• Home
• About
• Archives
• Contact
• Links

Hoovy’s Halloween Recommendations 

It’s that time of the year again… you know, where Americans go trick or treating, carve pumpkins and get into the horror (and commercialisation) that is Halloween. Here in Australia, some of us throw Halloween parties here and there but the majority couldn’t care less.

Personally, I see it as a time to sit down and watch some freaky ass movies. After all, the horror genre is often over looked and with Hollywood running out of ideas and creativity in this genre, it’s getting harder and harder to find a recent, well-made example. The following are some of my picks for a good Halloween night in. Most of these you’ve probably already seen or heard about millions of times before, but they’re all worth a rent again if it’s been a while since you last ventured into their dark waters. My picks emphasize on atmosphere and intensity rather than gore. If anyone else has a recommendation or two, let us know. There’s still time today to get down the video store and check some of these out:

Halloween (1978)

Well it’s an obvious one but the original 1978 Carpenter film still holds up extremely well today. The steadycam, the blue lighting, the use of shadows, the score and the measured approach allow this classic to stand the test of time. The acting is highly cheesy in parts but luckily Donald Pleasance brings some much need authority. Clearly inspired by Hitchcock, Carpenter is at his best here and once it kicks into gear, it’s unrelentless. Forget the sequels but if you MUST, rent Halloween H20 as a companion. And yes. Rob Zombie is making the NINTH! Halloween movie due for release next year and it will serve as a remake (or re-imagining) of the original. You can check out how he’s going to tackle it here

» Wiki

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Creating a believable mythology and using the fear of the unknown helped make this $35,000 film generate $240 million worldwide and is one of those success stories that motivated me throughout my film course a few years back. The digital video element was genius and spawned so many imitators, if youTube existed back then, I’m sure would’ve crashed their servers. Once people realised the mythos was fabricated and the students who went into the woods were actually actors, they dismissed it. But it’s a film and you have to take upon that sense of believability otherwise it just won’t work for you. I met the directors when it was released (being a big student film geek back then, a group of us waited outside a radio station to chat to them and get our posters signed) and they were completely shocked of the success. But if you go with it, I think you’ll come away and appreciate it for what it was – an exercise into fear and terror.

» Wiki

Nosferatu (1922)

Quite possibly the creepiest character ever put to celluloid, Count Orlok played by Max Schreck, is essentially Count Dracula but director German expressionist filmmaker F.W. Murnau had to change the name due to copyright. It’s the original vampire film. Schreck’s Orlok set the tone for so many imitators and Murnau’s use of Orlok’s shadow will forever be imprinted on your mind. You’ll need some patience for this one if you’re used to modern horror films but give it some time, let it sink in and prepare to be freaked out! If you’re a cheap-ass and can’t afford to rent or buy it, turn off the lights, fire up your computer and watch it in its entirety at Google Video. It’s now public domain :)

» Wiki

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

So many people avoid this one because of the reputation it’s garnered over the years. But it’s nowhere near as violent as the title suggests. However it’s still one of the most intense, uncomfortable films you’ll probably ever see. In a sense, this film defines the word ‘horror’, especially towards the end. Shot on grainy 16mm with a small budget, you can smell the decay and unpleasantness unfolding and when I first saw this, I actually felt nauseas not because of the violence but from the atmosphere. The remake in 2003 while quite slick, is far more brutal and extreme in terms of gratuitous violence yet nowhere near as scary or terrifying as the original (no surprises there). I recommend this new 2-disc ultimate edition which is the best version yet (there have been countless DVD releases).

» Wiki

The Shining (1980)

Kubrick’s take on the horror genre is exactly what you would expect – psychological terror at its best. What can be more terrifying than losing one’s mind? Visually, Kubrick creates a complex, cold, unfamiliar environment where the tension builds and builds to a now very well known climax (thanks to one of the Simpsons Treehouse of Horrors episode). I’d say if you watch this in a log cabin or a remote house someplace by yourself, it wouldn’t be very healthy. Stephen King hated Kubrick’s treatment of his novel and he’s not alone. There is a definite love/hate relationship amongst viewers out there. Whether this is due to Shelley Duval’s arguable irritating performance, Jack’s arguable over acting or Kubrick’s approach to the material, you can’t deny the fact that the film won’t leave you alone for days afterwards.

» Wiki

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

It’s the growing sense of paranoia and fear that makes Roman Polanski’s 1968 classic Rosemary’s Baby a truly unsettling film going experience. Mia Farrow is brilliant in the lead role as a woman whose world becomes more and more detached from reality. John Cassavetes is also very good as her husband. There is next to no gore or violence in the film, just characters you can sympathise with and an adult mentality to the proceedings. And that’s Maude (Ruth Gordon) from Harold and Maude as the ‘friendly’ next door neighbor. You’ll never see her in the same light again!

» Wiki

The Exorcist (1973)

How could I not recommend this? Of course MOST of you have seen this before so it requires no introductions. What I can recommend is you get hold on this 25th Anniversary edition either from the US or the UK (if you prefer PAL) because it’s the original version with the more ambiguous (and my preferred) ending. It also contains the excellent ‘Fear of God’ documentary which is a must-see for fans on the making of the film. The second sequel Exorcist III is probably a decent companion film to the original since it’s written and directed by original scribe William Peter Blatty and goes for atmosphere over gore.

» Wiki