With Halloween approaching, scary movies are in fashion this week. But in a sea of campy, tropey, and derivative horror films, it’s easy to get bogged down. When selecting the very best that horror cinema has to offer, here are a few things to keep in mind…
Do watch…
Your dad’s favorite horror movies
While my generation was not able to experience the wonder that was ‘70s and ‘80s horror cinema, we can live vicariously through our parents’ recommendations. Films such as “Halloween,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” and “Poltergeist” were beloved by Gen X and have by no means lost their touch.
Don’t watch…
Stephen King adaptations
The legendary author has undeniably changed the horror genre forever, but many adaptations of his books don’t come out so hot. King writes of the supernatural in a surreal, uncanny way that rarely translates well to film. Characters like Pennywise from “It” are written with the intention of pairing with the reader’s visual imagination. When viewers are spoon-fed the visual elements of King’s monsters on the big screen, we are left with the abomination that is “It Chapter Two.”
Do watch…
Stephen King adaptations
There are, however, exceptions to every rule. To make a successful King adaptation there are a few paths a filmmaker can take. Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” made drastic changes to the source material to bring the book to the screen. While King might hate Kubrick’s adaptation, an exact recreation of the book would have gone terribly (see the 1997 made-for-TV version for proof). The original “Carrie” film works because the supernatural elements are more cerebral than visual. “Misery” saw success because it was one of King’s few horror pieces with no supernatural elements.
Don’t watch…
Obscure psychological thrillers with your friends who aren’t into that
If your favorite horror movie is “The Cremator,” that’s great! It’s totally cool if you’re a David Lynch lover (like myself) and want to watch “Inland Empire” this October. But please, for the love of God, know your audience. The last thing you want to be is the person trying to explain Juraj Herz to a group of people who could not possibly care less.
Do watch…
Japanese horror
For every insufferable friend who tells you horror movies don’t scare them, there is a J-Horror flick that will make them squirm. The 1960s gave us some folklore-based horror classics like “Onibaba” and “Jigoku,” both of which revolve around religion, sex, and ancient legends. What people tend to know most is the vibrant late ‘90s era of J-Horror, which included movies like “Cure,” “Perfect Blue,” and “Ring.”
Don’t watch…
“The Thing” (1981)
“The Thing” is not a bad movie. It has wonderful practical effects, builds tension very well, and has an iconic monster. But whenever I revisit the film, I spend just about all 109 minutes wishing I was watching “Alien.” It’s no shock that someone thought to remake “The Thing From Another World” just two years after the massive success that came from “Alien.” To put it simply, if I’m going to watch a sci-fi horror movie that takes place in a remote location with an ensemble cast of scientists, in which an extraterrestrial picks them off one by one, it’s going to be “Alien.”
Do watch…
“Alien” (1979)
It’s sort of like “The Thing” but better.
Don’t watch…
Sequels and reboots
Somehow the gate to the Upside Down has reopened. Now we pan across the shocked faces of the characters as the audience gasps. A bad horror sequel is a special kind of awful. In most cases, the soullessness of the script is considerably scarier than the monster who has somehow returned from the dead. These sequels rarely work because nearly every horror movie is simultaneously a mystery. Once the mystery is solved, why are we here again?
Do watch…
Funny horror movies
Who says scary movies can’t be fun? It can be nice to take a break from the bleak, disturbing horror stories and shift towards the absurd. Despite being in different decades and countries, “Scream” and “Hausu” both poke fun at their own genre. These films prioritize humor over fear while still containing a handful of creative scares. Tim Burton movies like “Beetlejuice” can also be a good bet when you need something a little more clever than “Scary Movie” or its sequels.
Don’t watch…
“Last Night in Soho” (2021), “The Menu” (2022)
Jordan Peele’s political satire “Get Out” is a rare case of being a great movie with an unfortunate effect on the film industry. Now every schmuck in Hollywood thinks they can intertwine modern social issues into their horror movies as masterfully as Peele. In these films themes of the dangers of capitalism, sexism, or other real-life horrors are spelled out for the audience and subtly is lost. While horror films and political commentary can go great together in some cases, many modern attempts turn out clumsy and one-dimensional.
Do watch…
Movies at local Boston theaters
In the age of at-home streaming, movie theaters are struggling. Boston is home to some wonderful small theaters such as Coolidge Corner and The Brattle. The latter offers student discounts, and both theaters are showing classic horror movies this month. Unfortunately, AMC is making little effort to bring back horror classics, so support your local theaters!
Don’t watch…
“Bone Tomahawk” (2015)
This genre-bending horror western is undeniably creative, but has some questionable antagonists. After the blonde-haired, blue-eyed wife of the protagonist is kidnapped by what appears to be a Native American tribe, key members of the town must come together to rescue her. The “Troglodyte” tribe exhibits every damaging and racist Native American stereotype, but is noted to be separate from the local Native American community on a technicality. The rest of the film is composed of savage cannibalistic warriors (but remember, they’re not Native Americans) fighting the heroic white cowboys. Seems a bit dated if you ask me.
Do watch…
“The Innocents” (1961)
This Truman Capote written screenplay follows nanny Miss Giddens, tasked with looking after two unusual children in their absent uncle’s mansion. With a history of untimely deaths related to the house and unsettling behavior from the children, Miss Giddens begins to question her safety and sanity. Despite not being very well known these days, the film had a massive impact on the horror genre with its revolutionary camerawork and lighting techniques.
And some final thoughts…
Just as a good horror film can become an instant favorite, the ones that fall flat can be anywhere between hilarious and downright painful. But fear not; when armed with this guide to scary movies you’ll never go wrong. Please choose wisely this October, and watch out for any American remakes of Japanese movies.
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