Now, I am no expert in cinema; I am merely a fan. And as a fan, there is no better time of year for me than “Spooky Movie Season.” I wouldn’t say that horror is my favorite genre because there’s a lot about horror that can be hit or miss. But I will say, there is nothing like dedicating a certain time of year to the spookier corner of film.
Every year I spend at least the entire month of October watching a different movie each day, and this year I not only started a bit early, but I am doubling up on some days (because social life was never in the cards this autumn.) By the time we get to Halloween, I’ll probably have watched at least 50 movies in the realm of spooky. Note here how I use the term “spooky” instead of “horror,” as there are many different types of movies that are not supposed to be scary, but fit in perfectly with this time of year. So, today I won’t be talking so much about the history of film, but instead giving you a peek into my own view on the realm of spooky cinema. Follow along as I go through my picks for essential movies
Slasher
Let’s start off with my personal favorite subgenre of Horror: the slasher movie. And there is no better way to get a grasp on slasher movies than with Wes Craven’s 1996 classic, “Scream.” A perfect blend of a satirical look at the genre, and a re-revolutionization of it. Craven and writer Kevin Williamson played with the various tropes and clichés (some of which he helped create in the first place) and created a narrative that twists and turns and subverts until the very end. Meta to the core, and equally scary and funny, thanks to the directing and writing, an all-star cast, and an incredible musical score by Marco Beltrami.
Redneck
Here I am going to list two movies, both radically different, but both pretty incredible. First, I feel the need to point you in the direction of what I believe to be one of the most upsetting and unsettling (and, yes, very much scary thanks to those facts) movies I’ve ever seen: “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Let me tell you a story: when I was fifteen, I saw that this was available on Amazon Prime Video, and right next to it was a documentary about the making of the movie. I decided I was going to watch the documentary, and then ask my dad if we could watch the movie together when he got home. Now, the covers for the movie and the documentary looked very similar, and the documentary was simply titled “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Revisited.”
The “Revisited” blended in very well with the title, and as I said, the movies were right next to each other. And, if you’ve seen the actual movie, you know that it starts off with voice-over narration and is shot in a similar fashion to documentary styles, so I don’t feel terribly embarrassed to let you know that, yes, I did accidentally start watching the actual film itself instead of the documentary, and no, I did not fully realize the mistake I had made until around the time the hitchhiker was picked up. However, I decided there was no turning back, and when my dad came home about two hours later, I was still sitting on the couch, stunned, speechless, and all-around shaken up. He had a good laugh about it when I told him about it, and I can laugh about it now, but it had quite the effect on me. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” despite nearing 50 years old now, having some dated and amateurish acting, and going for a “the imagining the horror instead of showing it in all its gory details,” is a terrifying, gruesome, and bone-chilling (and mostly fictional, thank God,) account of random and unexplained evil.
Now, something totally different that acts as a palate cleanser to the previous movie, is a redneck horror comedy that plays with perspective and point of view. I didn’t know much about “Tucker and Dale Versus Evil” except for one or two of the hilariously over-the-top deaths in the second act.
The film follows a couple of redneck best buds who have purchased their dream vacation home (which is a run-down cabin in the middle of the woods, but their love for it is endearing,) and a group of college kids, vacationing in the same woods near the cabin, who mistake the rednecks for creeps after hearing about a massacre that occurred 20 years ago. In the end, it’s a love story between Dale and Allison, one of the college girls, but throughout the movie, we see things through the perspective of these college kids who think that Tucker and Dale have kidnapped Allison and are out to kill the rest of them, and they all end up accidentally offing themselves in an attempt of picking off these rednecks. It is so funny, so charming, and yes, so very over-the-top brutal. Perfect for the time of year.
Psychological
This is a subgenre that can (and often does) intersect with the thriller genre. And, even though they are two different categories of film, a good thriller that does its job right most definitely can earn its place in psychological horror. But, this movie doesn’t just play up the themes of both categories: it is the perfect combination of a crime/mystery thriller and psychological horror and is the only horror movie to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Of course, I am referring to “The Silence of the Lambs.”
There are many things that make this movie incredible and timeless. Whether you look at what Anthony Hopkins was able to do with a limited amount of screen time as Hannibal Lecter, the absolute unsettling nature of “Buffalo Bill” as our main antagonist, Howard Shore’s hauntingly beautiful musical score, the immaculate editing by Craig McKay or Jonathan Demme’s wonderful direction. But, this movie does not work without Jodie Foster’s Clarice Starling as our emotional anchor throughout the movie. It is thanks to her performance that we are invested in the story, and therefore begin to inch closer and closer to the edge of our seats as the movie presses on to its impressive conclusion.
