Halloween Treat (No Tricks)
Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis appeared in five films in the series (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Definition of Halloween (Oxford Dictionaries)
noun: the night of 31 October, the eve of All Saints’ Day, often celebrated by children dressing up in frightening masks and costumes. Halloween is thought to be associated with the Celtic festival Samhain, when ghosts and spirits were believed to be abroad.
We all knew that, didn’t we? Do you know what I do on Halloween? I watch the film of the same name. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen it but it remains in my top ten. Maybe it’s the creepy Donald Pleasence – who was always one of my favourite actors – who makes it. I love the music, too. I know. Weird…
So it’s a great excuse to give away some books – some lovely paperbacks of Diavolino which is a great story for Halloween! What’s more I’ll sign them. The first is a Goodreads giveaway, all you have to do is click on the link below and enter. There is one book to win there:
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The second copy I’m giving away directly to the person who can persuade me that their TOP 3 choice of horror films of all time is the best. In the event more than one person has the same list I’ll put those entrants in a hat and draw one lucky winner. I will do that on Halloween, so you have the rest of the month to get posting your ideas in the comments box below!
What are you waiting for? Don’t hang around, you never know who is watching…
Steve Emmett 
My first movie choice is the original John Carpenter “Halloween” very little blood/gore. Pure suspense and atmosphere as well as setting the stage for unkillable/unstoppable human monsters that would be copied again and again. Second favorite movie the original “House On Haunted Hill”. Again atmosphere, eerie and a tale of survival against two would-be murderers rather than all about the ghosts that inhabit the place. Keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering where it’s going. Finally “Hell House” by Richard Matheson. Strong performances, unnerving and a powerful memorable finale (great performance by the great Roddy McDowell).
Good choice, Allan. Good luck!
This question is so hard to answer!!
I’ll make my top 3 as… House of 1000 Corpses, Audition, and Ginger Snaps
I choose House to round up all the 70’s & 80’s flicks that I adore so much. Even though House was made much later, it was made to set in the 70’s – all the nostalgia was in Rob Zombie’s head – and he transferred it onto film perfectly.
I chose Audition to round up all my love for foreign horror films.
And I chose Ginger Snaps at the top of all things cheese. I hate to say that, because Ginger Snaps was not cheese – but, thinking along the lines of October late night horror on Sci Fi channel, TBS, TNT, etc. (Cherry Falls, Bride of Chucky, Terror Tract, etc.)
Thanks, Becki. I can see this is going to be hard.
John Carpenter’s The Thing, my second favorite movie period. Great suspense with all the unknown factors and distrust, crazy effects for the time, and the scene where Palmer changes while tied up to the chair has to rank as one of the freakiest horror scenes ever.
Wes Craven’s They. The BEST boogeyman type movie ever. The characters are great, the blending of Night Terrors with reality keeps you wondering what’s real and what’s not and the creatures themselves are disturbingly creepy, you can just imagine something like them coming out of Hell to carry people off. My wife did not want to even be touched after watching this movie. She told me, “We have to watch a happy movie!”
American Werewolf in London. I love werewolves, so I have to include one. Good werewolf movies are hard to find, but I think this classic does it really well, and the concept of the rotting dead spirits of victims hanging around to torture him mentally afterward was awesome too.
Hmm. Two of those I haven’t seen. *heads over to Lovefilm*
I’m such a horror movie addict that these were hard to pick. I went with phantasm, the Tom Savini NOTLD remake, and Susperia. I watch at least one of Argento movie on Halloween
Suspiria is great. I love Dario Argento’s films to be honest.
(Not a competition entry) ‘Hellraiser’ – tho I love the book more (The Hellbound Heart). Is ‘Alien’ horror or sci-fi? Whichever it is, the scary creature in the dark remaining hidden until the very end – brilliant. Most memorable film, if not the scariest, ‘Night of the Demon’ (1957),seared into my brain in glorious black and white! I think I was quite young when I saw it – I kept quiet and stayed up late when they had late night horror films on TV. If you have any idea of what the final scenes are – you’ll know why I remember it…maybe that film is the cause of my nightmares… 😉
I never knew about ‘The Hellbound Heart’ – I’m going to have to give that a shot. 1957 Night of the Demon’ sounds like something I need to see, too. Wonder if it’s available on Prime…
I imagine ‘Night of the Demon’ looks about as scary as a bowl of cornflakes, now!
Hellraiser is one of my faves.
I’m with Julia on ‘Night of The Demon’. Great film. The original ‘Paranormal Activity’ got me scampering behind the cushions but the sequels have been pale imitations (imo). I loved ‘Quatermass and the Pit’. Years ago, ‘Witchcraft’ (which I saw as a midnight movie on TV) had me switching on all the lights). ‘The Amityville Horror’ and ‘Poltergeist’ are also favourites
Your reply reminded me of ‘Witchboard’, which was pretty good in it’s day – I haven’t seen it since I’ve been a grown up.
Also… Mother’s Day is one that I thought I had made up in my head – because nobody Ive talked to has ever heard of it. The Drano scene alone will stand out to me forever. But…butbutbut… I just recently found a remake of the same Mothers Day that I’m referring to – and it looks really good! I’m not a huge fan of Rebecca DeMornay, but the preview I saw showed her doing the role justice. I’m excited to see it. (It’s on video – I only have to buy it. Pesky addictions like eating & being warm have hindered my movie buying abilities)
I remember Poltergeist II, more vividly. There was something really irritating about the first film. But Kane, and the Mezcal worm, really stick in my mind from the second film. And I remember watching Quatermass and the Pit for the first time (I must have been young again!)