2014 Halloween Horror Movie Season

[dspoonrt]

So it's finally October. I know many people that watch horror movies to get into the spirit of Halloween.

This year, I started watching horror films (somewhat more regularly than usual) around the beginning of September. I'm going to try and watch 62 horror movies in the two months (61 days) leading up to Halloween.

Here's my list for this year:

http://www.letterboxd.com/dspoonrt/list/halloween-horror-movie-season-2014/

If you guys do anything like this, what horror flicks will you be watching?

 

[ggallegos1]

I am planning on having a movie night sometime around Halloween. I usually like the suspenseful and creepy horror movies (the orphanage, the shining, the moth man prophecies) more so than old slasher and these recent gore porn films.

 

[dspoonrt]

I am planning on having a movie night sometime around Halloween. I usually like the suspenseful and creepy horror movies (the orphanage, the shining, the moth man prophecies) more so than old slasher and these recent gore porn films.

Yeah, I can't stand torture porn movies. I do like 80s slasher films, though. Non (or at least less) gory horror movies that rely on suspense are great, too.

 

[Neorebel]

One that I will watch for sure is Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi...

 

[dspoonrt]

One that I will watch for sure is Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi...

Nice. I love the old Universal monster movies. Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein are my favorites, but Dracula, The Wolf Man, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein are fantastic, as well. I really need to get around to seeing The Mummy and The Invisible Man.

 

[Real Bout Maniac]

Nice. I love the old Universal monster movies. Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein are my favorites, but Dracula, The Wolf Man, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein are fantastic, as well. I really need to get around to seeing The Mummy and The Invisible Man.

My wife got me the Universal Classic Monsters Essential Collection on Blu Ray for Christmas so I'm planning on finally watching all of these over the course of the month. I'm also planning on finally watching my copy of The Howling on blu ray that I've had since it was released last year. The original is probably my favorite horror movie of all time. It's a shame the rest of the series went to shit after the first one.

 

[dspoonrt]

My wife got me the Universal Classic Monsters Essential Collection on Blu Ray for Christmas so I'm planning on finally watching all of these over the course of the month. I'm also planning on finally watching my copy of The Howling on blu ray that I've had since it was released last year. The original is probably my favorite horror movie of all time. It's a shame the rest of the series went to shit after the first one.

I love The Howling, too. The Scream Factory Blu-ray release is great, so I'm sure you'll enjoy it (lots of good special features, if you're into that sort of thing). Of the sequels, I've only seen Howling III: The Marsupials, which is garbage. I'll stick with the original from here on out.

 

[Real Bout Maniac]

I love The Howling, too. The Scream Factory Blu-ray release is great, so I'm sure you'll enjoy it (lots of good special features, if you're into that sort of thing). Of the sequels, I've only seen Howling III: The Marsupials, which is garbage. I'll stick with the original from here on out.

I think I've seen all the sequels, and all of them are junk. I don't understand how the first one can be so good, but then all the rest be so bad...

As an aside, I'm really hoping Scream Factory is able to come out with their blu ray release of Dog Soldiers. It's an awesome werewolf movie and they were supposed to release it sometime this year, but last I heard they ran into some kind of rights issues so it's been put on indefinite hold. Really hope they can square everything away as it's a very close second to The Howling for me as far as enjoyment.

 

[dspoonrt]

I think I've seen all the sequels, and all of them are junk. I don't understand how the first one can be so good, but then all the rest be so bad...

If I recall correctly, many of the Howling sequels were made internationally to save money, with mainly international non-lead actors (poor English speakers) and local, inexperienced crews. They just didn't put the effort or money into the projects like, say, the Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Evil Dead, or Friday the 13th sequels did.

As an aside, I'm really hoping Scream Factory is able to come out with their blu ray release of Dog Soldiers. It's an awesome werewolf movie and they were supposed to release it sometime this year, but last I heard they ran into some kind of rights issues so it's been put on indefinite hold. Really hope they can square everything away as it's a very close second to The Howling for me as far as enjoyment.

Yeah, I hope so, too. Last I heard, it was slated to come out early 2015 (after they delayed it from its original August 2014 release date), but there haven't been any updates in months.

 

[Magician]

Alien
Aliens
The Exorcist
The Thing (82' remake)
American Psycho

...all are a must this time of year.

 

[Real Bout Maniac]

Yeah, I hope so, too. Last I heard, it was slated to come out early 2015 (after they delayed it from its original August 2014 release date), but there haven't been any updates in months.

Looked for some more info after reading this and found this thread on blu-ray.com:

Dog Soldiers (2002) blu-ray from Scream Factory!

Looking at the post from 9/25, apparently Scream stated on their FB page that Dog Soldiers will be coming out sometime in March to May of next year.

Now let's just pray for a decent transfer, as apparently the existing blu-ray edition is pure garbage. Here's to hoping I can finally retire my Artisan DVD copy of the film.

 

[dspoonrt]

Alien
Aliens
The Exorcist
The Thing (82' remake)
American Psycho

...all are a must this time of year.

Solid picks! I'm watching The Thing as part of my horror movie challenge this month. I just watched Alien and American Psycho a couple months ago, or else they'd be on my list, too.

Looked for some more info after reading this and found this thread on blu-ray.com:

Dog Soldiers (2002) blu-ray from Scream Factory!

