Planning on staying in on Halloween? Here is a list of movies you should watch to celebrate the season.
1. Corpse Bride
Director: Tim Burton
"Corpse Bride" is one of the two children’s movies on this list. Though it may not be as popular as the "Nightmare Before Christmas," it is still a well-known Tim Burton film. It is about a man who was in an arranged marriage to a woman whom he had never met. Naturally, he was nervous, and had a difficult time remembering his vows. Due to all of the pressure from his and the bride’s parents, he fled and hid in the woods and practiced his vows. He finally perfected his lines, but all the while proposing to the corpse of a bride who was murdered in the forest. The groom-to-be (Victor) dies and is sent to live in the underworld; but he will do everything he can to return to his wife-to-be (Victoria).
2. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Director: Tim Burton
Practically EVERYBODY has seen "The Nightmare Before Christmas"… right? Right???
Well, if you haven’t, it is another Tim Burton film about a Pumpkin King known as Jack who wants to celebrate Christmas in his Halloween town. He convinces the town's citizens to participate in Christmas festivities, and they end up bringing their rendition of Christmas to all of the children in the world. But instead of joy and happiness, they bring terror.
3. Beetlejuice
Director: Tim Burton
"Beetlejuice" is about a couple (the Maitlands) who died tragically in a car accident and whose souls were trapped inside of their home in the countryside. Soon after their death, the Maitlands’s home was sold to an obnoxious family (the Deetzes). The spirits attempted to scare away them away. However, they were unsuccessful; so, they summoned Beetlejuice to help them scare the Deetzes out of the house. Unfortunately, everything-- including the the house-- and Maitlands's plans fall apart due to Beetlejuice’s antics.
4. Donnie Darko
Director: Richard Kelly
"Donnie Darko" is about a teen who is emotionally and mentally detached from the world around him. He suffers from schizophrenic daylight hallucinations and speaks to an imaginary friend who sports a rabbit costume and goes by the name Frank. Frank warns Donnie that the world will end soon, specifically stating that there are only 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds remaining. The rest of the movie is a mind-boggler. You’re better off watching it yourself than having me fumble trying to summarize and describe the film
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5. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Director: Tobe Hooper
This classic was set in good ol' Texas (hence the title). "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is about a group of people who are traveling to their family's barn house because word got around that their grandfather's grave had been vandalized. While on the way, they were detoured and ended up coming across a group of psychotic murders and are attacked by a masked man known as "Leatherface."
6. Halloween
Director: John Carpenter
"Halloween" is about 6-year-old Michael Myers who killed his older sister. He was locked away for 15 years and-- while being transferred-- managed to escape and return home. His search for future victims continues as he carries on with his murderous tendencies.
7. Devil’s Rejects
Director: Rob Zombie
This movie is also set in Texas (would you look at that!). It's centered around the Firefly, a group suspected of more than 75 homicides, as well as the disappearances of many others. The family's mother is taken into custody and the remaining members of the family flee-- terrorizing and tormenting others while on the way. Ultimately meeting their own deaths at the end of the film.
8. Carrie
Director: Brian De Palma
"Carrie" is a film about a young girl who is tormented by her classmates and her mother. Carrie possesses telekinetic powers, and by the end of the film, causes a lot of damage and harm toward those who harmed and bullied her.
9. IT
Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
"IT" is a movie about a clown named Pennywise who haunts children and feeds off of their fear. This is yet another horror movie classic, and is known for its scene in which Pennywise tells a boy named Georgie that “they float down here” (in reference to balloons, and more than likely human corpses as well).
10. The Shining
Director: Stanley Kubrick
"The Shining" is a classic horror film. It is well-known for the infamous “Here’s Johnny!” scene in which the father, Jack Torrance shoves an axe through the bathroom door in his efforts to kill his wife, Wendy Torrance and their son. Another memorable scene occurs when the twin sisters, whose spirits haunt the inn, try to convince the Torrance’s son, Danny to play with them. The movie is named after Danny’s "shining" ability to see things that others cannot see.
