‘Tis the Season for Halloween Movie Marathons
October is finally here and so begins the countdown to, what is arguably, the best holiday ever: Halloween. Haunted houses, costumes, and pumpkin carving are part of what makes this month so awesome and the Halloween festivities wouldn't be complete without, at the very least, one late-night movie marathon. Here is a list of 5 films fit for All Hallow's Eve:
Halloween (1978)
A psychotic killer escapes from the madhouse and terrorizes a teenager (Jamie Lee Curtis), and kills others, as his doctor searches for him in order to rid the world of the embodiment of evil that is Michael Myers. John Carpenter transforms a quiet suburban neighborhood into a pit of evil in this Halloween horror classic.
Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
A group of teens fight for their lives as a burn-scarred, child killer by the name of Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) tries to kill them in their dreams, the only place he exists. Nightmares aren't their worst concern though, as whatever Freddy does to them in their dreams affects them in the waking world as well. Wes Craven’s film is a horror-comedy, with a villain who cuts both with his metal hand-made claws, as well as his wit.
[REC] (2007)
This Spanish documentary-style film is about a reporter and her cameraman who end up quarantined in an apartment building, while following two members of the Barcelona Fire Department, as bodies pile up and they fight to understand what is happening. The hand-held footage creates a sense of claustrophobia that makes viewers (aka me) want to leap from their seat in order to see around the corner. Combining the horror of a violent rabies-like contagion with patients who seem impervious to death, this film is perfectly chilling.
If subtitles aren’t you’re thing, check out the American remake that stays fairly true to the original: Quarantine (2008), or go for 28 Days Later (2002), an amazingly awesome rage-fueled outbreak film featuring Cillian Murphy.
The Descent (2005)
Five women go on a caving expedition to bond after one woman tragically loses her husband and young daughter in a car accident. When one section of the cave collapses, they realize that not only is help not going to come, but they might not be alone in the subterranean labyrinth. The film , directed by Neil Marshall, succeeds as both a claustrophobic disaster movie, as well as a monster film.
The Thing (1982)
With the remake on the horizon, take the time to watch the original. John Carpenter drops the suburbs to direct this film in an isolated research center in Antartica, where researchers are being killed off one at a time by an alien that assumes their shapes, leaving them questioning which of them is not who they proclaim to be.
If one night of fear and cinematic fun isn't enough, check out:
- Evil Dead
- The Shining
- Friday the 13th
- Shaun of the Dead
- American Werewolf in London
- It
- Alien
- Let the Right One In
- Scream
There are many great movies out there for the Halloween season, but here are a few classic and current picks to get you started. So grab the pumpkin-flavored coffee and some snacks, just don’t forget to lock your doors.
t
Kristen Micek (@KristenMicek) holds a BA in English with a minor in Digital Cinema from DePaul University, where she is currently pursuing a MA in Media and Cinema Studies. She is a Digital Media Strategist at Kambio Group and Senior Editor at SocialTechPop. She's been published in NewCity and contributes film reviews to CrimeSpree Magazine. Kristen is always trying to learn about the newest technology trends, as well as spending an inordinate amount of time watching movies and reading.