Well, it’s that time again. Spooky season has arrived, and most traditions that people hold are trick or treating, costume parties, visiting haunted houses, but most importantly watching scary movies. I’ve always loved movies, but I’ve never been into horror movies that much. However, in more recent years, I have found myself more attractive to the genre, close to becoming a horror buff. Nevertheless, these are a couple of franchises that I believe really capture the spirit of Halloween.
1. Halloween
It’s a no brainer, right? I am actually about halfway into the series, myself. But I have seen the first iconic film dozens of times. Halloween birthed one of the most iconic serial killers of all time, Michael Meyers. A man with a dark history, in which he killed his sister, by repeatedly stabbing her to death. He has now escaped the asylum where he was kept, and his planning on exacting his vengeance on anyone in his path, namely Laurie played by Jamie Lee Curtis. It cemented John Carpenter as a exemplary director, and his inspired endless amounts of horror films to come, as well as the tropes within them. The theme song to Michael Meyers is recognizable to almost everyone. If you haven’t seen this film yet this month or at all, at least save it for Halloween night.
2. Chucky
I have already covered my thoughts on this franchise at length, in a ranking I did awhile back. But it still has remained, as one of my personal favorite franchises. The soul of a serial killer that is transferred into a doll, via demonic ritual, that is later bought by a mother for her innocent little boy. The doll comes to life terrorizing the mother, boy, and everyone else that comes in contact with it. There have been various reincarnations of the doll, and different retellings of the story itself. Brad Dourif, who has been the voice of Chucky, up until the 2018 release, has done a terrific job at turning this adorable doll, into a ruthless killer. Sometimes the franchise takes the path at making Chucky more serious, other times they make it more whimsical, with loads of dark humor. I much prefer the sillier installments of Chucky, however my thoughts differ from others. Regardless, it’s a gore filled, creative, and entertaining series that has turned Chucky, into a household name.
3. Jason Voorhees
A group of camp counselor are stalked and hunted by a masked assailant, after trying to reopen a summer camp, that was also the site of a child’s drowning. This formula of teenagers at a cabin or camp, is prevalent through out the whole franchise, with the exception of a few films. All the attention, logically, goes to our antagonist, Jason Voorhees. The thing is about Jason Voorhees, is he not only has great kills with the machete you sometimes see him carrying, but also with any object in sight. The most remarkable thing about this franchise is the kills, and man are they entertaining.
That’s all of the recommendations I have for now. I know there are probably countless franchises I’m leaving out like Scream and Friday the 13th, but these are some of my favorites, and I wanted to keep it short and sweet. Also this should be enough to get you through the rest of the month.
Cedric Cinema 