31 Days of Horror: Movies to Watch For Halloween

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happy halloween_2011

As a horror fan I thought I would take some time to come up with a list of a few films that I would highly recommend for this time of year. Some mainstream classics, indie cult hits, and some unknown gems are in the mix for everyone. Here is my list of some of the horror films I would recommend to you.

Halloween
Ginger Snaps
Don’t Go To The Reunion
American Mary
The Exorcist
The Fog
The Thing
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Cabin Fever
Friday the 13th
Black Christmas
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Scream
Evil Dead
Slaughter High
Terror Train
Prom Night
Laid To Rest
Would You Rather
John Dies At The End
All Cheerleaders Die
Happy Birthday to Me
The Loved Ones
Wolf Creek
Hell Night
Rest Stop
Wrong Turn
The Slumber Party Massacre
Donnie Darko
Halloween 2007
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003
Idle Hands
The Craft
I Know What You Did Last Summer
The Faculty
Halloween 2 (1981)
Halloween H20

Well there you have it a list of some of my personal favorite Halloween Horror treats. Now if you are looking for films for a family audience here is a small list of a few classics.

Hocus Pocus
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Halloweentown
Casper
Hocus Pocus
Monster House
Scooby Doo
Gremlins
Paranorman

Well there you go everyone hope this list has helped you in deciding what to watch this October!

–Ross Wilcock

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“Don’t Go to the Reunion” Now Available to Rent on IndieReign

Slasher Studios*Don't Go to the Reunion

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Our first slasher, Don’t Go to the Reunion, is now available to rent though IndieReign. Just $2.99 gets you a five day rental on what we hope will be your new favorite slasher. Click on the link below to rent the film today if you are looking for something new to watch this Halloween season. Slashers never die!!

Synopsis:
Scott Rantzen (Brady Simenson) is a horror movie loving misfit who is teased by the popular students in school. When a date with the very popular and very beautiful Erica Carpenter (Stephanie Leigh Rose) backfires, he feels as though his life is ruined. Ten years later, the gang reunite for their class reunion. Little do they know that someone is waiting for them and ready to see that they pay for what they did. Is Scott back for revenge and will the old gang survive to tell the tale? It’ll be more gore for Class of 04.

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31 Days of Horror: “The Haunting” (1960)

Slasher StudiosHaunting (1960)

the_haunting_poster_1963
I am not going to do a whole lot here….did I mention for the hundredth time how wicked my schedule can get? I am quite behind, here, and any spare few minutes I have I’m a zombie.
Anyway, this is one of my favorite movies. It’s based on the book House on Haunted Hill, which is a book I really want to get my hands on, actually. I keep forgetting to order it. I think I’ll do that today.

I adore the way this film is shot and cast. I remember being a kid and seeing this on television and thinking, “Tsss. A black and white movie. How boring,” especially when I imagined how un-scary a black and white horror movie must be….

Something caught my eye, though, and I kept watching it, fascinated and disturbed. It scared the hell out of me. This very well may be the movie that inspired my love for haunted house movies. Years later I watch it, and it still creeps me out, yet I now recognize how also beautifully shot it is and well acted.

(I will stop here to mention how much I hate. Detest. Loathe. The remake. just because of my devotion to this one- so no offense if you find the remake great or whatever- just don’t talk to me about it.)

The supporting Claire Bloom as Theo is lovely and coolly collected in contrast to Nell’s character, and while Julie Harris does an excellent job as the vulnerable, fragile minded, ready-to-snap-at any-second star of the movie, she is not a very likable character. She’s annoyingly naive, uptight and prudish, and she’s always bitching about something or taking something the wrong way and flying off the handle throughout most of the movie until the end. The synopsis on IMDB has noted her as “one of the participants” in the haunted house expedition she joins who “soon starts losing her mind.”

This is where I’d like to bring up the first scene involving Nell when she is speaking to her horrible sister and brother-in-law about leaving to research the house with the others. She’s resentful and angry and a little nutty to begin with, and during this scene they begin to argue and it ends with Nell losing her temper and casting the others out of the room. During their conversation and Nell’s building tension, there is a child’s record playing a notably loud, happy, twinkly tune, which sets us up for the obvious- that Nell is already losing her mind, and it’s gonna go any time.

