The Doctor's Deluxe Halloween Movie Special

Welcome to the deluxe edition of my annual Halloween Movie Special!

Every year in October, I enjoy spending some of my free time watching horror movies and sometimes TV series. So if you are planning on staying in for Halloween (and with covid-19, a lot of us don't have much of a choice), here are some films and TV series you might want to check out.

Let's begin!

SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK

This horror film follows a group of kids in a small town who make the erroneous decision to enter a local derelict mansion. They soon stumble onto a book of scary stories written by a tortured young woman who lived there. But these stories soon become all too real.

Produced by Guillermo del Toro and based on the popular anthology book of the same name, this movie does a decent job of weaving in some of the well known stories and monsters from the book within the main story of the film. The best thing about the movie is that the monsters actually look like they do in the book, which is no small feet considering the creepy art.

It's ok... I'm sure she just wants a hug.

This is still a kids movie (PG-13) but manages to be genuinely scary throughout while never taking it too far. It is not a bloody or gory movie though there is a little body horror. If you are a fan of the old books, you should find this enjoyable.

ONE CUT OF THE DEAD

A hack director and his small crew set out to shoot a low budget zombie flick in an abandoned WWII Japanese facility. But the crew is soon attacked by real zombies, and it's all captured in one take.

Little do they know what awaits them...

This horror comedy really surprised me in the best way possible. The movie is not exactly what it purports to be but I won't spoil it for you here. It ruins the film knowing the twist. Just know that the movie is not over when you see the first credits roll, which happens after a 40 minute take. Keep watching the rest of the movie and I believe you will be pleasantly surprised. This film has instantly become one of my favorite horror movies of all time, and it only becomes more enjoyable when I share it with others who end up loving the film. It's funny, inspiring, and it just makes you feel good. If you only watch one movie this Halloween, make it this one.

TURBO KID

A teenage comic book fan takes up the guise of his favorite super hero in order to save his new friend from a brutal overlord in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of... 1997?

This is how we dress after covid-19 is finally over in the far-flung future of... 1997.

Dripping with an 80s aesthetic, Turbo Kid feels like a cross between a Saturday morning cartoon and Mad Max except everyone rides around on bikes. It's absurd but it's highly entertaining. It's also surprisingly gory, which is sometimes used for comedic effect. I would love to see more movies like this. If this sounds like your kind of flick, I highly recommend you check it out.

There is also a really cool short video prequel to the movie. It does give you an idea on what to expect from the film but I think it makes more sense if you watch the movie first so maybe wait to watch it.

THE INVISIBLE MAN

A woman escapes an abusive relationship with a wealthy optics engineer who later commits suicide. However, the woman soon finds herself stalked by a dangerous invisible figure.

"Please! You can't make me watch The Mummy!"

Produced by Blumhouse, this is a reboot of the classic Universal monster and the results are much better than I could have hoped. This is a surprisingly scary movie with great acting and cool special effects. Despite being a reboot of a classic, the story feels fresh. I would love to see Universal do something similar with their other classic monsters. This is one of the best new horror movies of 2020. Check this one out.

READY OR NOT

A woman marries the man of her dreams at his family's luxurious mansion but her wedding day takes a turn for the worse when she is forced to take part in a deadly game of hide and seek.

Not a family I would want to marry into.

Starring Samara Weaving as the newlywed bride, this is a fun horror comedy with a great premise, funny characters, and a satisfying ending. I can't help but feel like I would like to see a sequel or even a prequel. There are a lot of interesting directions the story could take from here and the background to the story is intriguing. The characters especially stand out so I would love to see them featured again. More movies in this universe please.

HOST

Six friends decide they want to contact the dead during lockdown so they attempt a seance over Zoom. Unfortunately, the girls do not get the results they desire.

When someone goes to the restroom and forgets to turn off their camera.

Filmed entirely during quarantine, this is a short but clever horror film that is also very topical. The acting is great and there are plenty of scares. This is also one of the best horror films to come out this year. With a runtime of only 57 minutes, I think you can squeeze this one into your schedule. It is a Shudder exclusive but you can get a free trial on Prime Video right now so check it out if you can.

THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR

A young woman takes the job of an au pair for two orphaned children at Bly Manor but she soon begins to see apparitions that haunt the premises.

You could not pay me to step foot in this creepy room.

Loosely based on the Henry James novel The Turn of the Screw, this Netflix series is creator Mike Flanagan's followup to The Haunting of Hill House, though there is no connection between the stories. The acting is superb, the characters are all very deep, and the atmosphere is creepy. However, this new story is not terrifying like Hill House was. But do not let that stop you from watching this 9-episode series. The finale is gut-wrenching and it earns the emotional ending. Well worth it watching through this series. I highly recommend it.

WHO'S WATCHING OLIVER

A mentally unstable loner is pushed by his overbearing mum to go on a killing spree while on vacation. Desperate to escape a life thrust onto him, things turn for the better when he meets the beautiful Sophia.

Just the usual story of serial killer meets girl.

