Hey Freaks! The Shinigami is at it again. I’ve got another list for you to check out. This time it’s my Top 10 Movies to watch for Halloween so here we go!
- The Final (2010) Well, it’s not what I was expecting when I first sat down to watch this film. I figured this was going to be something dealing with a school shooting, or something closer to The Gallows. What I got instead was the nerdy, geeky outcasts taking revenge into their own hands, upon the people who torment them. It’s beautifully filmed and masterfully written.
- Hellraiser (1987) If this Clive Barker classic isn’t already on your watch list you are really missing out on a film that feels perfect for the haunting season. An innocent looking Puzzle Box unleashes the minions of a dark and terrible place of existence. In other words, all Hell breaks loose. Also a nice little mystery unfolds for our Heroine.
- Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) Where to start with this one? It’s a movie that looks and feels like a documentary. Imagine, if you will, a world where the likes of Jason Voorhees, And Michael Myers exist. Enter Leslie Vernon who is about to start his own murderous spree. The twist in this film is a fun one. In fact the entire film is a fun ride.
- Let Us Prey (2014) Filmed in Scotland and Ireland, this film centered around a Stranger who is brought into a small town police station after an accident. His only belongings are the clothes on his back and a little black book. As the night goes on The man begins to affect the minds and souls of those around him. By the end of the film all hell has broken loose and for very good reason.
- Nightbreed (1990) Another Clive Barker classic, Nightbreed takes you to another world within our own. A place called Midian, where creatures of the night live away from the eyes of humans. Aaron Boone has been having terrible nightmares and visions of Midian. One night things go horribly wrong for Boone and he flees to Midian. From there his journey only begins.
- V/H/S (2012) A group of men break into a house to find an old VHS tape. Instead they find a dead body. As they split up to search the house one stays behind and starts watching through the tapes. VHS is an anthology of the grotesque and strange. Each video weirder and more disturbing than the last.
- The Call of Cthulhu (2005) A strange occurrence happened with this film. It was shot in the style of the old Silent Film era, and it worked beautifully. It tells the story in film of H.P. Lovecraft’s classic tale of the same name. There really is nothing more I can say of this film other than it needs to be viewed. Its wonderfully directed and really gives you an essence of the macabre from that era of film.
- The Evil Dead (1981) Sam Raimi gave us a classic when he made this film. Unlike its sequels and current TV show, the first film of the franchise gave us true classic horror. A film that when I first saw it made me want to stay away from any and every cabin and snatched from me many nights of sleep. Granted I was 7 at the time. If you haven’t seen this film then please treat yourself. Bruce Campbell gave us our favorite performance that has lasted till current and continues to get better.
- Devil (2010) So this film made me hate elevators even more than I already do. I’m claustrophobic, not sure about you. That mixed with the fact that I’m on an elevator with Satan himself doesn’t help matters. Yeah this one had a great twist and might scare the hell outta the kids.
- The ABCs of Death (2012) 26 directors and 26 short films. This anthology goes all over the place. From the grotesque to the weird to the funny and back again. It really is difficult to describe this film because of how all over the place it is. That aside I suggest this film because it gives you a little bit of everything. The Takashi Miike directed short might just be the strangest one however. Trust me. You’ll know it when you see it.
Well freaks. That’s my list for this Halloween. Keep an eye out for even more films from our other contributors. Your friend and mine, The Shinigami
BONUS FILM
Halloween (1978) In 1978, John Carpenter gave us one of the most iconic slashers of the 20th century. This has led us to 8 films, not counting the two that Rob Zombie directed. Before Freddy or Jason, there was The Shape, Michael Myers, a young boy who killed his sister and was institutionalized since the age of 6. 15 years later he returns to finish the job and terrorize his hometown. If this film is not on your list for this or any other Halloween you are missing out on an amazing film that never gets old. I mean, how can you not watch Halloween on Halloween?