Thursday, November 3, 2011

Three Movies for a Night Getting Scared Silly

It's that time of year – I'm feeling the urge to cancel all my plans, wear comfy sweaters and cozy up on the couch, order in Indian and spend a night watching movies with my man and my dog. There are worse fates than a bout of hibernation, right?

And maybe I'm just riding a post-Halloween kick, but I'm really feeling scary movies right now. I've grown to love movies where the ground is constant shifting and there's a mounting sense of doom. Funny how I used to absolutely hate horror movies, and now they're some of my favourites – provided the scares are earned and not just utter gross outs (although they have their place too). And if they're able to have a great sense of humour too? Even better.

Rent these, and plan to stay up all night having fun (with the lights on, maybe).


One of the funniest horror movies I've seen, An American Werewolf in London (1981) is pure treats.

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Two friends, setting out across the English countryside for a backpacking trip, find a lot more trouble than they bargained for out on the moors – especially when the next full moon rises. Directed by John Landis, the director of Michael Jackson's iconic Thriller video, the film balances the gore and growing worries of its main character with a real sense of humour and silliness. Think Xander from Buffy if he were a werewolf – a little neurotic, a whole lot of cracking wise, and boy-next-door charms. Of course, there's 80s style gore and a soundtrack of "moon" hits, perfect for keeping the pace when you're gasping for air between laughs and jumping out of your chair.


If you haven't watched your fill of satanic horror movies post-Halloween, you should probably watch The House of the Devil (2009).
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I saw this last Halloween at the Lightbox, and it's got all the hallmarks of a classic horror film – a night of babysitting, a spooky house out in the woods, a couple of babely teens (including Greta Gerwig, who I find really relatable and believable in just about every role). It's a throwback to classics like John Carpenter's Halloween, and it's great that a lot of the actors are mostly unknown (with the exceptions of Gerwig and Tom Noonan, who you'll just know from somewhere) – it gives it a sense of realism you don't often see in today's popular sexy slashers. Mostly, it's a lot of quiet time in a creepy house, and the best moves don't need much more than that.


If you're looking for the best kind of classic, you NEED to see The Thing (1982) (don't you DARE see the remake instead!)
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An isolated base in the Antarctic, a huge snowstorm, a discovery in the ice. These elements beautifully come together in John Carpenter's masterful thriller, honing in on the desperation when you can't trust those you're trapped with. Backed up by a brooding score from Ennio Morricone, the growing tensions explode into amazing moments of practical special effects (god, how I miss the days pre-glossy digital everything).

Fans of the X-Files will recognize the plot as similar to one in the first season, when Mulder and Scully get trapped in an arctic station. And might I also add that Kurt Russell is pretty much a god in this one – a full on mountain man beard and a leader willing to take control of a situation that is spiraling dangerously. There is also some primo dog acting going on, but here's a warning for the faint of heart: this movie has some pretty intense gore. It's awesome, though, I promise.


What are your favourite scary movies?
I need some new ones to watch this weekend!

1 comment:

  1. Go for George C. Scott in his second best role - "The Changeling". Creepy. Then you can watch "Football in the Groin".

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