Each week I'll be dishing out my suggestion for the coming Friday's big movie to stay in and watch. If you don't have the movie, or it isn't on TV, too bad! That's what rental shops, iTunes and 'cough cough' various other websites are for!
Anyways, I thought I'd start with Halloween, but the problem is, there are so many great movies. What do you go for?
I've chosen my top 5 - feel free to throw in your suggestions below.
Number 5 - Misery (Released 1991)
Brilliant performances all round from James Caan and Kathy Bates in this psychological thriller about a woman who 'rescues' her favourite author following a car crash. What the author (Caan) doesn't know is that her rescuer becomes his captor and quickly has to come to terms with the fact he may never see his family or friends again. While not the scariest movie in the list, this film does hold you through to the end. It's worth a watch probably at the beginning of your Fright Night for sure.
Number 4 - The Exorcism of Emily Rose (Released 2005)
When people think of exorcism films, the obvious choice has to be the Exorcist. My only reason for not putting it in the top 5 is because it has almost become a parody of itself, and doesn't hold the same fear factor as it did when it was released. This movie is part chiller and part courtroom drama, and has a more realistic feel to it than it's 70's counterpart. This is of course is due to it being based on a true story, "The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel", an account of the subsequent court case by expert witness Felicitas D. Goodman. Michel's parents and the two priests who performed her exorcism were prosecuted, and ultimately jailed for manslaughter. The most significant differences are that Michel periodically fasted for several months as part of her exorcism and remained on medication until her death, while the fictional Rose refused to eat due to her delusions and was taken off her medication by her carers. The film will certainly spark debate among your friends. Well worth a watch!
Number 3 - Creep (Released 2005)
Now we get into the good stuff. This is less taxing on the brain than the previous two, and is definitely a gorefest. When a young woman gets locked in a London Underground station overnight, she gets to see what really goes on down there after hours, and it isn't just fixing the tracks! Instead of trying to get out of the station into the streets above, the girl does as we all would, and head off into the tunnels to 'apparently' get out. She meets up with various people along with the way (including a rather cute Jack Russell terrier) who all sadly get horribly slaughtered in the process of trying to help her. All comes good in the end when the vicious animal that is stalking her meets his untimely end with the help of the 8:04 to Bakerloo. This is a great chiller, and not one to watch if your heart is a bit dicky. It'll also make you think when you are running for that last train home again.
Number 2 - The Haunting (Released 1963)
This is one of those psychological thrillers where there is nothing to see, but plenty to fear. So the plot is simple - a group of scientists and members of the public meet up in an old 'haunted' mansion called Hill House, and their job is to spend the night there. (It's like 'Most Haunted', only scary) However, events take a nasty turn when one of the temporary residents takes a liking to her surroundings, and starts communing with the ghostly inhabitants of the house. This is a brilliantly directed movie, along with convincing actors and a good script. It's in black and white with absolutely no special effects (unless you consider a camera zooming in on a door as it is being knocked as a special effect) but the lack of effects makes it even more intriguing. Avoid the cheap imitations of this movie and watch the original!
Number 1 - Halloween (Released 1978)
This would appear to be the most obvious choice in a top 5 list about the best movies for Halloween, but it really is the classic choice. Even if you have watched this film a hundred times, it deserves another watch. For those who haven't, come on! In a nutshell, a psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood escapes on a mindless rampage while his doctor chases him through the streets. The star of the movie should really be Michael Myers (played Tony Moran, who's only other notable claim to fame includes a part in the Waltons) but I think the award should go to Jamie Lee Curtis. Get in the popcorn and light up the pumpkins and prepare for a night of fun-filled terror. Oh, and if you are feeling adventurous, have a go at Halloween: H20 - it may be a sequel but it's not a bad one - also stars Jamie Lee Curtis.
