It almost goes without saying that October movies typically have a higher than average horror quotient because of Halloween.
This year we’re going to be treated to a few selections like Paranormal Activity 3, Wrong Turn 4, and The Thing, a prequel of the 1982 film of the same name.
Let’s take a look at some other classic choices for this month’s scary movie theme.
The Demonic
One of the classic themes of horror is the concept of being possessed by the Devil, and no film does that better than 1973’s The Exorcist. Based on the novel by William Peter Blatty, directed by William Freidkin, and starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller and Linda Blair.
The Exorcist is the cause of many a sleepless night. When actress Chris MacNeil (Burstyn) becomes worried about her 12 year old daughter Regan’s (Blair) behaviour, she seeks out help from doctors, psychologists and finally the Church in the form of Fathers Karras (Miller) and Merrin (von Sydow).
Seeing the progression and takeover of Regan by the demon Pazuzu over the course of the film is gut wrenching. The special makeup effects alone led film critic Roger Ebert to wonder how the film got a rating of R instead of X.
Some of the horror that comes from The Exorcist is based in the shocking nature of the actions and dialogue from a 12 year old girl; from swearing and blaspheming in a demonic male voice to talking backwards, to other, more graphic acts of defilement. In other cases, Freidkin went to some great lengths in order to get the realism he desired.
Both Blair and Burstyn suffered back injuries from crew members yanking on their harnesses during some of the scenes, and their painful screams along with their uncontrolled movements were shot on film. Entertainment Weekly and movies.com named The Exorcist as the scariest movie of all time, and it was added to the Library of Congress as part of the US’ National Film Registry in 2010.
Honourable mention: Rosemary’s Baby.
Zombies & Vampires
Both of these two genres have seen resurgence in recent times with films like 28 Days Later and the HBO television show “True Blood,” so let’s take a look at the granddaddies. The quintessential zombie flick is the 1968 black and white classic Night of the Living Dead. Directed by George A. Romero and starring Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea and Karl Hardman.
Night of the Living Dead tells a rather predictable story about five people trapped in a farmhouse while being attacked by relentless mindless drones who seek to feed on our heroes. Naturally, if one is bitten by a zombie, one becomes one as well.
Most of the horror from the film comes from the gory application of the simple special effects. The blood is chocolate syrup; the ripped flesh was roasted pig parts and entrails. Being a black and white film only enhanced the scary atmosphere as the mind sometimes fills in the colours.
Looking back on Night Of The Living Dead now, one may only be able to see the camp of Romero’s film, but it has roots in the Richard Matheson oft remade novel I Am Legend a virus that turns humans into vampires.
Which brings us to the oldest film on this list, 1922’s Nosferatu. Directed by FW Murnau, this 1922 German expressionist silent film is an unauthorised retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula with all the names and most of the places changed.
From the point of the history of cinema, Nosferatu is a must watch. It may be hard to imagine now, but Max Schreck’s portrayal of Count Orlok scared audiences (aside from the rather primitive lighting).
I put this on the list this month partially in an effort to educate all the young ladies out there as to one of the original vampire movies. And that not all vamps sparkle in the sunlight like Robert Pattinson, or are so romantically emotional like Eric Northman from “True Blood.”
Side note: There is a terrific little movie called Shadow of the Vampire (2000) starring John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe that goes on the notion that Max Schreck (Dafoe) was a real vampire and director Murnau (Malkovich) made his film in that image.
Creatures from beyond
Since the prequel of The Thing is set to take over theatres this month, the original has consistently been a top five choice for horror movie buffs since it was released in 1982. Starring Kurt Russell and directed by John Carpenter, this is one of the best grip your seats horror movies ever made. Even though it was reviewed harshly by critics at the time of release.
The Thing has gone on to become a classic of the genre. Put simply, The Thing is a parasite that kills other life forms and then imitates them. The film mines the field of human terror and paranoia as members of an Antarctic research station begin to realise that any one of them could be infected by this parasite.
The special effects aren’t groundbreaking and there is a lot of gore in The Thing (it was called a barf-bag movie) but it has held up through the years. One could go so far as say that the film now is better than it was then because we as audience members aren’t as shocked by gore anymore, and the tension can thrive. In a world with horror-porn movies like Saw, etc, The Thing truly shines.
In a twisted note: according to The Antarctic Sun, The Thing is typically viewed by members of the winter crew at the US South Pole station after the last flight out in March, when the next flight happens in October. Have a Happy Halloween! WH