Halloween Movies
It’s the middle of October, and you know what that means: Halloween is just around the corner. There are tons of films to choose from (there are 12 Friday the 13th’s after all), and obviously not all of them are scary or entertaining; however among these dreadful flicks are some great classics guaranteed to make you jump, or at least laugh at how clichéd they are.
The Evil Dead (1981)
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The Thing (1982)
Based on both a short story and a 1950s sci-fi classic, John Carpenter’s The Thing is distinct in both its environment and its monster. Set in the frozen Antarctic wasteland, the movie centers on a small group of male scientists who uncover the titular Thing: a horrifying shape-shifting alien that gruesomely takes over other living creatures. As the Thing kills off the researchers one by one and imitates them, the remaining survivors struggle to determine who is still human. Suspenseful and devoid of silly plot devices (cheesy romances and random sex scenes), The Thing is a terrific thriller. Be warned though: the film features ‘80s special effects at their disgusting finest.
Scream (1996)
Ironically, Scream was meant to be a parody of the increasingly overdone slasher genre. However, director Wes Craven, most known for Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), inadvertently revitalized the ailing slasher genre with the epitome of a ‘90s high school horror movie. Focused on self-aware characters that are aware of real-world horror flicks like Halloween and Friday the 13th, Scream features all the clichés in a typical slasher movie: the virgin female protagonist, the jock boyfriend, the promiscuous cheerleader, the masked killer, the list goes on and on. If you want to experience the ultimate combination of high school, ‘90s fashion and teenage slashers, Scream will definitely deliver.
Carrie (1976)
Normally, a story revolving around a shy teenage girl who gains telekinetic powers would be shelved under “High school movie” or “Superhero flick.” However, Brian De Palma’s supernatural thriller juxtaposes violently grotesque sequences with awkward high school humor to deliver a truly terrifying experience. De Palma’s adaption of the classic Stephen King novel, Carrie, focuses on young Carrie White, a shy, awkward teenager who lives alone with her overbearingly zealous Christian mother. As her daily experiences at school become increasingly humiliating, Carrie comes to discover that she has begun to develop telekinetic powers—just in time for her school’s senior prom. With its sly mixture of light humor and horrifying atmosphere, Carrie is guaranteed to catch
Halloween (1976)
You can thank director John Carpenter for popularizing the classic slasher movie with Halloween, a tense thriller complete with an unstoppable killing machine and horny intoxicated teenagers. Carpenter’s low-budget slasher introduced audiences to masked serial killers, gratuitous sex scenes, and scared teenagers being stupid. Though the kills aren’t that gruesome, Carpenter achieves a fantastic sense of dread and intensity through his use of camerawork and creepy music. The movie introduced audiences to masked madman Michael Myers. The success of Halloween paved the way for countless remakes, including the Friday the 13th series and the Nightmare on Elm Street series.
The Shining (1980)
Although it’s rather daunting with a runtime of two hours and twenty six minutes, The Shining is a completely immersive film that juxtaposes beautiful shots of nature with bone-chilling moments of suspense. The movie centers on the Torrance family, composed of author and recovering alcoholic Jack, homemaker Wendy and their young child Danny, who possesses an ability dubbed “the shining” — a power that allows those who have it to communicate with others through their minds. As the family spends their winter taking care of an empty hotel, Jack slowly loses his grip on reality and goes insane, putting his family’s well-being at risk. The combination of shocking moments plus a lingering atmosphere of dread make The Shining a fantastic horror movie.
Ringu (1988)
Normally, a story revolving around a shy teenage girl who gains telekinetic powers would be shelved under “High school movie” or “Superhero flick.” However, Brian De Palma’s supernatural thriller juxtaposes violently grotesque sequences with awkward high school humor to deliver a truly terrifying experience. De Palma’s adaption of the classic Stephen King novel, Carrie, focuses on young Carrie White, a shy, awkward teenager who lives alone with her overbearingly zealous Christian mother. As her daily experiences at school become increasingly humiliating, Carrie comes to discover that she has begun to develop telekinetic powers—just in time for her school’s senior prom. With its sly mixture of light humor and horrifying atmosphere, Carrie is guaranteed to catch
By Eric Wang