Comedy
As much as “Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil” is most definitely a comedy, it is still extremely violent, and plays up some of the horror elements that can be found in your typical scary movie. So, let’s take it down a bit for a moment, and talk about Frank Oz’s musical, “Little Shop of Horrors.” This is one of the most charming movies you can watch during spooky movie season, with a great lead performance from Rick Moranis, catchy songs by Disney-regular Alan Menken, a brilliant cameo by Bill Murray, a fantastic to look at the puppet-controlled plant (if that makes sense,) and, as long as you’re watching the director’s cut, an unexpected and darkly-comedic finale. I love this movie, and find myself frequently blurting out lyrics from “Dentist!” or “Feed Me” or “Mean Green Mother From Outer Space.”
Body Horror
David Cronenberg’s remake of “The Fly” is truly a masterpiece in horror. With a pair of dynamite performances (Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum,) Howard Shore’s musical score (if you can’t tell, Howard Shore hardly misses,) a tragic story of one man’s ambition, and some truly impressive (and disgusting) practical effects showcasing Seth Brundle’s journey into a human-insect hybrid, this movie has and will continue to stand the test of time for years to come.
Something Old
In the next spot on my list, I want to throw it back to one of the oldest (but not the first) horror movies out there: 1922’s “Nosferatu.” Now, yes, this is nearly a century old, and it’s a silent movie, so it’s scare factor has worn off a bit, but just the look at Max Schreck’s Count Orlok is unsettling, and the movie does a lot with its visual storytelling. If silent movies are not quite your thing, I would highly recommend Werner Herzog’s 1979 remake, “Nosferatu the Vampyre.”
Something New
This movie has been divisive among the general movie-going audience, with not much middle ground between love or hate. Obviously, I’m including it here not out of hate, but because of absolute admiration. James Wan’s latest film “Malignant” is magnificent, and no, I will not be apologizing for that. It’s a slow burn movie that sets up little tidbits early on that don’t get elaboration until it’s absolutely crucial for James Wan to show his hand through major plot twists and reveals. This movie is bonkers, and campy (intentionally, I must note,) and is something very different from what James Wan has done before (while also, somehow, having a mashup of things he HAS done before, such as the gross-out horror of “Saw,” the tension building supernatural moments of “The Conjuring,” and the ridiculous and well-shot fights of “Aquaman,” believe it or not.) I will sing its praises till the day I die, it is one of my favorite movies of the year thus far.
Something Prestigious
In the penultimate spot, I want to give a shout-out to “Get Out,” which is the most recent horror movie to be nominated for Best Picture. It provided a play on horror tropes of the past while giving us a lesson on perspective, a bit of social commentary, a couple of weird twists, and a good deal of comedy throughout its runtime. Jordan Peele made a big impression with this movie, so much so that folks were divided on his next movie solely due to comparison to this one.
My Favorite for This Time of Year
This may be a bit of a surprise, but that’s what I’m here for. “Pan’s Labyrinth” may be my absolute favorite movie to watch during spooky movie season. No, it’s not scary, but thanks to its gothic atmosphere, incredible creature design, supernatural elements, and its overall tone and feel, this movie fits in perfectly with Halloween. Guillermo del Toro’s dark fairy tale just feels like an autumn movie. It’s emotional, heartfelt, and absolutely captures my attention every time I put it on.
Did I bore you? Did I get some wrong? “This guy’s an idiot!” Tell me all about it! Tell me what you’d add, what you’d take off, what you think I should watch, but no matter what, just do yourself a favor: light up a candle with your favorite autumn scent, grab yourself a glass of apple cider, turn off the lights, and curl up under a blanket while you watch whatever movie suits you during this season, whether it’s on my list or a list of your own. This is a season where you can be cozy and comfortable with whatever you choose to do to celebrate, so just do something with it to enjoy your time, whether alone or with someone you love. Isn’t that what the art of cinema is all about?
Take care, reader.
Jared Douglas Tonsfeldt
I’ve loved movies all my life and it’s a dream come true to be able to share about my views on film! My favorite Director is Alfred Hitchcock and my favorite movie is Dr.Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
