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Film's Halloween horrors
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I want to play a game.
Most people consider from the end of August to the beginning of November the slumps of the film release schedule. In between the summer block buster releases and the holiday releases come two months that see the dregs of Hollywood released, and while some gems do come out now and then, viewers are usually hard pressed to get truly excited for any film. That is unless they're a horror fan.
October is usually a horror fan's favorite time of year. Studios, keen to capitalize on any holiday, usually dump their horrors during this month in hopes that people are a little more willing to pony up cash to be scared. Most of the time this means a rush of horror films that only a horror fan could love, but sometimes a classic comes along too. In past years we've had classics pop up here and there, so maybe this October will deliver us a new horror masterpiece. Then again, maybe we'll just be stuck with a few more cliched scares and another Saw film. Let's take a look.
The first week in October has already flown past us and we really didn't see much horror jump out at us. The closest thing to a horror film would probably be Blindness which wasn't very scary and was a bit over directed. While the concept behind the film was a good one the over direction and preachiness of the movie killed how scary it should really have been. So we can eliminate that from out horror movie classics list. Now, lets look forward.
Quarantine (Oct. 10)
Shaky cameras and viral marketing? No it isn't Cloverfield, it's Quarantine, the American remake of [Rec] which is a Spanish horror film that was insanely well made and scary and never got a proper release in the US despite being an international hit. Instead director John Erick got to helm a remake which takes place in a building the government has quarantined for unknown reasons. The only evidence left over once the quarantine has been lifted is the recording of a news reporter who got stuck in the building. Trailers show some creepy monsters and plenty of night vision, so scares are probably guaranteed. However, the movie isn't being screened for critics (usually a bad sign) and shaky cam is always hard to pull off, especially when it's already been done so well in the original.
Saw V (Oct. 24)
Oh, thats right, Saw is back. Would it be October without a Saw movie? Despite the fact that series villain Jigsaw died (and he's human unlike Freddy and Jason) in the last film there is yet another Saw coming out. Whose taking over in his place? Who knows! The saw films are good slasher fun that never go too far into the whole horror/porn thing like Hostel 2 did. If you liked the ones before there is no reason this should be any different as it will also wrap up some loose ends that the previous films left open. The film is getting some buzz for having plenty of twists and turns so if you think series staple Hoffman is Jigsaw, you could end up being very wrong.
Let the Right One In (Oct. 24)
Swedish director Tomas Alfredson's film-festival hit is a love story about a young boy who falls in love with a young girl who turns out to be a young vampire. The movie may not be the scariest thing around but word is that the film is practically a genre defining horror film, pushing the boundaries of what people consider horror. Plus, judging from the trailer there will be plenty of gore and scares along with the touching story. Catch it now before you can't find it anywhere because of the upcoming American remake. Just because you have to read doesn't mean it won't be scary. We probably won't be getting this one in DC thanks to its extremely limited release, but who knows, E Street could pick it up down the road.
Fear(s) of the Dark (Oct. 22)
This might be the scary film I'm looking forward to the most and unlike Let the Right One In E Street is going to be screening it opening weekend. Six well known, though most people haven't heard of them, graphic artists present their black and white animated nightmares which range from creepy to down right horrific. Already a favorite at festivals around the country the movie looks more and more intriguing the more we see of it. Most exciting about the film is that instead of blood and gore it uses style to create an atmosphere of horror, which any horror fan will tell you is always scarier.
The Haunting of Molly Hartley (Oct. 31)
All right enough of this foreign stuff, give me teen stars and high school drama with my horror. That's the American cinema I know and love. On the plus side this isn't another crappy slasher but on the downside this isn't another crappy slasher. If they're going to be shoving low-budget crap in our laps I want some blood and guts not a plot about a girl whose parents seem to have sold her soul to the devil. The plot does sound a little intriguing, but overall the movie looks like it should have gone straight to DVD. With all the other horror hitting the theaters I'll be hard pressed to even think about seeing this.
Splinter (Oct. 31)
A small group of people at odds with one another trapped in a small space while a unknown assaliant attacks them from the outside. Now that is what I call a perfect Halloween movie and that is exactly what Splinter is about. After hijacking a couples car, a con man and his girlfriend make the couple drive them to Mexico. However, after stopping at a gas station they find themselves beset by a virus which turns its hosts into monsters... that shoot splinters or something. Don't worry about the details, just know that rumor has it that one of the four dies early on and in an amazingly violent way. The movie is getting a pretty limited release, so this might be one we all have to pick up on DVD.\
Don't want to risk your hard earned cash on horror movies you aren't sure of? The AFI Silver has you covered. As is customary they'll be holding a Halloween on the Screen film series from Oct. 30 - Nov. 3. Movies range from classics to child's fare and include Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit, Night of the Living Dead, Rosemary's Baby and Nosferatu. The screenings of Nosferatu will be accompanied by live music, much like silent films were presented originally. The chance to see the greatest zombie film ever made on the big screen should also not be passed up.
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