Top 5 Films to See on Halloween

Since today is Halloween, in lieu of the Horror Film of the Week, I'm posting a list of the top 5 films to watch tonight.

1. Halloween (1978)

Director: John Carpenter

Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasance

There is a reason why Halloween is one of the most iconic Halloween films of all time, and it's not just because of the title; the film follows the classic slasher formula, with a slow, creeping killer in the form of Michael Meyers, infamous theme music that is simple yet terrifying, and lots of teenage girls dying. If you are planning a horror movie-fest for the holiday, Halloween should be at the top of your list.

Fun Fact: The mask Michael Meyers wears was actually a William Shatner mask. It was modified to give it that iconic blank and frightening look.

2. The Exorcist (1973)

Director: William Friedkin

Starring: Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn

What is truly more frightening than the thought a person being possessed by the devil himself? Many films deal with this kind of story, but none are as infamous or do it as well as The Exorcist. The film has many scenes that resonated with audiences over the years, such as the scene when Regan's (Linda Blair) head twists around on the neck to face backwards. At the time The Exorcist came out, audiences in the theaters were so terrified by the film that many ran out.

Fun Fact: The dig site in the beginning of the film is actually the site of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh in present-day Iraq.

3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Director: Wes Craven

Starring: Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund

Freddy Kreuger is another elite horror villain. With just a simple description of him, anyone can recognize him and recognize just how frightening he is: knives on his fingers, scarred and burned face, and torn and ragged red and green striped-sweater. The fact that he can kill you in your dreams will be enough to keep you up at night.

Fun Fact: Nancy watches The Evil Dead on television while trying to stay awake.

4. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Director: George A. Romero

Starring: Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea

Night of the Living Dead is one of the most prolific zombie films of all time and the one that started legendary filmmaker George A. Romero's "dead" series. There are many great scares and tons of suspense in Night of the Living Dead, as well as gore, which are all the things you want in the typical horror film.

Fun Fact: The zombies in the film are actually eating roast ham covered in chocolate.

5. The Shining (1980)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall

With the winning combination of director Stanley Kubrick, star Jack Nicholson, and the fact that the film was based on a Stephen King novel, it would be pretty hard for The Shining to go wrong. The fact alone that it is based on a novel by the Master of Horror himself should make anyone want to see it. Also, Jack Nicholson's performance is chilling.

Fun Fact: Jack Nicholson actually ad-libbed the infamous line from the film, "Here's Johnny!" This is Ed McMahon's introduction for Johnny Carson on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Scream Awards 2009

The Scream Awards were aired tonight on Spike TV. Here are the winners and the other nominees they beat out.

THE ULTIMATE SCREAM

Drag Me to Hell

Let the Right One In

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Twilight

Up

WINNER: Star Trek

BEST HORROR MOVIE

Dead Snow

Friday the 13th

Let the Right One In

My Bloody Valentine 3D

Splinter

WINNER: Drag Me to Hell

BEST SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE

Knowing

Moon

Outlander

Terminator Salvation

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

WINNER: Star Trek

BEST FANTASY MOVIE

Coraline

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Up

Watchmen

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

WINNER: Twilight

BEST TV SHOW

Battlestar Galactica

Dexter

Fringe

Lost

Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles

WINNER: True Blood

BEST HORROR ACTRESS

Jennifer Carpenter, Quarantine

Jaime King, My Bloody Valentine 3D

Alison Lohman, Drag Me to Hell

Monica Potter, The Last House on the Left

WINNER: Anna Paquin, True Blood

BEST HORROR ACTOR

Bruce Campbell, My Name is Bruce

Michael C. Hall, Dexter

Kare Hedebrant, Let the Right One In

Justin Long, Drag Me to Hell

Ryan Kwanten, True Blood

WINNER: Stephen Moyer, True Blood

BEST FANTASY ACTRESS

Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies

Scarlett Johansson, The Spirit

Jaime King, The Spirit

Rhona Mitra, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Emma Watson, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

