IF YOU’RE NOT in the mood to go to a Halloween party, you want to get scared out of your wits, or you just want to have an excuse to get close to the person next to you, there’s nothing like a scary movie. From horror classics to up-and-coming classics, there is a wide array of movies to choose from. Here is a list to help you weed out the fun movies from ones that are just a waste of time.
The classic films:
Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” (1960) is the movie that started it all. Marion, a young woman who has just embezzled a large sum of money, stops to spend the night in the Bates Motel. She meets the young owner of the hotel, Norman, and learns about his obsession with his mother. All seems to be going well for Marion, until she goes back to her room for a shower, that is.
In “Halloween” (1978) masked killer Michael Meyers, who has been institutionalized since childhood, escapes and goes on a rampage. John Carpenter relies on suspense, rather than gore or shocks, to make this movie a thriller.
Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” (1980) follows the Torrance family as they become the winter caretakers of an old hotel. Sounds harmless enough until Jack, the father, starts losing his mind. Jack’s axe-wielding rampage makes this film one of the classics of scary movies. “The Shining” was filmed at a hotel in nearby Estes Park, which is rumored to be haunted in real life…
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984) is the story of a young woman named Nancy Thompson. Nancy has recurring nightmares about a man with a steel-clawed glove and a scarred face. When her friends begin having similar dreams, and subsequently dropping dead, Nancy realizes she has to do something.
“The Exorcist” (1973) follows the disturbing story of Regan, a 12-year-old girl possessed by an evil spirit. A priest is called in to save the girl, but not all goes according to plan. This is a genuinely scary movie, and somewhat graphic for its time.
The not-so-classic films:
“Scream” has somewhat set the standard for the modern-day horror movie. It all starts out somewhat innocently: a girl receives a phone call, which she assumes to be a wrong number. The conversation soon goes awry, and the hunt for the killer begins.
“The Haunting” is a good film to scare all those ghost-phobics out there. Three people are brought to a secluded mansion under the impression that they are participating in a doctor’s sleep study. The doctor’s real purpose is much darker, and everyone begins to get worried when the old inhabitants of the house start showing up.
In “The Others,” a mother and her two children (a son and a daughter, both of whom are allergic to sunlight) live alone in a large secluded mansion. When the little girl starts telling stories about the little boy who talks to her at night, the mother begins to get worried that there might be an intruder in the house. This movie relies heavily on suspense, and has a twist ending that gives the film a somewhat melancholy feeling.
Haley Joel Osment’s portrayal of a little boy who can “see dead people” is one of the high points of “The Sixth Sense.” Another good movie to scare people afraid of ghosts, this oft-quoted movie is one of the scariest to come along in a while.
The new classics (still in theatres):
“The Ring,” a remake of an old Japanese horror film, is the story of journalist Rachel Keller. After the mysterious death of her niece, Keller investigates a mysterious videotape, said to kill those who watch it after exactly one week. Keller watches the video herself, and goes off to unlock the mystery of “the ring” before her time runs out. Another movie with a twist ending, this film is almost guaranteed to scare anyone who sees it. Disturbing images, suspense and shocks make this a truly haunting film. One warning: after seeing this movie, you may be afraid of your television for a while.
To get the full effect, it’s best to watch these movies late at night, with all the lights off, and total silence. Happy haunting!
