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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Scary Movies for October Nights

The Halloween season is the perfect time to indulge in a scare-fest of horror movies. We all have our favorites. They are the movies that give you the creeps, make you jump, have agonizing moments of suspense and terror. What kind of movies do you watch to scare your socks off?  I do not care for the "slasher" type movies such as "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" or "Saw", although the first "Halloween" movie with Jaime Lee Curtis was a shocker. The subsequent installments (I think there were about 25 of them!!) did not appeal to me though.

 
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Here is a list, in no particular order, of movies that I find truly scary, gave me nightmares and possibly some deep-seated phobias and trauma. Wait for a stormy night to watch these, or at least turn off all the lights.

"The Innocents" starring Deborah Kerr, based on Henry James' 19th century novel, "The Turn of the Screw". Stark, eerie, suspenseful; is the governess going mad, or are there really ghosts in the isolated manor house?

"The Birds" and "Psycho". These two Hitchcock movies are probably on everyone's list. When you see a large flock of crows, do you have a slight moment of fear? And how about taking a shower right after you saw "Psycho"?

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"Alien" The sense of anxiety that just kept building during this movie was unbelievable.

"The Ring" and "The Grudge". The spooky child in "The Ring" was horrifying. I found "The Grudge" even scarier.

"Poltergeist" This story of a little girl abducted by dark spirits was very frightening to me when I saw it at the theatre.

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"Sixth Sense" and "Signs". These M. Night Shyamalan movies were terrific for subtle frights.

Three movies that I watched as a child had strong impacts on me. Very scary. These are the original flicks, not the remakes. Remember I was young and very impressionable.

"Invaders from Mars", "War of the Worlds" and "The Thing". All three of these movies were shown on television on a Saturday afternoon, oh so long ago. I cannot describe how frightening these were for me.

So, that is my list. There are quite a few more great scary movies that I have enjoyed and been freaked out by. I would love to know some of your scariest flicks. What do you watch when you are in the mood to scared out of your mind?

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11 comments:

Vivienne Moss said...

I agree with your movie choices but would like to add one more. When I was in JR. High I watched all 3 Amityville Horror movies at a sleepover. Those movies scared the bejeebers out of me. Now I can't look at a house with those type of windows without getting the heeby jeebies.

Aine O'Brien said...

Yes, like you I don't like slasher movies, but I do like scary movies. Here's my list.

The Shining (my number ONE!)
Interview with the Vammpire
Queen of the Damned (loved this series)
Poltergeist (terrifying)
The Others
Bram Stokers Dracula
the sixth sense
Rosemary's Baby
The exorcist
Nosferatu
Insidious
Carrie

Not scary but halloweeny

The witches of eastwick
beetlejuice
rocky horror picture show
Young Frankenstein (that's Fraankensteen!)
zombieland (hahah bill murray!)
Adams Family Movie
Adams Family Values
old Frankenstein, Wolf Man and Dracula movies

Jess said...

I get nightmares from watching ordinary TV let alone horror films! I have watched several from your list however, a long time ago when I wasn't quite so sensitive!
Jess xx

Robin Larkspur said...

Viviene: I grew up in house just like the one in Amityville Horror. I found the book much scarier than the movies.

Aine: oh, yes the Others was very scary. and LOL for Zombieland, loved that, and you're right Bill Murray was terrific!

mxtodis123 said...

I'm with you on the slasher flicks.
The first Halloween was great, went downhill from there. Loved the first three of Nightmare on Elm Street. Loved The Shining and Pet Cemetery really scared the crap out of me. The Entity was another flick that made it hard to fall asleep.
Mary

Robin Larkspur said...

Mary, I forgot about The Entity, that was scary; Barbara Hershey was good in that.

Lady Caer Morganna said...

Those are all pretty good movies for Halloween. I also like to watch "Event Horizon," "Pet Semintary," and "Lord of Illusions." Pretty scarey stuff to me!!! ;)

Kim

Magic Love Crow said...

Robin, I liked all your movies! The original "War Of The Worlds" is fantastic! I like so many movies, trying to think of the names! LOL! Rosemary's Baby and Carrie, are the ones, that keep coming to me right now. But, you know, Carrie to me, was also sad. That girl went through a lot! Take care my friend ;o)

SharleneT said...

No one's mentioned a 60s film called Paradise. It scared the beejeebies out of me for years. Still think twice about stopping in small towns! The Halloween series became ridiculous and NEVER wanted to see the Freddie Kruger stuff. Don't need to be scared, anymore... but, you all enjoy yourselves. Just remember, you're getting older and you'll need to keep some Depends nearby... just sayin'...

Sunshineshelle said...

I should be working but just came via Magaly's blog & wanted to say thanks for the list, most I've seen & love but I had just been telling my 14 year old the other day about an old movie with Deborah Kerr called "The Innocents" how it scared the crappola out of me (I think "The Others" with Nicole Kidman tried to emulate it?) and another one was "Don't Look Now" that was pretty cool... if you can get over Donald Sutherland with a 70's perm... I'm with you on the slasher movie, not many are scary, just gross, although I saw Halloween while still at school, I had a tension headache from gritting my teeth, and that was before the titles were finished ;)

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I don't like scary movies. If I want to be horrified and appalled, I just watch the news instead.