Her desperation, vulnerability, and loneliness are ultimately what “the house” uses to consumes her. Among the creepiest moments I remember of this movie from watching this as a kid was the part when Nell is lying in bed, tortured with fear and staring at the wall. The camera zeroes in on a small part of the wall while we hear what Nell is hearing- faint whispering, laughter, chanting and weeping. It was a memorable moment for me that gave me the chills as a kid and still does.

–Catherine Kincannon

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31 Days of Horror: “The Exorcist” (1973)

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Exorcist

This movie is one of the loves of my life. I sometimes go through phases (when my kids aren’t here, of course) when I watch it daily. When I watched it at 13 or 14- and let me just say, I could not IMAGINE my 13 year-old watching this movie- I didn’t sleep for three months. There are a handful of movies I had to sleep with the lights on after watching for a good amount of time, but I remember this movie having the longest effect on me, as far as that goes. I’m not going to get into the cast and their performances and plot, as I’m pretty sure that, even if there is someone here hasn’t seen it, you know enough about it, or will at some point.

I feel that the acting by all the cast in this movie is stunning and memorable. Makes me feel guilty not going on about each one, even the supporting cast, but I won’t do that to you guys. Just a side note I must mention, though: My favorite quote from this movie is by the detective, played by Lee J. Cobb as Lt. William Kinderman: “Burke Dennings, good Father, was found at the bottom of those steps leading to M Street with his head turned completely around, facing backwards.”

I love the way he says, compleeeetely around… I always thought that quote and how it was delivered epitomizes the degree of violence of the story. For me, this movie is scary, grotesque, perverse and creepy as hell even for this generation. I can’t imagine how people must have reacted in 1973.

–Catherine Kincannon

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31 Days of Horror: “The Frighteners” (1996)

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frighteners2

This is definitely my favorite Peter Jackson, uh….special effects movie. Or however you would even say that. I would love to write a review based mostly of off quotes from the movie. The humor in this movie really works for me and it feels good to laugh and smile as much as I do while watching it.

Micheal J. Fox is perfect as Frank Banister, a guy who after a tragic accident has been able to communicate/see the dead. His ghost-partners in crime are gory and funny- beautifully done. They are non-malevolent spirits who are participating in scams with Frank to promote his fake ghost-busting business. He meets Ray and Lucy (played by the gentle and pretty Trini Alvarado), a married couple he tricks into believing their house is possessed by a poltergeist. Reluctantly, Ray agrees to allow Frank into the home to rid them of the apparent poltergeist (a great scene), and all scams aside, Frank sees something disturbing and unseen to the common eye- the number “37” burning into Ray’s forehead. Tragically (but not without comedy for us), Frank soon realizes these numbers stand for something sinister about to happen to the poor souls bearing them. Thus begins Frank and Lucy’s adventure to solve the mystery of and put a stop to the terrible spirit of a local sanatorium worker/deranged killer who has returned from the dead to claim more victims, a role Jake Busey was no doubt born to play.

Comprised of some off-beat humor, a couple of genuinely creepy and intense moments, as well as some silly warm-fuzzies (all these qualities accompanied by some pretty stunning Peter Jackson-esque effects), this movie is a really fun, clever, feel-good demented horror comedy.

–Catherine Kincannon

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31 Days of Horror: “The Gremlin” (2007)

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Screenshot 2014-10-08 at 1.35.57 AM

“A group of sexy teens embark on one last outing together before going their separate ways. Little do they know that dwelling in the lush forest they have chosen to set up camp is a beast so foul and heinous that to speak his name is to utter fear itself. Now to escape they will have to beat him at his own game. Can they survive? Or will The Gremlin live to spook again?”

I don’t know if I can adequately describe how much I love this film. Absurd comedy meets cheesy 80’s style slasher with a dose of tongue-in-cheek humor. The soundtrack is fantastically entertaining and the cast is game. I’ve seen this movie nearly a dozen times and it is still great fun. Not for everyone but if you enjoy a good-bad horror movie, check it out!

No trailer but here’s the clip show! If you enjoy this, you’ll have a blast with the flick. If not, don’t even bother.

