The Doctor's Halloween Movie Special 2022

Hi everyone. Welcome to my Halloween Movie Special!

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

Let's begin!

HELLRAISER (2022)

Surprisingly released straight to Hulu, this reboot follows a young woman struggling with addiction. She soon finds herself in possession of the ancient puzzle box known as the Lament Configuration, unaware that its purpose is to summon the dreaded Cenobites.

Directed by David Bruckner (The Ritual, VHS), this new version of Hellraiser tries some new things and sets up some new rules. For example, solving the Lament Configuration alone isn't enough to be sent to Hell. The puzzle box now hides a blade which will doom whomever is cut regardless of who solved it. Unfortunately, this resulted in the movie devolving into a slasher flick at times but it was still an interesting change. There are other changes to the rules but I am not sure the film quite follows them all as it appears to break them at times.

Another change is the Cenobites no longer wear leather. Instead, they appear to wear their own mutilated flesh as clothes. The Cenobites are as scary as ever and Jamie Clayton is amazing as the new Pinhead. She did her own interpretation and knocked it out of the park.

Jamie Clayton kills it as Pinhead... Bad pun not intended.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this take on the Clive Barker classic despite its flaws. It felt like the story had a message. It shows what addiction can do to someone as they take down those around them, including loved ones. If you enjoyed the original film, I suggest giving this one a try.

X

Set in 1979, a small cast and crew set out to make an adult film on an elderly couple's property in rural Texas. But the filmmakers soon find themselves fighting for their lives.

I think I downloaded the wrong adult film.

Directed by Ti West (The Sacrament), this is a fun homage to 70's slasher flicks like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The film also features standout performances by Mia Goth and Jenna Ortega.

X was just released this year and a followup called Pearl was already released in theaters to great reviews. I have yet to see it but based on what I saw from X, I look forward to checking Pearl out as well.

THE BLACK PHONE

A 13-year-old boy is kidnapped and held prisoner in a soundproof basement by a sadistic masked killer. However, the boy soon finds out he can communicate with the murderer's previous victims through a disconnected phone on the wall. Will they be able to help the boy escape?

"Who wants to see the back of my van?"

Directed by Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange, Sinister), and based on a short story of the same name by Joe Hill, this was an intense thriller and one of my favorite horror films this year. Ethan Hawke is super creepy as the masked antagonist. The film will have you on the edge of your seat while you root for the protagonist to escape. Highly recommended.

NOPE

This sci-fi horror movie follows two horse-wrangling siblings as they attempt to capture evidence of an unidentified flying object. But what is it exactly they are trying to capture?

What exactly is going on here? An abduction? Do you really want to know?.... Nope.

This is another great horror film from director Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us). What I enjoy about Peele's films is how layered they are. I can also tell he is a fan of The Twilight Zone since his films often feel like they were inspired by the old sci-fi show. If you liked his previous films then this is an easy one to recommend.

BARBARIAN

A young woman books a rental home but discovers it was somehow booked at the same time by a strange man. Against her better judgement, the young lady decides to stay anyway. But she soon learns things are not how they seem at this creepy house.

This might just be my favorite horror film this year. I do not want to give anything away but the film kind of changes genre in the middle of it, and yet it continues to throw twists at the viewer as the story moves along.

Justin Long plays one of the most detestable characters in the film but also has some of the funniest scenes.

Writer/director Zach Cregger clearly took a lot of risks with this film. It has some of the tropes you expect from a horror movie but also eschews the typical formulas audiences have come to expect. That might be polarizing to some but I think that it mostly works in this case. It is a surprising and entertaining film. A stand out among horror movies. It is also available on streaming platforms right now. I think this is one of those movies that is best watched knowing as little as possible, and even better when watching it with a group of people. So go find some friends and make this a priority.

WEREWOLF BY NIGHT

This Disney+ MCU special follows a group of deadly hunters who convene following the death of their leader. The attendees are then instructed to participate in a deadly competition to determine a new leader, and for possession of a powerful artifact.

The titular Werewolf by Night is just one of the new characters introduced to the MCU

I was really surprised by this special. You wouldn't think a good horror film would debut on Disney+ taking place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but here we are. The great thing is you do not need any knowledge of the MCU to enjoy it. This short film is under an hour but serves as an homage to classic Universal monster movies. It isn't scary but the film is surprisingly bloody and gory. It is all done in black and white, which may be why they can get away with it.

This was a fun special and my only criticism is that I want to see more of these characters. Here's hoping we'll see them in future MCU releases.

PREY

This is another film I am surprised went straight to Hulu as it could have made a lot of money in theaters. The story follows a Comanche warrior who finds herself having to protect her people from a highly evolved alien predator.

Taking place in 1719, Prey is the fifth entry in the Predator film franchise and a prequel to the previous four films. This movie features the Feral Predator with a much more primitive look.

He's ugly even for the Yautja (the name of the Predator race).

This is the best Predator film in a long time. It does follow somewhat of a slasher flick formula but it is so well done and unique with the setting and characters. My only small gripe is that it was filmed mostly in English but I can understand why they did that. I recommend watching this film with the Comanche dub. It's just more immersive that way. Big thumbs up for this one.

ANNIHILATION

A biologist and former soldier joins a dangerous expedition into a mysterious zone where the normal laws of nature do not apply.

Directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Men) and based on the novel of the same name, this sci-fi horror story has some Lovecraftian elements similar to the film Color Out of Space (which is an adaptation of a Lovecraft story). Both films focus on a mysterious, extraterrestrial force that lands on Earth and begins to warp reality around it. It is like a horrific infection that cannot be contained.

Annihilation features imagery that is both beautiful and horrific.

I think this film is a little more cerebral than most horror movies as it explores challenging themes but that is why I love it. This is a film that makes you think and you may be wondering what exactly you experienced by the film's end. This film also has a great cast featuring Natalie Portman (Black Swan, Leon: The Professional) and Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina, Inside Llewyn Davis) so check this film out now.

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB

The latest Netflix offering from Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Gerald's Game, Hush) centers on a group of eight terminally ill young adults who live in at a mysterious manor and gather at midnight to tell scary stories.

Based on the Christopher Pike novel of the same name, despite the setting lending itself to an anthology series, this is not that kind of show. There are central mysteries the characters explore within the manor, and the stories they tell mainly serve as a form of character development. The club members often put themselves into the stories they tell, making the stories more of an extension of who they really are and what they have experienced.

The Midnight Club getting ready to "make ghosts" by telling their stories.

I went into this show thinking it was a limited series like all of Flanagan's previous Netflix shows like Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Bly Manor. However, the story ends with some story threads left unfinished and some mysteries unexplained. I was disappointed at first but then I found out that Flanagan meant for this to have multiple seasons. I am hoping that happens but a second season has not yet been announced.

Ultimately, this show was not very scary but features strong characters like most of Flanagan's previous efforts. This first season (and maybe last) offers an emotional journey that happens to have a lot of jump scares. Give this show a chance and maybe we will get that second season. The Midnight Club is streaming on Netflix now.

That's it for my annual Halloween Movie Special. Thank you for reading! I hope you all have fun this year and stay safe. Just don't solve any puzzle boxes if you don't know where they came from. 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!