Ethan's Favorite Halloween Movies

Hello, Pink Droppers, this is Kim's husband, Ethan.  I've been granted reprieve from Kim's "be seen, not heard" instructions, and thus I'm going to showcase the five movies that will get even the grumpiest lil' pumpkin in the Halloween spirit, in no particular order:



Alien (1979)

So you're in deep space, years from Earth.  Would you pick up a hitchhiker?  No?  What a hitchhiker that gestates in your sternum, killing you when it hatches?  Still no?  What if said hitchhiker grows to a seven-foot tall, acid-for-blood killing machine?  Definitely no?  Well then you haven't grown up in East Tennessee, as that would be some tasty roadkill.  Ridely Scott's slow-building masterpiece tells the story of the doomed mining freighter Nostromo, who are awakened early from their hypersleep to investigate a strange signal coming from a nearby planetoid.  This ill-fated field trip brings back an unwanted organism that picks off the Nostromo crew one by one.  More psychological horror than gore, the film uses silence and dread rather than gore to keep the viewer on edge.  Throw in a haunting, metallic soundtrack, and you have a world-class creature feature.



The Thing (1982)

Kurt Russell (don't laugh) stars in this 1980s cult classic as a member of a U.S. research team in Antarctica that stumbles upon a malevolent alien life form frozen in the deep Arctic ice.  Of course, this extraterrestrial popsicle can slowly consume humans, and upon completion, forms a perfect walking, talking, and (slightly more) psychopathic version of you.  Of course, there's also a massive Arctic storm going on outside, so no one can get in or out.  Fun!  Much gorier than Alien, but features some amazing special effects and makeup (remember kids, this is WAY before CGI and all that newfangled computer stuff). 






The Blair Witch Project (1999)

This entry might raise some eyebrows, but bear with me.  One of the most original horror films for its time, this is one of the first films to feature the now-overused "shaky cam" filming method (I'm looking at you, Cloverfield).  The premise is simple: three film students head to the wilderness around Burkitsville, Maryland to investigate the local legend of the Blair Witch.  They disappear without a trace, and the "found footage" from their camera makes up the film.  Personally, I think the scene where the three students are sitting in their tent at night, lost, tired and scared, and suddenly they hear a baby cry in the distance is one of the best scenes.  Ever.  If that scene does not give you goosebumps, you need to check your pulse. 

Fun fact: This film was made for $750k, and grossed more than $248 million!





The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece of insanity really needs no introduction.  Based on a Stephen King novel, the movie revolves around Jack Torrence, a writer who takes the job of winter caretaker in a old, massive Colorado hotel to work on his writing.  He takes along his wife and young son, and they soon encounter the ghosts occupying the property.  Not a gory film, but rather a study of a man's slow descent into madness.  Highly recommended.





It (1990)

Features Pennywise the homicidal demon clown (yes, really).  Pure nightmare fuel. 


Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!