As Halloween is just around the corner, you might be scouring the streaming services for your favorite scary movies, so, I thought it appropriate to share this piece. A version of this article originally appeared on my first blog and was published in the book Everyone Else is Wrong (And You Know It).
I remember my brother and father watching A Nightmare on Elm Street in the den when I was a child (remember dens?). I caught one glimpse of Freddy Krueger on the TV screen and I was terrified all throughout my childhood-- so much so that horror movies were a no-go for me until college, when I would occasionally get hoodwinked into watching one. But, even at that point, I had not yet realized American horror movies are not really all that scary and most walk a fine line between frightening and hilarious.
Last year, I watched all the Krueger movies with the exception of Freddy vs. Jason and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed them and I laughed a lot. The feeling that horror was truly horrific was gone completely and replaced with a mild affection for a genre that may not aim high, but that's part of the fun.
Yet, even though I have come to appreciate some horror movies-- especially the Evil Dead series-- the genre remains low on my list of priorities in life and, to this day, I would much rather watch a psychological thriller than a horror flick, so I wrote this piece for those of us who like a little creepiness as it gets colder, but still like to sleep undisturbed. Hope you enjoy!
P. S.-- If I had written this today, I would've most certainly wanted to add Tucker and Dale vs. Evil to this list. That's a very funny movie and, if you like more bloodshed than I've recommended below, it's the one I would most urge you to see.
*****
Let’s face it: horror movies mostly suck. Even the "good" ones don’t scare you. Take The Shining—one of the most unintentionally hilarious movies ever. Nearly three hours with Scatman Crothers plodding up a mountain and Jack Nicholson making the transition from crazy to crazy? Oh, yes, there are fewer good horror movies than teen comedies or Hallmark movies.
The only films I can really remember scaring me are Japanese: Ringu, Jisatsu Sākuru (Suicide Club), and other psychological thrillers (as distinct from horror per se). So, what are we left with outside of "true" horror movies? We’re left with comedies with supernatural themes and certain gothika that are pleasant entertainment, if not always artistically nourishing.
This is a list of my Halloween movies. Technically, it's a list of guilty pleasures because I'm not fond of the form, but I don't feel guilty about any of these. These are spooky, unsettling, but not upsetting. A wuss' list, if you will. Enjoy!
American Gothic (1995-1996)
Okay, this is a television series, but it’s a fun piece of work. Most of my generation knew Gary Cole first from this, and not from Office Space, The Brady Bunch Movie, or Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby. The definition of the Southern Gothic genre, created by former teen heartthrob Shaun Cassidy, American Gothic is a chilling television show from a time highly influenced by the phenomenon of Twin Peaks. It lasted one season, but in this age where nearly everything ends up on DVD or streaming, it has survived. Features an engaging early performance by Lucas Black (Sling Blade).
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Adapted from two children’s novels by Mary Norton, this Disney flick was the third in a loose trilogy of live-action musicals from Disney (the other two being Mary Poppins and the underrated The Happiest Millionaire, which suffered from having no kids in the cast). Bedknobs and Broomsticks features a delightful, hummable score by the Sherman brothers and a classic performance from the late Angela Lansbury. A nice witch’s brew.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice is one of the movies you love as a kid but, when you revisit it as an adult, it makes no sense. None of the supernatural world it inhabits has any logic whatsoever, but it sure is fun for three reasons: Michael Keaton’s performance, the terrific score by Danny Elfman, and the production design by Bo Welch. Not a moment is uninteresting to look at and the Harry Belafonte songs are a wacky but wonderful touch.
Frailty (2001)
The only real horror film on this list, Frailty is criminally overlooked. A perfect Southern Gothic spook-fest directed by and starring the late Bill Paxton, this movie belongs in any film lover's queue. The perfect mixture of religious anxiety and family madness and a cast of offbeat Texans (including a young Matthew McConaughey) make this a future treasure of the genre.
Ghostbusters (1984)/Ghostbusters II (1989)
This franchise would be totally forgotten if not for the unique comic performance of Bill Murray. Fun, odd, and surprisingly beefy comedy are sprinkled through both Occult-themed films. I’m tired of the short shrift given to the second one. I’m sorry, but you can’t give the first one a free pass in the logic category and confine the second one to nonsense. It's a sequel that repeats itself. What's unusual about that? Both movies make no sense and both are fun as Hell. The remake (not funny because it's not funny, nothing to do with a female cast) and reboot can go to Hell.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Marketed as a horror film, most people failed to see this was a quirky comedy-in-disguise. Written by a screenwriter we don't hear from enough, it’s a perfect vehicle for Megan Fox and with a believable performance by Amanda Seyfried at its core.
Macbeth (The Tragedy of Macbeth, 1971)
Most versions of this play (recorded on stage or otherwise) are fine, but Roman Polanski’s version is the one people will remember as definitive. Made not long after the murder of Sharon Tate, it gives insight into the controversial filmmaker's state of mind when he was still at the peak of his powers. Some may find his inclusion here difficult to reconcile with his infamous crime, but it is hard to argue with the quality of the work here-- it is as naturalistic as Shakespeare has ever been rendered on screen.
Misery (1990)
A film based on a Stephen King novel and actually scary? This one and no other.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Tim Burton gets a free pass from me on everything he made up until this movie. Sleepy Hollow is a beautifully designed and well-acted movie and the only version of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow worth watching, even though it changes virtually the entire story (perhaps for the better).
The Wicker Man (1973)
Robin Hardy’s cult classic will at the very least surprise you (if it’s not already ruined for you by countless spoilers online). The 2006 Neil LaBute remake can be fun, too (and might be another comedy-in-disguise), but should only be watched after you experience the original.
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