WINNER: Kristen Stewart, Twilight

BEST FANTASY ACTOR

Ed Asner, Up

Hugh Jackman, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Michael Sheen, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

WINNER: Robert Pattinson, Twilight

BEST SCIENCE FICTION ACTRESS

Moon Bloodgood, Terminator Salvation

Eliza Dushku, Dollhouse

Lena Headey, Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles

Katee Sackhoff, Battlestar Galactica

Zoe Saldana, Star Trek

WINNER: Megan Fox, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

BEST SCIENCE FICTION ACTOR

Nicholas Cage, Knowing

Josh Holloway, Lost

Shia Labeouf, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Zachary Quinto, Star Trek

Sam Rockwell, Moon

WINNER: Chris Pine, Star Trek

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Ashley Greene, Twilight

Carla Gugino, Watchmen

Evanna Lynch, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Shirley Manson, Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles

Rutina Wesley, True Blood

WINNER: Jennifer Carpenter, Dexter

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Simon Pegg, Star Trek

Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek

Taylor Kitsch, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Rupert Grint, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Nelsan Ellis, True Blood

WINNER: Ryan Reynolds, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE - FEMALE

Anna Torv, Fringe

Zoe Saldana, Star Trek

Lorna Raver, Drag Me to Hell

Lina Leandersson, Let the Right One In

Malin Akerman, Watchmen

WINNER: Isabel Lucas, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE - MALE

Sam Trammell, True Blood

Taylor Kitsch, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Robert Pattinson, Twilight

Chris Pine, Star Trek

Will.I.Am, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Sam Worthington, Terminator Salvation

WINNER: Taylor Lautner, Twilight

BEST CAMEO

Kate Beckinsale, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Helena Bonham Carter, Terminator Salvation

Arnold Schwarzenegger's Face, Terminator Salvation

Patrick Stewart, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Rainn Wilson, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

WINNER: Winona Ryder, Star Trek

BEST ENSEMBLE

Battlestar Galactica

Lost

Star Trek

True Blood

Twilight

Watchmen

WINNER: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

BEST DIRECTOR

Tomas Alfredson, Let the Right One In

Michael Bay, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Pete Doctor and Bob Peterson, Up

Duncan Jones, Moon

Sam Raimi, Drag Me to Hell

WINNER: J.J. Abrams, Star Trek

BEST FOREIGN MOVIE

Dead Snow (Norway)

Eden Lake (England)

Martyrs (France)

Pontypool (Canada)

Timecrimes (Spain)

WINNER: Let the Right One In (Sweden)

BEST SEQUEL

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Punisher: War Zone

Terminator Salvation

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

WINNER: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

BEST F/X

Drag Me to Hell

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Star Trek

Terminator Salvation

Watchmen

WINNER: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

SCREAM SONG OF THE YEAR

"War Zone" by Rob Zombie, Punisher: War Zone

"Other Father Song" by They Might Be Giants, Coraline

"Desolation Row" by My Chemical Romance, Watchmen

"Decode" by Paramore, Twilight

"Bad Things" by Jace Everett, True Blood

WINNER: "New Divide" by Linkin Park, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

