it’s a small list) of Nazi Zombie movies.

Cabin in the Woods (2012)- This is one of the few “modern” horror movies I have listed.  I believe modern directors do not know the difference between horror, suspense and gore. This movie is so unique I had to include it.

Freaks (1932)- This is a rarely seen movie. Based at a circus it is a love triangle between a wealthy dwarf, a gold-digging aerialist, and a strongman. This movie was so controversial it was banned in the United Kingdom for the next 30 years.  Even though the director had several films afterward, Tod Browning’s career was basically destroyed.

Evil Dead II, Dead by Dawn (1987)- Directed by Sam Rami before he became a big time Hollywood director. It stars Bruce Campbell, which propelled him into the king of the B-movies.

Psycho (1960)-Alfred Hitchcock directs Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles in one of the greatest movies ever made.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)- As with Psycho also Silence of the Lambs, the characters in these movies are based on the real life Ed Gein, one of the most horrific serial killers in the history of the United States. This movie started the gore fest we see today.  However, if you watch it, by today’s standards it is suitable for TV. Directed by Tobe Hooper; who would go on to direct Salem’s Lot (see above) and Poltergeist.

If movies are not your cup a tee, maybe you would like some a fantasy book with your scares this year. Try my novel; Legend of the MysticKnights.  A world taken over by evil, filled with dragons, werewolves and other monsters.

As many of you who have read my blog, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. This weekend, I will have the decorations out, and meet every kid at my door to give them a handful of treats. I feel somewhat sad now, for when it passes, I have to wait for another year for its arrival.

This is something we have to accept, a passing of time, a passing of another year of our life. Maybe this is what Halloween is for; an acceptance of the unknown, an acceptance of our limited time on this planet. Halloween is a way for us to make fun of it, and to look it in the face and no longer be afraid of our mortality.

Have a wonderful, scary and safe Halloween.

Next Time: Recap of Halloween