Scary Movies

It is officially October, which can only mean one thing: let the spook fest begin. My best friend and I go crazy for Halloween. As soon as September ends, we go full on scary-mode. Ghost stories, spooky books, scary movies... It’s like the upcoming celebration of the dead gives us sudden courage.

At this point, I have to make a small disclaimer: I hate gory movies, and this is not what this post is about. I don't see the point of watching a two-hour long movie where all you see is somebody being abducted and then tormented for eternity. I want to watch ghost stories, or a killer on the run - something with suspense. The only problem with scary movies is that... They're not always good. I think it's really hard to find a good scary movie, as hard as it must be to make one. First, there are the old scary movies that seem to transform into comedies with time, like Trick ‘r Treat. Then there are the really deceiving ones, the ones where nothing happens and they just turn into a big waste of time, like The Boy (I had such high hopes for that movie). Finally, there are the futile ones, where it feels as if the crew had an extra supply of fake blood and just needed to use it up (there are too many of those to name). That's why when I come across a good scary movie, I tend to use and abuse it. I re-watch it a thousand times, until I no longer get the chills.

Here are a few of my all-time favorites, including both classics and new, modern additions.

The Scream tetralogy
I mentioned the Scream movies in my Movies Perfect For Date Night post. They are, in my opinion, the best slasher movies out there; not too scary, not too gory, but extra entertaining. All four movies feature incredibly talented actors that you just don’t get tired of watching. Each chapter is also different from the others, even though they all revolve around the same story; Sidney Prescott’s.

Sidney Prescott lost her mother when she was young, which casts a mysterious shadow on her past. For years, she’s been hunted by enemies who want her dead for various reasons. With the help of her friends, reporter Gale Weathers and deputy sheriff Dewey Riley, she tries to escape a bloody death.

The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist
This is the latest addition to a string of movies revolving around the Warren couple and their unusual occupation. The first movie of the same name, The Conjuring, really wasn’t that good and fits into that category of movies that are just one big tease. The sequel, however, is something else. It is one of the scariest movies I’ve ever watched. The ghost story it features isn’t pushed too far, just enough to frighten even the most hardened of us.

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren get called by a family who is suffering from the poltergeist activity that is taking place at their house. Together, they try to get rid of the spirits, but first they must solve the mystery of their presence in the house.

IT
Ever since the original release of the miniseries of the same name in 1990, IT carved itself a place in the horror movie department. The iconic clown can be seen in every Halloween store (oh yes, the clown itself), and the book from which it is pulled, written by Stephen King, is a horror staple. The first chapter of the movie, released last year, contributed to reignite the spark around this incredible story. I’ve seen it a couple times and it is honestly a cinematic masterpiece. It is beautiful, the actors are on point and it is real scary. It is definitely a Halloween movie that cannot be skipped.

A group of friends, self-called “The Losers Club”, have no choice but to face their darkest fear when a dark creature invades their small town and disappearances start occurring again. But is a group of teenagers a match for something so horrifying?

The Blair Witch Project + Blair Witch
The Blair Witch Project quickly became one of my favorite movies, and when the sequel came out, Blair Witch, I was not disappointed by it either. It is one of those movies where you don’t ever really see anything per say, but the suspense is what kills you. Both movies are just as good, although they are relatively the same. Don’t expect to see anything new in the second movie, but if you were asking for more after the first one, that is your special delivery of additional thrill and nail-biting suspense.

The Woman in Black
That is one of my favorite movies, ever. I must have seen it about 20 times, but I still get the chills every time. It is not incredibly scary, but it’s definitely got that spooky vibe that makes you want to curl up under a blanket (even though you can’t help but peek at the screen). It is also nice to see Daniel Radcliffe as something else than a legendary wizard. The sequel however, Angel of Death, sucks. It is not the same story, not the same characters, and that one is just pushed too far. I highly recommend sticking to the first movie, which you can enjoy on a dark stormy night, hidden under a pile of pillows.

Lawyer Arthur Kipps must go spend a few days in a secluded mansion to settle some paperwork after the owner’s death. Upon arrival, he immediately feels that something is off. Regardless, there is work to be done, and he gets down to the task. But during his time there, he uncovers things that should have remained buried.

These are some of the movies that I take great pleasure in re-watching every year around Halloween. Like I said, I hate movies that are too violent, but there is nothing like a good ghost story.

Do you believe in ghosts?

Much love,
-TM-