What Sleeps Beneath's Halloween Horror Recommendations
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Happy Halloween!
While we’re all disappointed that we're not going to Halloween parties and more haunted houses, we’re definitely not canceling the best day of the year. This year we’re staying inside with our candy and not sharing it with kids. Just kidding! We’ll toss them some from the window.
If you're not sure what to watch this year for Halloween, we've got you covered with everything from true crime to the story of a demon that is fueled by one man's bloodthirsty quest for revenge.
Laura
Though Trick ‘r Treat might be the obvious choice for a Halloween horror recommendation, what continues to draw me to this movie is the care and love for horror and the holiday alike that went into its craft. Released in 2007, Trick ‘r Treat, an anthology horror-comedy film, features Sam, a trick-or-treater the size of a kid that has something far nastier up his sleeve.
The first time I saw Trick ‘r Treat, I was left with an overwhelming sense that this had to be a reboot from something in the ’80s or ’90s. (A lot of the horror I love most from both decades has a certain fairy tale whimsy or charm to it, and Trick is no different.) The precursor to the film, a short named Season’s Greetings, does date back to the mid-90s. What writer and director Michael Doughtery (primarily known for his work on Krampus and Godzilla: King of the Monsters) created, though, transcends the filmic attitudes of certain decades and really caters to all of us who never outgrew being the weird kids. Everything from the shorts to the lighting, sets, and costuming really captures the spirit of the holiday in a way few other Halloween-horror flicks have been able to.
At the time when the veil is thinnest, Pumpkinhead (1988) is also hard to beat. Featuring Lance Henriksen as bereft father Ed Harley, Pumpkinhead dives into the meat and guts of just how far one man will go to sell his own soul for revenge (with the help of a demon). Lighting, creature design, and story all make Pumpkinhead a fun, compelling watch that captures the heart of the season just as much as Trick 'r Treat.
As a bonus, and if you're in the mood for some unexpected laughs, in The Old Dark House (1932), directed by James Whale, three travelers take shelter from a thunderstorm in a strange house occupied by an even stranger family. Boasting horror icon Boris Karloff as part of its cast lineup, House begins with the kind of pacing and unease that seem to be essential to the genre now. But just when you think you know precisely how things are going to go, you will find yourself laughing in the strangest and most unexpected ways.
Theresa
This Hallo-Mourn I’ll have my coffee and watch Scream while I prep for Samhain dinner. It’s one of my all-time favorites and a true Halloween classic. I still can’t quite wrap my head around this clever gender-bendy slasher. The special effects do not disappoint even over two decades later, and the cinematography is underrated. Although the world has changed considerably since Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) was talking to boys at house parties, the teenage angst, confusion, sexual tension, and power dynamics (unfortunately) have not. In a brilliant subversive yet tropey play, our heroine is probably my most favorite final girl.
But the real thing you need to be watching on Halloween is The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula. Dragula is a reality competition series on Netflix where drag queens face off to be the scariest, filthiest, and most horrifying. Horror Drag is the thing you were missing, and you need it in your life.
Dragula has all the hilarious drama that comes with reality TV, mixed in with some truly incredible costumes, makeup, and contestant performances. But don’t be fooled: Dragula makes America’s Next Top Model look like iCarly. During each round, the girls who don’t make the cut must endure an “extermination challenge” where they are subject to physical and psychological tests to see who is horrifying enough to remain. And some of these challenges are really disgusting. It’s a wild ride of a show that will make you laugh and throw up, and leave you feeling inspired to be creative and true to yourself.
Destiny
In putting together my movie marathon on All Hallows’ Eve, I’ve definitely included some of my favorites like The Lost Boys (1987) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). However, I think I'll also be checking out Netflix’s I Am Not A Serial Killer (2016). While the film isn’t “new,” it’s new to me and is based on Dan Wells’ novel, published under the same name in 2009. In reading up on short summaries and peeking at a few reviews, I’ve grown curious to see the film’s Halloween setting and Billy O’Brien’s take on the supernatural psychological horror. I mean, if nothing else, it had me at “serial killer.”
But, because there are just so many good Halloween movies out there, I can’t go without mentioning that Casper (1995) will also be playing on my screen this evening. Although it’s not necessarily horror, this adorable classic is what we all need after a harsh year.
Ande
I know many of us are going to be itching to get out to wild parties dressed up as clever puns or sexy versions of our day jobs, but seeing as that doesn’t seem likely, why not imagine all the things that could have gone wrong at that neighborhood costume ball? Murder Party is the 2007 debut film from Jeremy Saulnier, the director of the crazy violent Blue Ruin (2013) and Green Room (2015). This horror-comedy about a poor soul who stumbles into the wrong Halloween party really caught me off guard in a great way when I first saw it. Charming, witty, completely absurd, and with surprisingly good effects, Murder Party makes a perfect stand-in for whatever antics you won’t be participating in this year.
What are you watching this year? We love to hear from our readers. Give us a shout on @what_sleeps_beneath and let us know what you want us to cover next!
Article written by The Academic Horror Writers League
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