With Halloween quickly approaching, many of us are ready to put on our masks and celebrate the Pagan holiday. What better way to do so than by watching a horror movie (or 31 plus for every night of the month). Luckily, I am here to point you in the direction of movies that will not only scare you and your loved ones senseless, but will be classics you may have missed or never heard of. A number of these films can be found on Netflix or other streaming services, as well as your local video store. Without further explanation, let’s jump in.
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)
Starring Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, and Katrina Bowden
Directed by Eli Craig
When Tucker and Dale buy a secluded fishing cabin, they get more than they bargain for when a group of bloodthirsty college kids mistake them for serial killers. This film flips the familiar horror trope on its head, with the rednecks being our unlikely heroes who can’t stop themselves from murdering their attackers in equally brutal and hilarious ways. The trailer can be viewed here.
Don’t Breathe (2016)
Starring Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, and Dylan Minnette
Directed by Fede Alvarez
This 2016 horror film follows a group of young kids that think robbing the supposedly defenseless blind old man in the creepy house down the street will be easy. Little do they know, he has his own plans. This sports a tense, no nonsense plot that gets right to the point, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout. View the trailer here.
You’re Next (2011)
Starring Sharni Vinson, Joe Swaberg and AJ Bowen
Directed by Adam Wingard
One family’s night away at a secluded vacation home turns into a living Hell when masked assailants attack. Featuring an 80’s synth soundtrack reminiscent of the early slasher films with a number of twists that come from nowhere, this is a real treat for those tired of the familiar genre clichés. The trailer can be found here.
Hostel (2005)
Starring Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, and Jennifer Lim
Directed by Eli Roth
What I would refer to as the grandfather of “torture porn,” this is a cautionary tale that follows 3 tourists who visit a European hotel in search of a beautiful woman from their dreams, but find themselves in a nightmare of epic proportions. Be warned, this film will test your stomach, as it does get pretty brutal, with most of the scenes showcasing every gory detail. The trailer can be viewed here.
The Thing (1982)
Starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, and Keith David
Directed by John Carpenter
A team of researchers in Antarctica come across an alien entity that cannot only mimic them with pinpoint accuracy, it can change its overall appearance, splintering off into smaller pieces at will. This is the first film I can remember being legitimately scared of as a kid. Featuring practical effects that even after 30+ years look amazing, this is a horror film for the ages. The trailer can be found here.
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Starring Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, and Matthew Fox
Directed by S. Craig Zahler
While not an outright horror flick, this western features a group of men that head into Native American territory in search of a missing woman who’s been taken captive by a cannibalistic tribe. While it is a little slow to start, the suspense is through the roof when it does kick in. The trailer can be viewed here.
House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
Starring Sid Haig, Karen Black and Bill Mosley
Directed by Rob Zombie
Arguably the best film from director Rob Zombie, this movie supplies us with two fairly unlikable couples that have the displeasure of meeting the Firefly family while in search of a local myth called Dr. Satan. This is a true spectacle in film making which gave us some villains worth cheering for, which had been severely lacking in the early 2000’s. The follow up The Devil’s Rejects also makes for a great double feature. The trailer can be found here.
The Witch (2015)
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, and Katie Dickie
Directed by Robert Eggers
A family in the 1600’s deal with accusations of witchcraft in this recent period piece from Robert Eggers, which is his first directed feature film. While the dialogue was a bit hard to follow at times, the payoff this film offers is huge. To quote the great Stephen King, “The Witch scared the Hell out of me…” with a recommendation like that, how could you say no? You’ll find the trailer here.
The Babadook (2015)
Starring Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman and Daniel Henshall
Directed by Jennifer Kent
A young boy tries to convince his widowed mother that a dark force is preying upon him in their home. When a mysterious book shows up at their door featuring the creature from his dreams, the mother is thrust into a dark journey to save her son, and herself. The trailer can be viewed here.
There you have it, your third week of Halloween viewing recommendations from my personal collection. Be sure to visit us next week to see week three’s recommended horror flicks! If you missed last week’s post, you can find it here and catch up with the rest of us.