Halloween is Coming!

People like scary movies because they introduce a kind of dark thrill that other genres cannot offer. Mystery and action films often come close to creating that feeling, but great horror films offer a sense of creepiness, gore and a macabre nature to spark that fun feeling of anticipation that gets you riled throughout the evening. As Halloween nears, you may want to consider inviting your friends… *ahem* ghouls and ghasts over for an all out “scary movie party” on October 31! Choose the movies, break out the snacks, and pick up some scary-movie themed costumes at Buycostumes.com, a local Halloween store, or for extra creativity points, bust out a DIY project to create your very own epic outfit and scary mask. If you need help brainstorming some movie ideas for your theme, Click Ahead for a mix of classic Halloween musts, newer dark releases and some hidden cult gems!

The Blair Witch Project

The pitch-dark woods of so many scary movies are the perfect movie setting for All Hallows Eve.“The Blair Witch Project” was the first of it’s kind to take a handheld camcorder and film what was marketed as “real” footage. In this ultra-creepy flick, college students go missing in the woods of Burketsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary. The resulting “footage” found a year later was released as the the film itself. What makes the movie so creepy is the cold-blooded fear that the actors were able to portray during the filming. According to DVD Rental Review, the 1999 low-budget film managed to pull in $248 million.

The Shining

Watching this classic Stanley Kubrick-directed ghost story on Halloween night will give just about any sane person the creeps. In “The Shining,” a friendly family agrees to watch over an abandoned hotel in the frozen winter. The antagonist, Jack Nicholson, slowly transitions from a loving husband and father into a psycho intent on butchering his family after becoming possessed by a malevolent a presence in the hotel. There’s something incredibly eerie about the son’s psychic visions, Jack Nicholson’s mania unfolding before his family and those evil Siamese twins in the hotel. Fans of Kubrick may also enjoy his other mind-bending films such as “A Clockwork Orange” and “Eyes Wide Shut.”

Halloween

You knew this was coming, didn’t you? The absolute essential movie for your Halloween party is none other than… drum roll… “Halloween!” However, don’t think by watching any of the “Halloween” movies (there are 10 of them) that you will capture the same scare as you will with the original 1978 version. Directed by the master of horror, John Carpenter, “Halloween” is the classic slasher flick, executed in the most well-crafted manner possible. Be extra careful with this classic horror flick. It may cause you to see flashes of Michael Meyers throughout the night of your Halloween movie party, and if one of your friends brings that creepy mask, it’s all over!

There are truck loads of other great movies fit for a Halloween party, such as “In the Mouth of Madness,” “Poltergeist,” and the recent “Prometheus.” However, the list above includes highly-rated classics that will be sure to turn your scary party night into a trick-or-treat freak out! Now, strap in, press play and get ready to scream!

Article by: Dustin Wyse, Dustin spent his post-college years backpacking through South America. He is now a freelance writer and travel consultant with a focus on Spanish-speaking countries.