Happy Spooky Month, Kids!
It’s that time of year again, when the leaves are golden, the air is crisp, the cider is fresh, and the vibe of the season is all things chilly, dark and spooky.
I’m proud to present to you some gems of fright and terror to haunt your Halloween festivities. These films are cult classics of obscurity both old and new, so if you’re looking for something to go with your annual favorite slashers or ghost stories, try these on for size…
CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962)
A low-budget indie gem directed by Herk Harvey, where a woman named Mary (Candace Hilligoss) has her life disturbed by strange ghoulish visions after a car accident. What is real and what is not? It’s anyone’s guess in this cult drive-inn classic from the early ‘60s, which should delight anyone who appreciates the dark ambience of David Lynch, Ingmar Bergman, or surrealistic visions from French New Wave cinema.
TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975)
Made-for-television horror had a golden age in the 1970s, before the age of home video and audiences full of anxiety from the tumultuous ‘60s. Series like The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery and Dark Shadows set the tone for the brooding sense of dread these stories brought to the horror genre — and following in its wake was the scariest thing ever made for television. The final shot of this horror anthology which aired on ABC, Tuesday March 4th 1975, gave nightmares to a whole generation.
PUMPKINHEAD (1988)
The 1980s raised the bar for special effects and monsters in science-fiction, comedy and horror films — and among the best creature features of the decade was Stan Winston’s sleeper hit about a vengeance demon terrorizing a small rural American town. Lance Henriksen stars in his most tragic role as a father avenging the death of his son with unexpected and deadly consequences. A true folk horror fairy tale of darkness for a late October night.
We love PUMPKINHEAD here at the Video Store Podcast, so much that Pitfall Gary talked about last week as well! Check out his episode if you missed it. 🎃
ODDITY (2024)
One of the scariest films of the decade, this folk horror ghost story from Ireland is sure to chill and thrill you for your Halloween haunting spree. It’s a clever who-done-it, spooky psychological thriller and modern indie gem which deserves a larger audience. Strap yourself in for some perfect jump scares, vicious imagery, and ghostly sights and sounds.
“You wanna see something really scary?” audio clips are from TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE (1983)
Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and watch your back — these films will scare the pants off of you. Happy Halloween!
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