I’ve spoken in great detail about my failure to understand the hate that’s often directed at writer/director Rob Zombie, so I won’t recap those same thoughts here. Needless to say he’s a polarizing filmmaker who has made a handful of films that have divided audiences right down the middle, none more so than his debut feature, House Of 1000 Corpses.

Set on the eve of Halloween 1977, House Of 1000 Corpses focuses on two couples (Chris Hardwick, Rainn Wilson, Jennifer Jostyn and Erin Daniels) travelling the back roads of America charting the bizarre roadside attractions they come across along the way. Soon enough they meet Captain Spalding (an off the wall Sid Haig), a deranged hillbilly perpetually dressed in a dirty clown outfit who runs a gas station along with his ‘Museum Of Monsters & Madman’. Oh, and he also sells chicken. He convinces the couples to ride his Serial Killer Ride, which is kind of like a low-budget version of Disney’s “It’s A Small World” ride, only with more mass murderers. It’s during this ever so creepy ride that the couples learn of the legend of Dr. Satan, a mad doctor who’s hanged body was never recovered. Naturally the group decide to get to the bottom of the demented legend, a mistake they may or may not live to regret.

Not long after their encounter with Captain Spalding, the group’s car gets a flat tyre, leaving them standard on the side of the road. It’s here that they’re picked up and taken in by the seemingly hospitable Firefly family, a group of white trash weirdos living in a decrepit old house. Sure, mother Firefly (Karen Black) is a little wacky, Grandpa (Dennis Fimple) is a foul-mouthed creep, Baby (Sheri Moon Zombie) is a promiscuous psychopath, Otis (Bill Moseley) is a deranged maniac and Tiny (Matthew McGrory) is a deformed freak, but otherwise they seem ok, right? During a Halloween show that the family puts on for their guests, things get heated, leaving our protagonists to make a brisk getaway. Unfortunately they don’t get far due to the reveal that those scarecrows hanging out the front of the house are actually host to two of the family’s manic members. The group are taken back inside the house against their will and it’s here where the film begins to live up to its name.

The Firefly clan quickly begins to make short work of our heroes. Torture is the word of the day and Otis and company don’t hold back. A scalping here and a stabbing there is all in a day’s work for the murderous family. But after throwing a concoction of blended horrors at you for the first two acts, the film takes things to the next level. As Otis puts it, ‘The bogeyman is real, and now you’re going to meet him.’

The final onslaught of horror is so vile, crazy and out of this world that it almost feels as though it has been taken from an entirely different feature. Zombies, deformed victims, killer freaks and of course Dr. Satan himself all make an appearance during this final stretch. It’s an extreme bombardment of madness that is the perfect way to cap off an already mad film. It’s at this point where you’ll either fall in love with House Of 1000 Corpses and its extreme mix of influences, or you’ll be left wide-eyed and disgusted.

Taking its influences from exploitation films from the 70’s, in particular The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Last House On The Left, House Of 1000 Corpses is often a savage and unforgiving experience, but it’s also a hell of a good time if you can stomach it. Not only is the film grotesque, but it’s also frequently creepy  to boot. The trip through the Serial Killer Ride early on is made supremely unsettling due to the fact that we’ve already seen Captain Spalding and his offsider kill a couple of would-be armed robbers in cold blood before the opening credits, while the final decent into Dr. Satan’s lair creates an intense sensation of unease that never lets up. Also it should be noted that the film looks fantastic. Zombie manages to create a constant off-kilter feel through the use of strange lighting and camera effects.

But what really makes House Of 100 Corpses really fitting for a Halloween viewing is the fact that it’s set over Halloween eve and Halloween. The Firefly family is obsessed with the holiday, so every frame is filled with their twisted interpretation of it. Even Tiny celebrates the holiday with his ‘Cheap Ass Halloween Costume’ teeshirt. The rest of the family dress up for the occasion during the end of the film, their dark and disturbing costumes highlighting just how insane they all are.

Even if you’re not a Rob Zombie fan, I suggest you give House Of 1000 Corpses a try. And what better night to do so than on Halloween? It’s a barbaric rollercoaster ride through Hell that only gets darker and more depraved as the runtime ticks onwards. House Of 1000 Corpses may be an exhausting experience, but it’s one that will stay with you for a long while after.

For the ultimate Halloween triple feature watch my Halloween pick back to back with Eden’s and Annisa’s. And once again, Happy Halloween!

So after my kiddy-friendly picks of the last two years, I thought it was about time that I took matters seriously, and chose a Halloween movie for an older crowd. Yes, kids have fun with their trick-or-treating, and their chocolates, and their costumes, but just because this for an older audience, doesn’t mean it has to lose the fun. Yet we have to keep in mind the origin of the day as the time when the so-called barrier between our world and the other side is the weakest, and one either becomes a victim of the lost souls, or dresses up and confronts the scariness. But let’s face it, when it comes to Halloween, we all want to be scared. Even if it’s just a little.

After the violent murders of two of her classmates and the media circus that surrounds it, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is home alone and nervous as she is forced to remember the violent, tabloid-magnet rape and murder of her mother just one year prior. After getting attacked by the killer and suspecting her boyfriend Billy (Skeet Ulrich), Sidney opts to stay over at best friend Tatum’s (Rose McGowan) house . When the town is put on curfew, Tatum’s boyfriend Stu (Matthew Lillard) decides to throw a party, which everyone attends — including Tatum’s brother/police deputy Dewey (David Arquette), and career-focused reporter Gail Weathers (Courteney Cox). With everyone present, it’s just a matter of time before more victims fall and the killer is finally revealed.

I’ve always thought there are two kinds of horror movies; the ghosty/monster type, and the human/slasher variety. And with these two categories, you can then separate people into two types based on which kind of horror scares them. I fall into the first one. Give me a Paranormal Activity, and I’ll snatch up a pillow to cover my eyes ASAP. But when it comes to slasher movies I have no problem, and the cheesier, the better. Scream’s cheese may be intentional, but it’s cheese nonetheless. All horror clichés are present and accounted for, and the death scenes are satisfyingly gory and inventive right from the very first scene. Written by Dawson’s Creek creator Kevin Williamson, the story and dialogue is very witty, snappy, and most of all (which eventually became the series’ trademark), self-aware. Throw in director Wes Craven, an undeniable horror master, and a whole bag of fun, and there’s no way you can go wrong. The movie has the added bonus of one of my very favourite film characters ever, movie geek Randy (Jamie Kennedy). Providing laughs and insight, his two big scenes on horror movies are possibly my top scenes of the movie. This is a (nerd) man after my own heart.

