HALLOWEEN MOVIES - The TOP 13 (Part Two)

The Top 13 Halloween Movies - Part Two

By Jeff Dixon

When you love and worship something so much, like I love and worship horror movies, paring it down to a Top 10 list seems like an almost impossible task. 

I could only pare it down to 13.  That’ll have to do.

If you missed PART ONE of my Top 13 horror movies to watch during Halloween, you can check it out HERE.  As with part one, part two is in no particular order. That can be decided by you.

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• The Descent (2005)
• Frailty (2001)
• [Rec] (2007)
• [Rec]2 (2009)
• The Exorcist (1973)
• Poltergeist (1982)
• Martyrs (2008)

The Descent (2005)

One of my favorite recent horror movies.  The Descent mixes equal parts paranoia and claustrophobia with a perfect helping of creepy creatures, ideal pitch-black locations, and an awesome team of tough, all-female explorers.

(The Descent's all-female cast performed in near darkness for much of the film.)

And speaking of pitch-black locations, that’s why this movie excels, because when I mean black, I mean BLACK.  I can’t stand when it’s supposed to be dark in a film, but it’s obviously “lit” to be dark.  Sometimes they make it a deep blue, or occasionally it just looks like someone left a bunch of dim lights on.  No, in The Descent, they’re underground, and Neil Marshall uses absolute pitch black.

(Director Neil Marshall used lighting (and the lack thereof) to accentuate the claustrophobic subterranean horror of The Descent.)

Funny story.  I saw this at a midnight screening at the Sundance Film Festival, and it scared me to death.  Walking back to my condo at 3:30 am after the screening (in the darkness and through snow, I might add), out of the corner of my eye, I saw something running at me.  At that moment, my brain wasn’t firing correctly, and to me I thought for SURE it was one of he creatures from the movie.  I literally jumped into a snowbank to bolt away… Then I realized it was a dog.  So yeah, let’s just say it can have an effect on you. Filled with amazing jump scares, fantastic creatures, and spectacular gore galore, if you haven’t seen it, you’re seriously in for a treat.

Frailty (2001)

Frailty deserves the award for the single most underappreciated movie of recent years. This is one of my all-time favorite films, directed by one of my all-time favorite actors, Bill Paxton (Game over, man! Game over!) When anyone asks me for a scary movie recommendation, most of the time I tell them to see this. It always comes to mind because it’s truly a movie that everyone can, and everyone will, love. It’s not too over the top for some of the more impressionable viewers, but it’s also not too soft for the more hardcore folks. It walks a perfect line for just about everyone. So here is my recommendation for the cheap seats… Readers of this blog, you must see this film.

(Young Fenton (Matt O'Leary) and Bill Paxton (Dad Meiks) in Frailty.)

The creepiness is so subtle that it unknowingly sneaks up on you, until before you know it, you’ve been pulled into a world that is absolutely haunting. The mood and atmosphere are pitch perfect. I don’t want to ruin too much, but needless to say, it’s about a religious man’s mission to “destroy demons,” and the teaching of his two young sons to assist him.

(Dad Meiks (Bill Paxton) believes he's an avenging angel sent on a divine mission to kill “demons” in Frailty.)

But there’s so much more to this movie, and the fact that you really never know where it’s heading is one of its main gifts. Plus, in the acting category, you’ve got Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, and two fantastic child actors. It’s just amazing, thrilling, twisting & turning material that will literally keep you on the edge of your seat. I seriously, from the bottom of my heart, love this movie. You will too. I guarantee it.

[Rec] (2007)

Here, I tap into the reality-horror genre. But with [REC], never has it felt so utterly visceral. This movie is scary… really, seriously, scary. Here, we follow a reality TV show that is watching the day-to-day actions of the fire department. When they get a distress call from an apartment building, we get to ride along with the action. Within minutes, the horror starts, and it doesn’t stop until the credits roll. It is pure and utter terror from start to finish.

(When Reality TV gets scary. One of the quarantined horrors of [REC].)

This film was remade in America under the name Quarantine. It’s actually a great remake, almost a shot-for-shot copy in most ways, but for my money, it still isn’t quite as good as [REC]. One of the main reasons for me is that whenever a movie is remade in America, you lose a touch of realism because you recognize actors from other projects. It pulls the curtain back a touch. When you watch the Spanish original, you don’t know who anyone is, thus you’re pulled into the scenario completely. This baby is down and dirty and awesome. It’s violent and shocking (when that body drops and splats on the floor, I literally jumped off the couch.)

(Bringing realism to the zombie genre in [REC].)

Plus, wait until the final 5 minutes. Good lord, you’ll be biting your nails literally to the bone. Also, this should be watched as the first part of a double feature with [REC]2.  Together, the two movies are basically just one long whole. They are simply amazing. Do yourself a favor and freak yourself out with these Spanish masterpieces.

[Rec]2 (2009)

Don’t you just love it when a sequel comes out and not only meets, but in some ways even surpasses the original? For me, that’s what we have here with [REC]2. Instead of just a rehash of the original, it literally picks up from the final haunting scene of the first one and keeps going.  Like I mentioned in the earlier post, [REC] and [REC]2 are two parts of one longer whole, which is why I had to include them both. But what’s so great about [REC]2 is that instead of keeping well enough alone, it throws in an entirely new twist that not only makes you rethink things in the sequel, but also makes you reevaluate everything that you saw in the original.

([REC]2 continues the visceral intensity right where [REC] left off.)

