‘Tis the season to be scared! With Halloween right around the corner, many people embrace this point of the year as the right time to scare themselves silly by dipping into the horror genre. From silent horror films that date back to the 1890s to new releases like last weekend’s “Halloween Kills,” moviegoers throughout history have never gotten tired of inviting a little terror into their viewing experience.
With that in mind, the hard-working folks at Mid-America Publishing were recently asked to share their favorite horror or Halloween-themed movie. The answers vary from the silly to the suspenseful to the spine-chilling! Enjoy!
Bridget Shileny- Wright County Monitor
“Bone Tomahawk” (2015)
As the editor of this column, I think I’m choosing the most obscure movie of everyone. Since I started writing this column, I’ve wanted to talk about this movie and I’m finally getting my chance.
“Bone Tomahawk” is described as a horror western….something we don’t see enough! It’s written and directed by S. Craig Zahler, an obscure author and screenwriter known for his super brutal westerns and dramas. The movie stars Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson and Matthew Fox. The horror elements come as the story follows those three men as they track a group of inbred cannibalistic savages across the wilderness to save abducted townsfolk. There are indeed some gruesome deaths and graphic imagery. But the movie also has plenty of dry humor and fun western elements. If you can get past that little cannibalism bit, this is a great, rewatchable movie that is creepy enough to embrace right around Halloween….or really anytime!
Elly Flenker- Clarksville Star and the Butler County Tribune
“Mickey’s House of Villains” (2002)
My favorite Halloween Movie is “Mickey’s House of Villains” from 2002. For those of you who know me, I really like Disney movies. I really like how this movie shows an array of Disney Halloween cartoons from 1937, 1944, and 1952 as well as a few shorts that talk about things that happen usually around Halloween (haunted houses, ghosts, and witches) while the villains try to take over the House of Mouse. I enjoyed watching these cartoons as a child and I still like playing this video every year when the Halloween season comes around.
Craig Shultz- Madrid Register News/Ogden Reporter
“Get Out” (2017)
After reflecting for a few hours on what horror or Halloween film is my favorite, I decided to go down a different route and say Jordan Peele’s masterpiece from 2017, Get Out. It’s almost a redone version of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” but is updated for modern times, and goes about it in a different way. There aren't any maniac killers with machetes or axes, rather the monsters are the self. Bradley Whitford’s performance is masterful and it was the breakout role for Daniel Kaluuya as the main protagonist, Chris. It’s hard to discuss anything given how the movie flows so wonderfully, it's just a fantastic piece of filmmaking and will have you on the edge of your seat.
Elaine Loring – Eldora Herald-Ledger
“Signs” (2002)
The very first time I watched “Signs” by M. Night Shyamalan, I almost jumped out of my skin when that alien creature came out from behind the bushes during the kids’ birthday party in Mexico. We make fun of it now because in that particular scene, the kids at the party were chattering and panicking in Spanish, but switched to English to blurt out “it’s behind!”
When I was a pre-teen, my best friend and I went to see “Burnt Offerings” which starred an aging Bette Davis. Besides “Jaws,” I think that was the second scary/horror movie I had ever seen in a theater. There was a scene where a creepy guy pushed a coffin down the steps in the house, and I covered my eyes for the rest of the movie. We had to walk home that night in the dark, and I was still scared to death. I stumbled upon it on cable a couple years ago and thought it was so silly. What we determine to be scary as a child vs. an adult is not at all the same.
Lisa Riggin – Clear Lake Mirror Reporter
American Horror Story’s “Hotel” (2011)
Every season of American Horror Story on FX is well worth the ride but if I had to choose a favorite, it would be Season 5’s Hotel (2011). All the seasons’ stories are rooted in uniquely American lore and Hotel takes it to an 11. Glamour, gore, and Gaga—what more could you ask for? The series creators weave a deadly tale of historical serial killers, the afterlife, vampirism, and madness while exploring relevant social issues amid a backdrop of decadence. Two bloody thumbs up!!
Ana Olsthoorn – The Leader, Garner
“Plan 9 from Outer Space” (1957)
I’m not the biggest horror fan, but throw in some camp and I’m there! Top of the list has to be “Plan 9 from Outer Space!” (1957) It’s got zombies, it’s got Vampira, it’s got Bella Lugosi and it’s got… Aliens! The plot is barely holding on by a thread; add in a dash of 1957 style sexism and you’ve got just about the best worst thing you’ve ever watched!
Close seconds in no particular order (and for various reasons): Young Frankenstein, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, The Omen, Rosemary’s Baby, The Shining. Ya, I’m a little bit old school.
Faith Betts-Eagle Grove Eagle and Calmar Courier
“Dead Silence” (2007)
“Beware the stare of Mary Shaw, she had no children only dolls” –“Dead Silence.” Every year around Halloween my sister and I watch this movie. We found it by accident when I was 15, my little sister was 12. It is a fair assumption that we were scared out of our minds. Mary Shaw is a ventriloquist who makes her own dolls. She really believed they were alive. During one of her shows a little boy questioned her and called out that she was a fraud, then the boy went missing. The town turns against her, and Mary Shaw haunts the families that brought her to her early demise.
It is always the middle of the night (okay like 8:30 pm) when you decide to watch a scary movie as a kid. To this day I still close my eyes when Mary Shaw uses her dolls to attack the main character, Jamie, and it is a full 10 seconds of jump scares. My sister and I jumped so high off the couch, I swear our heads hit the ceiling and popcorn was thrown everywhere. My mom came rushing in, turning on the lights and this time all three of us screamed as we all startled each other. I am not sure if our mom was more mad at the popcorn on the floor or that we had scared her half to death.
That night neither my sister or I got much sleep. I ended up curling into her bed and falling asleep holding onto a flashlight, like that would save me. This is one of those moments you treasure as an adult and every year when we watch this movie together a little part of us goes back to that night. Rekindling that old bond, we shared as kids and growing into a friendship. The last few years we have subbed out popcorn for wine and the screaming is more just us cursing at the TV. The movie itself is fantastic and is by far one of my favorite movies.
Send your feedback or topic ideas to Bridget at news@wrightcountymonitor.com.
