The Doctor's Halloween Movie Special

Welcome to my Halloween Movie Special!

Every year in October, I enjoy spending some of my free time watching horror movies. So if you are planning on staying in for Halloween, here are some films you might want to check out.

Let's begin!


GERALD'S GAME

Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, this is a psychological horror film that follows a woman that gets a little kinky with her husband in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Her husband decides he wants to handcuff her to the bedpost. However, he soon suffers a heart attack, leaving his wife to fend for herself while she begins hearing voices and having strange visions.

Finally.... Someone is here to help.

This movie stands out thanks to the great acting by Carla Gugino (Watchmen, Sin City), who has to carry an entire movie about a woman handcuffed to a bed. This is also thanks to the masterful directing by Mike Flanagan, who also directed Hush and Oculus, two horror films I have praised in the past. Flanagan has definitely made me take notice with his quality of films. I will definitely keep an eye out for more from this director.


THE SACRAMENT

This found footage horror film follows two journalists who document their friend's journey to find his missing sister at Eden Parish, a utopian religious community. Of course, all is not what it seems.

"Behave and I'll let you have some punch."

It takes some time to build to it, but the climax goes all out with the protagonists in a race to escape with their lives. Part of what makes this film so effective is that it is based on the real events of the Jonestown Massacre of 1978. It is a reminder that some of the biggest monsters are just regular people like you and me.


ILL - THE RITUAL

This little gem is a foreign film entirely in Russian, but do not let that stop you from checking it out. The story revolves around two sisters. After their mother passes away from an illness, the younger sister becomes gravely ill. The older sister seeks help from a parish priest and soon finds a way to combat the illness by diving into her sister's subconscious in order to find what is really making her sick.

That thing crawling from the tree is a whole lot of NOPE.

Unfortunately, this film did not come off as very scary, but it has other strengths. In particular, the visuals are stunning. Every time the film delved into the subconscious mind, I could not pull my eyes away. It is best described as a surreal landscape that is both grotesque yet beautiful in its own way. Definitely give this one a shot. Films like this need more love.


CREEP

This is a found footage film that follows a videographer who answers a Craigslist ad for a one-day shoot in a remote town. As you can expect, the guy who ran the ad is not exactly as he appears.

Nope... Nothing creepy to see here. Just keep moving right al-*runs away*

This might not sound like the most original film, but it is very well executed. The acting is good, and the director does a great job at building tension throughout until the climax. This is worth a view for sure.


IT

Another film based on a Stephen King novel, this is a newer take on an old favorite. And I was pleasantly surprised how good this new iteration was. The story revolves around a group of kids who band together to fight a shape-shifting monster who emerges every 27 years to prey on children.

As if you needed another reason to hate clowns.

The child actors are really talented and the movie does not pull any punches when it comes to the scares. This is a genuinely frightening film with Bill Skarsgård excelling as the terrifying Pennywise. The story really pulls you in and makes you root for the children. You always feel like they are in real danger that could come at any minute. This is a must watch for horror fans.


WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE

After they decided to kill off Freddy, where could the studios go? They decided to go a little "meta" with this film. Actress Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors) plays herself in this film, which takes place in the "real world" where the horror franchise is still popular despite Freddy dying in the last flick. But Heather has been receiving some weird prank calls, and she soon begins experiencing some odd dreams as well. But are they really dreams?

Freddy looks decidedly more demonic, and somehow more frightening than ever.

I was really surprised with this film. There is less gore than the average Freddy movie, but it is a lot more psychological, and in some ways more frightening. It does get a little silly at times but it is done tongue-in-cheek. This film really smart, and almost feels like a cross between Candyman and a regular Nightmare movie. This film comes highly recommended. Especially if you have already watched all the other films in the series. This might just be the best Nightmare.


GET OUT

Written and directed by Jordan Peele, this film revolves around an African American man who decides it is time to go meet his white girlfriend's parents out in their secluded estate in the woods. Thankfully, his girlfriend's parents are quite accommodating. Almost too accommodating. At first, the young man thinks the parents are just overcompensating because he is black and they want to be accepting. However, say it with me now.... all is not how it seems.

When you accidentally delete a song on your playlist and can't remember which one.

This film is another standout this year with superb acting by Daniel Kaluuya (Broken Mirror) and sharp writing and directing from Peele. The film is quite funny, but still scary when it needs to be, and also quite thought-provoking. This is another must-watch for horror fans.


That's it for my Halloween Movie Special. I hope you all have fun and stay safe. Happy Halloween!

The Doctor's Halloween Movie Special

Welcome to my Halloween Movie Special!

Every October, I like spending some of my free time watching horror movies and sharing my thoughts on them. So if you are staying at home for Halloween, or just want a good list of horror films to watch, you might want to check out some of these movies, most of which are available on Netflix.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT. Some of the following images are gory so do not proceed if that is not your thing.

With that out of the way, let's begin!


OCULUS

Starring popular Doctor Who alumnus, Karen Gillan, Oculus stands out because it's not gory, but instead more psychological. The story centers around an odd mirror that affects the senses of those who dare get near it.

