Last year I did a Halloween tribute for the entire month of October. This year, I have held back my Halloween excitement a bit. But you all had to know I couldn't go through the month without giving you a few frightening recommendations. As you prepare for your Halloween festivities, consider adding one or more of the following films to your "must see" list.
Silent: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
There are many adaptations of Stevenson's novel. My recommendation is the 1920 version starring John Barrymore. If you aren't in to silent films, you probably won't find this adaptation wonderfully great. I, however, am a lover of silent films and the few horror ones rock my world. Although Director John S. Robertson does little with the story beyond a love interest for Jekyll, the wicked awesome spider scene is worth the watch. Robertson had to have superimposed one film over another to achieve the effect and it works. This film won't scare you, but it will impress upon you how creative silent film directors were in the infancy of special effects.
Classic: Rope
Okay, I'll be up front and admit that this isn't a scary film per se. Actually, it's one of my favorite of Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers. (It may have popped up in my blog before.) This 1948 film is the first pairing of Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart. Shot in only seven or eight takes - extremely unheard of, even today - the film follows a post-murder dinner part given by Learner and Loeb wanna-be's. Stewart figures out what the two have done and the story just gets more interesting by the moment. As you watch, pay special attention to the set. Hitchcock designed an apartment set where the walls and setting could be moved along with the camera. He didn't want more than a few cuts in this film which makes it not only an impressive work of cinematic technique but an intriguing thriller sure to interest those folks not much for blood and gore.
Slasher: Alien
If you haven't done so lately, it is time to revisit this 1979 slasher classic. We all know that Sigourney Weaver can kick ass. She gets the attention for this film, which is sort of a shame. (Not that she doesn't deserve that attention!) What really takes this first film in the quadrilogy to a new level - beyond just the gore and shocks - is the supporting cast. You have Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, and Ian Holm. These guys can all act and they prove it. Oh, and don't forget that the excellent Ridley Scott was at the helm. Sure, the alien jumping out of Hurt's stomach is the classic scene - spoofed at the end of Spaceballs - but there's a lot more to this film than that. The alien demonstrates some pretty good special effects and cats always make for some much-needed added suspense. But don't forget the story in which we are warned that when we butt our noses into places we don't belong and ignore the warning signs, we are bound to get horribly mutiliated. Hm, a postcolonial story for the ages.
Contemporary: Bug
Okay, okay, I haven't actually seen this film yet. In fact, it's what I'll be watching Halloween night. But I've heard good things about it. I'll keep you posted on how I liked it.
Enjoy your Beggar's Night and have some fun at Blockbuster's!
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9 comments:
Four excellent choices! Now I really regret not taking my shot at Christian Slater last week.
I will say about Bug though that it is based on a play and the transition between stage and screen is a little rough in places. For example, I might have enjoyed the movie a little more if it had intertitles announcing the arrival of the three acts, and trust me its not hard to pick when they begin.
A few years ago I saw the 1920 Jekyll and Hyde with a live musical performance by a very tallented band out of Boston called Devil Music Ensemble. They are on tour right now with a kung-fu movie called Red Heroine. If you hear they are playing your town, I highly suggest checking them out, and on after the show you can pick up their Jekyll and Hyde DVD.
Oh, and Zack and Miri is awesome. Kevin Smith is very funny in person, and knows how to get to the Target I go to.
I watched "The Reaping" last night. I was unexpectedly pleased. There is something about a good God vs. Satan film. Hm, maybe I am disclosing a bit too much about my psyche. :-)
Going to see "W" this Saturday. Can't wait!!!!!
PS - still jealous about the whole Kevin Smith thing.
The Evil Dead with Bruce Campbell is one of my favorites. Army of Darkness (campy horror, if you will) was outrageous fun too. Campbell is great!
In a strange way, Bruce Campbell Versus the Army of Darkness is probably my pick for the most enjoyable cinematic experience...not my favorite movie, but perhaps the most enjoyable experience.
"Shop smart; shop S-Mart!" Bruce Campbell is hysterical in Army of Darkness (one of my favorites). I had the pleasure of seeing him when he was promoting his autobiography (If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor) in Massachusetts. He was brilliant as always. But I didn't get to actually meet him until he came to Ohio (in a stage production of Shane). He was charming. I have to admit that I will watch films and television shows just because he's in them. He doesn't get the recognition he deserves.
Bruce is amazing, and amazingly self aware. A few years ago he did a book tour for Make Love the Bruce Campbell way and paired it with screenings of The Man with a Screaming Brain. He did a Q & A after the show and he was hilarious. In fact that was perhaps more entertaining than the movie.
I saw an ad in the NYTimes for My Name is Bruce, so I can't wait to see that on the big screen once it gets into wider release. I also hope that the rumors of Evil Dead 4/Army of Darkness II with a different actor playing Ash are false.
When Campbell talked about Chins, he showed a short film he had made about fans and their love of movies and television. It was hysterical! You're right--the Q and A afterward was the absolute best. What I admired about him was he offered to sign books (first) and other items afterwards. When he said that, he added that he would stay until the last person who wanted to talk with him got to. I thought that was fantastic and generous.
I agree--there should not be any more Evil Dead or Army of Darkness films--not without Bruce!
Did either of you ever watch "Brisco County, Jr?" Campbell's television show? I loved that show and its campiness. It was clearly meant as a spoof on the western/sci-fi so most people didn't get it. I don't think it even lasted an entire season. Every now and then the show will pop up as an all-day marathon, which I always watch.
He's on Burn Notice too - which, from the episodes I've seen, is pretty good.
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