Halloween is just around the bend, so naturally I'm sure a lot of you are looking for some horror films to watch come October 31st. Of course, the classics are always a good decision, Frankenstein, The Exorcist, even Halloween itself, but if you're like me and you've seen those countless times at this stage, you might be looking for something a bit more different to watch. Well look no further, because I'm about to throw out some recommendations. The following films are a random assortment of horror films that I'm particularly fond of, and feel like a lot of you might be as well. Ranging from schlocky and silly to downright terrifying, this is a mix of various horror films each one different from the last. So if you're interested in something different, take a look at some of these.
The Lords of Salem (Rob Zombie, 2013)
What's it about?
Heidi (Sheri Moon Zombie), a radio DJ in Salem, Massachusetts, receives a mysterious record from a band named The Lords. Upon playing the record, Heidi's life begins to spiral into a surreal nightmare with strange ties to the infamous witch trials that took place in Salem hundreds of years ago. Heidi then seeks the help of prolific author Francis Matthias (Bruce Davison) in order discover the truth behind The Lords of Salem.
Why you should watch it:
What better way to kickstart your Halloween than watching a film set in Salem itself? With it's gloomy skies and streets covered with autumnal leaves, Rob Zombie has the Halloween vibes down to a T here. Using surreal dream sequences and moody atmosphere, Zombie manages to craft a film that is soaked in dread, relying moreso on imagery and atmosphere than on jump scares. Sure, it suffers from some plot holes and loose ends, but The Lords of Salem truly manages to capture that gloomy autumnal feel so closely associated with Halloween. Along with that, the visuals are on point so if you're a fan of aesthetically pleasing films then this is definitely one for you. Be warned though, the film is a bit out there, but then again, so are a lot of films on this list!
Best Bit:
Heidi's encounter with the menacing doctors.
Possession (Andrzej Zulawski, 1981)
What's it about?
After returning home from a recent mission, spy Mark (Sam Neill) begins to observe strange behaviour from his wife Anna (Isabelle Adjani). At first, he begins to suspect her of having an affair, but upon investigating he soon discovers that it's something much more sinister.
Why you should watch it:
Due to the subject matter, it's best not to watch this one with your significant other, but if you find yourself alone this Halloween then you should definitely give Possession a watch. Okay, so it's more of a psychological, mystery/thriller than horror, but don't get me wrong, it's certainly horrific. It's the type of film that keeps you guessing for quite a while before hitting you with something completely unexpected, and trust me, you won't see this films twist coming (unless you read about it on Wikipedia). At 124 minutes, it's a film that requires a fair bit of patience before getting to the payoff, but with its eerie mood and phenomenal performances from Neill and Adjani, Possession is the perfect horror for those of you who love a bit of mystery.
Best Bit:
Isabelle Adjani's bizarre breakdown in a subway station, by far one of the greatest performances in horror.
Let's Scare Jessica to Death (John D. Hancock, 1971)
What's it about?
After being released from a mental institution, Jessica (Zohra Lampert), a troubled young woman, starts anew at an old farmhouse with her husband Duncan (Barton Heyman) and friend Woody (Kevin O'Connor). Upon arriving, the trio meet a mysterious young drifter named Emily (Mariclare Costello) living in the house and decide to invite her to stay with them. However, when strange things start to happen, Jessica must cling to her sanity in order to survive.
Why you should watch it:
Let's Scare Jessica to Death is a strange, simple, and effective film that's perfect for a gloomy Halloween afternoon. The whole idea is that Jessica is experiencing strange goings on at her new home, but is unsure whether they are real, or just a symptom of her mental illness. We never quite know what's actually real or what's in Jessica's head, and the psychological elements really play off well against the isolated setting. It creates this really eerie atmosphere throughout, as though something is always watching Jessica and waiting to pounce. This allows the film to feel scary without even trying, so when it actually does try it's all the more effective. Let's Scare Jessica to Death is a chilling tale of paranoia and the supernatural, all set against the backdrop of beautiful rural Connecticut.
Best Bit:
Jessica's grave encounter by the lake.
Night of the Creeps (Fred Dekker, 1986)
What's it about?
