Halloween Favorites

Halloween Hidden Gems

Some lesser known, forgotten about, or non mainstream movies to watch on Halloween. Enjoy!

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

This movie cracks me up every time I watch it. It's a spoof on the slasher genre but it's made so well that it's more than just a spoof movie. It doesn't rely on nudity and gore because that is in fact what makes a slasher movie, a slasher movie. It takes 2 red neck hillbillys and puts them in the middle of a group of teenagers who accidentally kill themselves one by one. The teenagers assume it's the rednecks that are eliminating their friends, but the audience knows this to not be the case, and it's just all a series of unfortunate, or for us, fortunate and hilarious, events.

There is gore, but it's not used to be shocking but instead poke fun, showing the audience that although the violence is real the situation is hilarious. The above video isn't a trailer, but it's an amazing set of scenes that really drive home the feel of the movie.  Do yourself a favor and WATCH THIS ON NETFLIX!

Monster House

I love this movie. I don't think it got it's due praise when it was released. Although a 74% on Rotten Tomatoes isn't bad, it is a much better film than that. Although animated, I wouldn't say this is for kids, sure there isn't much violence but it can be pretty creepy and adult-like. The biggest reason I love to watch the movie is because of the way it's filmed. This was ahead of it's time, and although it's pretty common now a days to see an animated movie filmed as if it's a live action movie, it was rare if not unseen back in 2006. When I say "filmed as if it were a live action movie" I mean that the camera isn't just flat and stationary, think of other animations like The Simpsons. Instead the camera moves with the action, think Transformers (bad movie, good example). It's a beauty to watch. On top of that, it's funny and has a very good if not surprisingly good, lore. If you haven't seen it yet, give it a try, if you've seen it already and just took it for a kids movie, give it another shot.

The Burbs

A forgotten classic. If you haven't seen this movie, it's a perfect PG Halloween movie. Tom Hanks is at his finest in this quirky and almost black comedy. Similar to Monster House, the entire movie takes place on one block and it creates a sort of wall around the outside world, where silly and strange things like this could happen, without the rest of the world knowing. In fact, it is almost exactly like Monster house.  There isn't much left to say except, if you like 80/90s Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher and Corey Feldman, this is the movie for you.

Cheep Thrills

I've recommended this in the past on here, but it's time to bring it back up. A dark comedy that really starts to grow increasingly tense. A couple of friends strapped for cash run into a wealthy man at a bar (Champ Kind) who dares them to do things for money. As the stakes get higher the dares are more perverted and violent. Although just as unbelievable as a slasher movie, it has more entertainment value due to it's premise alone. It's available on Netflix so give it a click!

A Film With Me In It

I think you've got the point by now, I like comedies, and dark comedies at that. This is a British flick and boy oh boy do the Brits have a dark sense of humor. It's sarcastic, ironic and at times frustrating if you don't take it for what it is, which is a comedy. I seriously crack up just watching the trailer above, although it comes with many spoilers. If you like Tucker and Dale, you'll like this.

Clue

One of my all time favorites. If you haven't seen this, you need to. The dialogue, ensamble cast and Tim Curry's performance are all top notch. It's a super entertaining movie, and I can watch it every time its on. Fast paced and PG fun.

Frailty

What a classic. Frailty is still in my top 30 of all time, (at least). Starring Mathew McConaughey and Bill Paxton, this movie is the complete opposite of all the movies above. Not much humor in this one, but you do get psychosis, demons, and murders, your typical Halloween fun. With that said it isn't a hokey slasher flick, this has some real depth and meaning to it. Honestly, giving away any of the plot will take away from watching the movie, so don't watch the trailer and don't read the synopsis, just watch! 

Identity

A guilty pleasure of mine that does fall into some common tropes. John Cusak, (Old John Cusak, in prime form) is stuck in a motel with a bunch of shady people due to a storm, of course, how typical. What starts to happen and unravel isn't so typical. It loses points for adding one too many twists at the end, but is an overall very enjoyable move to watch, if not pedestrian. This is for the person looking for the typical scary/thriller movie will be satisfied but at times, its more than just that.

Lucky

Reverting back to the dark comedy genre, Lucky is a well directed and well acted fun flick. Synopsis? A gold digger marries a lotto winner, who happens to be a serial killer. As she learns about his secret, she starts to help cover it up so she can keep some of that money. Very fun premise and a very fun movie, if you can find it.

The Voices

Ryan Reynolds has always been underrated, until Deadpool, but he's had some great indie movie previous, check out Mississippi Grind, for example (not a Halloween choice). Voices stars him and Anna Kendrick in a movie that is very similar to Lucky, except on a much darker level. It's direction is super creepy when it needs to be and it really sets the mood, even while it is trying to be a comedy. Ryan Reynolds is a bit of a nut job and can talk to his dog and cat, who convince him to murder people. Sounds super silly, but there are some moments of gruesome chills. On Netflix!

Death Proof

I'll admit it, I believe Tarantino has jumped the shark. I also believe that his best movie since Kill Bill 1, is Death Proof, which puts it in the top 4 of his movies of all time. Although it becomes an over the top, ridiculously gory, chase movie (which is the whole point of "Grind House" anyway), the first half hour is soooooo good. Does anyone know where that bar is? Because I wanna go.

The Shining

Perhaps the greatest directed horror movie of all time.

Pan's Labyrinth

This movie floored me the first time I saw it. It's directed so beautifully, yet creepily that I wonder what happened to Guillermo Del Torro. Hell Boy, Pacific Rim, god help me. Anyway, it's subtitled and it's more of a drama than anything, so it's not your typical Halloween movie, but what else did you expect from me? I assume you've seen this if you're into movies, but if you are, and if you haven't do yourself a favor, buy it on blu-ray and watch it ASAP. Available on Amazon Instant Prime as well!