By: James Southworth
Happy Halloween, everyone! One of my favorite things to do on the day of my favorite holiday is to watch great horror movies. There's no telling how many horror movies, both good and bad, I've seen. This is the second segment I've done of this, and I hope to make it a tradition for every Halloween. It can be hard to find 5 new great horror movies every year, but it's something I want to do. So here you go: five horror films that I think are deserving of multiple viewings! This list is in no particular order.
1. Lights Out
It seems like it would be a tough job to adapt a relatively simple idea meant for a short into a full-length movie. And yet, director David Sandberg was able to do this to mainly good results. When I found out that this guy was a prodigy to now beloved horror director James Wan, it didn't surprise me at all. You can see his inspiration from Wan's cinematography all throughout this movie. The off kilter usage of camera angles is awesome, and makes for a movie that feels unique in the horror landscape. Flickering or non working lights are an absolute cliche in any horror movie. But that's not the case with this one. In fact, the only way the creature in this movie can operate is when the lights are off. There is sufficient reason to be afraid of the dark. The scares in this movie are all pretty good. The beginning sequence is almost directly like the short, and it ends up being one of the best parts. You could feel the tension rising in what is a simple set up. The main story is really good too. There's a surprisingly emotional backbone to the family unit in this story, with the relationship between Rebecca and her kid brother Bret having a considerable amount of history between them. You understand the weight of their relationship and why both desperately need one another. You care for the characters, so they aren't just kill fodder for the demonic entity. "Lights Out" is more than deserving of your attention. While I wouldn't say it breaks new ground, it's still creative and populated with compelling themes.
2. The Invitation
If you like your horror movies very weird, then "The Invitation" is for you. As this movie unfolds, things become stranger and stranger. Will is invited to a dinner party by his ex-wife Eden and her new husband David. Of course, there will already be some awkwardness with this premise, but that is the least of David's problem. There's also some other people present that used to friends of Will's and one unknown person who simply goes by the name of Pruitt. It seems like everyone has secrets they're hiding, and Will doesn't know what any of them are. As this party goes on, a very odd cult element is introduced, and then things start to get quite unsettling. This movie is straight up suspenseful, and the pressure keeps on building up to a peak breaking point. When the movie finally does break all the pent up tension, the pay-off is something to behold. All the characters in this movie are very interesting. Logan Marshall-Green continues to prove he's an underrated actor, as his performance of Will is layered and mysterious. John Caroll Lynch is indescribably frightening and off-putting as Pruitt. He disappears into this role, and you believe as the viewer that he is this person. His performance can sometimes be blackly comedic, which works to this movie's advantage. Tammy Blanchard also gives a very unique performance as Eden. Weird, sometimes funny, and definitely scary, I think "The Invitation" is one of the most underrated and intriguing horror flicks out there.
3. It Comes At Night
I will never, ever understand why audiences were so negative to this movie. If you were going into this movie expecting what you got from the trailer, then I guess you might be disappointed. But, I was honestly sort of glad with what I got. It wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be, and I don't think that is a bad thing. You never once see the "it" that this movie refers to. The "it" could even be symbol for the paranoia of the individuals that are living in this clearly post-apocalyptic world. We know as much as the characters do: that there is a disease that is killing off loved ones, and no one knows who it could kill next. Also, there could be an entity out there that is killing everyone in incredibly gory ways. Or, there may not be. Two families come together to live under one house, trying to escape the evil of the world. However, Paul, the patriarch of protagonist Travis's family, begins to mistrust the other family's intentions. The same goes for Will, the patriarch of the other family. Both have similar motivations: they only want to protect their loved ones. But that puts them at each other's throats as their survival instincts kick in. And then, we as the viewer realize that maybe the evil is not outside, but within. It's a haunting commentary on the human condition, and what we will do to survive, and what we will use as justification for doing the most evil of deeds. Performances in this movie are SUPERB, with Joel Edgerton bringing his A-game as Paul. His transition from loving father to practically a psychopath is very engaging to watch, and makes for something frightening to behold. Carmen Ejogo and Riley Keough both bring compassionate performances as Kim and Sarah. It's intriguing to see things constantly through the eyes of Kelvin Harrison Jr.'s Travis, who may or may not be a reliable protagonist. Maybe this movie doesn't have an entirely reachable conclusion. But I think that's a good thing. Sometimes the unknown is far scarier than anything else, and that is definitely the case with this masterful horror movie.
4. Trick 'R Treat
This movie is the embodiment of the Halloween spirit, and has honestly made its way up into one of my top 10 horror movies of all time. I'm not joking, it's that good. It's certainly the best anthology movie out there. This film actually chronicles four different stories, and even makes them connected to one another in cool and surprising ways. There are so many anthology films out there, and unfortunately most of them just aren't that good. Sometimes only one of the stories stands out, and other times they all feel haphazardly put together. Not so with this movie. Director Michael Dougherty artfully makes each story play into the theme of the movie: Halloween is a time in which its rules should be taken seriously, or there will be consequences. I love the world this movie is placed in, where Halloween is more like a religion than a holiday, and if you don't adhere to the rules, then you aren't free from punishment no matter who you are. My favorite story probably has to with Mr. Kreeg, a curmudgeonly, cynical old man who encounters Sam. Sam is one of the most equally hilarious and unsettling horror villains out there. When you find out what this character is (you initially think he's just a murderous child), the reveal is funny buy at the same time uncanny. Mr. Kreeg tries his best to take out Sam, but finds it to be futile. I also love the story of the insane teacher Mr. Wilkins, expertly portrayed by Dylan Baker. Baker brings out the black comedy aspects of this film in ingenious ways, making this movie delightfully fun to watch. I dare you to find a shot where there isn't something connected to Halloween in it. Every visual in this movie is just brimming with the holiday, as you see everything from jack-o'-lanterns to ghosts to skeletons and more. There's not a shot without some sort of decoration or fall vibe attached to it. Also, the music is just excellent, and the comic book styled credits only make this movie that much more fascinating. Please, watch this movie. It's such a fun ride, where you'll be laughing at one moment and be terrified at another.
5. Dead Silence
Before James Wan became renowned for his "Insidious" and "Conjuring" series, he was primarily known as the director of "Saw". That is not a bad thing to be known for, in my opinion, but of course Wan wanted to expand beyond the movie and the sequels that came after it. Wan actually only directed the first "Saw" movie, because he doesn't like to be a part of sequels from a directorial standpoint unless he feels very passionate about them. I've always respected this about Wan, as this has kept him as an engaging director who's always trying to expand his craft. "Dead Silence" has a ventriloquist dummy as its main scare factor, with an unsettling ghost story attached to it as its been passed down from person to person. This movie was not well loved by audiences or critics, and I don't quite understand why. It's not perfect, but I would be lying if I said I didn't have a fun time. You can see evidence of Wan's signature cinematography style, as he uses creative camera work and interesting lighting to create legitimately tense scares. And as per usual with his movies, all the jump scares in this film have actual pay offs. None of them are false, and there is something always scary on the other side. The twist in this movie is actually fairly effective, and I didn't see it coming. It was very interesting and played cleverly into the main themes of the movie. The performances in this film aren't what I'd call legendary or anything, but I still as though Ryan Kwanten and Amber Valletta were solid as the leads. Even Donnie Wahlberg is pretty good in this movie. If you want to watch a fairly simple horror movie with a good twist and great scares, then this one is definitely for you.
I hope everyone has a great Halloween!
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