After a college initiation ceremony gone wrong, Chris Romero (Jason Lively) and J.C. Hooper (Steve Marshall) unwillingly unleash a horde of alien slugs upon the unsuspecting citizens of Corman University. The slugs have the power to take over human hosts, turning them into disgusting undead creatures with a taste for blood. The duo must join forces with troubled detective Ray Cameron (Tom Atkins) in order to put an end to the horror once and for all.
Why you should watch it:
Night of the Creeps is one of the most fun horror films of the 1980s'. Mixing the perfect blend of comedy and terror, the film acts as both a homage to and parody of B-movies, while also being a B-movie of sorts itself. The effects are cheesy, the dialogue is corny, but that's the whole point and it works so wonderfully. Tom Atkins who plays detective Cameron has cited it as being his favourite role of his career, and Atkins has starred in his fair share of horror films. It's 88 minutes of pure, unadultered fun that's a perfect watch for you and your mates after a few cans on Halloween night. Also, if you're a horror fan you'll probably spot the films most famous Easter egg, all of the characters surnames are also surnames of famous horror directors. The more you know.
Best Bit:
'The good news is your dates are here?'
'What's the bad news?'
'They're dead!'
Theatre of Blood (Douglas Hickox, 1973)
What's it about?
After being constantly panned by various critics, Shakespearean actor Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price) leaps into the Thames, seemingly killing himself. However, two years later, the very same critics who once panned him so harshly start dying one by one in methods identical to those from the works of Shakespeare. Has Lionheart returned to seek his revenge? In short, yes, but don't worry that's not a spoiler.
Why you should watch it:
Everyone knows who Vincent Price is, be it from his horror career, his Thriller voice cameo, or even The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo, he's one of the most recognisable horror icons of all time. Theatre of Blood is by far his best performance. I hated Shakespeare at school, but watching Price perform some of the bards most iconic scenes with a morbid twist is enough to make anyone a fan. From his grizzly rendition of the pound of flesh scene from The Merchant of Venice to a fiendishly funny scene in a salon, the film allows Price to fully showcase his talents, playing multiple roles that range from campy to downright sinister. It's a bizarre tale of showbiz and revenge with plenty of laughs and plenty of blood to keep everybody satisfied.
Best Bit:
Vincent Price's disco attire and afro during the salon scene.
Demons (Lamberto Bava, 1985)
What's it about?
A group of strangers are invited to a free screening at the mysterious Metropol cinema. The film that they watch involves a group of teens unearthing a mysterious mask that transforms them into demons. However, the events onscreen soon become all too real as a demonic plague begins to spread throughout the audience. With no escape from the Metropol, the remaining audience members must fight for survival.
Why you should watch it:
Demons is one of the most entertaining horror films you'll ever watch, it's got action, terror, romance, and an unreal soundtrack, it's basically got something for everyone. Using some of the most gruesome practical effects ever, the film creates these disgusting creatures that transform from human to demon. With oozing boils, sharp nails, and jagged teeth protruding from their gumlines, these demons are really horrific and their onscreen presence is enough to make you hide behind your hands. However, while you're wincing at the gore one minute, you'll find yourself laughing at some of the strange dialogue and dubbing the next, and don't even get me started on the motorcycle sequence. Gore-filled and action-packed, Demons is some of the most fun you'll ever have at the cinema without ever having to go to the cinema.
Best Bit:
Literally any time Tony the Pimp (Bobby Rhodes) opens his mouth.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (Tobe Hooper, 1986)
What's it about?
Thirteen years after the events of the first Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Leatherface (Bill Johnson) and the rest of the Sawyer clan return to terrorise a radio DJ (Caroline Williams) after she airs a clip of their most recent murder. In order to survive the Sawyers, she teams up with former Texas Ranger 'Lefty' Enright (Dennis Hopper), a man with a personal vendetta against the family. Will she survive Leatherface and co?
Why you should watch it:
We've all seen or at least heard of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but not a lot of attention is given to it's completely bonkers sequel. The late Tobe Hooper opted to make the film more of a black comedy, ditching that raw terror of the first film for a more lighthearted approach. It's still got a lot of gore, but it's got an equal amount of laughs as well. The film sees the return of Leatherface and his brother Drayton (Jim Siedow) along with the introduction of their other brother Chop Top (Bill Moseley) who was supposedly off in 'Nam during the first film. Moseley is easily the best thing about the film, stealing all of his scenes and cementing his name in the horror hall of fame for years to come. An utterly bonkers carnival of chaos, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 has just the right mix of sheer terror and campy comedy, a bit like October 31st itself.