Why is this my pick for this Halloween? What, the fact that it’s a horror classic isn’t enough reason for you? Well, how about the fact that the killer has now become a Halloween costume staple, and is instantly recognisable even for those who may only have a passing interest in movies? (And was even worn by FFMM’s very own Dean one Halloween!) The gory deaths, surprise scares, witty dialogue and tongue-in-cheek tone all meld together to create a highly entertaining, fun horror movie that is perfect to chuck on during your Halloween party this (or any) year.

Oh, and just to continue my virgin theme of my last two picks, don’t fret, it makes an appearance here too! Placed as Randy’s very first rule of how to survive a horror movie, the role of the virgin is referenced as one of the factors one must possess to survive to the ending credits. True to Scream’s meta nature, Sidney does end up having sex (with the guy who’s trying to kill her, no less!), and she survives anyway. And all the way through three more movies. Awesome.

For our picks of the past years, check this and this out.

VHS had its day, but it has since been phased out of existence by the more pristine DVD format. And while it’s hard criticise this evolutionary step, there are some aspects of the VHS format that make me nostalgic for the days of old. I miss watching questionable trailers for bizarre films I’ve never heard of before the feature, I miss the snap, crackle and occasional hiss the tapes would emit, but above all I miss the insane artwork that adorned many of the VHS boxes.

As a kid I spent hours trawling through my local video store’s impressive library each and every week, refusing to leave until I had a pile of movies that was stacked well above my head. But within that sanctuary of mine there was one section that I passed with trepidation. A no-go zone located off to the side where it appeared only sickos and weirdos would lurk; the horror section. A strong statement considering my fondness for the genre today, but as a kid Gremlins was the scariest thing I had ever seen, so imagine the impact the sight of various slasher icons and slobbering ghouls that were splashed all over those VHS covers had on my fragile mind. Yet despite the horrors that awaited, I would often muster up just enough bravery to study the covers of these horror classics. Picking up the beaten, torn copies of A Nightmare On Elm Street and Friday The 13th, bewildered by the nightmarish images plastered on the front.

Those grotesque images that served as cover art may have scarred my younger self, but as the years progressed I grew increasingly captivated by them. Far from acting as cheap attention-grabbers, those pieces of artwork were exactly that, art. Some of these designs were sleazy, some were plain gross, while some were impressive and detailed enough to warrant being framed and hung on your wall.

So in preparation for Halloween let’s take a trip back down memory lane and take a look at 15 of the greatest horror movie VHS covers. I’m not sure if anyone else’s enthusiasm for this list will match that of my own, but never the less I had a ball putting this article together. Enjoy!

15. C.H.U.D.

C.H.U.D. is a creepy little creature feature that sees monsters living underneath New York city start emerging from the darkness below and terrorising random citizens. The creatures are the key to the film’s success and for the most part they’re rightfully kept hidden. So while the front cover of the VHS for C.H.U.D. features an alluring peek at the horrific beings, all one has to do is flip over to the back to see it in plain sight. Say what?!? Besides that oversight the artwork for C.H.U.D. is effective and the tagline cheesy fun. C.H.U.D. is under the city!

14. April Fool’s Day

The background of the artwork for April Fool’s Day looks like it’s from the sequel of The Breakfast Club. The foreground however is all business. The girl with the knife behind her back is obvious, but it’s the noose shaped hair that’s the real kicker. A great double dose of menace. Too bad the film is terrible…

13. Critters

Critters is a great energetic little alien invasion/monster film from the 80′s. The cover is plain and simple. It’s a Critter revealing his big, toothy grin. Good for biting I hear. It’s a perfect example of the hand painted wonders that modern posters/DVD covers are sorely lacking.

12. House

That disembodied hand haunted my dreams as a kid. Who or what did it belong to? And how long until it come knocking on my front door? Fantastic artwork that really captures your imagination. Also the tagline is one of my favourites. Ding dong you’re dead.

11. I Spit On Your Grave

The cover for I Spit On Your Grave always disturbed me as a kid. The shot of the half-naked female was too raw, too real. The bloody hand gripping the blade of the knife only emphasising the nihilistic nature of the film. But what really makes this cover is the tagline. This woman has just…cut, chopped, broken and burned four men beyond recognition… but no jury in America would ever convict her. Taglines don’t get much more hardcore than that. Also look to the back for a glimpse of the most disturbing castration scene ever filmed. Shudder…

10. Ghoulies

I couldn’t find the full VHS spread for this one, but the poster will do. At first glance the cover for Ghoulies looks, well, preposterous. They don’t come much sillier than this. But as a kid this was the stuff of a nightmares. Are you telling me that there are little goblin people waiting in the toilet to jump out and attack me? Aw hell naw! Plus once again it’s the tagline that’s the icing on the cake. They’ll get you in the end! How much more do you want to traumatise children?

9. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Ok, so there are plenty of great covers for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but this one stands out thanks to the great hand painted artwork. There’s no mucking around here, Leatherface is front and centre, chainsaw in hand and victim at his feet. Great stuff. The reverse of the cover highlights nothing but horrifying money shots from the film. No wonder people still wrongfully maintain that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the goriest films of all time.

8. Halloween

Stark and haunting. The image of the hand grasping the knife next to the sinister jack-o-lantern is one of the most famous posters in the world of horror, if not in any genre. It’s an immediately eye-catching image that is backed up with a killer tagline, The night he came home. If you were unfamiliar with the film upon its original release then that tagline coupled with the striking image would have immediately caught your attention.

7. Return Of The Living Dead

This isn’t the first time I’m going to cheat in this list. These two covers for The Return Of The Living Dead are so great I couldn’t help but to include them both. The first is an effective design that perfectly sums up the punk rock, take no prisoners nature of the film. The second is simply an awesome piece of retro art, emphasising the over the top, cartoonish nature of the film.

6. The Video Dead

I have yet to see The Video Dead (I hear it’s horrible for what it’s worth) yet this VHS cover left it’s mark on me as a youngster. It’s a revolting zombie bursting out of a television set, what’s not to love? I did try to hire this once when I was still a tiny tot, but my parents intervened by simply silently handing the film back to me with disgusted looks on their faces. Oh the woes of being young…

5. A Nightmare On Elm Street 2

When A Nightmare On Elm Street was initially released, audiences were blown away by the new horrific movie maniac it introduced who was able to claim his victims in their sleep. I can only imagine how disappointed those same people were when A Nightmare On Elms Street 2 hit cinemas. The most unintentionally gay horror film ever made, A Nightmare On Elms Street 2 has to stand as one of the worst sequels ever released. On the upside this cover art for the film is phenomenal. That is besides Freddy’s goofy looking face…

4. A Nightmare On Elm Street

One of the most iconic images of all time is plastered on this cover for A Nightmare On Elm Street. The sight of Nancy staring wide-eyed directly at the viewer while Freddy’s glove hovers over her head is incredibly creepy and unnerving. Also one of the greatest tag lines of all time: If Nancy doesn’t wake up screaming… She won’t wake up at all. Timeless. Plus as an added bonus (cheating!), I’ve included a rarer alternate cover. Not as good as the original but still very moody.