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31 Days of Horror: “Patrick: Evil Awakens” (2013)

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Patrick-Poster-610x907

Patrick is an Australian horror remake of the 1970s cult classic starring You’re Next star Sharni Vinson (Step Up 3, Bait). The film follows the story of a young nurse Cathy who comes to work in a hospital full of comatose patients. When she is introduced to a patient named Patrick her life changes forever. She slowly begins to realize that Patrick has some very special abilities. His obsession with Cathy grows his powers also grow causing Cathy to fear for her life.

Patrick made its UK Debut at Glasgow Fright Fest in November 2013 with a direct to DVD release in August 2014. I went into this film hoping it would be a really intense and creepy thriller and because of the spectacular performance of Vinson in her previous horror hit You’re Next which was outstanding. However, sadly, this film fell flat on its face with very minor and clichéd jump scares.

The film was definitely one to wait for a Netflix release or a TV viewing. It had its moments where I thought that it could improve but, then again, it fell flat. The only positive I can give to this film was that the story was strong enough that I wanted to see where it ended plus the fact that the film runs just over 90 minutes long was also in its favor.

–Ross Wilcock

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31 Days of Horror: “Coraline” (2009)

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blue_coraline

I have always felt there are some pretty horrific elements to the original story of Coraline, written by Neil Gaiman (2002), that were worked into a spectacular stop motion animation by Henry Selick, The book wasn’t even published before Selick got his hands on it to make it into a movie.

With all due respect to the book, I love what they changed and added for the movie. Selick compares the book to the movie throughout the commentary. He has nothing but the utmost respect for it and all of his story tweaks were for the sake of the film and inspired by the book. I feel that he made some creative and effective decisions. This movie also has a haunting, beautiful soundtrack. The music is written by Bruno Coulais (except one song by They Might Be Giants, which is the other father’s song about Coraline).

The beginning opens with some sweet, eerie little tune, and over it, you can faintly hear a woman’s voice humming, and during this you see a rag doll being recreated by some sort of instrument (needle-like fingers, perhaps?)
It’s being torn apart, detailed, restuffed, etc. After seeing the movie or reading the book and watching this again, the hair stood on my arms, quite honestly, and why is does, I cannot reveal to you without giving too many creepy details of the story away.

Coraline Jones, voiced by Dakota Fanning (was there anything this kid couldn’t do?!) is a quick-witted, snarky, bored eleven year-old living the typical American kid lifestyle. Her parents, voiced by the talents of Terri Hatcher and John Hodgman, have just recently settled into a new place- a huge old house called Pink Palace, a name coined by Selick for the film. The house is made up of several apartments inhabited by some interesting characters. Coraline’s mom and dad are busy and stressed. They have deadlines to make and boring work to do with their adult-life stuff, and Coraline is bored.

She meets Wybie, whose grandmother has lived there for many, many years. She knows a thing or two about something strange that has happened there, but Wybie isn’t supposed to talk about it, which he makes clear to Coraline right away. Coraline promptly decides to act out as much animosity as she can toward this annoying boy and his stupid cat, who she calls a “wuss puss” while driving them away as quickly as she can. At some point in the beginning, after meeting Wybie, he gives her a doll he found that bears an odd resemblance to her. She thinks it’s a bit weird, but she is also quite pleased with it and keeps it close.

Coraline awakes one night to discover a secret door that was once blocked by a brick wall now opens into a magical tunnel that leads into a new world with another mother and another father- a mother who cooks delicious food and wants to play games, and wants nothing more than to give Coraline everything she;s ever wanted. The other mother is bright and cheery and lovely, and despite the weird button eyes on everyone, everything’s perfect. The other neighbors are living their dreams, the other Wybie can’t talk, and everything is beautiful and fun and interesting- a world built just for her. Coraline also meets who she thinks is the other cat (Keith David)- who surprises her by saying, “I’m not the other anything. I’m me.” Coraline finds that this cat can slip between her world and the other world as she can. Coraline soon realizes that this other world isn’t as great as she thought, creepy even, and as the other mother feels her slipping away, the other world soon begins to deteriorate, and along with the other mother, reveal itself for what it really is.

Coraline decides that she’ll take her boring parents and weird but well-meaning neighbors over this freak show any day, but the other mother isn’t willing to let her go. Again I’ll point out what an incredible performance Teri Hatcher gives, as really THREE separate characters for this film. She voices an exasperated mother and wife, who possesses similar emotional dimensions that many preoccupied parents can relate to, as there are genuine moments of sadness that her character portrays when trying to relate to her dissatisfied preteen- she does an excellent job of it. She also plays the very attentive, doting, and sweet “other mother,” and eventually a desperate and terrifying creature that is spiraling into despair.

