[customfont1]Spaced Invaders (1990)[/customfont1]
Quite possibly the root of my adoration of aliens. This movie took the terrifying invaders of Strieber’s Communion and turned them into loveable trick-or-treaters. Also some killer one liners. Don’t expect to be scared, but DO expect to be entertained; watching with the perspective of a fifth grader is helpful.
[customfont1]Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)[/customfont1]
It’s my goal to make this list eclectic – there should be something on here for everyone, regardless of their level of tolerance for terror. In all seriousness, however, this one scared the hell out of me when I was small. Troll monsters. Ancient curses. Halloween. And Ernest. Damn, I miss Jim Varney.
[customfont1]Halloween (1978)[/customfont1]
It’s the original! This movie is to teen slashers as Romeo and Juliet is to teen romances. The iconic Michael Myers would destroy Freddy or Jason in a faceoff – I don’t care what anyone says.
[customfont1]Halloween (2007)[/customfont1]
Remaking a thing of near-perfection is a bold decision, but Rob Zombie did a pretty damn good job with this one. We get a bit more insight into Michael’s childhood and have a bit more gore, in true Zombie style.
[customfont1]Trick ‘r Treat (2007)[/customfont1]
Quite possibly my favorite horror anthology – and much less well known than the quality of the film would indicate.
[customfont1]House of 1000 Corpses (2003)[/customfont1]
Sam and Byron love this one as much as they love Halloween itself. I gave it another chance this year and re-watched it. Turns out it’s quite a bit better than I remember – perhaps I’m just becoming jaded to the gore that used to bother me. Or perhaps I’m just in awe of one of my co-captains, Captain Spaulding, whom Sam recently interviewed.
[customfont1]Sleepy Hollow (1999)[/customfont1]
An iconic story, portrayed by a crew of very skilled and eccentric actors, at the direction of one of the most brilliantly strange filmmakers of our time – this is a recipe for a fantastic Halloween viewing experience.
Tales of Halloween (2015)
A fabulous new Halloween-themed horror anthology from some of the best new directors in the genre. Pay particular attention to The Night Billy Raised Hell and Friday the 31st – so much fun. Sam would like to tell you that Ding Dong is based on me, but don’t believe him. Be sure to check out our interviews with directors Lucky McKee and Mike Mendez as well!
[customfont1]Pay the Ghost (2015)[/customfont1]
A new one – and one I have already reviewed for Frightday.com – but worth including for some fresh blood in the Halloween lineup. This one has inspired me to buy one of those obnoxious harnesses for my child.
[customfont1]The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)[/customfont1]
The film that represents the union between my two favorite holidays. Though this is obviously a kids’ flick, it has wit and art worthy of even the most mature viewer. Kick off your Christmas season in style this Halloween!
[customfont1]Donnie Darko (2001)[/customfont1]
This is Jake Gyllenhall before he was a heartthrob and his sister, Maggie, before she was a Golden Globe winner. This movie is definitely on the fringe of the horror genre, but centers around Halloween and will stretch your mental capacities in ways that make up for the mindless (though enjoyable) horror we talk you into watching sometimes. Also, it’s one of Kelly’s favorite films of all time, so it must be great.
[customfont1]Livide (2011)[/customfont1]
While we are classing things up, why not throw a French haunted house flick into the mix? This one has some incredibly scary moments followed by some distinctly French artistic weirdness toward the end. A darkly beautiful addition to your Halloween film fest.
[customfont1]Silver Bullet (1985)[/customfont1]
As one of the best film adaptations of Stephen King’s work, this one holds the werewolf-based spot on my Halloween list. Aside from a fun story, this was the directorial debut of a man who would go on to direct episodes of some of my favorite shows of all time – Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Ray Donovan, Bloodline, True Blood, Homeland, New Girl, House, True Detective – and the list goes one. For real. This guy has skill – check it out.