 Many people had problems with this twist, but to me, it’s completely original and brings us somewhere we never imagined we would go. Far better than just travelling the same territory as the first. Think about what Aliens did for Alien. They didn’t just make another Alien horror movie, instead they made an Alien war movie. Same idea here. Instead of doing another zombie movie, they threw another genre into the mix (again, I don’t want to ruin it.) And like those movies, this film has a shocking and terrifying 3rd act.  All I have to say is that actually finding an even MORE haunting reason to switch between pitch black and green night vision is just spectacular. I love this movie just as much, and in some ways, maybe even a touch more than the original.  Watch them together and enjoy the entire ride.

The Exorcist (1973)

I’d consider myself a loser if I didn’t include The Exorcist on this list. I think it’s actually in the “scary movie list” bylaws. But for good reason. There isn’t a soul who watched this movie and wasn’t messed up by it in some way.

(The poster image from director William Friedkin and writer William Peter Blatty's horror masterpiece, The Exorcist.)

It’s just scary as all hell (literally.) I consistently hear stories from people who say they saw this like 20 years ago and are still affected by it. Think about that power. One viewing, 20 years ago, and it STILL sticks with people.  But this movie really does have something for everyone. The subliminal flashes of the demon faces were what always got to me.

(The demon Pazuzu (Eileen Dietz) shows its face in disturbing, almost subliminal flashes, hinting at the evil spirit residing within Regan (Linda Blair).)

But man, poor little Linda Blair. The things she went through: head rotations, majorly aggressive puking, some serious blasphemy, and even a little, um, crucifix, well, yeah… But man, my new favorite sequence has got to be the spider walking, which is only on the more recent director’s cut. Almost worth a check out for that scene alone. So bizarrely nuts and haunting, even if it is a little misplaced within the film.

(The Godfather of Makeup FX, Dick Smith, broke ground with Linda Blair's transformation from innocent girl to the embodiment of evil.)

Regardless of what it is that you find scary or creepy, it’s all in there. This flick broke so many rules, and basically set the bar for all devil and possession movies that followed after it.  Now, just close your eyes and hear that amazing music. If you’re like me, you can’t help but smile. Then, in 20 years, you can tell someone how it still messes with your head.

Poltergeist (1982)

“They’re heeeeeere.” Oh come on, how awesome was that!? Everyone my age remembers this movie. EVERYONE. It just stuck in our heads like haunted glue.  So this may not be as much of a check-out-this-movie selection as it is a watch-it-again selection. It’s just so good. Name another horror flick that has more memorable scenes. You can’t! Whether it’s Carol Anne talking to the TV, the chairs stacking in the kitchen, the tree reaching through the window, the maggots on the meat, the face ripping mirror scene, the skeletons in the pool, or sigh… that clown scene.  Seriously. Regardless, there was honestly a creepy sequence tailor-made to terrify each and every person.

(Craig Reardon's effects were not only expertly designed but shockingly pulled off. No one saw this “mirror” moment coming.)

(Steve (Craig T. Nelson) will do anything to save his family in Poltergeist.)

(Robbie (Oliver Robins) wrestles with every kid's worst nightmare, a killer clown.)

BTW, something else for you non-horror freaks, everyone always thinks it was Steven Spielberg who directed this. He co-wrote and produced it, yes. But one of my horror icons brought this baby to us – Tobe Hooper (who also brought us another brutal flick, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre). Watch it again, enjoy the horrifying nostalgia, and think about the genius simplicity of it all. “You moved the cemetery, but you left the bodies, didn’t you? You left the bodies, and you only moved the headstones!” So simple. So perfect.  I should also note that this is the only non-R-rated flick on this list.  So, for the more sensitive viewers, here you go, friends. Enjoy one of the most disturbing PG flicks that you’ll ever see.

Martyrs (2008)

Disclaimer:  This movie is NOT for everyone.  But if Halloween is a time of pure terror, then this movie deserves a place in every Halloween hall of fame.  Martyrs is terrifying, plain and simple.  It will keep you up at night.  It will make you look at life and death a little bit differently. It will literally alter you.  Think I’m exaggerating?  Watch and find out.  But be warned…  It is the single most disturbing film I’ve ever seen.

(Martyrs is NOT FOR EVERYONE. View at your own risk.)

This French masterpiece is so mind-bogglingly unique, and so relentlessly twisted, that I just sat on the couch and let it sink in for almost 10 minutes before I even got up to take out the disk.  The French don’t have the same boundaries that we do in the US, so you will witness things that you never thought you’d see on film. It is brutal. It is gory. It is depraved. It is difficult to watch. BUT, if you can make it through to the final frame, you will be rewarded with one of the most amazing, and profound (yes, I said profound), experiences that you could ever attain on film.

(The horror of Martyrs.)

Now, I can’t actually tell you what it’s about because that’s the point of the movie – figuring out what it’s about.  Listen to me, if you are actually interested in viewing it, DO NOT read anything about it on the internet, or let anyone tell you about it. It will ruin the experience for you, since that IS the experience.  Now I know for a fact that many people will be tempted to turn it off because it is brutal. And I do mean brutal. But if you can make it through to the finale, including the very final frame, it will stay with you for months. You want to truly be scared on Halloween?  This isn’t child’s play. This is the real deal.  And please, if anyone does watch this movie based on this recommendation, message/Tweet/Facebook me afterward. I would love to hear about your experience. It’s amazing to me.

Well, there you go.  13 movies.  13 nights.  13 horrifying experiences.  I hope you enjoyed reading this list as much as I loved writing it.  Thanks to the SWSCA for allowing me to write about what I love.  And hey, if you find yourself hungry for even more horror movie recommendations, I’ve got plenty at my blog, www.scaryhorrorwriter.wordpress.com. I pick a different one each day in October.  Come find me, we’ll talk horror, gore, and anything else in the dark world of terror.

Happy Halloween.

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