Every now and then, especially at this time of year, I like to watch a good scary movie. Not the gory, blood-thirsty slasher movies. I'm talking about the edge-of-your-seat, peep-between-your-fingers, keep-looking-over-your-shoulder, afraid-to-go-upstairs-on-your-own type of movie.
Mr H thinks I'm a crazy, sad fool, but I think that it's only human nature; deep down, we all like a good scare every once in a while.
So here are the Top 5 movies that are guaranteed to scare me s**tless (pardon my French) this Hallowe'en.
1) The Exorcist (Director's Cut, of course): I remember when this first came out on video and somehow, we managed to have a copy of this on Betamax (so showing my age right now- if you don't know what Betamax is, ask your folks/grandparents!). This movie had been banned for some time soon after its theatrical release in the 70's (presumably because of the shocking content for its time), and I remember my parents banning me from ever touching that video, let alone watching it (I was only about 4 or 5 at the time- no brainer!) Fast forward a decade or so, and my older cousin and I managed to dust off this copy and watch it for the first time. The images from this film were burned into my memory for days after. True, the effects are quite dated now, but the fact that the horrors in this story all happen within a seemingly happy home, to an innocent child, still leave me unnerved. To this day, I will never watch this movie on my own (even the DVD cover gives me the heeby-jeebies). How's that for a lasting impression?! This was the first horror movie to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film, and deservedly so.
2) The Omen (1976 version): US Ambassador's wife has a stillbirth and unknowingly adopts the Anti-Christ in his place. One of the original Satan-spawn movies and arguably the best of them all. Gregory Peck is brilliant as always as Ambassador Robert Thorn, Lee Remick's eyes portray their terror superbly and Harvey Stephens manages to cut a piercing stare as Damien. Add in a haunting Oscar-winning score, and you've got yourself one scary movie.
3) The Shining: I know some Stephen King purists hate the film as there are some deviations from the novel (equally brilliant), but I love it. Jack Nicholson takes on the job as an off-season caretaker at an isolated hotel that gets snowed in during the long winters. Joined by his wife and young psychic son Danny, he soon falls under the influence of some supernatural presence and descends into madness... This film really does convey the isolation and claustrophobia of being trapped. Memorable scenes include Danny riding around the corridors on his tricycle and stumbling upon the spooky twins (twin girls still freak me out a little!), Room 237, and of course the famous "Here's Johnny!"
4) The Blair Witch Project: This was the original "lost footage" film, and still the best. Low-budget (take three people into the woods and scare them witless), yet big-grossing. I remember it being brilliantly marketed with a great website, which somehow blurred the lines between fact and fiction. This movie, to me, is a great lesson in the power of suggestion; some deliberately blurred shots, or lack of camera-feed with ongoing soundtrack, and just let your over-active imagination fill in the rest. Genius.
5) Paranormal Activity: Again, another low-budget movie that went on to do well on theatrical release. A couple decide to video the unusual happenings within their home with increasingly disastrous consequences. It took me five viewings before I could actually watch this movie right to the final scenes at the end (without having to peep from between my fingers). I could actually feel myself getting more and more tense physically and psychologically with every minute of watching this. To this day, I cannot sleep with my foot poking out from under the covers...
What will you be watching this Hallowe'en?
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