So, I thought since it is so close to Halloween, I’d do a list of creepy/scary movies and some more lighthearted. Everyone usually watched It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and although Rankin/Bass did a Halloween themed movie, it’s not as good as their other holiday ones.

First let’s go scary

Mark of the Vampire (1935 MGM)- Lionel Barrymore, Bela Lugosi, and Carroll Borland. I saw this movie when I was a late teenager. I grew up watching all the other Bela vampire movies. When I sat at watched this one, it creeped me out. Bela and Carroll are creepy. If you watch it, just get lost in the story.

The Thing (1982 Universal)- Kurt Russell, Wilfred Brimley, and Keith David (Keith, that’s added because I always got Keith David and David Keith confused, yes, obviously it’s the names, but if you saw them next to each other, you’d question me.) There is a scene in this movie that to this day, I jump. I won’t tell you which one, it’ll ruin things. This is a gross movie which a lot of suspense.

Don’t Look in the Basement (1973 released by American International Pictures) Bill McGhee, Jessie Fulton, and Robert Dracup. This movie made me afraid of things with eyeballs. I can handle anything but people doing things to eyes. This isn’t a great movie, but it is an interesting watch once. Yes, probably due to the phobia it gave me.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984 New Line Cinema) Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, and Johnny Depp. This was the first slasher movie I watched in the theater when it was released. There was that one guy in the audience that broke the tension. There is a scene that stuck with me for a long time and the fact that he killed people in their dreams made this one hard to get over.

Hellraiser (1987 New World pictures) Ashley Laurence, Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins. This movie confused me and not in a plot way. The only warning I will give is that it is bloody.

Now, the more lighthearted.

Monster Squad (1987 Lionsgate) Andre Gower, Jon Gries, Stan Shaw, and Jason Hervey. This is modern times (well the 1980’s) and old Universal monsters. “Wolfmans don’t have nards.” It’s funny.

Casper (1995 Universal Studios) Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, and Eric Idle. I was a huge fan of the old Harvey Casper cartoons. I was Casper for about 3 years in a row for Halloween. I thought this was a good homage to the cartoon. The special effects are really good for 1995. A mix of practical, CGI, and toon.

Practical Magic (1998 Warner Brothers) Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest, Goran Visnjic, Aidan Quinn, and a bunch of up and comers and character actors. This movie is a rom-com mixed in with Hollywood witchery. It’s sweet and at times, scary.

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944 Warner Brothers) Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, and Peter Lorre, along with a bunch of Classic Hollywood elite. Cary Grant’s facial expressions are master class! It’s one of my favorite plays and was performed perfectly by everyone. For reference, Boris Karloff is the guy that played the original Frankenstein Monster and Mummy for Universal. He’s also in my last movie.

The Raven (1963 AN American International Movie) Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, and one of Jack Nicholson’s first movies. This is a very tongue and cheek poke at all the movies the three I listed off first were in. You don’t have to see those movies to know that. It’s just a fun movie and doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is probably why I like it so much.