Friday, October 10, 2008

Scary Movies to Watch in Honor of Halloween











It's that time of year again. No, not the election--that's next month.
I'm talking about Halloween. Time when we buy or check out of the library some scary books to read. When we want to go see a scary film at theater or rent or buy a DVD of one. I am going to give out some pretty good films, some better than others. I don't have all out there--some are dumb (I am sorry, but I thought Cabin Fever was dumb), others I haven't seen. I only saw Nightmare on Elm Street one or two times and don't care to see the Friday the 13th films. I had to show my son that there were way better horror films out there than those ones that were what I call slash and dash films. I won't put Saw up here--haven't seen them, don't plan to.
I will put them in sections, under the particular titles of what kind of horror films they are. It's up to you to decide what you want to see or google on the Internet and see what the plot is if you never seen the one that interests you. And please do leave a comment, telling what you like in scary movies for others to read.
GHOST FILMS
The Haunting (1963) This is based on The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and both the film and the book are ones I would advise to get.
The Uninvited (1944)
The Innocents (1961)
The Others (2001)
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Don't Look Now (1973)
The Shining (1980)
Ghost Story (1981)
Poltergeist (1982)
The Changling (1980)
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Phantasm (1979)
The Grudge (2004)
Ringu (1998)
WEREWOLF
The Wolf Man (1941)
American Werewolf in London (1981)
The Howling (1981)
Bad Moon (1996)
Underworld (2003)
Wolf (1994)
Silver Bullet (1985)
The Undying Monster (1942)
Curse of the Werewolf (1961)
The Company of Wolves (1984)
Ginger Snaps (2000)
Ginger Snaps II-Unleashed (2004)
Brotherhood Of The Wolf (2001)
Dog Soldiers (2002)
Cursed (2005)
Wolfen ( 1981)--I would advise trying to find the novel, The Wolfen by Whitley Streiber as the movie is not the book's plot. The movie is goodl, just I was expecting the book, as the werewolves in it were way different than shapeshifters)
Cat People (1942 and 1982)--not werewolves, but werepanthers. The 1982 version is very erotic and did what the other suggested. Both are good)
VAMPIRES
Dracula (1931) (Bela Lugosi)
Dracula (1979) (Frank Langella)
Christopher Lee as Dracula: Horror of Dracula, Taste the Blood of Dracula, and Dracula Has Risen from the Grave.
Nosferatu (1922)
Lost Boys (1987)
Interview with a Vampire (1994)
30 Days of Night (2007)
Near Dark (1987)
SCARY SCI-FI FILMS
Alien ( 1979) Aliens (1986) I suggested the seond one as after being scared out of your mind by the first one, the second is more a roller coaster ride and yes, will scare you, but also is a great Space Marines fight the bad alien creatures film)
The Thing (1982) (so close to the short story it was based off of--"Who Goes There?"
The Terminator (1984)
Event Horizon (1997)
War of the Worlds (1953)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
MONSTERS
Them! (1954)
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Frankenstein (1931)
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Tremors (1990)
Descent (2007)
Monster Squad (1987)
The Fly (1958)
The Monster Club (1980)
Mad Monster Party (1968)--(not scary, but I like it)
DINOSAURS
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
Gojira (1954)-Japaese version is the best Godzilla film.
The Giant Behemoth (1959)
Gorgo (1961)
Valley of Gwangi (1969)
Jurassic Park ( 1993 )
ZOMBIES/GHOULS
White Zombie (1932)
Night of the Living Dead ( 1968)
28 Days Later (2002)
ALL OTHERS
Hellraiser (1987)
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Halloween (1978)
Evil Dead (1982) Evil Dead II (1987)
The Omen (1976)
The Hitcher (1986)
The Birds (1963)
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)
Psycho (1960)
Carrie (1976)
Scream (1996)
Seven (1995)
Fall of the House of Usher (1960)
Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
The Haunted Palace (1963)
The Raven (1963)
The Comedy of Terrors (1963)
Masque of the Red Death (1964)
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
Van Helsing (2004)
Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstien (1948)--Comedy--but has all monsters and I like it.
Nightmare before Christmas (1993)--I like this too--went out and got it on Blu Ray.
Now get out there and watch some scary movies!

5 comments:

Julie said...

You have a great list. I like to watch scary movies but I usually get voted down and end up with slasher movies. To me those aren't scary, they can be fun but mostly they're just gross.

Anonymous said...

You should definetly add The St. Francisville Experiment to that list. You can see it on youtube!
Just go to youtube and search for St. Francisville Experiment.

Anonymous said...

I liked The Exorcist and the Ninth Gate wasn't bad either. I'll have to find Gorgo, I had forgotten about that one.
bill

Pamela K. Kinney said...

I forgot Something Wicked This Way Comes, based off the Ray Bradbury dark fantasy. :-D

Shiela said...

Oh I LOVE A Nightmare Before Christmas!

Man, now I want togo out and get a bunch of scary movies. LOL