Welcome back, friends! I hope you're having an absolutely wonderful October so far and that your Halloween plans are coming into focus. Speaking of, in the spirit of the spooky season (Get it? "Spirit"? Spooky?), I thought I'd give you all a rundown of my own personal favorite horror flicks to roll out this time of the year. These are regular revisits in my rotation and only seem to get better the more I watch them, so we're talking plenty of replay value. If you haven't seen any given one (or, God forbid, any of them), boy, are you in for a treat. Because with my limited space in this column, you can rest assured these are the best of the best.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968 & 1990 remake)
First and foremost is a classic that has stood the test of time and, despite (or due to?) being presented in B&W, it still has the power to make audiences squirm in their seats when they're not riding its edge. The 1968 original was created by none other than George A. Romero, a legend in the horror genre and arguably the creator of the zombie movie. Despite the word "zombie" never once being uttered in its 96-minute runtime, it was the West's first exposure to a film of its kind and thereby went on to revolutionize the horror genre. Its critiques of 1960s American society, international Cold War politics and domestic racism made it a subversive work that still resonates today. Its remake, directed by the makeup and effects genius Tom Savini in 1990, took the greatness of the original, made a couple of respectful changes, gussied up the gore, and added a modern polish, and the result is my own personal favorite version to watch, though the original still holds a special place in my heart.
EXORCIST III
Skipping right over the original, I'm opting for part three here for one simple reason: it's scarier. Yep, you read that right. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing but love for the first Exorcist film and consider it unmatched generally speaking, but for sheer terror, part three wins. With a creative plot, terrific performances from its stellar cast - particularly the late, great George C. Scott - along with excellent cinematography, effects, and sound design, this one will undoubtedly linger in your psyche for long after the credits roll. They even managed to squeeze in some moments of humor without taking a shred of horror away from the end result, which is a feat all its own. Watch this one with the lights off and the sound cranked.
HEREDITARY
Fast-forwarding to a more recent release, Ari Aster's first ever full-length feature is another that burns images and moments into your brain that you will most certainly carry to your grave. The level of foreboding instilled when viewing this film cannot be adequately conveyed here, but if I had to describe this one in only two words, those words would be "unnerving" and "chilling." It follows a family who, after losing their grandmother, turns to the supernatural for relief only to find themselves being pulled into something far darker and more twisted than they could ever have imagined. Toni Collette puts in an Oscar-worthy performance in a movie that is sure to shock and disturb you to your core in the most amazing and memorable way.
Look at us, already at 600 words. Alright, this is definitely going to need to be a multi-parter. There are just too many greats to leave it at this. Please do use the next couple of weeks to check out these gems, and I'll hit you all with another few next issue. Happy screaming!
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