Spooky Season is upon us. As we near Halloween, we often find ourselves curled up and cozy to watch films for feel-good holiday spirit or for a fear factor. Here’s some of APN’s favorites.
Hales Passino – ‘The Shining’
Blood and gore are not the only themes eliciting fear. I have a love/hate relationship with the 1980 psychological horror film “The Shining,” based on Stephen King’s 1977 novel of the same name. Jack Nicholson brilliantly portrays Jack Torrence, a recovering alcoholic and aspiring writer facing the wrath of isolation with his family during a harsh winter. While working as an off-season caretaker for the historic Overlook Hotel, he dives off the deep end. Between Torrence’s growing aggravation, his son Jack’s eerie psychic abilities and wife’s mousiness, the multitudes of personality and internal conflict between each character are unsettling to say the least.
Jonas Ward – ‘The Taking of Deborah Logan’
One movie that I thought really encapsulated the feeling of suspense is “The Taking of Deborah Logan.” This horror movie was incredibly well produced in my opinion and not for the faint of heart.
The plot of this movie stars a group of college students who are assigned to study an Alzheimer’s patient named Deborah Logan. They are required to film Deborah in her home alongside her daughter to capture the reality of what Alzhemier’s does to an individual for this college project. Later down the road they discover Deborah’s past and also the history of the town she lives in. The college students soon relize that Deborah is actually possessed by an evil soul trying to murder a young virgin girl.
If that doesn’t just say messed up yet interesting, I don’t know what does. This movie is incredibly scary yet entertaining, not overusing jumpscares and actually gives viewers a great story to follow while watching. This film scored a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes when it was released in theaters. I highly recommend watching this movie, if you want a scare that’s not corny or cheap with good material.
Nickie Hayes – ‘Hocus Pocus’
For those who are not the biggest fan of scary movies, like me, a classic Disney movie to watch around the Halloween season is “Hocus Pocus.” It was aired in 1993 and is an American fantasy comedy film. The movie is light-hearted while still providing all of the Fall and Halloween essentials, besides being scary. The movie follows teenager Max Dennison, who has just moved to Salem, Massachusetts. In the process of snooping around an abandoned house with his sister Dani, they awaken three witches played by Bette Midler, Kathy Namjimy and Sarah Jessica Parker. He already has trouble fitting in, but now also has to deal with the antics of the three witches who were executed in the 17th century.
Serena Ganesan – ‘Coraline’
I have always loved dark fantasy more than traditional horror films. The 2009 dark fantasy classic, “Coraline,” is my favorite to watch during Halloween season.
The concept of an idealized parallel universe turning awry gives me the creeps. Plus, “Coraline” is the kind of movie that stays with you psychologically for a long time and has quite an impact on how you perceive the world.
Johanna Weeks – ‘The Twitches Series’
The Twitches series starring Tia and Tamera Mowry are my favorite spooky season movies. The first movie aired in 2005 followed by Twitches Too in 2007. These Disney Channel originals follow two reunited twins, Alex and Camryn Barnes, as they embark on a magical and dangerous journey. Growing up I did not watch classic horror movies, so Disney Channel movies are a must see for me because they help get me into the Halloween spirit.
APN 