Six Movies You May Not Have Seen - for a Very Scary Halloween!

Halloween is right around the corner, and what better way to get in the mood than to turn out the lights, settle onto the couch with a blanket, some popcorn and perhaps a significant other, and put on a scary movie? There are plenty of obvious choices, like John Carpenter's 1978 masterpiece "Halloween" (or any of that franchise's less-than-stellar sequels and remakes), but who wants to be obvious? Die-hard horror fans are no doubt familiar with most of the films I'm about to recommend, but for the average movie fan, there's bound to be a title or three here that will be new to you. So treat yourself to one of these less-obvious classics of horror and suspense this Halloween. You'll have a scary good time!

BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)

Halloween is all about tricks and treats, but making my first recommendation a movie set during the Christmas holidays is no trick. This Canadian film by Bob Clark ("Porky's," "A Christmas Story") is a highly effective slasher film that is sure to give you the creeps. The story involves a psychotic killer who sneaks into the attic of a sorority house during Christmas break and torments the residents who've stayed behind with obscene phone calls. The film's influence can be felt not only in 1979's "When A Stranger Calls" ("The calls are coming from inside the house!"), but also in Carpenter's "Halloween," which borrows several techniques from "Black Christmas," not least of which is the use of the killer's point of view, used to great effect in both films. The acting is better than it has to be in a film of this type, with a cast featuring Margot Kidder, Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea and John Saxon, who all give solid performances. For thrills, suspense and some genuine scares this Halloween, bring Christmas to October! You won't be disappointed.

SUSPIRIA (1977)

This stylish vision of terror by Dario Argento is sure to give even the most jaded horror fans a few bad dreams. Awash with stunning visuals and vivid colors, the film is a Technicolor nightmare. Throw in an unforgettable music score by the rock band Goblin and one of the most gruesomely violent death scenes ever committed to celluloid, and you've got a horror film that won't be soon forgotten once the lights go out. The plot is almost incidental when one considers the surreal atmosphere of tension and dread that Argento achieves through his use of color, cinematography and sound, but it involves an American ballet student who arrives at a German dance academy only to discover that it is run by a coven of witches. Argento is the undisputed master of Italian horror, and "Suspiria" is his masterpiece. This is a must-see!

THE CHANGELING (1980)

Released just two months before "The Shining" back in 1980, "The Changeling" is an often over-looked gem in the haunted house sub-genre. The film features George C. Scott as a composer who has recently lost his family in a car accident. After accepting a teaching position at university in Seattle, he moves into a long-abandoned mansion nearby. It doesn't take long before he discovers that his isn't the only grief residing in this house. For those looking for blood and gore, you won't find it here. But if you want to experience some genuine moments of hair-raising, spine-tingling fear, look no further. "The Changeling" is one hell of a scary film.

THE EVIL DEAD (1981)

This low-budget thrill ride marked the directing debut of Sam Raimi and introduced actor Bruce Campbell to the world. Raimi has since gone on to direct "Spider-Man" and its sequels (among other things), while Campbell, starring here as Ash, has become something of a cult icon in the world of schlock cinema. The acting by Campbell and the rest of the cast of "The Evil Dead" is truly horrendous, but the film's frenetic pace and over-the-top gore more than make up for any shortcomings. (Thankfully, Campbell's acting chops improved greatly in his subsequent films). Raimi introduces some truly innovative camera work and manages to deliver a few good scares and a solid dose of tension. The film also features some impressive stop-motion animation that is unexpected in such a low-budget production. Followed by the equally impressive "Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn" in 1987, this is one of the great horror film's of the 1980's, and a must-see for any true fan of the genre.

AUDITION (1999)

I would be doing a great disservice to tell you anything about this Japanese entry by Takashi Miike. Trust me: the less you know going in, the better. If you don't' know anything about this film, keep it that way. Don't read anything about it. Don't ask your friends if they know anything about it. Just go out and rent it (or better yet, buy it), and prepare to have your mind blown. It's that good.

THE DESCENT (2005)

The story follows six female friends who go on a cave diving expedition a year after one of the women loses her husband and daughter in a tragic accident. While underground, a collapse traps the women, and the tension mounts as they struggle to find a way out. One of the women falls and breaks her leg, and just when things seem like they couldn't get any worse, they do. Just be sure to seek out the original, uncut UK version of the film. The US version ends suddenly with a cheap scare, whereas the original treats the audience with respect, while giving the viewer more to chew over. Directed by Neil Marshall, "The Descent" is possibly the scariest film of the 2000's.