It’s a dark, stormy night. You’re at home alone when your cellphone rings. Wondering why someone is calling you instead of sending you a text like a regular person, you cautiously answer the phone. A voice speaks softly.
“Do you like scary movies?”
Unphased, you hang up the phone because, of course, you like scary movies, duh.
Now that October is upon us, the spooky season has finally begun. With countless streaming services at our disposal, it can be hard to decide between a good classic slasher or a spooky indie flick. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of six favourite films to watch in the lead-up to Halloween.
6. As Above, So Below (2014)
The first on my list is the John Erick Dowdle-directed As Above, So Below, a film with a similar cinematic quality as blockbusters such as The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. The majority of the action takes place in the infamous catacombs of Paris, as a group of urban explorers search for the fabled Philosopher’s Stone.
With intense moments of suspense haunted by claustrophobic tension and a perfectly eerie score, As Above, So Below would be an excellent addition to your Halloween watch list.
5. The Conjuring 2 (2016)
In recent years, Australian film producer James Wan has emerged as one of my favourite horror/suspense filmmakers. Although he has a vast film history, Wan is perhaps most well-known for his work on the hugely successful Conjuring horror movie universe.
Inspired by real-life events, the plot of The Conjuring 2 follows the exploits of famed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren as they travel to the U.K. in hopes of helping a small family rid their home of the malevolent entity known as Valek.
With twists, turns and surprises around every corner, The Conjuring 2 is sure to delight this Halloween season.
4. Critters (1986)
If you, like me, are the type of nerd who sincerely appreciates bad movies, then the 1986 creature-feature, Critters, may be for you.
The plot of Critters centers around a group of alien monsters that crash-land a short distance outside a small midwestern town during the 1980s. Pursued by intergalactic bounty hunters, the “critters” immediately set off on a path of destruction and mayhem, killing and eating whatever warm bodies they come across along the way.
The premise is laughable, the acting is tragic and the special effects look dated, but that all adds to the eclectic charm of this hidden gem.
3. IT (2017)
IT was adapted from the 1986 Stephen King horror novel of the same name and takes place in the fictional town of Derry, Maine.
For decades, children in Derry have steadily vanished under mysterious circumstances, abducted by a supernatural killer known as Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgård).
Skarsgård’s Pennywise is an evil, unrelenting, bloodthirsty pseudoparanormal killer worthy of appearing in your worst nightmares. Everything about the character design, from his colour-changing eyes to his noodle-like limbs, possessive motions and menacing voice, fits perfectly with what you’d expect.
Despite having a genuine and sincere fear of clowns, IT will always be cinematic gold and a favourite of mine to watch during the spooky season.
2. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
In terms of great, objectively successful Hollywood horror movies, few rise to the level of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This classic film sits atop my list for numerous reasons, including the quality of the script, its exceptional cinematography and superb directing. However, what sets the movie apart is its iconic cast starring Keanu Reeves, Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder.
The film follows Jonathan Harker (Reeves), a solicitor from London, England, who finds himself at the centre of a dark plot orchestrated by the dastardly Count Dracula (Oldman), whose sights are set on claiming both Harker’s fiancée, Mina (Ryder) and Western Europe.
Although Dracula wouldn’t be considered scary by modern standards, it nonetheless stands out as one of the finest vampire movies of the 20th century.
1. Willy’s Wonderland (2021)
Willy’s Wonderland is a movie that defies easy classification. Sure, it has elements indicative of horror, slasher and supernatural films, but there’s also a significant dose of dry humour throughout. Defining the movie as a horror-comedy is closer to being accurate, but still comes short of hitting the mark.
In many ways, Willy’s is the perfect homage to the cheap B-roll horror flicks of the ’70s and ’80s, but with 21st-century special effects and stunning sets. With a script that pushes beyond the limits of being considered cheesy, the movie features Nicolas Cage as the unnamed, reluctant hero who must save the day when Willy the Weasel and his psychopathic cohorts set their sights on a group of categorically stereotypical teenagers.
Willy’s is a bad movie; there’s no denying that, but that’s why it works. It doesn’t try to be anything else. When the plot delves into the realm of cheesiness, it embraces the cheese without remorse, shame or apology, sticking the landing with precision.
The result is a pseudo-horror/comedy movie that you’re going to either love or love to hate.
Do you have a strong opinion about the movies in this list? Which ones did you agree with, and which do you think shouldn’t have made the list? We’d like to hear from you. E-mail the editor today at editor@theomega.news with the subject line “Letter to the editor” to have your voice heard.