That time of year has come again. The leaves are falling, candy is filling the grocery stores and for a short period of time, wearing orange and black is acceptable in Eugene. It’s Halloween!
One of the best ways to celebrate Halloween is to watch a few scary movies in the dark. Many television networks like USA or TNT show dozens of horror movies in October, but most of the good scenes are censored. These movies will give you a starting point for finding your favorite horror films.
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” is my favorite of the slasher films that also includes “Friday the 13th,” “Halloween” and “Scream.”
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” stands out because it dives into a territory that had not been explored much in the genre. Freddy Krueger, the evil guy, kills teenagers in their dreams. He uses his glove, which has knives for fingers, to slash, cut and terrorize his victims. This movie gives us a taste of the best of horror. It has gore, fright, bad 80s fashion and, best of all, Johnny Depp.
“The Shining,” starring Jack Nicholson, is based on a book by Stephen King and is directed by Stanley Kubrick. Nicholson is scary enough on his own, but with elements of a scary movie he’s terrifying.
This movie tickles my fancy because it scares me psychologically, and if a movie gets in your head, it’s good.
If you are an Alfred Hitchcock fan or potential fan, you must see “Psycho” and “The Birds.”
“Psycho,” a black and white film, contains the famous “shower scene.” This film is adapted from a novel loosely based on the life of real serial killer Edward Gein. “Psycho” is the cream of the crop in psychological thrillers. It was re-made in 1998 with Vince Vaughn playing the main character, Norman. It was a good attempt, but not as chilling as the first.
“The Birds” is another of my favorite Hitchcock films. The film takes place in a small town that is attacked by birds. It does not sound very scary until you see someone get their eyes pecked out. You should watch this film and see how you squirm when birds fly over your head — you’ll be afraid of more than droppings.
Another great type of horror movie is those that deal with serial killers.
My favorite of this group is “Silence of the Lambs,” starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. Some may consider it more of a thriller than horror, but I recommend it anyway. It contains cannibalism, dresses made of skin and plenty of psychos. When I was a child, it took me several years before I could sit down and watch the whole movie. The other two films in the series, “Red Dragon” and “Hannibal,” are also worth your time.
Another great horror movie is “Pet Sematary,” based on another Stephen King book. There is nothing more frightening than dead animals buried on a sacred burial ground that return, possessed and homicidal. I recommend this movie for several reasons: It has a good storyline, good acting (rare for a horror movie) and is very psychologically thrilling.
Last but not least is the movie that has scared me more than any other: “Candyman.” While thinking about all of my favorite horror movies, this was the only one that gave me chills. “Candyman” had me scared even after I turned it off. The basic rundown of the film is when someone says “Candyman” five times into a mirror, a scary man appears with a hook for a hand and kills them. After watching this film, I couldn’t look in a mirror for well over a week without someone next to me.
If you thought that “Bloody Mary” was traumatizing, try “Candyman.”
Now, grab a blanket and a friend, make some popcorn and turn on one of these scary movies. There is no better way to celebrate the Halloween season than scaring yourself silly.