Halloween Night Movie Recommendations

'Tis the season once more, dear readers.  Though we've seen a dismal showing of horror films in cinemas this Halloween season, television remains ripe with (albeit heavily edited) horror movie marathons. But it's the same movies every year!  I mean, who watches HALLOWEEN on Halloween?  How boring!  I say, this year try something different.  Die a little!  I mean, live.... Never mind.

Behold, my list of recommended movies to watch this Halloween:

5. THE FOG (1980).  Try another Carpenter flick instead of HALLOWEEN this year.  Go for his follow-up, THE FOG.  It's a kind of supernatural slasher movie with just as much atmosphere and (almost) suspense as his aforementioned masterpiece.

4.  CREEPSHOW (1982).  No Halloween movie marathon is complete without at least one anthology. Why not go with the mother of all horror anthologies, CREEPSHOW.  The film brought together two horror heavyweights in Stephen King and George A. Romero.  The result is an EC comic inspired near-masterpiece.

3.  GATES OF HELL (1980).  Splatter master Lucio Fulci takes us on a guided tour of hell, including all the accouterments - excessive violence and gore - that we've come to expect from the late director.  The film looks and feels like a dreadful nightmare in which even death provides no escape. AKA, CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD.

2.  TRICK 'R TREAT (2007).  I said no Halloween movie marathon is complete without at least one anthology.  I say, go all out and add a second to the list.  TRICK 'R TREAT cries out to be added to your Halloween movie marathon.  Set on Halloween night, the film features four interwoven stories of the macabre.  Why this movie didn't get a theatrical run has baffled horror fans, but, good news, a sequel is in the works!

1. NIGHT OF THE DEMONS (1988).  This one needs no explanation.  Set on Halloween night, a group of teens attend a party at an abandoned funeral home only to awaken an ancient evil that possesses them one by one. The film features an excellent cast, great practical make-up effects, a creepy-as-hell atmosphere and black humor throughout.  The film is a classic.

What say you?  Leave your own Halloween movie night recommendations in the comments section below. Make sure to follow my blog (located in the sidebar) to be notified of future blog posts, giveaways and various other inane ramblings of mine.

Have a very safe and fun Halloween!