Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003 - 2:03 p.m.
Greetings,
Since Halloween is just around the corner, I thought today I would write about some of my favorite horror movies and why they are my favorites. It can’t be a long entry because I’ve actually got work to do, but it can be a fun one. And that’s mainly what counts anyway I suppose.
Let’s break this down by categories, shall we?
Favorite Vampire Movie
Favorite Satanic Horror Movie
Favorite Werewolf Horror Movie
Favorite Holiday Centric Horror Movie
Favorite Black & White Horror Movie
I can see that I will have multiple entries in some of these categories. Take the first one, for instance, Favorite Vampire Movie. I have more than one. But let’s say each category can have no more than 5 entries.
Favorite Vampire Movie
1.) Interview With the Vampire - It is surreal, it is lush, and it has gorgeous vampires that you care about even if they are whining cowards (some of them). It’s set in New Orleans too, which is a plus. It’s very evocative of the beauty and the pain that I associate with vampires.
2.) 1979 Dracula – It has the ocean and the castle at night. It has Frank Langella in a white shirt. It has some of the most frankly sensual vampire/mortal love scenes in cinematic history. It also has, unfortunately, Van Helsing and Jonathan Harker.
3.) To Die For – This is a little known vampire flick starring Vlad Tepes looking for Los Angeles real estate and his love affair with the real estate agent who finds him his castle. He allows himself to be killed in the end for love, which sucks, but at least it’s not at the end of a stake held by a Jonathan Harker type. (Although there is one in the movie. Naturally.)
4.) Shadow of the Vampire – This is the intellectual winner in the Dracula stakes. (I couldn’t resist.) Any movie John Malkovitch is in requires thought. Willem DaFoe makes an ugly vampire sexy and therefore, in my mind, truly distills the essence of the vampire.
5.) Dracula (1932) It’s the one that came before (almost) all the others and the one everybody tries to include just a smidge of in their vampire production. With good reason.
Favorite Satanic Horror Movie
1.) Ninth Gate – This is a lavish production on a grand scale and doesn’t twist Satan into the boogeyman under the bed that can be bested by a priest. There are no priests in this movie. Well, no Christian priests. The women in the film are the ones who pretty much kick all the asses of the men in this film. It’s a great reversal of stereotype that doesn’t get all preachy and weird about it. Plus, you know, Johnny Depp and Frank Langella.
2.) The Omen Part 2 – I just love the kid who plays Damien Thorn in this one. I first saw this movie when I was about his age (13) and became wildly enamored of him. I wrote my own Omen stories and made sure that Satan’s Son did not lose the battle of Good vrs. Evil. But I digress.
3.) Rosemary’s Baby – The creeping sense of menace and doom in this movie is fantastic. Plus you can get all anal retentive and watch Rosemary decorate her Gothic apartment. Oddly enough I didn’t have a romantic attachment to any of the characters in this one. I usually do when the Prince of Darkness is involved. ;)
Favorite Werewolf Horror Movie
1.) The Howling V – I’m not a big fan of werewolf movies generally, but this one is the shiznit. It’s got a Rumanian castle, a blizzard, lots of characters you love to hate, (and watch die) and all of them harbor the birthmark but only one of them actually is the werewolf. But which one?
Favorite Holiday Centric Horror Movie
1.) April Fool’s Day – I LOVE this movie. It’s from the 80s, it’s funny as hell, it’s atmospheric because everyone is gathered at this mansion on an island that can only be reached by boat and when the tide is high, you are cut off, and it has Deborah Foreman. Plus it has the best ending of a horror movie ever.
2.) Halloween – I don’t even have to describe it since everyone has seen it about million times.
Favorite Black & White Horror Movie
1.) Psycho – The shower scene alone is worth watching the movie for. But you know, add in an old mansion on a hill, a rainy drive at night and Anthony Perkins and you’ve got a winner.
Well, that’s all I have time for today.
I’ll leave you with a little song from Halloween III, Season of the Witch.
Three more days till Halloween, Halloween, Halloween
Three more days till Halloween – Silver Shamrock!
Until next time,
Olrun