3. Friday The 13th

Recorded in SP mode you say? All right! In all seriousness this cover for Friday The 13th is a stunning classic. The design manages to both simultaneously please the eye and provide a clear indication of exactly what’s in store for the viewer. It’s such an effective piece of artwork that it’s almost too classy for such a cheap slasher film.

2. Evil Dead 2

This has to be one of the most iconic posters/VHS covers ever put together. The crusty skull with its full eyeballs is instantly disconcerting, but the fact that it seems to be gazing into your soul while bearing a toothy grin makes the image even more disturbing. But while the iconic image on the font cover would be enough to capture a passerby’s attention, the back cover showcases enough insane carnage to ensure whoever picked the film up would be walking out the door with it. It even has a bonus image on the spine of the cover! So much awesome going on right here.

1. Evil Dead

And so finally we arrive at my favourite VHS cover of all time. In my younger days I used to watch Army Of Darkness, the third film in the Evil Dead series, relentlessly. I would pop the film in my VHS player, watch it from start to finish and then instantly rewind it and watch it all over again. But despite my fixation with Army Of Darkness, I was unaware that there were two films that came before it. Put it down to my young ignorance and my lack of exposure to the world of film at the time. However one day while browsing through a regular old video store, that all changed.

I was trawling through the store’s collection, looking for nothing in particular when I saw it. That chainsaw. The almost black blood. The screaming girl. The demon hands. And of course, the title. The Evil Dead sprang out at me like a blinding light in a darkened room, dazzling me with its combination of creativeness and plain gruesomeness. I was transfixed, hypnotised by the mesmerizing sight before me, and right then and there I could tell that Evil Dead and I were going to get along just fine. All I can say to summarise is that no other artwork, be it VHS cover, DVD cover or movie poster has ever floored me quite like the Evil Dead design initially did.

And that’s it folks, those are what I consider to be 15 of the greatest horror movie VHS covers. But what do you think? Did I miss any? Do you disagree with any of my choices? Have your say in the comment section below.

Greetings mortals and welcome to a very special edition of Fun Stuff Friday. It’s October, home of everybody’s favourite haunted holiday. So to get you into a suitably ghoulish mood, I’ve dedicated this week’s Fun Stuff Friday solely to Halloween. So be prepared to come face to face to some amazing Halloween dioramas, some of the best jack-o’-lantern carvings I’ve ever seen, some impressive alternate horror posters and more!

With that I bid you farewell until next week. But until then, have a happy and safe Halloween everybody!

Halloween Pumpkin Display At The New York Botanical Gardens

Every year the New York Botanical Gardens get into the spirit of Halloween by setting up a spooky pumpkin display. This year’s was created by Villafane Studios and it’s a splendidly gruesome sight to behold. The centrepiece is an undead figure, disfigured and rotting, dragging a bunch of his undead brethren out of the ground. A perfect ode to the spirit of Halloween if you ask me.

It was created by Ray Villafane and his team who made the display by carving three of the largest pumpkins ever grown in the US. One of which weighed a whopping 1,872 pounds. So I’m guessing not all natural? Check it out first hand if you can, otherwise gaze lovingly over the photos below.

Star Wars Halloween Display

This is a nice homemade ode to the Star Wars franchise right here. Star Wars may be a world away from the ghouls and goblins usually associated with Halloween, but who cares. There are some scarecrows in this display that are a little creepy, I guess. And Darth Vader is a pretty scary villain, right? So close enough.

Imgur user jesusshuttlesworth34 posted the above gallery. Not sure if they’re the same individual who put this diorama together or not.

Amazing Jack-O’-Lantern Art

The moment jack-o’-lanterns start popping up around the neighbourhood you know that Halloween is just around the corner. But while most pumpkins spotted during October sport plain old sinister grins and evil eyes, occasionally you’ll come across a few that are beautiful carved works of art. Much like the ones featured below.

These pumpkins are all featured at the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular in Providence, Rhode Island, and they are simply mind-blowing. The detail on each of them is so precise that you would swear that they were fake, but in fact they’re entirely legit. The individuals who created these things must have been master artists, so my hat is off to them for adding a touch of class to my favourite holiday.

If you’re in the area you can check out these displays for yourself at the Roger Williams Park Zoo up until November 3rd. Otherwise visit the Zoo’s dedicated website.

Brilliant Halloween Light Show

Now this is awesome! This is a house that really went all out for Halloween this year. Using over 8,500 lights and roughly 250 channels of computer animation, the geniuses over at Edwards Landing Lights somehow managed to create a lighting display that wasn’t only pleasing to the eye, but also sings along to the Marilyn Manson version of ‘This Is Halloween’. Why don’t we have anything cool like this down here in Australia?

This astounding lighting simply was created by Edwards Landing Lights.

Redesigned Horror Movie Posters

I love me some alternative horror posters any day of the week. But they’re even better when they’re released for a good cause. Created by London-based branding agency Creative Spark,  these posters for various famous horror films are being sold to help raise funds for the Marie Curie Cancer Care foundation. There are some great designs here, but I think my personal favourites are those for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Hellraiser. Favourites aside, they’re all fantastic subtle designs. Massive thumbs up.

 Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Child’s Play 

An American Werewolf In London

Poltergeist

Hellraiser

It

A Nightmare On Elm Street

Friday The 13th

You can purchase these posters from here.

Spider-Man And The Runaway

A clever twist on Norman Rockwell’s iconic painting ‘The Runaway‘, this reinterpretation injects some Spider-Man goodness into the scene along with a strong Halloween vibe. Nice stuff.

This adorable piece of art was created by Deviant Art user lukeradl.

*Halloween banner created by artist Ken Taylor.

Juan is set in Cuba and begins with the Zombie uprising just starting to generate momentum. It follows Juan and his friends – a rag-tag band of misfits – who watch on the news as the socialist government dismisses the zombies as anti-social dissidents. As the chaos grows Juan sees an opportunity to make some money by starting a business, in which his crew promises to kill people’s loved ones who have been infected by the virus.

The shortcoming for this film is that it can’t ever stick to one idea. The killing business is more of a sketch than a plot point and from there the crew sort of wanders in circles touching on different traditions in zombie film history but not really committing to any. It is hard to stay engaged throughout and the film finishes in rather anticlimactic fashion.

That’s not to say this film is not enjoyable. It has some genuine comedy (and some lost in translation) and a few cool scenes and original kills. It is definitely recommended to anybody who is a zombie film fan as the shortcomings can be offset by the love for bloody kills and gory effects. It is also probably the only zombie film that has a salsa dancing scene (it is Cuban after all) which is the highlight for me. So if you’re looking to celebrate some undead socialistas in the Caribbean heat this Halloween, or just ticking off the 1001 zombie films to see before you die, then check out Juan De Los Muertos.

