Five Film Treats for Halloween

When the holidays come, it always seems difficult to decide which movies to watch or rewatch. Of course, on days like Christmas and Thanksgiving, you need those uplifting, family-oriented stories to complement your joy. On Valentine's Day, you need something romantic and that gets you in the mood for love. But with Halloween, you need something scary. A movie that'll make you jump, get spooked, maybe even tinkle your pants a little, even if you've already seen it before. With that in mind, here are five good treats (not tricks) that I recommend for Halloween. They aren't necessarily slasher films or overflowing with blood, but they do create a good eerie mood and will help you and your party guests pass the goulish night with ease.

The new release: Slither
Slither is not at all the scarriest of my Halloween recommendations, but it is a great humhorror (humorous horror) that will have you grossed out and laughing at the same time. Think of it along the lines of Tremors, if you're looking for something to compare it against. While this film may not scare you all that much if you're a horror buff, those little slimy, slithering slugs will give you the heebie geebies no matter who you are... it may even cause you to avoid taking a bath anytime in the near future. The bottom line: Rewatchable

The family scare: Monster House
This was the first film I reviewed when starting this site. If you have small children, or even young children, you obviously can't plop in any of my other herein listed recommendations. But if that is the case, don't feel like you're missing out. Monster House is the ideal family movie for Halloween. That isn't to say this animated adventure isn't scary in its own right, but it is much safer than the other choices available. For more details, read my full review of the instant animated Halloween classic. The bottom line: Frequently Rewatchable

The completely evil and distrubing: Haute Tension
In all honesty, I cannot in good conscience recommend this movie. Undoubtedly, this is the most horrifying film I have ever seen in my entire life. After seeing this movie with my then-pregnant wife, we both agreed that, for the rest of her pregnancy, we would no longer watch scary movies. She was kept up at night all that week and made me sleep nearer to the bedroom window due to her fear that a killer like that in Haute Tension would pop through it at any moment. This movie is evil, disgusting and disturbing in every way imaginable. Of course, if you like that sort of thing, this may be the flick for you. On a critical note, the ending of this movie is completely contrived and ruins the rest of the story. It does not ruin the horror of the film, just the story. Like I said, I cannot in good conscience recommend this movie, but if you want to not sleep tonight (or the rest of this week), Haute Tension is your film. The bottom line: Watchable

The eerily realistic: Frailty
This is not your typical horror. Actually, there's barely any blood in the movie at all. Instead, the film tells a story that, when all is said and done, hits too close to home. Through documentaries and novels, we've all heard real life serial killers talk about how "God" told them to kill certain people. And that is what makes this film so scary. It's believable. Matthew McConaughey and Bill Paxton turn excellent performances and will have you immersed in the story from beginning to end. I was quite surprised by how smart this horror film is and recommend it to anyone looking for a realistic scare this Halloween or any other. The bottom line: Rewatchable

The classic: Psycho
Okay, so this is no real surprise, but Psycho clearly represents one of the scariest movies ever made. Hitchcock outdid himself with this thriller and made showers almost unapproachable for millions of men and women. If you want a good old, black and white horror fest, complete with its fair share of scares, Psycho is it. The bottom line: Rewatchable

Well, that about does it for me. Tonight we're having a small party at our house and we have some great scares in store for our guests. Happy Halloween to all you movie lovers out there! And please, be sure to stay safe.