BEST COMIC BOOK ARTIST

Tony Harris & Jim Clark, Ex Machina

Eric Powell, The Goon

Frank Quitely, All-Star Superman, Batman and Robin

Ivan Reis, Green Lantern

John Romita Jr., Amazing Spider, Kick-Ass

WINNER: Steve McNiven, X-Men: Old Man Logan

BEST VILLAIN

Eric Bana as Nero

Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange

Cam Gigandet as James

Lorna Raver as Mrs. Ganush

Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed/Sabretooth

WINNER: Alexander Skarsgard as Eric Northman

BEST SUPERHERO

Ray Stevenson as The Punisher

Taylor Kitsch as Remy Lebeau/Gambit

Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach

Billy Crudup as Doctor Manhattan

Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II

WINNER: Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine

BEST SCREAM-PLAY

Coraline

Let the Right One In

Moon

Star Trek

Up

WINNER: Drag Me to Hell

MOST MEMORABLE MUTILATION

Splinter

Watchmen

Drag Me to Hell

Dead Snow

Let the Right One In

WINNER: Saw V

FIGHT SCENE OF THE YEAR

Drag Me to Hell

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Dead Snow

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Watchmen

WINNER: Star Trek

HOLY S***! SCENE OF THE YEAR

Let the Right One In

Knowing

Drag Me to Hell

Star Trek

Watchmen

WINNER: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

BEST COMIC BOOK

Hack/Slash

Kick-Ass

Thor

The Walking Dead

Wolverine: Old Man Logan

WINNER: The Green Lantern

BEST COMIC BOOK WRITER

Brian Michael Bendis

Joe Hill

Grant Morrison

Mark Miller

Brian K. Vaughan

WINNER: Geoff Johns

BEST COMIC BOOK MOVIE

Dragonball Evolution

Punisher: War Zone

The Spirit

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

WINNER: Watchmen

HONORARY TRIBUTES:

Comic Con Icon Award: Stan Lee

Rock Immortal Award: Keith Richards

Mastermind Award: George A. Romero

Breakout Movie of the Year: Zombieland

Most Anticipated Science Fiction Film: Iron Man 2

Most Anticipated Fantasy Film: Alice in Wonderland

Farewell Tribute: Battlestar Galactica

In addition: behind the scenes footage of New Moon, the trailer for Shutter Island, an extended scene from Star Trek, and a scene from V were all shown.

The winners were expected for the most part: lots of True Blood, a spackling of Twilight. I was happy to find that Let the Right One In won Best Foreign Movie, but it deserved more recognition in my opinion. The first time it was mentioned during the show, no one cheered, and I was shocked. If anything, I recommend everyone see it; it's a beautifully crafted film.

What are your thoughts on the show and winners? Post them in the comments!

Horror Film of the Week: The Fog

The Fog

Directed By: John Carpenter

Starring: Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Houseman, Janet Lee, Hal Holbrook

Year of Release: 1980

Rated: R

1 hrs. 30 min.

One hundred years after an accident at sea, the sleepy town of Antonio Bay honors the accident with a candlelight vigil and the unveiling of a statue. However, the local priest discovers the truth behind the "accident," and when the fog rolls in, the dead sailors return for revenge.

The Fog is a great classic horror film from renowned director John Carpenter, creator of one of the most notable horror films in movie history, Halloween (also starring Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis). The exposition is introduced creatively in the form of a scary campfire story told by a an old sea-weary man to a group of local children. It is an interesting way to introduce us to the legend of the boating accident that efficiently draws us into the narrative.

Almost from the get go creepy things happen: car alarms sounding for no apparent reason, glass bottles in the grocery shaking in the refrigerators, and televisions flicking on. The action quickly calms down, however, giving the the film a nicely balanced pace. The Fog also gives us those great crunching, crisp sound effects that are typical of horror classics of the 1970s and 1980s. The fog also creeps into frame every time it makes its arrival like any human villain such as Jason Voorhies or Michael Meyers.

The Fog is another classic horror film from the brilliant mind of John Carpenter. With great moments of suspense, action, and a chilling plot, this is another must-see for all movie fans.

Blogger's Note

Hi guys.

So I'm a couple weeks behind on episodes of Vampire Diaries and Community. School along with other things have taken up my time and I've not been able to see the shows. I will be catching up on what I missed and will be back with reviews for the new episode either this week or next week. Also starting next Friday I will be posting info on new movies in theaters.

Thanks,

Kelly

Horror Film of the Week: Suspiria

Suspiria

Directed By: Dario Argento

Starring: Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini

Year of Release: 1977

Rated: Unrated

1 hrs. 38 min.

American ballet student Suzy Bannion travels to Europe to attend a prestigious dance academy. On the rainy night she arrives, Suzy witnesses a girl fleeing from the building. After a subsequent couple of deaths, and the disappearance of a friend, Suzy begins to realize that the noises she hears at night may not be the norm at this school.

