Halloween is right around the corner, and for those of you who need some kind of entertainment to satisfy your creepy side, I think I have the answer: scary movies.
Scary movies have been in the making almost as long as the film industry has been around and has spawned many sub genres in itself. Ranging from childish and thrilling to gruesome and bloody, whatever type you like, there is a movie for it.
For those of you who are not into the blood and gore of slasher films, there are many other options available for you. For example, “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” a story about Halloween Town’s beloved citizen Jack Skellington, is a less scary horror film. Another example is “The Halloweentown” series, a story about a girl who learns that she and most her family can use magic. A personal favorite from my childhood is “R.L. Stine’s: The Haunting Hour Don’t Think About It,” which is a story about a girl named Cassie who receives a book that releases an evil demon known as the “Evil Thing.” Other honorable mentions include “Monster House,” “Coraline” and “Hocus Pocus.” These movies I would recommend to those who do not enjoy gruesome bloody movies and prefer movies that are more Disney style and are for children.
For those of you who enjoy seeing something bloody and all out frightening, the following list is for you. Movies that will give you chills are many in number.
Examples of this include the classic “A Nightmare on Elm Street” series and the “Friday the 13th” series. The “A Nightmare on Elm Street” series is a story about a ghostly serial killer named Freddy Krueger who attacks people in their dreams. “Friday the 13th” is about another ghostly serial killer named Jason Voorhees who is always seen wearing a hockey-mask and is killing people near Camp Crystal Lake.
Further examples include Stephen King stories like “It” and “The Shining.” “It” revolves around a group of kids being tortured by a demon disguised as a clown named Pennywise. “The Shining” is revolving around the Torrance family and their spiritual encounters at The Overlook Hotel. More modern examples include “The Babadook,” a story about a boy and his mother being haunted by a demon from a book.
Other modern examples include “The Conjuring” series and “The Purge” series. “The Conjuring” being about the exploits of Ed and Lorraine Warren and their many adventures as ghost researchers. “The Purge” series being about an alternate world where in the U.S., there is a night every year where all crime, including murder, is allowed. This is meant to be a way to purge all bad thoughts and emotions in one night to lower the crime rate.
A personal favorite of mine is “The Jeepers Creepers” series, which is a story about a demon, known as “The Creeper,” that awakens every 23rd spring and roams on a killing spree for 23 days.
Other honorable mentions include “The Saw” series, “The Scream” series, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”series and “The Blair Witch Project.” This list is not recommended for those who are faint of heart and those who easily get nightmares. These movies I would mainly recommend to those who enjoy a good scare and are not afraid of having nightmares later.
Scary movies are supposed to be the fun part of Halloween and are meant to give you and your friends a good scare. For me, horror movies are a classic aspect of the Halloween season. They are the modern way that scary stories are told and can be fun for everyone who is not afraid of them. In my opinion, these movies will continue to be a valued piece of the fall season for years to come.
Jonathan Joyner
jrjoyner@vwc.edu