Just to give anyone unfamiliar with Warner Bros. Movie World a quick rundown, it’s basically Australia’s version of Universal Studios, only significantly less impressive. Having said that it’s still host to several noteworthy rollercoaster’s such as the Lethal Weapon and Superman ride, as well as an assortment of movie themed stores and impressive live shows. It’s a relatively small theme park that’s perfect for a day outing, but any longer than that and you may find yourself running out of things to see and do.

I’ve visited the park several times over the years and thus have become reasonably well acquainted with its basic layout, so this may have contributed to my overwhelming surprise toward the radical transformation it took on during the October Fright Nights. An event that runs over select nights during the month of October, Fright Nights sees Movie World’s family friendly atmosphere twisted into something much darker and creepier. Once all the daytime visitors have vacated the premises, the park is reopened after hours under the Fright Nights pseudonym, effectively transforming it into a horror fan’s own private wonderland. Performers dressed as various horror icons terrorize visitors, rides are operational in the black of night, frightening live shows are conducted and best of all, various horror themed mazes are open for the public to brave. It’s a hell of a fun night and I’m going to try my best to provide a detailed recount of the various sights and sounds that I was privileged to experience throughout the duration of my stay.

The Mazes

The park is only open for a few short hours during each of the designated Fright Nights, so with that in mind I knew that it should be the alluring mazes to gain my top priority before they became gridlocked by seemingly endless lines. The first of these mazes on my list was the Psycho 3D Maze. A disconcerting and occasionally startling experience, this maze required each patron to don a pair of 3D glasses in an effort to give the impression that the walls were literally coming alive around them. Unfortunately this desired effect didn’t quite work, instead I often felt like I was simply walking down endless dark corridors with crudely drawn skeletons and monsters scrawled across them slightly popping out at me. It’s an admittedly pretty weak effect, but the enthusiastic performers inside the maze more than made up for this. Adorned in creepy faceless glow in the dark masks, these so-called psychos popped out unexpectedly at the most opportune moments to maximise the scare factor, often bursting through unseen doors just to stare at us before retreating back into the walls. Creepy stuff. Along with this the rickety bridge towards the start of the maze quite literally had me stumbling around like a drunk on his last legs. Overall, the Psycho 3D Maze was a fun and satisfying journey despite not quite utilizing its 3D effect to its full potential.

Next up was the attraction I was most excited about checking out for the night, the Batman Arkham Asylum Maze. Beginning with a quick introduction from a very enthusiastic performer playing the Joker, the Arkham Asylum Maze quickly thrusts visitors into the legendary penitentiary for the criminally insane, complete with inmates bursting out of their cells to torment visitors and zombie prison guards viciously barking orders. Why there are zombie prison guards apparently looking after the prisoners here I don’t know, but they were still an intimidating presence. The design for this particular maze may possibly have been the best of the night, with the cold interior of the asylum slowly changing as visitors make their way deeper into the institution. The slow reveal of Poison Ivy’s holding cell was an impressive transition in particular, small clumps of leaves and vines could be spotted overtaking the walls until the grungy prison interior eventually transformed into an almost jungle surrounding. And although I appreciate the inclusion of the Poison Ivy character in the maze, I can’t personally say that I find an attractive and scantily dressed young lady to be particularly threatening. Elsewhere, fan favourite Harley Quinn makes a brief appearance, embodied by yet another believable performer who was clearly having a ball with the character. Now while ultimately the Arkham Asylum Maze wasn’t technically scary, thanks to the great performers inhabiting it and detailed design it was easily one of, if not the most enjoyable maze of the night.

The Saw Maze was the next on the agenda, an attraction that was apparently back by ‘popular demand’. Straight away I felt that this maze missed capitalizing on what could have been a genuinely unsettling and memorable moment. As soon as we stepped inside the maze our group was quickly ushered into a small decrepit room where we were instructed to watch a fuzzy TV for vital instructions to follow. The Jigsaw puppet’s face popped up on screen, but before he could deliver what could have been an awesome personalized live or die speech, an actor dressed as the puppet burst through the TV’s cabinet for a quick, cheap scare. So much for missed opportunities. From there visitors wonder around an impressively designed maze where various scenes from the first two films can be seen acted out. The bathroom from the first film made an appearance, as did the barbed wire cage and the syringe pit from the sequel. Each of these sets were impressively designed and really lent a grand scale to overall experience. The only real scares present here were courtesy of the Jigsaw puppet constantly popping out at unexpected moments for some decent shocks, occasionally accompanied by old Jigsaw himself yelling various obscenities. Once again, not exactly a frightening experience, but the Saw Maze was still a ton of fun to walkthrough thanks to its accurate representation of the first couple of films and the impressive sets littered throughout it.

Last but definitely not least was the Zombie Apocalypse Maze. A couple of years back I got an opportunity to walk through a Prison Break Maze at another theme park, essentially it was just a huge shed full of chain link fences and performers assuming the roles of the prisoners while a strobe light flickered on and off constantly. It was a weak sauce maze that was more annoying than it was scary or fun, so I was initially a little disheartened to see that the Zombie Apocalypse Maze followed this exact formula. Fortunately, a great deal more effort was implemented here and the result was easily the scariest maze of the night. The flashing strobe light was once again in full effect, but here it actually added to the overall uncertainty to which direction our group should actually be heading in. Plus the performers here were pulling out all stops to freak everybody out. ‘Zombies’ were literally crawling sideways along the fences, as well as stopping within inches in front of members of our group to intently stare them down. Other little details like the two creepy twin girls walking in perfect unison up and down the middle of the maze added a sense of disquiet, but this pales in comparison to what was easily the nerve shredding moment of the night. Just as the maze was finally coming to an end and the exit was in sight, the deafening roar of motor tore through the air and much to everybody’s surprise, one last zombie came dashing out of the darkness wielding a chainsaw overhead. I’m not kidding when I say that the entire group in front of me ran screaming for the exit. And as tough and macho as I may be (i.e. not at all), I would be lying if I didn’t say that I hurried along out behind them a little faster then I’d care to admit.

The Main Strip

As much fun as I had within the various mazes, it was probably main strip that held most of the true highlights of the night. The vast assortment of performers dressed as various horror characters was impressive enough, however it was their dedication to staying in character that really stood out. In particular, the two guys playing Michael Myers and Leatherface were a hoot. The Michael Myers performer had the character’s slow and deliberate movements perfected, slowly striding from one victim to the next as he skulked up behind them to deliver an unexpected fright before showcasing the character’s iconic head tilt. Leatherface on the other hand was far more ruthless with his scares. Possessing a live chainsaw (obviously with all the dangerous parts removed), the Leatherface performer would simply run into the midst of random groups of spectators while revving the power saw at full capacity, causing unsuspecting onlookers to flee screaming in terror. It was hilarious spectacle that I honestly could have watched all night.