Dario Argento masterfully mixes the supernatural with slasher and psychological horror. Not only does Suspiria make you think, but it also gives you chills. Argento knows how to brilliantly build tension in short amounts of time. Each death scene gives you want you want out of a good horror film: anticipation, chase, and gruesome murder.

The plot aside, the aesthetics alone are worth seeing. Argento uses rich colors masterfully in so many ways. There are deep reds, hard greens, bright blues, and so on. He uses the color scheme brilliantly to create suspense in certain sequences. During the first death scene, the contrast of the whites of the floor and the light all around against the vibrant red blood and the brightly colored glass of a broken window make each shot in the sequence simply exquisite.

There are many more brilliant spots in Suspiria, including use of shadow and the chillingly dramatic music. It is a truly classic film and certainly one I recommend to any person, horror fan or not. If this film is to your liking, you'll be happy to know there are two sequels, Inferno (1980), and La Terza Madre (The Mother of Tears)(2007). Together they make the "Three Mothers" trilogy.

Horror Film of the Week: High Tension

High Tension

Directed By: Alexandre Aja

Starring: Cecile De France, Maiwenn Le Besco, Philippe Nahon

Year of Release: 2003

Rated: R (Unrated on DVD)

1 hrs. 31 min.

Two college friends, Alex and Marie, travel to the home of Alex's parents for a weekend of heavy studying on the peaceful farm. As the family, including Alex's mother, father, and young brother, and Marie prepare to sleep, a home invasion turns the night upside down.

High Tension is brutish, gory, and bloody good. It has all the gross blood and graphic violence you expect from a true adrenaline-rush-inducing horror film. The way the film toys with the audience, using sound and long drawn out moments, creates suspense so terrifying I was nearly pulling my hair from the roots.

The film opens at what is essentially the end of the story. Marie runs through the woods and emerges onto a road, screaming for help, and we see glimpses of her in the hospital. We are then taken back to the beginning to see what happened to get Marie to the point of the opening scene. It's an interesting choice for sure, opening with the ending. As the audience, we can't help but feel like the filmmakers have read us the last paragraph before actually starting the novel from chapter one. However, the last great twist is much more shocking than you can imagine. You're almost guaranteed to scream, "Are you serious?!" And aren't the plot twists just as important a part of a horror film as the gore itself?

The intensity of the suspense is the real killer...that is, for the audience. The main idea is to scare you through extreme tension, and the filmmakers pull it off beautifully. From the very beginning, the audience is expected to be fraught with tension, because we are immediately thrown into Marie's situation, and we immediately feel the threat without having any establishing information.

The moments without dialogue are the most frightening, because the sound design of these scenes is what makes the story truly terrifying. In one scene, Marie walks outside to have a smoke. She walks around in the dark alone, sitting on a single swing several feet away from the house. There is no dialogue; the scene is eerily silent, save for the creak of the swing and her exhales as she smokes. The camera focuses her in a close up and nothing but darkness lies behind her. The viewer feels a creeping sensation, expecting someone to walk up behind her or for something big to occur. Yet, nothing happens. If the film can make us feel tense in an essentially harmless moment, then how do you think it feels in the moments of real danger?

High Tension is a brilliant horror film; it goes beyond gore and blood and violence into the realm of psychological thriller. The only thing to be aware of before checking out this piece of horror art is that it is a French film: it is dubbed in English. My recommendation is to set the DVD up so that it is in its original format without the dubbing, and set the subtitles. Having to read throughout the film will certainly not take anything from the experience, because, as I've stated previously, the tension is what moves the story, not the dialogue. A part of the performance is lost to the dubbing, so it's best to go with the subtitles when you check out this one.

Rules for Survival, Twinkies, and Bill Murray

Zombieland

Directed By: Ruben Fleischer

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin

Rated: R

1 hrs. 20 min.

