Halloween Movie Suggestions from a Horrorphile!

So after you get done watching the new Michael Jackson movie you'll probably want to watch some actual scary movies this Halloween. Have no fear, ZomBart is here to help you make sure you get a good one. And just to prove the point to those that say horror is dead, I'm going to mark the movies that came out straight to DVD. Unlike most genres, DVD is the BEST place to find horror now-a-days.

Onto the list!

Halloween Party Movies:

1. TRICK R TREAT - Straight to DVD anthology movie. A mix of horror and comedy, this movie takes you through some classic scenarios including the disgruntled trick-r-treater, the creepy old guy on the block, the local urban legend, and of course trying to get some at a Halloween party. Great movie, Brand new, my number one pick this year!

2. MURDER PARTY - Straight to DVD. A group of artists have gotten together to capture the ultimate life experience, the end. Hilarity ensues as a helpless nerd awaits a bloody end at the hands of his incompetent captors. Cardboard suits of armor, extreme truth or dare, and making fun of bohemians is a great way to spend a night.

3. DANCE OF THE DEAD - Straight to DVD Zombie movie. Another Zombie Comedy that absolutely belongs next to Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead on the list of Zom-Com Royalty. Zombies have taken over the prom and it's up to losers and cheerleaders to blow up the school. Zombies Making out, shooting out of their graves and hitting the ground running, and of course dancing to the sappy prom ballads. Extremely likable unknown cast and some great dialog.

4. THE MONSTER SQUAD - An 80's classic recently released on DVD. This movie is basically The Goonies of horror. A group of Universal style monsters are on the loose with Dracula in the lead. It's up to a group of young kids and a creepy old german to perform the proper ritual and send them all back to limbo. This movie has my favorite portrayal of Dracula. My apologies to Bela and Christopher, but none of them ever threw around sticks of dynamite or called a 4 year old girl a "bitch". He's nuts.

5. THE MACHINE GIRL - It wouldn't be me if I didn't put a foreign movie on this list. There isn't much you need to know about this one except that a Japanese Schoolgirl is under attack by ninjas and thugs and she has a Gatling Gun for an arm. Yeah, it's ridiculous, bloody and simply amazing.

If none of those float your boat here are some other high recommends broken up by genre.

Zombie Flicks:
CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS - classic that has grown on me.
DEAD AND BREAKFAST - Comedy with line dancing Zombies and David Carradine
DEAD GIRL - Disturbing movie about boys molesting a zombie girl. Not for Everyone.
REC - Spanish movie that takes first person zombies movies to scary great places.
RE-ANIMATOR - Lovecraft meets Frankenstein. Classic gore film with my fave horror actor.

Ghost Flicks:
1408 - John Cusack is stuck in a haunted hotel. Some great visual gags.
THE ORPHANAGE - The last movie to really scare me before Paranormal Activity. Perfect acting and script. Intensely scary.
A TALE OF TWO SISTERS - Two girls move in with their new stepmom but they aren't alone in the house. This place is haunted by more than secrets. Terrifying.
THE EYE - Get the original! Not the American remake! A girl seeing unexpected ghosts and trying to prevent a disaster.
THE RING - Although she has been parodied a lot. Samara still scares the hell out of me.

Monster Flicks:
JACK BROOKS MONSTER SLAYER - A plumber uses his inner rage to fight goofy looking monsters in this awesome horror comedy.
THE DESCENT - A group of girls goes spelunking and finds horrible monsters lurking in the dark.
SPLINTER - Something is taking over our bodies and adding our flesh to its own. Plays out like a freaky zombie movie, just grosser.
BLACK SHEEP - Monster Were-Sheep are scaring up fun down under. As good as it sounds.
BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF - French movie with a team of badass hunters going after a local monster legend.

Vampire / Werewolf Flicks:
GINGER SNAPS - My favorite wolf movie. Highschool goth uses her werewolf skills to terrorize the school. Only her sister can stop her before she kills everyone.
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN - Slower Foreign movie that spins traditional movies. Vamp girl makes friends with a boy and they help each other deal with life's little problems.
DOG SOLDIERS - Group of soldiers find themselves surrounded by wolves in this British Comedy
FRIGHT NIGHT - Classic 80s movie about the vampire that moves in right next door.
THE LOST BOYS - I miss the 80s when Vampires really were vampires. You've seen this before, watch it again.

Serial Killers:
ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE - Above average slasher with hot teen cast
AMERICAN PSYCHO - Is both hilarious and Horrifying. Great send up of 80s culture.
INSIDE - French movie about a lady trying to cut the baby out of another woman. Gross and intense.
MAY - Awkward girl decides she prefers parts of people more than the whole thing. Funny and cool.
SEVERENCE - It's toted as THE OFFICE meets Friday the 13th and it basically is. Funny stuff.

There you go. More than enough to keep you busy over the holiday season. And if you are hitting the theaters I give both ZombieLand and Paranormal Activity 2 big thumbs up. Still waiting to see Cirque du Freak and Saw 6. You can wait on Sorority Row, Jennifer's Body, and Final Destination 4.

Keep it scary!
ZomBart