Along with the two aforementioned horror legends, a various assortment of other creepy ghouls could be spotted lurking around as well. Ghostface was terrorizing visitors in one corner, while Sweeny Todd was posing for some bloody barber photos in another. But along with these characters wondering all over the grounds were some seemingly randomly triggered mini-shows that erupted at any given moment. At one stage while walking down the main strip I heard a group of high-pitched screams coming from somewhere behind me, I turned expecting to see a bunch of tourists fleeing from one of the performers, but what I witnessed instead was a far more amusing sight. A group of scantily clad cheerleaders wearing uniforms that had been torn to shreds were sprinting down the strip with a group of blood hungry zombies in pursuit. This chase was only one of the many examples of the unexpected occurrences that suddenly broke out over the course of the night, keeping the proceedings fresh in the process.

Saw Short Film

When I noticed that the theatre along the main strip was advertising a Saw Short film, my interest was officially peaked. I’m not exactly the biggest Saw fan, but the prospect of witnessing some fresh content was too alluring to resist. Unfortunately this short merely ended up up being the original short film the filmmakers shot to gain financing for the film. It’s a decent short, but since you can find it on the Saw DVD it really isn’t worth the time in checking it out in a theatre. Bummer. But on the bright side, there was one standout moment during this screening that makes it worth motioning. During the climactic moments of the short as the Jigsaw puppet makes an appearance on screen, I noticed an odd shape start moving around just outside my peripheral vision. As I adjusted myself and turned in the direction of the movement, I spotted a sight that brought a smile to my face. A performer adorned in the Jigsaw puppet suit was slowly and deliberately riding his tricycle across the front of the cinema, staring at the audience with his dead eyes while doing so. This defining moment appeased the demanding horror fan inside me, making for an amusing moment that saved an otherwise useless addition to the night.

Other Attractions

Apart form these main drawcards, there were a couple of other minor attractions worth noting. First of all was the Circus Of The Damned live show, which I unfortunately missed due to being stuck in the deceptively long line for the Scooby Doo ride. Missing this by just a few minutes was a major disappointment for me, however word on the street was that the show is pretty spectacular. Elsewhere was the Club Blood bar that was not only sporting an awesome name, but looked impressive from the outside too. Drenched in blood red spotlights, the bar featured two caged dancers moving to the music for the duration of the night. However while the outer shell for the bar was highly detailed, once inside its premises the magic was somewhat lost. Instead being presented with a intricately detailed interior decorated with various Halloween themed decorations, I was merely confronted with an empty room with a bar at one end, and a DJ at the other. This was somewhat of a bland sight when compared to all the effort put into the rest of the park, as well as a major missed opportunity if I ever saw one.

The Verdict

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with my short stay at Movie World’s Fright Night. There was a fun energetic vibe that flowed throughout the whole night, ensuring you never knew what was waiting for you around the next corner. The mazes were a blast, the performers were enthusiastic and the atmosphere was pitch perfect, making for a complete package for horror enthusiasts and brave patrons alike. But even if all the creepy stuff isn’t for you, the majority of the rides remain open for most of the night, allowing for a quick adrenalin fix between scares.

So any Australian or international readers out there who want to try something new next Halloween, I simply can’t recommend Warner Bros Movie World’s Fright Nights enough. While it may not compare to the spectacles put on over at Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights, it’s still an incredibly enjoyable night full of lots to see and do. And despite the great job they did with it this year, I can only imagine that the organizers will only continue to build upon the overall experience in years to come. I’ll definitely be heading back sometime in the future, and I can only hope that some of you will join me in braving the dimly lit park full of ghouls and weirdos alike some time down the line.

If I know Dean, and I would I hope I do after years of countless movie conversations, this year’s Halloween picks will no doubt include his choice of either scary movie classic or unknown horror gem. With that in mind, I’ve decided to go the nostalgic/kid-route again, and what better choice than a Disney movie? Because we must not forget that Halloween isn’t just for Wiccans getting spiritual or for grown-ups to party, but it’s also for kids — young and young at heart — to get all spooked out and eat lots of chocolate.

Hocus Pocus tells the story of new teen in town Max (Omri Katz), who has recently moved to Salem, Massachusetts, and gets roped into taking his little sister Dani (Thora Birch) out trick-or-treating. At one of the houses, they run into Max’s new crush from school, Allison (Vinessa Shaw). She joins them on their outing, and before long they arrive at the old Sanderson House, a now-closed museum that used to belong to the famous Sanderson Sisters — witches who were hung 300 years ago for the deaths of local children. In an attempt to impress Allison, Max inadvertently lights The Black Candle, which brings the sisters — Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) — back to life for one night. The sisters must then brew a potion and capture a child to suck the life out of before sunrise, or they will turn to dust. The kids, now with the help of Binx (a kid from Ye Olde Salem that was cursed into a cat by Winifred 300 years ago), must prevent the sisters from brewing their potion and getting a child, or the Sanderson Sisters will live forever.

Harmless enough at first glance, but like any good, kids movie, there are actually quite a few aspects of the film that are kind of intense, when you have a proper think about it. The main one would of course be the witches killing children, but also a few other scenes like when the witches are trapped by the kids to get burned to death in a kiln, or when Winifred curses the people at the town’s adult Halloween party to dance till they die. But of course the film is handled in a light- hearted, kiddie-friendly, full of gags kind of way that you wouldn’t have a problem with showing this to kids at all (well, I wouldn’t). For some reason virgins are popping up left, right and centre in older kids movies (my pick for last year, Monster Squad, also had a similar theme — only a virgin could read the mantra to open the abyss to get rid of the monsters). Here too, The Black Candle can only be lit by a virgin. I’m not sure why virgins have all these superpowers in these semi-scary kids movies, but it’s interesting to note that they are similar to the superpower held by virgins in regular horror movies (ie, surviving a serial killer).

Why is this my pick for this Halloween? Well, first and foremost is because I genuinely love this movie. Though obviously aimed at kids, I like the story and characters, it has some good jokes, and I just think it’s a lot of fun. Of course, the film being set on Halloween is also a solid reason. Any time I watch it, it just makes me feel like a kid, and want to experience The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (which is not Christmas for us here at For A Few Movies More!). The film does actually have a cult following — probably made up of the countless kids who have watched and developed a love for it as kids, but then nurtured that attachment as they grew up over the years. Though it may not have rave reviews, or even a “Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, I think you’d be hard- pressed to find someone who, having seen this as a kid, doesn’t have fond memories of it at least, if not still watch it to this day.

