It's coming soon, and if you want to make sure you have enough time to watch all of your favorite great scary movies again before Halloween you should get started right now. For me, and most likely for you also, it has become somewhat of a tradition every year toward the middle to end of October to start watching those old (and some not so old) spooky-gory-awful movies that we've come to love over the years. For some of you, those old movies may bring back fun and fond memories of younger days and simpler times when movie watching seemed to be more of an event than it is now, and required perhaps a little more imagination than today's features where the gross-out factor runs pretty high.
And speaking of "features," does anybody remember CREATURE FEATURES? Now wait a minute. Don't answer too quickly, because I'm talking about the original Creature Features broadcast Saturday nights at 9:30 on cable tv from WGN out of Chicago. If you were born after 1970, you likely missed the first and still the best spook show series ever to appear on television. I still clearly remember those Saturday nights in 1971 & 1972 gathering with a few of my friends in Louie's attic-slash-bedroom to watch shows like The Mummy, The Wolfman, and Creature From the Black Lagoon. I couldn't wait for the new TV Guide to arrive in the mail each week so I could throw it open and check what was coming up that weekend.
So as a public service, I offer this list of movies guaranteed to fill your nights leading up to Halloween with chills, thrills and frights galore!
The Wolfman. Just be sure it's the original 1940s version starring Lon Chaney. You might find yourself actually feeling sorry for him by the end of the movie.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The two best versions are the Disney animated version from the late 50s...but we're not talking Mickey Mouse here folks...and the late 90s movie with Johnny Depp. Can't go wrong with that one either...I mean c'mon...it's Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane.
Night of The Living Dead. 60s black and white original. Very disturbing. Very scary.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This time I recommend the remake over the original. Donald Sutherland was the best pod person ever!
King Kong. The 1933 original for sure. If you aren't rooting for the ape during the final 20 minutes of this movie you are one cold-hearted human.
The 'burbs. Okay, so this is not really a "scary" movie but that scene with Art and Ray in the basement is classic. (chanting) "I wanna kill...every one..."
The Sixth Sense. I was one of the apparently very few who didn't figure out the ending in advance. Did not see that coming at all.
Ghostbusters. Again, not scary but it has "ghost" in the title and so many great lines. "He slimed me."
Cat People. From the early 80s, I think. Some Russsian chick turns into a leopard and goes on a rampage. Hey, it could happen.
It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Proving once again that you're never too old.
One more thing. The Charlie Brown movie contains some good advice from Lucy.....
"A person's Halloween costume should always be in direct contrast to their personality."
boo.
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