A college student referred to as Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) narrates as he deals with the zombie apocalypse. His main goal is to make it all the way from Texas to Ohio to see if his parents are still alive. Along the way he meets up with a man called Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) who is on a mission of his own: to find the last remaining Twinkies in America. On the journey east they meet Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), two con girls who are also on a mission, which is to make it to Pacific Playland amusement park in California, a place rumored to be zombie-free.

This film was a lot of fun. It definitely fits into the same category as Shaun of the Dead as a comedy zombie film (a zom com if you will). The running gag is the voice over narration given by Columbus in which he gives his rules for surviving the zombie apocalypse. At first I thought the voice over was going to get old, as voice overs usually tend to do when used excessively, and it did seem a little bit too much a couple times. For the most part, however, the narration was interesting and entertaining. Columbus is such an amusing character and someone you tend to identify with so easily, despite his tendency to be really awkward. The rules he lists throughout are funny and, to be honest, some pretty good rules that I would be following if I were in the same situation. These survival rules are referred to multiple times each, but I still laughed every time, especially with the rule "Double Tap."

Woody Harrelson is easily the best part of Zombieland. Tallahassee is a crazy guy who lets off steam by smashing the windows on mini vans and celebrates finding a stash of weapons and a Hummer by shooting off guns. Most of the best lines come from him, such as "Thank God for rednecks!" His enthusiasm as he spouts off to Bill Murray (yes, Bill Murray has a cameo) how much he loves him and his movies makes for a great laugh-out-loud scene.

Zombieland is definitely a must see. It's not just a movie for zombie film enthusiasts, its a movie for everyone, although zombie fans will probably enjoy it just a little more since Columbus's rules reference so many zombie film conventions. There are awesome zombie killings including a glimpse at one of the coolest "Zombie Kills of the Week" and the therapeutic crushing of a clown zombie, tons of outrageous lines, and surprisingly touching moments. While younger audiences and/or zombie fans may like it just a little more, anyone can enjoy it.

Grade: A -

Horror Film of the Week: The Omen

The Omen

Directed By: Richard Donner

Starring: Gregory Peck, Lee Remick

Year of Release: 1976

Rated: R

1 hrs. 41 min.

When the child of US Ambassador Robert Thorn and his wife Katherine is stillborn, Robert reluctantly adopts a baby boy whose mother died in childbirth without telling his wife that the child is not their biological son. Years later the family relocates to London and holds a birthday party for the boy, Damien. At the party an incident occurs which sets in motion a series of deaths and odd events which lead Robert to search for the truth behind who Damien really is and where he came from. The truth is more frightening than Robert could ever have imagined.

The Omen is wildly chilling. Nothing is more frightening than a child being a truly powerful force of evil, especially when it is a child you think is your own. Harvey Stephens portrays Damien brilliantly, with his vacant stares and devilish grins. Gregory Peck is just as strong a performer in this film as he is in the literary classic To Kill a Mockingbird. As Robert Thorn, he wonderfully portrays the role of a father torn between the love for a boy he claims as his son and his desire to find the evil truth of that boy's existence.

The film has so many seemingly beautiful aspects. The Oscar-winning score is the perfect tool, causing tension and suspense at all the right moments with haunting Latin choral chants. You will get chills every time you hear one of these dark pieces of music. There are also camera shots and editing devices which are compelling and lyrical while still keeping the film in the realm of dark and frightening. In one shot, a single fish bowl falls silently and slowly from a balcony and shatters on the hard floor below. At another moment, a gun goes off and, in slow motion, we watch the bullet leave the gun and float through the air amidst the gunpowder emitted from the shot. Moments such as these two are part of what makes The Omen such a classic; its not just about the scary moments (such as the iconic scene where Damien's nanny hangs herself), its the beautiful cinematography, editing, and acting.

And besides, the name "Damien" is cleverly similar to the word "demon." Is there a better name for an evil child than that? If you are a character in a horror film and you name your child that, you're just asking for trouble.

The Omen is most definitely one of the horror elite. No single person can call himself or herself a true horror fan, or a fan of film in general, without having seen this masterpiece.