And just a quick fun-fact for all you movie nerds out there, Hocus Pocus also features chameleon Doug Jones as Billy, an old boyfriend of Winifred’s that she brings back to life from his grave (yes, this film features a zombie too!).

Dean’s Pick – Hatchet

I’d hate to ruin my reputation, but this Halloween I’m choosing neither a obscure oddity nor a cult favourite film for my recommendation, but rather a film that falls somewhere between both of those boundaries. Whenever I envision a Halloween film I immediately picture a horror film that can be either watched with a group of friends or thrown on in the background of a party. Nothing too sombre or serious, instead something that captures the feel of the Halloween and features a fun, energetic vibe feels more appropriate to me. So this year, I’ve delved deep into my catacomb of endless horror flicks and have come up with what I feel is the perfect holiday horror film. So dim the lights, lock your doors, and get ready to come face to face with the modern day horror icon Victor Crowley in Adam Green’s debut feature film, Hatchet.

Hatchet is a relatively simple venture that wastes no time getting its hands dirty. During the holiday season of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, a group of clueless tourists, as well a local girl with a mysterious agenda, head into the dense swamps of Louisiana for what should have been a straightforward sightseeing expedition. Unfortunately, this being a horror movie and all, the night soon turns into a bloodbath when the group run afoul of resident homicidal madman, Victor Crowley. Thought to be the by-product of local folklore, Victor Crowley is instead a real life deformed psychopath stalking the swamp, forever searching for fresh victims to quench his endless bloodlust. And now with this new batch of potential victims in his sight, the night is just about to get a whole lot more interesting.

A loving throwback to the over the top slasher films of the 80’s, Hatchet is a basic film that never takes itself too seriously. Rather than focusing on an in depth plot or layered characters, Hatchet is instead all about life’s simple pleasures, hardcore violence and ample nudity. It effectively captures the 8o’s vibe its going for, all the while standing on its own two feet as a unique experience. It doesn’t exactly do anything new with the genre, however it is an accurate homage that does a good job of harnessing the ruthless take no prisoner attitude the slasher films of yesteryear possessed.

Featuring an assortment of outrageous show stopping scenes, Hatchet is a film capable of grabbing the attention of even the rowdiest of viewers. The violence in particular is an extreme highlight reel of some of the best death sequences in horror movie history. Faces are crushed to a bloody pulp, limbs are torn off and in one particular nasty sequence, a victim’s face is turned into a gaping hole with a tongue sticking out of it when their mouth is viciously torn open like a wet, squirming plastic bag. They’re the kind of grotesque moments that leaves any self-respecting horror fan laughing out loud and fist pumping in glee, while simultaneously feeling a little ashamed for doing so.

Victor Crowley, the individual behind all of the carnage throughout Hatchet is an imposing figure who stands as a memorable movie maniac in the ilk of Jason Voorhees or Freddy Kruger. He’s yet another seemingly unstoppable killing machine capable of ludicrous acts of violence using only his bare hands who funnily enough, just so happens to be played by Kane Hodder, the man famous for portraying Jason Voorhees in several of the Friday The 13^th films. Hodder is an imposing figure in real life, so add pounds of disfigured makeup on him and the result s speak for themselves. Also be sure to keep an eye out for fellow horror icons Robert Englund and Tony Todd, both of whom pop up for brief cameo appearances.

Hatchet by no means is a perfect film, but it sure is an undeniably fun one. It’s clearly a low budget affair judging by its relatively simple productions values, but what it lacks in finesse it more than makes up for with entertainment value. There’s never a dull moment throughout its short run-time and it’s the perfect film to throw on in the background while you’re enjoying your other Halloween activities. But mark my word, the moment Victor Crowley lets out his first distraught howl and comes tearing through the night-time fog like a bat out of hell, I can assure you anyone in the vicinity will be glued to the TV set. For while the carnage that soon follows is excessive beyond words, the hilarious underlying layer of sly humour it posses significantly softens the blow while simultaneously marking it as a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Nothing tickling your bones this year? Check out our picks from last year!

1. The Horde (2009)

The Horde is an entertaining French action/horror that throws any subtlety out the window early on. It follows a group of aggressive cops looking to dish out a little vengeance on the crooks responsible for one of their comrades deaths when, shock horror, the zombie apocalypse breaks out, making matters all the more difficult. It’s an interesting premise and there’s more than enough action to go around, but the big problem is that the film eventually settles for entertaining set pieces over any sense of tension or character development.

2. Legend Of Hell House (1973)

Time has not been kind to The Legend Of Hell House. A group of physic investigators brave the halls of the infamous Hell House, reputably the most haunted house in existence, in an attempt to confirm the existence of life after death. The film is an adaption of the excellent book Hell House, written by the great Richard Matheson, but unfortunately the film doesn’t translate quite as well on screen. There are still plenty of spooks and ghouls attempting to give you the chills, only the film is simply not scary. There’s very little tension, which in turn leads to very unsatisfactory payoffs when the scares do come. For enthusiasts of haunted house movies only.

3. Doghouse (2009)

A bunch of misogynist lads heading to the remote village of Moodley, where females outnumber males 3-1, get more than they bargain for when they discover the town’s female residents have somehow transformed into bloodthirsty zombies. Featuring characters that weren’t quite as annoying as I had originally feared, and featuring plenty of entertaining set pieces, Doghouse was actually reasonably fun for the most part. But the filmmakers couldn’t quite hide their bizarre hatred for women during the final act. I actually found myself shifting uncomfortably as the characters delivered monologues outlining why women are evil, vile creatures. Besides this avoidable misstep, you could do much worse with the zombie genre than Doghouse.

4. Piranha (1978)

Having had a complete ball with Alexandra Aja’s recently released Piranha, I was still craving for some more piranha action. Enter the Joe Dante-directed and Roger Corman-produced original film of the same name. While clearly not imbued with the same sort of budget as the remake, Dante still managed to create a very fun, albeit super cheesy, Jaws rip-off.

5. The Children (2008)

A quality creepy kids flick that unfortunately suffered from a straight to DVD release. Better than most of the sub-par horror films that fill up the cinemas as of late and definitely worth tracking down if you’re in the mood for some unexpected genuine chills. Read my full review HERE.

6. Autopsy (2008)

I was considering excluding this movie from the list since it was such an unholy piece of trash, but I eventually decided to leave it here if only so it can act as a warning to anyone else foolish enough to consider wasting their time with it. Robert Patrick (from T2 fame) phones in his performance as a mad doctor in charge of a motley crew of maniacs performing bizarre experiments on patients in an abandoned hospital. The film is clearly very low budget and the whole film comes off feeling like an amateur student production. Painfully boring and monotonous; I constantly found my finger creeping over to the fast forward button on my DVD remote. The only redemptive quality was the admittedly impressive effects, but other than that, it’s a complete and utter failure on every level. NEVER. WATCH. THIS. MOVIE!

