Smile! It’s Halloween Month 2014!
I love this image, and I love this movie…and what better time to enjoy “The Exorcist” – and ALL of the greatest horror films – than the month leading up to Halloween 2014!
With 31 days of horror, there are a LOT of films you can watch to make you scream…time to share some of my favorites with you! Just be sure not to make THESE TWO UNHAPPY!
Yes, those two Twins were no doubt perfect girls for Director Stanley Kubrick…more on “The Shining” in a moment, a more stylized horror film…
Watch out! As stylized as “The Shining” is, we start our look at the horrific month of October with a film that for many is the most shocking ever released!
Fire Up Your Chainsaws!
Let’s begin with what many consider the most “horrifically raw” horror film of all time! “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is not only an iconic horror film – it was groundbreaking for it’s “documentary” feel, and it is celebrating its 40th anniversary on a new blu-ray release – that has lots of new documentaries!
This movie is almost TOO intense to watch, which is why it has become such a horror classic…and speaking of horror classics, here is one of most well-made horror films of all time:
Bravo To Brian DePalma!
Director Brian DePalma made what is, for me, one of the all time greatest horror films ever:
The 70’s was a golden era for horror films, and DePalma deserves credit for many of them – not only his horror classic “Carrie”, but “Sisters” and “Dressed To Kill” as well! See my five favorite DePalma horror classics by clicking here:
http://johnrieber.com/2012/03/13/carrie-and-more-5-classic-brian-depalma-thrillers/
And speaking of the 70’s, let’s not forget that in 1973 the greatest horror film of all time was released to a screaming public:
The haunting image on the poster only hints at what is going on inside this Washington DC brownstone: “The Exorcist” is a brilliant film as well as the scariest horror film ever made – with so many shocking moments there are too many to name…and it’s impossible to keep your head on straight!
OK, we all know about the shocking sequences in the film – the buildup of dread that begins when young Regan starts to become – well, POSSESSED…
Director William Friedkin made this two years after he won the Oscar for Best Picture for “The French Connection”…
“The Exorcist” was also nominated for Best Picture of 1973 – a great example of a horror film that is also just a brilliant movie – and Linda Blair was perfect as the young, angelic Regan – which makes what happens in the film all the more shocking:
Regan MacNeil: “My bed was shaking. I can’t get to sleep.”
There is so much great trivia around this movie:
The refrigerated bedroom set was cooled with four air conditioners and temperatures would plunge to around 30 to 40 below zero. It was so cold that perspiration would freeze on some of the cast and crew. On one occasion the air was saturated with moisture resulting in a thin layer of snow falling on the set before the crew arrived for filming.
Oh, and then it gets REALLY SCARY, as the demon begins to taunt Karras:
Demon: “Your mother sucks cocks in Hell, Karras, you faithless slime!”
Oh yeah, the “360 degree head twist” sequence! This film is so intense and scary that the original teaser trailer, which consisted of nothing but images of the white-faced demon quickly flashing in and out of darkness, was banned in many theaters, as it was deemed “too frightening”.
Pea Soup For Dinner?
And then of course, there is the legendary projectile vomiting scene!
The substance that the possessed Linda Blair hurls at Father Damien Karras is thick pea soup. Specifically, it’s Andersen’s brand pea soup. The crew tried Campbell’s but didn’t like the “effect.”
Tons of great stories and commentaries on the special edition blu-ray….check it out and relive a classic!
And it’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as horror is concerned! Because in addition to classic horror, there are some great “new” horror classics as well!
Meet The Shocking Soska Sisters!
Two of the brightest new stars of horror have a great story to share! And yes, they love “The Shining” too!
The Soska Sisters are not only twins, but they direct horror films and they have a company called “Twisted Twins!”
They clearly have a thing for blood, so check out my story on their terrific horror film “American Mary!”
The Sisters are back this Halloween with “See No Evil 2″ starring Kane! This new horror film is on demand as of Oct. 17!
Let’s pause for a moment to say “don’t you just love October”?
It’s Friday The 13th All Month Long!
Yes, October is really month full of “Friday the 13th’s”, culminating in a night of Halloween horror on the 31st!
Here are my favorite horror films – from all around the world! Like this bloody classic from Japan:
Yes, you can enjoy the classic gorefest of “Tokyo Gore Police” and many more by clicking on my list of worldwide horror here:
http://johnrieber.com/2013/12/13/friday-the-13th-the-best-horror-movies-to-scare-the-lights-off-you/
And of course, some think that a certain film is the best horror film ever…
“Here’s Johnny!”
Yes, when a master like Stanley Kubrick takes on the horror genre, you had to assume it would be a stylized look at pure evil…with many iconic moments…
You can read all about this classic horror film by clicking on my whole story here…
There are so many great horror films to watch…some are gorefests, and some offer a psychological look at horror, like this one!
A Psychological Horror Double Bill!
If you haven’t heard of “Let’s Scare Jessica To Death”, you are missing a horror treat! And if you want double your horror, then add “Rosemary’s Baby” to your list as well!
Read about both of these classic horror films by clicking on my story here:
http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/26/rosemarys-baby-jessicas-scared-to-death-great-halloween-horror/
Well, I’m exhausted, and you should be looking for movies like this right now:
This is just the tip of the horror iceberg, and there are many more posts to come! So try all of these gorefests on for size and let me know what you think!
