Written By Jason LockardHalloween is the perfect time for a scary movie! Whether it's zombies, vampires, mummies, monsters or psychos. Truth is we all love to be scare! The adrenaline rush is simply intoxicating! And when the scares come from films of the classic era. I love them even more.
So I want to share with you our Classic Cinema Magazine Top 10 of my favorite scary movies for Halloween. This is very difficult to narrow these down to 10. So many films didn't make this list and could have easily. But we tried to narrow them down to just the most iconic scenes and stories and the greatest performances and direction. We hope you agree with our list.
10. The Night of the Hunter: This is one of two Robert Mitchum films on this list. In this movie, he played a Rev. Harry Powell a corrupt preacher who is after stolen money and is willing to do anything to get it including marry a widower with two small kids and kill them to get the money. One of the most stunning things about this film is the direction. Charles Laughton directed this film and it is stunning yet it was a box office bust and he never directed again. What a shame.
9. Psycho: Alfred Hitchock's horror masterpiece in terror. But this film is so much more. It is a study in mental illness. It is a course on how to shoot an effective film. Let's face it when the star is taken out at the beginning of the film you realize all bets are off. This film is truly timeless.
8. The horror of Dracula: No list of horror films would be complete without a Hammer Horror film on it. And for me one of the best stars two icons of terror. Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. I think what makes this film so special to me is to remember my dad telling me stories of him watching it when he was a kid in the theaters. And the end scene of the film still is haunting, chilling and satisfying even after all these years.
7. Cape Fear: This film follows a convicted rapist Max Cady (Robert Mitchum) who is released from prison and is out for revenge on Sam Bowden (Gregory Peck) the lawyer he holds responsible for his conviction. And he is willing to go after his wife and young daughter to get to him. Originally Alfred Hitchcock was going to direct this film before he quit over a dispute. It would have been interesting to see how different the film would have been.
6. Creature from the Black Lagoon: A group of scientiest is in the deep recesses of the Amazon Jungle in search of a prehistoric creature to capture and bring it back to civilization for study. Little do they know he is searching as well! It is amazing to note that Guillermo Del Toro's Shape of Water was originally supposed to be a remake of Creature from the Black Lagoon.
5. The Birds: This is probably my favorite Hitchcock film. And let's face it here I love Hitchcock movies so to say that is something. I think this film is unnerving because it is so true. At any moment nature could attack and we would be at its mercy. There is nothing we could do. So this film could truly take place at any moment. And that is truly terrifying.
4. Dracula: Bram Stoker's Dracula was first published in 1897. Just over 3 decades later Bela Lugosi would forever change the way we think of Dracula. His thick Hungarian accent and calm demeanor brought a true chilling nature to the vampire. Sadly Bela's career would be overshadowed by the role and was typecasted never really being able to break the cycle.
3. Frankenstein: What can you say about Boris Karloff as the Frankenstien monster, that hasn't already been said hundreds of times? I think no one has ever said so much without ever speaking a word. And whos expressions told a story even under loads of makeup. Karloff truly deserves to be on the Mount Rushmore of horror films.
2. Bride of Frankenstein: Very rarely is a sequel better than the original. And for me, I think Bride of Frankenstein is just a hair better of a story. Seeing the progression of the monster from a child-like creature who is hunted to a man who is just wanting to love and feel loved. The story is a masterpiece of horror.
1. The Last Man on Earth: One man against a world of vampire-like creatures. I think this film is where Vincent Price shined the best. It is so hard to carry a movie all by yourself and yet Vincent made it seem effortless. The premises was remade twice, once with Charlton Heston and another time with Will Smith, but Vincent Price's take is still the best in my opinion.
So that is our list of 10 of the best films for Halloween. What is on your list? Let me know in the comments below! And I want to wish you a happy and safe Halloween.
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