"This fruit's juice tastes a little funny."

The film has a bit of a vibe similar to The Shining, but it also has a lot of flashbacks, which serve to confuse the audience as well as the protagonists. Unfortunately, the acting is a bit uneven, with many of the main characters lacking chemistry with each other. However, Karen Gillan does a great job, although her American accent could use some work. Oculus is unique enough to warrant a look.


HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II

If you know me, I love Hellraiser. It is a great horror film that is both gory and character driven. The sequel is not quite as good as the first, but it is still a very good film featuring even more gore than before.

Nah, he'll be alright..... It's just a flesh wound.

If you want to find out more about the Cenobites, and the realm in which they reside, this film will answer those questions. However, I feel that it takes a bit of the mystique away by actually showing us what Hell is like. Nonetheless, Hellbound is a worthy successor to the first film.


CANDYMAN

This has got to be one of the best horror movies I have ever seen. The premise is simple: a grad student investigates an urban legend called "Candyman." Saying his name five times will summon him to kill you. Sounds so basic, but it is so much more.

"I think I overdid it with the weight loss."

Yes, there is some gore in this film, but it is also very cerebral. The protagonist's life spirals out of control, and you begin to question what is real. Furthermore, the film doesn't lose steam in the final act, staying strong throughout. If you like horror films, this is one you need to watch.


GRAVE ENCOUNTERS

This was one of the weaker films I saw this year, though the premise is interesting. A crew of ghost hunters from a reality series encounter some real ghosts, which turn out to be deadly.

"Oh look, a friendly ghost. It just wants to say hi!"

The film doesn't try to fool the audience into thinking it might be real. The first act is entertaining with some comedy sprinkled in, but once the scares begin, the film is not as effective. Nonetheless, there are some great ideas here. I just wish the director stuck to the comedy a bit more because the film just isn't all that scary. If you don't like found footage type films, stay away. If you do, this is just ok to watch with some friends. Certainly watch the other films on this list first.


NIGHTBREED

This is a cult classic from Clive Barker, though it's not a typical horror film. The monsters are the "good guys," and the antagonist is a human serial killer.

I don't think that's the kind of mask that comes off.

The main problem with Nightbreed is that it is too ambitious. There is some world-building since the monsters live in an underground society called Midian, and the film has many interesting characters (the monsters in particular), but fitting them all into one film makes the pacing feel rushed. Furthermore, the final act feels like it could have gone further with the action and gore, though that could have been due to a budget issue.

Despite the flaws, there is a certain charm to the film. It is incredibly imaginative, and worth watching because it is so unique. It feels like there are many layers to the characters that inhabit this world, even if there isn't enough time to explore them all. I'd love to see more from Nightbreed in the future, although I can't help but feel the story would work a little better as a TV series.

Horror fans should give this film a shot. Funny little coincidence that the director's cut was just released on Blu-Ray/DVD earlier this week. Go get a copy!


YOU'RE NEXT

On the outside, this looks like just another home invasion movie, and the setup is pretty basic with a family reunion suddenly interrupted by men in masks. Panic and gore ensue. However, this is a smart movie that knows how to have fun.

Points for proper spelling.

Part of what makes this movie stand out is that one of the family guests just so happens to possess strong survival skills. What's so great is that she still acts realistic in how she approaches fighting back. She still seems vulnerable, as she is taking on several assailants. So despite the protagonist's training, there is still quite a bit of tension as she hides and strategically plans her actions. This is probably my second favorite on this list after Candyman, so go watch it on Netflix now!


WISHMASTER

This one gets creativity points. The antagonist is a djinn, a demon with incredible power, but can only use that power to grant other people's wishes. As a result, the djinn tries to get people to reveal what they want so he can twist their words and use their desires to kill them in creative ways.

"I think I need more moisturizer."

Unfortunately, the movie is not that strong as a whole. The acting is fairly weak, and the horror element is rather gimmicky. On the other hand, the film does have an all-star horror cast with Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th), Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street), and Tony Todd (Candyman). Furthermore, both the first and final acts go all out with gore and special effects, an effort I can appreciate. Overall, Wishmaster is a very flawed film, but still a fun watch.


RE-ANIMATOR

If you like gore and a little dark comedy, this is one for you. Based on a story by H.P. Lovecraft, the film revolves around a medical student (Jeffrey Combs) who concocts a serum to reanimate the dead. Of course, the serum has some nasty side effects, such as the little problem of causing the reanimated to kill indiscriminately. Well, most of the time anyway.

"Please don't eat me. I make a terrible appetizer."

Part of what makes this film stand out is how over-the-top it is. It's a fun, campy horror movie. However, there is one particular graphic scene with a severed head and a nude woman that is a bit hard to watch, but it does still fit in with the gore and nudity that is prevalent throughout. The comedy also helps make the film entertaining, such as some of Jeffrey Combs' dialogue, and visual gags that are also gory. If you don't like gore, stay away. Otherwise, this is a must-see for horror fans.


That's it for my Halloween Special. I hope you all have fun and stay safe. Happy Halloween!