It’s that time of year again – HALLOWEEN! Everyone has their different rituals on Halloween, but there’s one thing that’s a mainstay in everyone’s holiday: Horror Movies! Even if your not a fan of the genre, you know your watching a bunch of scary flicks with Halloween right around the corner. Hell you can’t even go five channels on the television without finding a horror marathon, so it’s only logical. Now I’m here today to bring you a few classic horror flicks that’ll leave you with your mouth hanging open. Mind you, when I say classic, I mean classics within the last 10 years… not 40 years ago classics. Don’t worry… you won’t be seeing THE MESSENGERS in this list… I think it’s safe to assume most of the genre loving crowd that’ll be reading this will agree with my choices.
Now how did I pick these ‘Halloween Must See Movies?’ I went with movies that leave you feeling dirty.. and begging for more! A horror flick that has you guessing, on the edge of your seat the whole way through, then royally mindf*cks you at the end! I’m talking literally penetrates your mind. You all know what I’m talking about. A movie that has you asking ‘What the hell did I just watch?’ Your sitting there in shock and loving every second of it. Horror flicks with an ending that you could’ve never guessed and leaves you guessing until the end of time (or until the sequel comes out). So without further ado, here are my choices for HALLOWEEN MINDF*CK MOVIES!
Note: I’ve attached the trailer for each of my picks below along with the ending clip from the movie. Be advised these ending clips are VERY spoilerific, so watch with caution.
I dug The Hamiltons a lot. I just loved everything about it. The plot, the acting, the end, the atmosphere. The acting was good all around, great performances from everyone, but I really liked Samuel Child’s performance, top notch stuff. He played this character perfectly, as did the rest of the cast with their characters. The plot and script were just brilliant. Really done well, a great spin on something classic. They defined all the characters nicely, all in depth and twisted. You sympathzie with them, but then again you don’t. It was great watching Francis unfold, the whole journey he goes through, which ended perfectly. The gore in the flick works perfectly. The anticipationg to see Lenny was great. Is he an animal? Some sort of mutant? The revelation was just awesome. There wasn’t much music, but the little there was matched the mood perfectly. Even though this is obviously a B movie, it doesn’t feel like it at all, this could easily be a big movie. I’m sure I’m over exaggerating with all of this, but I really liked every aspect of this one. They did a great job with all of the secondary characters, the prisoner, the social worker, all great stuff and perfectly done. There isn’t a whole lot to this one though, basically there’s one setting, a dozen character total, just very simple stuff, but done so well. So far this one is easily the best out of the whole After Dark Horrofest. Towards the end, the movie tries to get you to think. On the surface, these people are this ordinary family, but behind closed doors, they’re something else, and they could be living next door to you.
Now what is exactly appealing about THE HAMILTONS? Why should you go out of your way to pick this one up for your holiday? It’s just different, and deliciously twisted. The movie follows this sadistic family who’re, to put it simple, pretty tapped in the head. They abduct neighbors and friends and just brutalize them. Chaining up a couple girls in the basement then feeding them to a ravenous creature under the house? Pretty far out right? And then the ending just takes it all and throws it back in your face laughing! Why does this family do this? What’s with the creature? It’s all explained brilliantly and it leaves you in awe.
Directors: The Butcher Brothers
Writers: The Butcher Brothers & Adam Weis
Cast: Cory Knauf, Samuel Child, Joseph McKelheer, Mackenzie Firgens, Brittany Daniel
Plot: Four young adult siblings try to fend for themselves after the mysterious death of their parents. But they harbor some dark secrets which include abducting and killing strangers, and feeding them to a mysterious ‘thing’ living in their cellar.
Buy It Here!
*SPOILERS* THE HAMILTONS ENDING *SPOILERS*
Now I’m not talking about the mess that hit theaters last week, I’m talking about the first SAW film. You all remember it… think back a long time ago (4 years…). Before we started getting forcefed the rushed SAW storylines. Before Lionsgate became this huge studio that just doesn’t care anymore. Before the term ‘torture porn’ was even created. Before ‘Halloween meant SAW.’ Remember? Remember what it was like watching SAW for the first time? Almost mindblowing right? Ignore all the sequels and just think back to that first movie, without the apprentices and accomplices. Back when it was just Jigsaw and we didn’t have a clue who Jigsaw was. You with me now?
