Halloween Movie Showcase: What To Watch When You Want To Be Scared

When you’re looking for that perfect Halloween movie, consider more psychological shock than senseless schlock for scares, like the quintessential classics — Psycho, (skip the 1998 shot-for-shot remake), The Shining, and the sci-fi classic Alien, where "no one can hear you scream in space."

You can also find recent releases on home video like Monster House (definitely would’ve been rated PG-13 if filmed as a live action) and these recommended films:

The Ring is an unforgettable thriller with a unique ending. Based on the 1998 Japanese film, Ringu, the plot works with a small number of characters so the audience concentrates on the themes, actions, and environments instead of the people. The theme involves a jolting prediction — watch this videotape and you'll die in seven days! Before you die, you'll see the ring. The action comes from actress Naomi Watts (King Kong) who stars as Rachel, a journalist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Her son, Aidan, and acquaintance Noah play essential roles as Rachel investigates the circumstances of her niece’s death at her sister’s request. Mysterious incidents related to various media produce the mystery and morbid intrigue. Once these characters become directly involved, the plot shifts to a day-by-day timeline and there are startling revelations in store. The scariest PG-13 movie so far.

Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins perform a delicate crime ballet in Silence of the Lambs, which won the top five Oscar categories (only two films had previously achieved that status). This drama/horror/thriller involves a female FBI agent seeking the help of legendary serial killer Hannibal Lecter to find and arrest a mass murderer nicknamed Buffalo Bill, played by Ted Levine (of TV's Monk). Jonathan Demme directs a dark film wonderfully painted by Tak Fujimoto’s cinematography. An essential film to see, but not for people easily scared or disturbed.

The Blair Witch Project is one huge roller coaster of a movie due to the dizzying "home movie" style camerawork. The content, an increasingly frightening experience with little gore, complements the shooting style perfectly to make a lethal combination that's good for scares, but possibly too much for the senses. The three characters try to make a documentary about a local curse, but soon they're cursing and screaming as they react to situations unknown.

Take that point literally. The actors themselves were only given small notes about their characters during filming which has created a loose, non-scripted style of moviemaking that anyone who has made home movies can admire. Recommended for the scares, but there's no script and it definitely shows. This movie changes camping the way Jaws influenced swimming in the ocean.

Article Author: Tall Writer

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