If you haven’t watched the movie, I recommend it. If you haven’t read the book, I recommend that, too. Then watch the movie again, and then again, but with the commentary. Just a suggestion.

The last thing I’ll say about this movie is that it’s one of the most gorgeous things I’ve ever seen, and each time I see it, there is something I notice that I hadn’t before, and something that makes me love it even more.

–Catherine Kincannon

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Doll Wrong: “Annabelle” (2014) Review

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Annabelle-2014-Movie-Poster-750x1111

Annabelle is a spin-off/prequel to the hit 2013 horror film The Conjuring. It tells the story of the creepy doll that eventually fell into the hands of Ed and Lorraine Warren.

The film begins with the scene in The Conjuring in which a young woman and her friends came across the doll and have it examined by the Warrens. It then goes back in time to Mia (Annabelle Wallis) and her husband John (Ward Horton), who are expecting their first child. John surprises Mia with an antique doll that she had her eye on. All seems well until a brutal murder happens to the next door neighbors, and Mia is then attacked by one of the intruders. The female intruder then has her blood drip into the doll’s eye. Soon after, sinister things begin to happen, and Mia is convinced that they need to move out of the house. However, despite their move the presence follows them, and the events continue. The couple then enlists the help of Father Perez (Tony Amendola) and one of their neighbors Evelyn (Alfre Woodward) to help solve what is going on. Is the doll suddenly coming to life, or is there something far more darker happening that puts not only the lives of the couple in danger, as well as their child.

It wasn’t too long after the success of The Conjuring that word of a spin-off would be happening. And it certainly didn’t take them long to film and release, and definitely shows here. Though the film does feature some fine performances by its cast and we definitely develop an attachment to these characters. It also features some fairly well-done chiller moments, particularly the invasion scene in the beginning and a certain moment involving the storage unit in the couple’s apartment. However, it does feature some major predictable and cheap jump scares that eventually become repetitive. Not only this but the plot is very much lackluster and provides nothing new as a film overall.

While Annabelle does feature fine performances, likable characters, and a couple of chilling scenes, it doesn’t make up for the fact that there is nothing new to it. It is purely an origin film that is completely unnecessary, and quite frankly makes the Annabelle does less freakier than it was in The Conjuring. It was clearly made just to bank of The Conjuring’s success, and the work involved definitely shows this.

–Cody Landman

1.5

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31 Days of Horror: “Stir of Echoes” (1999)

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Stir of Echoes (1999)

This movie came out a month after The Sixth Sense, and was largely overshadowed by it. I adore this movie. I’ve seen it a hundred times. I feel that the family is so likable, as a unit and individually. I’m a big Kevin Bacon fan. Always have been. And I love Kathryn Erbe as Tom’s wife, Maggie. It would have been so easy, as Kevin Sommerfield pointed out to me long ago while discussing the movie, for the creators of this movie (and possibly the author of the book I haven’t read) to portray her as the denier and the naysayer, but instead she’s supportive and sympathetic, and takes on the burden along with Tom and his son, an adorable little boy who is played by Zachary David Cope (one of two roles, one uncredited- what happened to this kid? He was great!).

The very practical and hard working Tom, who doesn’t believe in any spiritual nonsense, challenges Maggie’s sister Lisa (Illeana Douglas) to hypnotize him at a party. He then realizes that a missing girl in the neighborhood is making contact with him and his son. I think Kevin Bacon does a great job playing this role. Tom is shocked, scared, and exhausted. Very burdened, both morally and spiritually, he begins to seek the truth of this unsolved disappearance of the young lady, much to the dismay of certain people in the neighborhood who are hiding a terrible secret.

I love this movie. I love the acting, the atmosphere of their unique and fun Chicago neighborhood, the scares, the secret unfolded, and the ultimate justice. I can find a way to justify every moment of this movie, I swear to God. There are also some genuinely funny moments and a great sex scene between Tom and Maggie. I suppose I don’t have to share that opinion, but I’m gonna anyway. And also there are hot shirtless Kevin Bacon scenes apart from that. Guilty pleasure of mine that’s unrelated to the story….and he does a great Chicago accent, too.

–Catherine Kincannon

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