Looking at the post from 9/25, apparently Scream stated on their FB page that Dog Soldiers will be coming out sometime in March to May of next year.

Now let's just pray for a decent transfer, as apparently the existing blu-ray edition is pure garbage. Here's to hoping I can finally retire my Artisan DVD copy of the film.

That does sound familiar. I check the Blu-ray.com Scream Factory thread pretty much daily. Lots of garbage to sift through, but they're pretty good at posting new announcements and release dates promptly.

Scream Factory's transfers have been hit or miss this year (with some hindered by compression issues and old transfers), but the last few - Lake Placid, Ginger Snaps, Phantom of the Paradise, Motel Hell, and Pumpkinhead - have been pretty solid, in my opinion.

 

[Real Bout Maniac]

Scream Factory's transfers have been hit or miss this year (with some hindered by compression issues and old transfers), but the last few - Lake Placid, Ginger Snaps, Phantom of the Paradise, Motel Hell, and Pumpkinhead - have been pretty solid, in my opinion.

Yeah, I grabbed their Lake Placid release and was pretty happy with it. Got my wife the Shout Factory (sister company) version of The Shadow as well, but we haven't had a chance to watch it yet. Supposed to be pretty decent as well from what I hear.

 

[dspoonrt]

Yeah, I grabbed their Lake Placid release and was pretty happy with it. Got my wife the Shout Factory (sister company) version of The Shadow as well, but we haven't had a chance to watch it yet. Supposed to be pretty decent as well from what I hear.

I've got their release of The Shadow. It has a good transfer and audio track, along with one worthwhile special feature - interviews with cast and crew members. I'm quite happy with it, as The Shadow's always been a guilty pleasure of mine.

 

[Real Bout Maniac]

I've got their release of The Shadow. It has a good transfer and audio track, along with one worthwhile special feature - interviews with cast and crew members. I'm quite happy with it, as The Shadow's always been a guilty pleasure of mine.

Good to know. I'll have to get on her about finally sitting down and giving it a watch. It's a favorite of hers as well, so I'm kind of surprised we haven't already taken the time.

 

[2D_mastur]

I usually watch the original "Halloween" on Halloween, one of the horror greats. I never watch this movie expect for on it's proper holiday.

If I am passing out candies, I will also watch "Halloween 2", which is --- in my opinion-- one of the best horror movie sequels ever.

If I have time, I might throw on the original "Puppet Master" for shits and giggles.

Might watch "Evil Speak" if I am pulling a drunken marathon and feel like laughing my fucking ass off.

 

[Castor Troy]

You guys already mentioned the good ones.
I'd like to throw in The Grudge and Cabin in the Woods.

 

[jeff bogard]

kinda surprised nobody mentioned nightmares

 

[dspoonrt]

kinda surprised nobody mentioned nightmares

This movie (Nightmares)?

Or, are you perhaps referring to the Nightmare on Elm Street series?

 

[dspoonrt]

I just watched John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness last night for the first time. It was quite different than most earlier Carpenter films, but it was still quite good and very thought-provoking. The narrative device of having a potentially insane person tell the story really keeps you on your toes and makes you question everything you see.

 

[jro]

The best of the best are, at least IMO:

The Thing ('82)
Halloween (original) (both already mentioned, I know)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original) - the kill scenes are sudden, untelegraphed, and really well done. It holds up well.

Newer stuff:
Cabin in the Woods (as mentioned), and
Evil Dead (remake) - brutally violent and does a surprising good job of nailing claustrophobic horror

And stretching the genre a bit:
The Strangers - a "terror" movie, more so than a horror movie, but scary as hell nonetheless (at least the first time you watch it), pretty much the most intense home invasion thriller there is
You're Next - also a home invasion thriller, much lighter, decent amount of black comedy, still violent, good intensity. Very re-watchable.
Last House on the Left (original) - probably still Wes Craven's best movie, IMO. Revenge thriller of the highest order. Getting through the part that, um, entails the need for revenge takes a strong stomach.

 

[Kid Panda]

Dead Alive.

 

[GutsDozer]

If you like really bad B movies check out Frankenstein's Army on Netflix. It's got cyborg zombies.....Plus it's pretty gruesome.

Panda, Dead Alive is in my top 3 best Zombie Movies ever. I'll never forget the lawn mower scene. You have impeccable taste sir. BTW I've been meaning to tell you the new Carl Weathers Avatar is freggin' awesome.

 

[dspoonrt]

Thumbs for the Dead Alive and You're Next suggestions. I'll have to check out The Strangers, jro. I don't tend to like very many modern horror films, but I'm always down to watch a new movie.

Oh, and I used to really like The Last House on the Left (1972), but my opinion of it has gone down the more times I've seen it (and as I've seen many more horror flicks over the years). I love Scream and The Hills Have Eyes, but I'd have to say my favorite Craven movie is A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). I'm a sucker for that series, and the original is the best.

 

[StaticX]

Netflix wise
Candyman
The Blair Witch Project
V/H/S 1 & 2 ( if you haven't seen them please do!)
Grave Encounter 1 ..... maybe 2

Bluray
The Conjuring
Insidious 1 & 2
The Strangers and "You're Next!" are still great! (Thanks for mentioning them JRO)
Sinister

I'm gonna get my ass chewed up but I loved the first "Paranormal Activity"