7. Demons (1985)

Ah Demons, you simply can’t go wrong with this fun monster mash. Directed by Lamberto Brava (son of the great horror director Mario Brava) and written by the deranged hands of Dario Argento, Demons is a cheesy, over the top riot. Essentially Night Of The Living Dead only set in a theatre and the zombies replaced by, you guessed it, demons, this crazy monster movie doesn’t make a whole lot of sense story wise, but the onscreen carnage sure is easy on the brain. The movie is essentially a fight for survival, pitting cinemagoers against demons with gruesome set pieces galore. File this one under guilty pleasures.

8. Spontaneous Combustion (1990)

In case we needed any more proof that Tobe Hooper’s amazing The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was the work of a one hit wonder, we have his absolutely bat shit crazy Spontaneous Combustion as further evidence. Exhibit A: watch in awe as Brad Dourif gives possibly the most insane performance of his career, and that’s saying something. Exhibit B: Scratch your head in utter bewilderment at the totally bizarre plot complete with an even more baffling ending. The only slight saving grace are those cool fire effects, there’s even a scene that features fire spurting out of Dourif’s mouth that predates hot and spicy chicken. Well at least we know where they got their advertising campaign from now.

9. Resident Evil 4 (2010)

Mindless entertaining trash that’s good for killing time and not much else. Check out the full review HERE.

10. Buried (2010)

Buried exceeded my expectations and then some. A tense, claustrophobic thriller that milks every ounce of nail biting suspense from its one man in a box setting. Full review right HERE.

11. Let Me In (2010)

Hoorah! A remake that’s actually good! Let us all rejoice for the Gods have looked favourably upon us on this grand day. Wait, what was I saying? Anyway, Let Me In doesn’t quite reach the same heights the original masterpiece scaled, but it should still be commended for proving not every remake has to be an insulting, watered down retread. Full review right HERE.

12. Midnight Movie (2008)

Midnight Movie’s intriguing concept involving a small group of moviegoers attending a midnight screening of a cult movie who get more than they bargained for when the killer steps right out of the screen and starts picking off the audience members. Sounds promising, but unfortunately the film is a victim of its own poor execution. Very low budget and amateur in every respect, the film constantly failed in keeping my attention glued to the onscreen events. Incredibly repetitive and just blatantly stupid at times, it’s a shame Midnight Movie couldn’t live up to its own potential.

13. Corpse Grinders (1971)

Oh dear, where to begin with Corpse Grinders? A film that reaches new heights of ridiculousness by featuring, wait for it, killer cats! Oh no! Yep, this is the horrifying result of a terribly cheap cat food company substituting their regular ingredients with human beings. It’s that kind of movie. So utterly devoid of any sign of competency, it took me five separate sittings for me to be able to tolerate this terrible exploitation flick. Only recommended if you like your trash or you’re looking for a laugh.

14. Psycho (1960)

After subjecting myself to an overabundance of trash this month, I figured it was time to reach into the vault and treat myself to a genuine classic for a change. I think very little explanation is needed when discussing Psycho. Simply put, not just one of the best horror films of all time, but one of the all time greatest movies in general. Immediately identifiable even to those who haven’t even seen the film, Psycho inherits the definition of the term classic in every way. If you haven’t seen it yet then what are you waiting for?

15. Suicide Club (2001)

This notorious Japanese cult classic had been on my radar for a long while, but I don’t think I had quite prepared myself for something so, well, odd. After a show-stopping opening scene featuring fifty-four schoolgirls leaping to their deaths in front of a moving train amidst a crowded train station, a wave of inexplicable suicides rock Japan. An interesting if very confusing chain of events soon unravel that will leave you perplexed long after the credits have rolled. There are a number of memorable scenes, but my pick of the bunch — a murderous lunatic keeping a bunch of unfortunate individuals (not to mention animals) held captive inside giant sacks suddenly breaks out into an unexpected and very morbid song. So very strange.

16. Two Evil Eyes (1990)

With George Romero and Dario Argento each at the helm of the two separate hour-long shorts based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, you would think we would be in safe hands. Well guess again because Two Evil Eyes equals two evil hours of unbearable boredom. To be fair, George Romero’s half doesn’t fair quite so bad, coming off like an overlong episode of Tales From The Crypt, it manages to conjure up the odd entertaining moment. Argento’s segment on the other hand is absolutely deplorable. His modern retelling of The Black Cat is a pretentious, confusing and generally uninteresting mess that’s physically painful to watch unravel. Both these guys have a sufficient resume of films that are much more worthwhile of your time than this failed experiment. Avoid.

17. House Of 1000 Corpses (2003)

I never could understand the critical lashing Rob Zombie’s films have garnered over the years, but that’s another tale for another day. House Of 1000 Corpses is a deliriously over the top homage to the cheap and nasty exploitation flicks of the ’70s. Owing a LOT to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Corpses sees two couples set upon by the insane Firefly family. Disturbing, violent and even a little funny at times, House Of 1000 Corpses isn’t perfect by a mile, but it is a hell of a good time. Plus the very strong Halloween vibe running throughout makes it appropriate for a late October viewing too.

18. 30 Days Of Night: Dark Days (2010)

Picking up right where the original left off, Dark Days follows Stella’s (Kiele Sanchez replacing Melissa George this time around) continued quest to hunt down and exterminate those stinking vampires. A very low budget, straight to DVD release, Dark Days never comes close to matching the entertaining spectacle of the original film. The acting is wooden, the sets feel sparse and worst of all, the vampires feel weak and clumsy this time around. The lead characters seem to have little trouble bursting head first into a vampire’s nest and blasting everything they come in contact with into pieces. But the most frustrating and distracting element of the film by far are the clumsy vampire fang prosthetics that the queen vampire Lilith (Mia Kirshner) has been fitted with. They clearly don’t fit comfortably in her mouth, leaving her mouth hanging agape for the entire film.

19. Let The Right One In (2008)

After viewing the recent American update of the Swedish masterpiece, it was time to go back and revisit the original. A thrilling, disturbing and haunting film that grabs you with its subtle, slow burn approach early on and never lets go, Let The Right One In demands to be seen. There’s so much to recommend here in what’s already often heralded as a modern masterpiece. If you haven’t seen it yet then run out and grab a copy now. Seriously, RUN!

20. Trick R Treat (2007)

Officially now taking top position as the number one movie to get me into the Halloween spirit. Trick R Treat perfectly encapsulates every element that makes the holiday so unique. From the stunning art direction, to the separate Halloween orientated stories, this film is essentially one giant ode to the creepiest holiday of the year. A Halloween viewing is mandatory.

