Not So TERRORble Movies
by Megan Miter
October. It’s that time of year – those fleeting few weeks when creepy is the norm; those days leading up to the 24 hours during which it’s socially acceptable to run around in gorilla suits, turn pumpkins into fire hazards, and of course, accept candy from strangers. In the midst of these festivities, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the profusion of delightfully frightening films out there that are perfect for this time of year. Fear not, for in this article we’ve amassed some of the greatest movies out there for audiences of all kinds to enjoy this All Hallow’s Eve.
These days, scary movies are judged on a scale ranging from “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” to “Chucky doll watching you sleep”. While that scale is quite useful for the extremes, it’s important to remember everything that falls in the middle as well. There are plenty of movies out there, old and new, that are just the right level of “spooky”. If you’re looking for some good-old-fashioned-Halloween-themed fun, some contenders are The Addams Family (1991), Hocus Pocus (1993), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), and more recently, Paranorman (2012), and Frankenweenie (2012). There’s nothing particularly threatening about these movies, and they’re all Halloween staples that can surely be appreciated by all ages. They’re not just for the kiddies, there’s plenty of humor in them for the young and old alike.
The “mid-level” horror movies include The Ring (2002), and The Grudge (2004). These don’t quite fit into the aforementioned “Chucky doll” category, but they have enough suspense and thrill to satisfy the demographic who wants to prove that they can watch a scary movie, and not sleep with a nightlight on. They fall within the moderately creepy section of the scale, and are typically the perfect kind to watch with friends. They’re adapted from Japanese horror films and are arguably two of the most popular and iconic horror films of the past decade.
These are the classics; the timeless quintessentials of horror that go above and beyond being “just another scary movie.” To this day, they are all still relevant and just as excellent as the day they were released. The flicks in this category are the classic slashers, the zombie movies, and the ones that transform the pillows on your couch into tiny barriers that act as shields from that chainsaw guy who’s coming to get you – they’re where all the Freddy Kruegers and Jason Vorheeses come out to play. These include The Amityville Horror (1979), Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Halloween (1978), The Exorcist (1973), The Shining (1980), Night of the Living Dead (1968) and many, many more. The Amityville Horror is based on the true story of the DeFeo family, who was murdered not too far away from here, in Amityville, which is a twisted part of Long Island history. And we all know “Here’s Johnny,” from The Shining. Perhaps the most significant one of the lot is George Romero’s cult classic, Night of the Living Dead. This low budget film was the first true zombie movie ever made.
Two last things before you go out and have fun with these movies: First, due to the nature of some of these films, they’re rated accordingly – be wary of that. Second, they’re just movies. This is all meant in good fun, so make sure not let your imagination get the best of you. But don’t try to be too realistic either; where’s the fun without a little screaming? Make sure to have a happy and safe Halloween this year, and enjoy all of the new horror films scheduled to release. Preferably at midnight.
These days, scary movies are judged on a scale ranging from “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” to “Chucky doll watching you sleep”. While that scale is quite useful for the extremes, it’s important to remember everything that falls in the middle as well. There are plenty of movies out there, old and new, that are just the right level of “spooky”. If you’re looking for some good-old-fashioned-Halloween-themed fun, some contenders are The Addams Family (1991), Hocus Pocus (1993), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), and more recently, Paranorman (2012), and Frankenweenie (2012). There’s nothing particularly threatening about these movies, and they’re all Halloween staples that can surely be appreciated by all ages. They’re not just for the kiddies, there’s plenty of humor in them for the young and old alike.
The “mid-level” horror movies include The Ring (2002), and The Grudge (2004). These don’t quite fit into the aforementioned “Chucky doll” category, but they have enough suspense and thrill to satisfy the demographic who wants to prove that they can watch a scary movie, and not sleep with a nightlight on. They fall within the moderately creepy section of the scale, and are typically the perfect kind to watch with friends. They’re adapted from Japanese horror films and are arguably two of the most popular and iconic horror films of the past decade.
These are the classics; the timeless quintessentials of horror that go above and beyond being “just another scary movie.” To this day, they are all still relevant and just as excellent as the day they were released. The flicks in this category are the classic slashers, the zombie movies, and the ones that transform the pillows on your couch into tiny barriers that act as shields from that chainsaw guy who’s coming to get you – they’re where all the Freddy Kruegers and Jason Vorheeses come out to play. These include The Amityville Horror (1979), Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Halloween (1978), The Exorcist (1973), The Shining (1980), Night of the Living Dead (1968) and many, many more. The Amityville Horror is based on the true story of the DeFeo family, who was murdered not too far away from here, in Amityville, which is a twisted part of Long Island history. And we all know “Here’s Johnny,” from The Shining. Perhaps the most significant one of the lot is George Romero’s cult classic, Night of the Living Dead. This low budget film was the first true zombie movie ever made.
Two last things before you go out and have fun with these movies: First, due to the nature of some of these films, they’re rated accordingly – be wary of that. Second, they’re just movies. This is all meant in good fun, so make sure not let your imagination get the best of you. But don’t try to be too realistic either; where’s the fun without a little screaming? Make sure to have a happy and safe Halloween this year, and enjoy all of the new horror films scheduled to release. Preferably at midnight.