Best Bit:
Dennis Hopper going ape with a chainsaw. 'I AM THE LORD OF THE HARVEST!'
The Blood on Satan's Claw (Piers Haggard, 1971)
What's it about?
In a rural village in 18th century England, a mysterious corpse with fur and one eye is unearthed in a recently ploughed field. Soon, strange things begin to happen around the village, and the younger villagers begin to form a sinister cult led by the seductive Angel Blake (Linda Hayden). Can anybody stop the devil himself?
Why you should watch it:
The Blood on Satan's Claw is quite a shocking film for it's time, depicting a group of teenagers doing things that they definitely shouldn't be. From assault, to human sacrifice, it's highly unsettling to watch these unspeakable acts being carried out by such young characters. This was before The Exorcist ever hit screens as well. I was not expecting this to be as shocking as it was, but low and behold it truly is a horrifying piece of folk horror that was way ahead of its time. It's got blood, it's got sex, it's got everything that made British horror cinema so appealing in the 60's and 70's. Linda Hayden is definitely the highlight, giving a charismatic performance with sinister undertones to make for an excellent villain. Although naming her character Angel was a bit on the nose, but we can forgive Piers Haggard for doing so considering how fantastic this film is.
Best Bit:
Peter (Simon Williams) has an encounter with Satan's claw itself, resulting in a bloody mess.
The House By The Cemetery (Lucio Fulci, 1981)
What's it about?
After a bizarre incident involving his ex-collegue, Norman Boyle (Paolo Malco) and his family move into an old house by the cemetery in order to continue his old friends work. However, their son Bob (Giovanni Frezza) soon begins to experience paranormal events that lead him and his family to uncover the dark secret hiding in the basement.
Why you should watch it:
Now there are a lot of reasons why you shouldn't watch this film, plot holes, questionable dubbing, the character of Bob overall, but I have to say I've got a soft spot for The House By The Cemetery. Being a Lucio Fulci film, you don't come for conventional plot development or a solid script, you come for the excessive gore and nailbiting suspense, and The House by the Cemetery does both exceedingly well. This is definitely one for the gore hounds as it's full of over the top death scenes oozing with blood and innards. In fact, if you love gore and have never seen a Fulci film before, I implore you to watch his stuff, you'll love it. It's not all gore though, as Fulci also manages to craft an extremely eerie atmosphere that makes the film all the more unsettling. From the naturalistic cinematography, to Fabio Frizzi's score, the film has plenty of elements to create a truly terrifying tone. Sure, the ending makes no sense, actually more than just the ending, but who cares. The buckets of blood and gloomy cemetery setting make this the perfect Halloween viewing.
Best Bit:
The unfortunate realtor's death. The definition of overkill.
Night of the Demons (Kevin S. Tenney, 1988)
What's it about?
On Halloween night, a group of teenagers head to the supposedly haunted Hull House for a Halloween party hosted by Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade). However, after taking part in a séance, they unknowingly unleash a demonic spirit from beneath the house that begins to possess them one by one.
Why you should watch it:
Night of the Demons is essential Halloween viewing. Not only is it set on Halloween, at a Halloween party, but it finds that perfect balance between horror and fun that makes Halloween such a special night. Monsters, debauchery, and apples riddled with razor-blades, this is one of the ultimate Halloween films and one of the most entertaining horrors of the late 80's. The film was not an instant classic, but with its memorable death scenes, comedic moments, and the most bizarre scene involving lipstick in cinematic history, Night of the Demons has gained cult status in the 21st century. So sit back, crack open a few cans with the lads, and enjoy one of the most entertaining films ever made about Halloween night.
Best Bit:
Angela's surreal dance scene to the darkwave sounds of Bauhaus.
So those are just some horror films that you should consider watching this Halloween or over the course of the month. They won't necessarily appeal to everyone, but if you're looking to watch something a bit different this Halloween then there's sure to be at least one or two films on the list that you'll enjoy. I'll be back soon with some more horror content, until next time!
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