10/31/04--Halloween movies....and the end of the Chronic

Well, its almost Halloween and besides planning for another one of our annual "soirees", its a good time to discuss some choices for your movie watching enjoyment.  Its always fun to watch a good scary movie, whether its a "horror" or "thriller" or just a good creepy movie.  Here's a list of 10 movies that will leave you squirming and afraid to turn out the lights come All Hallows Eve!!
10) Halloween--well ya gotta have one slasher movie in the mix and if you do, it might as well be the best one of the lot (puh-leeze don't even ask me about stupid shit like Friday the 13th or Freddy Kreueger).  This was the first one that inspired a seemingly endless supply of really crappy movies about teenagers in danger (usually after pre-marital sex, but I digress).  This one, with Michael Myers returning home to terrorize the kids of his former hometown provides plenty of good scares with an intelligent script and good performances from Jaime Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance.  ****
 9) The Thing--I'll go with the 1982 version, although the one from the 50's with a pre-Gunsmoke James Arness as the alien is a good one also.  This one features Kurt Russell in a pretty bad beard, stuck up in Antartica with a group of scientists and one apparently very cranky alien lifeform---who by the way is able to change its shape and appearence pretty much at the drop of a hat.  Definitely not for the squeamish, but a great example of looming dread and fear.  ****
 8) Seven--I'm waiting for a quick letter from my friend Dino about including this one.  He hates this movie with an absolute passion.  However, few movies do as good a job of establishing grim menace, as cops Brad Pitt & Morgan Freeman investigate a serial killer who polishes off his victims using the "seven deadly sins" as his motis operandi.  What was even better was that the killer ended up being an uncredited big name star, who absolutely owns the screen when he finally makes his appearence at the end of the film, taunting the detectives to discover his last crime.
This one not only is not for the squeamish, its not for kids or anyone with a weak stomach.  ****
 7) Texas Chainsaw Massacre--naturally I refer to the legendary ORIGINAL, not that souless remake from a year or so ago.  I saw the original at a midnight movie when I was about 20 years old and a film neophyte.  My good friend David Little sprang a little surprise on me by not telling me what it was about.  Thanks a hell of a lot there David.  I can still hear the sound that was made when the young girl is impaled on the meathook by Leatherface.  And its been 24 freaking years.  This movie made such an impact on me that I don't even want to see it again.  ****1/4
 6) The Omen--nothing is quite as scary as the presence of the anti-Christ, ya know?
And when they come in the form of a child--well buckle up, cuz its going to be a bumpy ride.  Gregory Peck and Lee Remick (both terrific) find out that their young son was....well....adopted, and let's just say it wasn't from an approved agency.
OH MY!  Tons of great scares here, and a great movie score to heighten the thrills and chills.  ****1/4
 5) Silence of the Lambs--who can forget that scene where the killer is following Jodie Foster with the nightscopes?!!??  Holy crap, if that scene doesn't have you wetting your pants, nothing will.
"It needs to put the lotion in the basket."
Anthony Hopkins was terrific, but the standard for movie serial killers was blown up and re-invented by Ted Levine, who played Jamie Gumm.  He's the character that really stayed with me after this movie.  Check out the scene where's he's dancing in front of the mirror if you REALLY want to be creeped out.  ****1/2
 4) Alien--talk about establishing your sense of fear and dread.  This may be the ultimate example in cinema history.  Who can forget the scene where the creature attaches itself to John Hurt's face?  And forget the stomach scene, how about the scene where Harry Dean Stanton goes looking for Jones the cat?  And those weren't even the best scenes in the film!!  Let's just say to make sure you've got an extra pair of underwear when you watch this one.  ****1/2
 3) The Shining--a long, slow descent into madness, with a little bit of claustrophobia thrown in for good measure.  Jack Nicholson most famous role (arguably) has a few scenes where he goes over the top ("Heeerrree's Johnny!"), but watching him slowly lose it is one scary process.  ("REDRUM!  REDRUM!")  ****1/2
 2) The Exorcist--AHA!  Thought this was going to be number 1, didn't ya?  Well, truth be told, until I remember my first choice at the last minute, this was numero uno.  And anyone that has it at the top of their list can't be faulted.  This is one scary ass, B.A.D. film (and I mean that in a good way).  The devil pays us a visit in the form of Linda Blair, who never would be this good (or even come close to be honest with you) again.  More scenes that will scare the beejezus out of you than any movie ever made.  *****

So what's number 1?  What's my number one scare the hell out of you film?  Probably one that you've never heard of...unless you're really a film buff.  Its been remade (UGH), in what can only be desribed at a "tepid" americanized version, complete with a happy ending.  But trust me here....take a chance....go with the original....if you dare!!  (Cue the evil laughter)
 1) The Vanishing--I'm not sure where I first heard about this film.  But I saw it, felt the utter desperation of the lead character as he searches for his girlfriend who has suddenly...ya know..."vanished" at a roadside stop.  His desperation slowly begins to turn to obsession, and maybe even to madness....until he is contacted by someone who offers to finally answer the question of what happened to her.  The man with the answer is so....so normal.  And that is truly what makes this a scary film.  That someone so ordinary could in fact be so out of whack....so evil.  And let me just tell you....the final scene....when he discovers, FINALLY...what happened to the girlfriend....will have you jumping in your chair and going......HOLY SHIT!!
But, at the same time....its great and terrific filmmaking.  Awesome.  *****

Well, big news at home.  Last night at dinner, Kellie informed us that her relationship with Matt.....the CHRONIC as I called him (and only you Cheech & Chong fans will understand that reference---uh thank you....thank you very much)....is over.
I think our decision  a couple of weeks ago to suspend Kellie's phone privileges (school issues) may have played a part in it, but apparently Matt dropped the "B" word on her during a misunderstanding.  In 7th grade.  Nice.  So I told her if he's going to do that now, he's going to continue to do it in the future.  Good riddance.

Later,
Jeff