This indie film was a surprise. It's gory and hard to watch at times but it's ultimately a love story following survivors of abuse. Russell Geoffrey Bank does a great job as the titular character. Oliver does horrifying things to the women he rapes and murders but you can't help but want to root for him to escape. It is worth a watch if you can get past some of the subject matter.

COLOR OUT OF SPACE

When a strange meteorite lands near their home, the Gardner Family soon find themselves contending with a terrifying organism that begins to infect the land they live on as well as their bodies and minds.

Sick look for a rave.

Loosely based on the H.P. Lovecraft story of the same name, this film is filled with the kinds of imagery and themes you expect: body horror, strange amorphous creatures, and people going insane. The film also stars Nicolas Cage who hams it up but it works for this crazy movie. This film is a bizarre technicolor trip and it builds to an insane finale, and I loved it. For the uninitiated, Lovecraft stories have inspired some of the best horror films such as The Thing, Evil Dead, and Event Horizon. This has become one of my favorite new horror movies.

IT CHAPTER 2

The Losers Club comes back to Derry, Maine 27 years later when they learn the terrifying Pennywise has returned.

Aw... he just wants to play.

While the first film was a coming of age story, the sequel is about coming back home to face your demons. This film also has a great cast including James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain but Bill Hader really steals the movie with his lines and entertaining delivery. Unfortunately, this movie is not as scary as its predecessor. However, Bill Skarsgård is still amazing as Pennywise and it is still entertaining to see such a great monster on screen even if not as scary this time around. This is ultimately a disappointing follow up to the first film but still worth a watch for the great characters.

MANDY

A loving couple lead a peaceful life in the Pacific Northwest. That peace is soon shattered by a satanic cult, leaving only a man filled with vengeance in his heart.

You got a little something on yo... you know what? Never mind.

Starring Nicolas Cage, this film was produced by the same people who made Color Out of Space. It was also inspired by the works of Lovecraft and shares the same bizarre technicolor aesthetic as the other film. The difference is this is a revenge movie where the protagonist must battle a hellish cult. The film is trippy and gory, and Nicolas Cage really hams it up again but it really works well for these films. I highly recommend giving this a watch.

DOCTOR SLEEP

Struggling with alcoholism, Dan Torrance is all grown up and still traumatized by the sinister events that took place at the Overlook Hotel so long ago. Dan meets a young girl named Abra who is also gifted with the "shining". But they soon find themselves having to battle a mysterious group of psychic vampires called the True Knot.

The twins at the Overlook Hotel are still super creepy.

Based on the Stephen King book of the same name and directed by Mike Flanagan, this is the sequel to The Shining. The True Knot are an interesting group of villains and I appreciate someone finally doing a movie with psychic vampires. However, this film is not really scary at all, which is disappointing since the director is known for making such great horror films like Hush, Oculus, and Ouija: Origin of Evil. That said, it is still creepy at times and I enjoyed the movie overall. I still recommend watching it just don't expect it to be scary.

MAYHEM

Attorney Derek Cho is unjustly fired from his job but his day gets worse when a dangerous virus that brings out people's worst impulses breaks out in his corporate law office complex, resulting in violence and chaos. Infected and trapped in the quarantined building, Derek must now fight for his job and his life.

Surviving in this office requires a new skillset.

Starring Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) and Samara Weaving (Ready or Not), this is a bloody but cathartic movie that is a mix of action, comedy, and horror. Derek teams up with a former client named Melanie Cross (Weaving) so they can work their way up the building and settle their scores with the executives at the top. My main critique is that it could have played up the titular mayhem more. It doesn't feel quite as chaotic as I thought it would but it is still an enjoyable film with a bit of a message to go with it.

DEVIL

A group of five strangers get stuck on an elevator but a mysterious force soon begins to terrorize them.

The horror... no masks or social distancing.

Written and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, I braced for the worst but this was actually a decent horror movie. There are some parts that just felt like the writers were holding the audience's hands to explain things in a rather heavy-handed way but the premise is an interesting idea, and I enjoyed the movie overall. I think the pros outweigh the cons in this one.

Z

An eight-year-old boy's imaginary friend "Z" begins to terrorize his family.

He's just expressing himself through art.

This is a small film with a very simple premise and an effective one at that. Imaginary friends are supposed to be normal but what happens when it manifests into something terrifying? This movie has some interesting twists, a creepy soundtrack, and it is genuinely scary. Sometimes simple stories are better.

ASH VS EVIL DEAD

Bruce Campbell is back as Ash Williams who has spent nearly 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity, and the horrors born of the Necronomicon. However, the Deadites are back and now the prophesied hero Ash must team up with new friends to stand a chance against the Evil Dead.

Groovy.

If you are a fan of the Evil Dead movies then this show is for you. It features the bloody action and slapstick gore you remember. Meet new friends like Pablo and Kelly who help Ash fight off the Deadites. There are new types of enemies for Ash to contend with too as the series expands the mythology introduced in the movies. Unfortunately, the series was canceled after three seasons but what you have in those seasons is satisfying for fans.

That's it for the deluxe edition of my annual Halloween Movie Special. I hope you all have fun this year and stay safe. Maybe next year we can just watch horror movies instead of also living in one. Happy Halloween!

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!