21. Saw 3D (2010)

That’s it? I waded through seven films over seven years and that’s the big finale that’s supposed to wrap up the series? Give me a break. For a series of films that are known for their twists and turns the ending of Saw 3D sure does end with a whimper, and a predictable whimper at that. The rest of the film is the usual repetitive torture sequences and bad acting that we’ve become accustomed to. Full review coming soon!

22. Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

I sit squarely on the side of the fence with those who loved the first Paranormal Activity. It was a surprisingly creepy and atmospheric little flick that succeeded thanks to a restrained, less is more approach. I was expecting the worst for the sequel but surprisingly it’s not too bad. Not quite as scary or as effective as the original, it’s still an efficient horror film that is far superior to the majority of weak horror films released in cinemas nowadays.

23. Creepshow 2 (1987)

Everybody loves Creepshow, a fun tongue in cheek homage to the EC comics of yesteryear. So what the hell happened to Creepshow 2? This time The Creep provides us with three separate stories to suffer through, plus an unbearably awful animated sequence that intertwines between the stories. The majority of this content is relatively lacklustre, although it’s admittedly not without its moments. The second story entitled The Raft is a sloppy, yet entertaining adaptation of one of my favourite Stephen King short stories. The other two stories on the other hand are completely disposable, with the only noteworthy highlights being the gruesome makeup effects. Only worth checking out for The Raft, otherwise, stick to the original.

And that’s it folks. For anyone who made it this far, I commend you for your efforts. Hope you all had a Happy Halloween! And if anyone wants to give a shout out to their favourite horror flicks that gets them into the Halloween spirit, hit up the comment section below.

Dean’s Pick – Trick R Treat

Up until now, John Carpenter’s Halloween was the movie to watch each and every Halloween. Well folks, I think we have a new contender, for never before has a movie captured the spirit of Halloween more accurately than Trick R Treat. Set on Halloween night, Trick R Treat chronicles four separate yet intertwining stories; a murderous high school principal tries to get away with murder, a group of young children learn a valuable lesson about messing with the spirits of the dead, a masked killer gets more than he bargained for when he sets his sights on easy prey, and best of all, a cankerous old man is paid a visit by a very unwanted visitor. Each of the stories is entertaining in their own right, but they really saved the best for last here. Pitting Brian Cox’s old Mr Kreeg against the deceptively dangerous Sam, essentially a guardian of Halloween who harbours a strange secret under that sack he wears over his head. It’s a delightfully over the top grudge match that becomes increasingly crazy as Sam showcases his arsenal of Halloween related weapons, from razor blade infused candy bars, to razor sharp lollypops, this crazy little munchkin is willing to go to any lengths to teach a lesson to those who disrespect his favourite holiday.

More campy thrills than horrifyingly chills, Trick R Treat is simply the perfect movie to throw on with a group of friends this Halloween. It’s not overly gruesome, nor is it too cheesy. It manages to find a perfect middle ground that still manages to effectively change from dark and scary, to light and comical in a heartbeat without losing any momentum. Plus it’s very pleasing on the eye; the film is beautifully shot with every scene adorned with everything Halloween-related, right down to the most minute of details, further encapsulating that spooky ambience that Halloween is all about.

Easily one of the most entertaining horror films released in years, there’s so much fun to be had with Trick R Treat that I really can’t recommend it enough. From the stunning visual stylings, to the effective score, every element of the film works together to create loving tribute to the holiday of horrors. It may not be a groundbreaking film, nor is it without its flaws, but it is a funny, scary and ultimately enjoyable ride that’s more than just a horror film with a Halloween backdrop, it’s an entire film dedicated to the holiday itself. So check it out this Halloween and start what will surely become a tradition for years to come.

Nis’ Pick – Monster Squad

There’s something about movies from the ‘80s that brings a smile to my face. Maybe it’s the fashion, or the language, or the music. Or that slightly naive but on-the-cusp transition into the ‘90s when movies really started to commit to full-on swearing, violence and sex. More likely though is the fact that I’m A Kid Who Grew Up In the Eighties, and so I have rose-coloured memories on movies I saw while growing up, and possibly even just movies that are set when I was growing up.

The Monster Squad is about 12 year old Sean and his group of friends who are monster freaks. When Dracula (yes, actual Dracula!) drops into their town from a plane (yes, an actual plane!), all hell – quite literally– breaks loose. While trying to track down the magic amulet that will make him all-powerful, but also help the Monster Squad banish evil forever, Dracula also brings to life the Gill Man, the Wolf Man, Frankenstein’s monster, and the Mummy. Cue creepy old dude who is actually a nice guy, requisite fat kid called — wait for it — Fat Kid, a Gear Up montage set to a sweet ’80s syntho-tune, and you have yourself one of the best movies you will ever see. What I love most about these kinds of ’80s kids movies is that they were actually kind of scary. Questionable inclusion of nudity/profanity/violence in a kid’s movie aside, they were just simply awesome movies that kids loved because they made you feel like you were part of the adventure.

Why is this my Halloween pick for this year? Well, do I really have to explain?! The fact that it has some of the most popular choices for Halloween costumes for one. But more importantly, it has that scary-but-fun spirit that, for me, is what Halloween’s all about.

Dave’s Pick – Blacula

This Halloween I can’t think of anything better to watch than the 1972 cult classic Blacula, a blaxploitation take on the Bram Stoker original Dracula. But what, I hear you ask, is it all about? Well, when Prince Manuwalde travels to Transylvania in order to put a stop to the slave trade he is turned into a vampire and imprisoned by the evil Count Dracula in a locked coffin so that he will forever lust for blood without ever getting to taste it. Cut several hundred years into the future; Dracula has been killed by Van Helsing and our hero still resides in the coffin growing more and more hungry each day. Now enter an interracial, interior designing, gay couple who have travelled to Transylvania to find antiques. Naturally they fall in love with the coffin and take it back to America where Blacula is set loose to wreak havoc. Basically from this point on the story is ‘Vampire in Brooklyn’ (1995).

As well as being intensely funny, Blacula is actually a really cool movie. Where some vampire films like to show Nosferatu as a mysterious character who can appear in an instant and be gone the next, Blacula prefers extended, running chase scenes to funkadelic music and bustin’ grooves. Blacula is a lover and a fighter. No creepy lurking in the shadows for him, Blacula is hanging out at the jazz clubs instead, ordering Bloody Marys and listening to some sweet Motown. It literally feels like Shaft with vampires. If you can put aside the racism, the homophobia, the horrible action sequences and the absurdity of the whole thing for a minute, I promise you will love this movie. It might even change your choice of costume for Halloween although a quick note, ‘going brown face’ is apparently still politically incorrect.