Good. While every SAW film promotes how ‘Halloween means SAW,’ you can’t get any better than the first film. It’s hard to find someone who didn’t love SAW. It was a breath of fresh air in a genre that wasn’t producing anything worthwhile. SAW dared to be different and scored big time, hell it singlehandedly spawned an entire sub-genre. That’s impressive. The movie is scary, disturbing, clever… it’s almost perfect. SAW really took a chance and messed with our minds. It’s a movie that literally makes us sit on the edge of our seat, wondering what’s going to happen next and wondering exactly what the hell is going on. It’s execution is awesome and plays out perfectly. The characters are near legendary status now, the gore is viciously enjoyable, and the ending… that ending. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one left with my jaw on the floor exclaiming ‘That’s one of the best endings I’ve ever seen!’ The SAW films are known for their twist endings and it all stemmed from this. The writing for SAW was brilliant and the acting wasn’t half bad either.
Why would SAW be the perfect Halloween Mindf*ck movie? Need I explain much more? SAW has the scares and plenty of gore. Try imagining yourself in Amanda’s shoes when she’s wearing that jaw snapping thing… that’s pretty twisted. Plus chicks seem to dig these SAW movies, so that’s always a plus! As we’re reminded every year, Halloween means SAW right? So go ahead and watch this one every year and you’ll be set!
Director: James Wan
Writers: James Wan & Leigh Whannell
Cast: Leigh Whannell, Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Ken Leung, Dina Meyer, Michael Emerson, Shawnee Smith
Plot: With a dead body laying between them, two men wake up in the secure lair of a serial killer who’s been nicknamed “Jigsaw” by the police because of his unusual calling card.
Buy It Here!
The Arrow’s Review!
Kill of the Day featuring SAW!
*SPOILERS* SAW ENDING *SPOILERS*
AMERICAN PSYCHO is a very unique film. Unique in a way that’s hard to put into words. It took me more than one watch to really get the whole feel for it, and once I did, I loved it. Just the whole concept is great I thought. Patrick Bateman kills just because. He has no motives, no grand scheme. He is just purely homicidal, and at the same time, an intelligent, rich, charming businessman. Now mind you, this is a very different movie, it’s not your usual gore filled slasher horror movie. You get to go inside the mind of Patrick Bateman, which, putting it lightly, is a pretty derranged place. The acting in this movie is awesome, mainly it’s all on the shoulders of Christian Bale, considering everyone else is in it for small amounts of time. Bale really puts on one hell of a performance, better than BATMAN BEGINS in my opinion. For you blood loving fans out there, there is pletny of gore in this movie too, so don’t worry about that. Patrick’s murders are also very interesting. He’s very particular, neat, cultural. Explaing Phil Collins and Genesis while he’s getting ready for a threesome with a couple hookers, what’s not unique about that. It really puts the spotlight on the lifestlye at the time also (late 80s). With the drugs, clubs, etc. From beginning to end this movie is one to watch. Whether your going to hate it at the end or love it, it’s still a film everyone should see. It all leads to a very interesting ending which has both yourself, the viewer, and Mr. Bateman thinking.
AMERICAN PSYCHO is just clever all around. Watching Christian Bale get lost in this downward spiral into insanity is amazing. The movie flows and gets you into it, able to follow along easily. If your like me you’ll love this movie more and more as it progresses… then at the end it throws it all out the window! Your left feeling empty and wondering what just happened. … Did it happen? Only Patrick Bateman knows I suppose. Either way AMERICAN PSYCHO is a perfect movie to watch on Halloween because it sports a true psychopath, one of the greatest characters ever in my own opinion. It’s really a form of terror that might chill you to see how one man can snap and bring you down into insanity with him.
Director: Mary Harron
Writers: Mary Harron & Guinevere Turner. Bret Easton Ellis (novel)
Cast: Christian Bale, Reese Witherspoon, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas
Plot: A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.
Buy It Here!
The Arrow’s Review!
Kill of the Day featuring AMERICAN PSYCHO!