Just in time for the Halloween season, here are ten horror movies that I’ve enjoyed over the years that you should check out. They aren’t in any particular order; you can’t go wrong with any of them.
DSC_Newcastle’s Werewolf (Photo credit: PathofGrace)
1) Dog Soldiers (2002) – Directed by Neil Marshall of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, which also produces Newcastle Ale. Their seasonal brew is “Werewolf Red Ale,” appropriate in that Dog Soldiers is a modern werewolf film set in the northern hinterlands of the U.K. A squad of British soldiers on a routine training mission suddenly realize they are in for the fight of their lives. Stylish, well-written, great locations and wry humor. One of my favorites.
2) Near Dark (1987) – Directed by Katheryn Bigelow (yes, that Katheryn Bigelow of “The Hurt Locker” / “Zero Dark Thirty” fame.) Set in the dusty plains of north Texas / Oklahoma, the setting of this film is as unique as the story-line. A young man is seduced, more or less accidentally, by a young, female vampire, and he reluctantly becomes part of their violent, dysfunctional clan. The action is lusciously choreographed, and the characters are at once terrifying and compelling. This one will stay with you.
Cover of Fido
3) Fido (2006) – Directed by Canadian filmmaker Andrew Currie. More or less buried among the dozens (hundreds?) of zombie flicks that have emerged over the past decade, this sly, ironic, and at times hilarious piece pokes irreverent fun at 1950’s styles and attitudes, with pet zombies replacing Lassie or Flipper. You see, it turns out a zombie is (literally) a boy’s best friend. Addresses the meaning of life, death, slavery, sexuality, the National Security State, marketing and loneliness, and a nice game of catch. School children singing: “In the brain and not the chest. Head shots are the very best.”
4) The Old, Dark House (1932) – Directed by James Whale, who secured his reputation by directing the original film version of “Frankenstein” a year earlier. Features an excellent cast including Boris Karloff, Charles Laughton and Melvyn Douglas. The granddaddy of all haunted house movies, this one holds up surprisingly well. Features an extremely odd assortment of characters who come together in an old mansion during a torrential rainstorm. Every movie within this sub-genre, from “The House on Haunted Hill” to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” owes a debt of gratitude to this creepy and still-surprising thriller.
5) Mulberry Street (2006) – Directed by Jim Mickle, who can also boast the incredible “Stake Land” to his credit. A virus, carried by rats, breaks out in lower Manhattan, and the populace quickly becomes a pack of rat-like, rabid killers. The budget for this film was a mere $60,000, but Mickle, makes the most of a non-existent budget. This is not Mayor Bloomberg’s New York City. This is Ed Koch’s NYC from the days of “The Warriors,” where working class people sift through Manhattan’s grungy exterior, masking the heart beating within. A scarred, young woman soldier, returning from the wars in the Middle East, steps into a scenario even deadlier than the one she left behind. Grainy and raw, this one eschews cliché and formula in favor of tense situations and real relationships.
Cover of Trick ‘r Treat
6) Trick ‘r Treat (2007) – Directed by Michael Dougherty, this is another Canadian offering that weaves four separate narrative threads into a coherent whole, all of which take place simultaneously on Halloween night. Cast includes Brian Cox (who played the original Hannibal Lector) and Dylan Baker (who also stars in “Fido.”) Lots of twists and turns that will keep you surprised, but never cheap or gratuitous. The horror is that neither the victims nor the villains are ever simply who they seem to be, and the tables can turn quickly, with much macabre mirth throughout. A perfect film for a late Halloween night, after the kids are safely asleep.
7) Shadow of the Vampire (2000) – Directed by E. Elias Merhige, and starring John Malkovich as German film director Friedrich Murnau, and Willem Dafoe (nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of German actor Max Schreck.) This compelling and witty film is an imaginative “what if” film, namely, what if actor Max Schreck, who played the vampire in the original “Nosferatu” wasn’t an actor at all? Suppose he really was a vampire? Even as Murnau (Malkovich) comes to the horrible realization as to why his actors and film crew are gradually disappearing, his final goal is to finish the film. To Murnau, art is more important than life itself, and the un-dead will just have to wait until the credits roll to finish the feast. The question is, however, will Schreck finish his feast, thus never allowing the credits to roll at all? The performances by Malkovich and Dafoe are outstanding.
8) Basket Case (1982) – Directed by Frank Henenlotter. This just may be the ultimate cult-classic horror film you’ve probably never heard of. Think “Eraserhead” meets “E.T.” It is a Grindhouse-style satire of horror, yet is truly horrific in its own right. Not for everyone, you will probably either hate this film or completely love it. Either way, you’ll be blown away. A revenge fantasy / love story, brotherly love doesn’t get more complicated, sordid, or bizarre than this. Of all the low-budget horror films you’ll ever see, few will ever be more original than this one. Definitely not a date-film. Of all the films on this list, this is the one most likely to leave you with your mouth hanging open.
9) House of the Devil (2009) – Directed by Ti West (who also directed the respectable “The Innkeepers.”) Set in the early 1980’s, a young female college student, hard up for cash, responds to an ad in a local paper for a babysitter job. Turns out the baby is not a baby at all, and she’s not going to do very much sitting. The film hinges on the performances of Jocelin Donahue who plays the lead role as young “Samantha,” and character actor Tom Noonan as Mr. Ulman. She is engagingly cute, resourceful and trusting. He is the very definition of creepy, yet urbane and polite. (Noonan, BTW, also played the role of the Tooth Fairy in “Manhunter” alongside the aforementioned Brian Cox.) The violence is sudden and surprising. I liked it better the second time I saw it, which is usually a good sign for a film.
The Wicker Man (1973 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
10) The Wicker Man (1973) – Directed by Robin Hardy. Forget the awful Nicolas Cage remake. The original Wicker Man is an outstanding, mysterious film starring Edward Woodward as a police constable sent over from mainland England to a little island village where a child has allegedly disappeared. Yet right from the outset of his investigation, he suspects foul play. The full extant of this foul play, however, is only finally, horrifyingly revealed to him at the film’s conclusion. Christopher Lee of Hammer Film studios fame (“Horror of Dracula, among others), plays Lord Summerisle with appropriate glee and gusto. Britt Ekland offers one of the most overtly sexy and sexual performances in cinematic film history. The version of this film that played on American television for years was chopped and shredded, but if you are able to find a complete print, you’ll find the film far more titillating, fully realized and entertaining. Belongs in any true horror fan’s collection.
Bill's Top Ten Lists 