As cold wind starts to shake the trees outside and the smell of baked goods keeps you warm inside, there’s no better way to get into the Halloween spirit than by watching spooky movies. While you’re sipping on your cider and carving pumpkins this season, here are my favorite spooky movies to amplify the autumn vibes.
“Corpse Bride” (2005)
“Corpse Bride” is a whimsical animation that blends music, romance, comedy and horror to exemplify the talents of acclaimed director Tim Burton. Using juxtaposing color palettes to create two worlds, Burton tells the story of Victor, a man who accidentally becomes married to a dead woman from the Underworld while attempting to marry his fiancée in the real world. The Underworld is colorful, fun, loud and carefree. On the other hand, the real world is cold, gray and dreary. The character design is memorable and eccentric, the musical numbers are fun and catchy and the story is full of suspense. Not to mention, the film stars numerous Hollywood legends, including Johnny Depp, Emily Watson and Helena Bonham Carter. It’s perfect for a family movie night, especially if you’re looking for an interesting color palette and visually interesting characters.
Us (2019)
Director Jordan Peele set himself up for high expectations after his 2017 debut “Get Out” dominated pop culture and the horror movie genre for a year straight. People thought there was no way he could top “Get Out.” But, it was as if Peele responded, “watch me.” “Us” is Peele’s second directorial attempt, and basically, his back-to-back championship.
With “Us”, Peele showed why he is the most important name in the horror industry since Michael Myers himself. The movie follows Adelaide, a young mother who is staying at a vacation home with her family. While there, they are attacked by another family that looks nearly identical to theirs. While providing metaphoric commentary on classism and inequality, the film tells a story that is suspenseful, strange, chilling and thoughtful.
The entire cast is phenomenal. The lead actress, Lupita Nyong’o, gives one of the best performances I’ve ever seen, as she plays not only Adelaide, but her evil doppelgänger, Red, as well. The cinematography is also topnotch. Without much gore and many jump scares, this movie utilizes anxiety-inducing angles and lighting to build tension and suspense. While this movie isn’t for children, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves thrilling and philosophical movies.
Terrifier (2016)
“Terrifier” isn’t for the weak. When people think of horror, they picture Micheal Myers, Freddy Kruger, Jason and Chucky— but if you’re looking for the face of modern horror, then look no further. Art the Clown is the star character of the “Terrifier” franchise. While Art the Clown made his screen debut in earlier Damien Leone films, the character didn’t become a household name until “Terrifier” released in 2016.
The plot of the movie is simple– there is an evil mute clown who tries to catch and kill two young women on Halloween. One of my favorite aspects of this film is the grain effect on all the visuals. It makes the movie feel grimy and grunge, which I feel is effective for a horror film. The clown’s actor, David Howard Thorton, doesn’t actually speak a single word in the movie. Yet, he showcases more personality in his quirky actions and expressive facial movements than most actors can in their speaking roles. His signature smile is something to surely pop up in your nightmares and his hilariously silly antics are sure to make you laugh out loud. While being disgustingly gory and very scary, “Terrifier” is without a doubt also funny. Art the Clown is constantly doing what can only be described as goofin’ around.
It’s rare to watch a movie that can blend a variety of elements so well. Regardless, Leone found a way to do it flawlessly. If you enjoy this film, I recommend watching the second one, which is rumored to have made people throw up due to its gore, or “Terrifier 3” which is currently in theaters.
