Our Critics’ Movie Suggestions for Halloween (Mini-Blog)

Our critics gathered together and discussed their favorite movies to watch during the Halloween season. A lot of classics came up (Halloween, Dracula, etc.), but each had their own suggestions for films that you may or may not have in your Halloween movie list. So, we each picked one movie that we think you should check out this Halloween. Take a look and let us know if any of these are your favorites or if we have given you a new movie for the season of scares. And, if you are interested in viewing the film, we put links in for you to grab yourself a copy.

Night of the Demons (1988)

suggested by Jack Savage

While I have many, many movies that I watch during the Halloween Season, there is one that I would suggest to any fan of the holiday and the horror genre. Night of the Demons (1988) is a perfect film to get you into the Halloween spirit.

The entire movie takes place on Halloween night at a costume party in an isolated, abandoned funeral parlor. While there, the party-goers become prey for the demons that slumber in the house. One by one, the teens are either possessed or killed as they try to survive the house for the night because once Halloween is over, the demons can no longer roam freely in the house.

A typical 80’s film, there is lots of gore, jumpscares, sexuality, and humor. There is also a small story involving an elderly man that just gives the movie a little extra charm. Night of the Demons also created a horror icon with the host of the party, Angela. If you really want to enjoy the holiday, turn on your TV and pop in a copy of Night of the Demons!

It Follows (2014)

suggested by Thomas C

It Follows takes those hair-raising moments from great horror movies and builds a new level of tension and paranoia. An invisible monster hunts anyone who has sex with someone who is currently being hunted (sort of like an S.T.D.). The rules are:

• The monster is invisible to everyone but you.
• The monster hunts whomever it has been passed too.
• It can’t be killed.
• It follows you everywhere and it will just walk toward you forever until you die or pass it to someone else.
• The rules aren’t exact. It has and will break the rules.

It Follows uses the best camera movement and composition to make you a paranoid wreck! And, by the time the credits had rolled I took a newfound lease of abstinence and locked every window and door in my house. Perfect for a good old-fashioned chaste Halloween night.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

suggested by Ella Fiore

The Nightmare Before Christmas is the perfect film to start the Halloween (and holiday) season with. From October to January it will have you feeling spooky and jolly at the same time!

Danny Elfman not only delivers another beautiful score but also sings for the lead character Jack Skellington! He also voices a few other characters in the film. The music draws you in and stands wonderfully all on its own.

The script is quirky and funny and offers many of my favorite quotes. My favorites being The Saxophone player: “Nice work, Bone Daddy!” and Mayor: “We’ve got to find Jack! There’s only 365 days left until next Halloween!” Wolfman: “364!” They are the kind of quotes that just become part of Halloween tradition.

And my final favorite thing is the creepy lovable characters that are classic Tim Burton creations. They are dark and beautiful in their own twisted way and I absolutely love how Jack falls in love with the colorful Christmas town! Such a fun contrast and wonderful artwork! With catchy musical numbers and wonderful characters in true Burton style, what more could you want?

The Houses October Built (2014)

suggested by Fool on the Hill

I think Halloween is a good time for a fun movie that you don’t have to think too much about. We have a lot of Halloween movie traditions in our family – including Halloween, Hocus Pocus, and The Nightmare Before Christmas – but I would like to recommend a lesser known movie.

It’s rare that movies are actually “Halloween” themed. That is to say, they aren’t just scary movies, they legitimately involve the holiday of Halloween. My husband and I take haunts really seriously and every year our weekends from the third week of September through the second week of November are absolutely packed with every haunt in the area. So when I saw a movie on Netflix about a group of friends looking for the ultimate haunted house, I was really excited about it.

The Houses October Built has a fairly compelling storyline, and the movie was filmed at real haunts around the country. I loved seeing the genuine reactions of the cast and other haunt-goers while the group visited what they thought were the scariest haunts in the US. Eventually, they hear about one so scary that it’s not advertised they go on a “Davinci Code”-esq journey to find it which ends up…badly.

I won’t spoil the movie, but I will recommend it. I don’t think it’s a stellar film, but it was fun, I really liked the premise, and I would definitely watch it again. Good flick for Halloween night!