My Must-View Halloween Picks

Hey guys! So sorry that it's been almost a year since my last post but it's been a hectic, busy year. However, I wanted to put something up for Halloween, so this is just a list of my personal picks for films I feel complete the season for me as much as pumpkin carving, eating candy corn, raking leaves, or pick up games of football. If I don't watch some of these, the season just doesn't quite feel right.

I'll include small footnotes on the ones I feel I need to comment on.

Here's my Halloween post from last year: http://mattcottermovies.blogspot.com/2016/11/my-halloween-viewing-guide.html

Horror Standards:

The Exorcist (1973): This may not be deserving of the title of scariest movie ever made, depending on your tastes, but it is still one of the most effective and engaging horror films, blending the genre with drama for a sense of respectability and authenticity rarely seen these days in the genre.

Halloween (1978): The quintessential Halloween film, which still packs in some chilling moments despite its budget and age showing, in no small part due to the performances of Donald Sutherland and Nick Castle, and the iconic score by the director John Carpenter.

The Thing (1982)

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

The Shining (1980)

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Scream (1996)

Scream 2 (1997)

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Hellraiser (1987)

The Omen (1976)

Child's Play (1988)

Dracula (1931)

Frankenstein (1931)

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

The Invisible Man (1933)

Cult Favorites: 

Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

Nightbreed (1990)

Trick r Treat (2007)

Freaks (1932)

Evil Dead 2 (1987)

Candyman (1993)

Would You Rather? (2012)

Braindead/Dead-Alive (1992)

The Frighteners (1996)

Re-Animator (1985)

Return of the Living Dead (1987)

Jeepers Creepers (2001)

The Lost Boys (1987)

The Hunger (1983)

The Fly (1958 or 1986)

The X-Files (TV series 1993-2001)

The Blob (1958)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1978)

Donnie Darko (2001)

The Crow (1994)

The Monster Squad (1987)

Tales from the Crypt (TV series 1989-1996)

Creepshow (1983)

Nostalgic Picks:

Hocus Pocus (1993): Despite the at times cringe-worthy humor and overacting, and very early 90s feel, it has unmistakable and strange charm and authenticity that redeems it completely, while being strangely very entertaining

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949): You can choose to skip the Mr. Toad segment, as though it's good in its own right and has something of a fall feel with the color palate, it's not really the segment that best sets the tone- that would be the classic adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Casper (series of shorts, or 1995 film)

Mickey's House of Villains (2001)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Corpse Bride (2005)

Scooby-Doo! Where Are You? (1969-1972)

Goosebumps (TV series 1995-1998)

Are You Afraid of the Dark? (TV series 1990-1996, 1999-2000)

The Munsters (TV series 1964-1966)

Critters (1988)

The Witches (1990)

Stephen King's IT (1990)

Comedy:

Beetlejuice (1988)

The Addams Family (1991)

The Addams Family Values (1993)

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, episodes "Who Got Dee Pregnant?" (2008) and "The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre" (2012)

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Young Frankenstein (1974)

South Park, episodes "Pinkeye" (1997), "Spookyfish" (1998), "Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery" (1999), "The Death of Eric Cartman" (2005), "Cartman's Incredible Gift" (2004), "Hell on Earth 2006" (2006), "A Nightmare on Face Time" (2012), and "Sons of Witches" (2017)

Ghostbusters (1984)

The Simpsons- Treehouse of Horror (TV episodes, 1990-present): standouts

Odd Ones (not really cult nor nostalgic nor classic): 

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

The Faculty (1998)

Interview with the Vampire (1994)

Eight Legged Freaks (2002)

Sinister (2012)

The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments (2003): This five-part 2003 TV special may have had sequels, but this one is still the best. Mixing in interviews from horror icons, genre nerds, renowned critics, comedians, and just random celebrities, it creates a real cultural portrait for some of these movies and their impact to not just the horror fandom, but the general public as well.


Happy viewing, and Happy Halloween!



Images:


By Source, Fair use,

By Warner Bros. - Impawards, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12964665

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10426100

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5698901