Well ‘Scapists, we’re not far now from the sacred night of October 31st. This Halloween will see many of you donning your best geek gear, and heading out for a night of absolute TERROR (or fun, whatever you’re into). Maybe you’ve already been out, who parties on a Wednesday? In any case, get it together and show us your costumes in the Halloween thread!
We asked some of the Geekscape staff what their favourite movies for the Halloween season are. These are the films that were chosen! Enjoy, and make sure to sound out below on your thoughts!
Matt Kelly
I host a horror themed podcast and anyone who’s read my Guilty Pleasures articles know I have a very open and deep love with the genre. This has lead to people asking me what the greatest horror movie ever made I have had the same answer for over 10 years… Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Tobe Hooper’s 1974 film is one of the few truly terrifying horror films and age has not changed this film at all. It’s ultra low budget only enhances the horrors within, creating the feeling of genuine danger. This could be due to the fact that everyone involved was in genuine danger.
If you’ve managed to avoid this film your whole life, make this the halloween night that you shut off all the lights and experience 89 minutes of pure terror.
Eric Diaz
My favorite Halloween movie might not be as well known as many, but I’ve come to love it just as much as many older classics in a very short period of time. I’m talking about writer/director Mike Dougherty’s Trick r’ Treat. Made in 2006, the film was delayed for years by studio Warner Brothers, that simply didn’t know how to market this horror/comedy anthology film, and was terrified of releasing a Halloween film against the then powerful Saw franchise. The film made the rounds in film festivals and special screenings for a few years and gained a reputation, so Trick r’ Treat was finally released in 2009 as a straight to video movie and has since become a favorite among horror fans. A combination of Creepshow and 80’s Spielberg films with a dash of Goosebumps, Trick r’ Treat has become my most recent “must watch” movie every October 31st. The best way to describe the film’s place in the Halloween movie canon is this; if Carpenter’s Halloween is the It’s A Wonderful Life of the Halloween season, and The Nightmare Before Christmas is it’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas, then Trick r’ Treat is the A Christmas Story for this time of the year. And that’s not a bad thing to be.
Kari Lane
‘The Faculty’ is one of those underrated 90s horror flicks. I remember enjoying it when it came out, and I am rather fond of the mainstream 90s horror films. Recently, ‘The Faculty’ was screened at a Halloween party I attended and I was pleasantly surprised that it still holds up. There are numerous famous actors before they were famous (Usher, Elijah Wood, and even Jon Stewart), which makes for fun flashbacks. The plot is pretty straight forward and keeps you guessing who is the real monster. The film is more about the students rather than the faculty but then again who didn’t feel like their teachers/authority figures were out to get them at some point. The film is packed with dark humor/satire and isn’t afraid to make fun of itself.
Shane O’Hare
My favorite movie to watch on Halloween is an Anime. I know what you’re gonna say “ROBO TITTIES!” but hear me out.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Knocking On Heavens Door) is one of the best films of all time. It takes place on mars during Halloween celebrations. The villain, Vincent (who is based off of Bob Dylan, hence the sub title) plans to release a virus during the yearly parade. The movie has some of the greatest set pieces in Anime history, THE best music in an Anime and a plot that keeps you thinking the whole time. Shinichiro Watanabe was able to take a perfect series and make a perfect movie. Halloween is about leaving this world for a night and becoming someone or something else, and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is my go to movie for that.
Derek Kraneveldt
Halloween naturally goes hand in hand with horror and Zombies of course are the epitome of horror at this time in our history. Who hasn’t taken on the role of a zombie at some point in their lives? Whether it’s for a night like October 31 or just your daily commute to work, we’ve all stepped in those brainless, shambling shoes, and most of us seem to wear it quite naturally.
Night of the Living Dead is really the piece of media that started the whole “undead” craze. It’s a film that I’ve had the pleasure to watch many times, and almost every single viewing will bring back memories of Halloween night throughout the years. Whether it was myself donning the zombie garb, or handing candy to a youngin’ that wore it with an outstanding energy and presence, Halloween and mainstream media would certainly look much different today if this film had never been released. Halloween is the night of the living dead, so what film could really represent it better? Thanks George!
Jonathan London
Since Derek wrote about my absolute favorite horror film of all time, I’m going to tell you about the one that scared me the most as a kid (also from the mind of George Romero)! Creepshow, the original 1982 anthology film from Romero and Stephen King, was one of those VHS treasures that your parents should have never let grace your eyes. Five stories of terror starring the likes of Leslie Nielsen, Adrienne Barbeau (who I loved from Swamp Thing and Escape From New York) and Ted Danson. Sure, most of the stories are great (‘Something to Tide You Over’ is really great) but it’s the Stephen King directed The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill that really messed me up and continues to inspire me today. King stars as a luckless hillbilly who discovers a meteorite in his backyard. Thinking it’s his lucky day, he brings it home… but instead the meteorite ends up growing an alien plantlike on anything it touches… and there’s no stopping it. Soon, the plant consumes Jordy and more. I was completely horrified by the last lingering shot but I won’t spoil it for you here. Just know that there’s a lot of The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill in my script for Gay by Dawn and the one time I talked to King in person, years ago, this short (his directorial debut) is the only thing that we talked about. But that’s a story for another time! Happy Halloween!
That’s it everyone! Have fun tonight, and stay safe! You should also be posting pictures of yourself in our Halloween thread!