MACABRE DAILY CONTRIBUTOR'S CRYPT - HALLOWEEN FAVORITES EDITION III
Some of you may be old enough to remember the “Staff Selections/Recommendations” wall at your local video store. For those who aren’t, think of it as a curation of cinema from largely a staff of folks who share a deep and varied passion for all times of films. There was always an art-house person, a horror person, a blockbuster person, and so on. Each week, or month, they would suggest a row of films to patrons who were trusting enough to take recommendations from strangers whose only credentials are a nametag and unlimited access to movies. While the idea of video stores makes less and less sense in a digital-first world, the “Staff Selections” is certainly something we can keep alive. With that in mind, some of the contributors here at Macabre Daily have taken it upon themselves to provide a list of five films they suggest for your horror-themed Halloween watching. We will post new lists throughout the week, and links to the prior suggestions throughout.
So without further ado, from my crypt to your television....Matt Orozco’s Halloween picks!
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Pumpkinhead
1988
One of only two feature-length films that Stan Winston (RIP) directed and it’s an absolute banger for many reasons, but here are 3 really good ones:
The creature design is some of the most memorable and iconic of Winston’s work
Deals with the dilemma of revenge in an appropriate way
A heart-wrenching death that still packs a punch to this day (no spoilers)
An absolute blast of a flick to watch on Halloween, and if you’re feeling adventurous there are two other (inferior) sequels you can add to the mix as well!
10/31
2017
I’m a sucker for indie and low-budget horror. While the shine of heavily financed horror films is a feast for the eyes, there is something about bootstrapped horror films that is high-risk, high-reward. One such indie horror of the past few years is the holiday-themed 10/31 which is an anthology film consisting of 5 short stories from 5 different writers and directors. The stories are all pretty good, and like many anthologies somewhat uneven, but in this case, the good outweighs the not-so-good. There is a sequel, which I haven’t seen, but if you’re looking to stay on theme for the spooky season then this is a great film to add to your rotation!
Murder Party
2007
While Waxwork is a horror movie with some comedy in it, Murder Party is a comedy with some horror in it. The movie centers around a lonely man invited to a random Halloween party where it turns out he is meant to be killed. Things don’t go as planned for his would-be killers, as their attempts to kill him along the way are foiled and tables turned. This is a bloody fun mess that will have you guffawing in shock with the violent demises put on screen juxtaposed with over-the-top death scenes. Tons of fun to be had here, and a sillier entry for this year’s horror holiday viewing.
Mad Monster Party
1967
This is what happens when you mix the fun animation stylings of Rankin Bass with horror legend Boris Karloff and a slew of other familiar voices such as Phyllis Diller and Allen Swift. Like many other Rankin Bass films, the animation style and music are what drive this forward while the story centers around Baron Boris Von Frankenstein’s nephew Felix Franken. Felix is the heir to his uncle’s evil monster empire and is invited to a party with a smattering of familiar universal monster faces. This is a charming and fun family film that holds up extremely well despite its age given the charm of the animation style and the silliness of the plot, along with its twist ending.
Waxwork
1988
When people ask me what my favorite horror-comedy is, I never hesitate to tell them it’s WAXWORK. It’s not even intentionally funny as much as it is absurdly funny, but this still underseen gem from 1988 has it all. A group of friends attends a waxwork museum where each display transports them into a scene from a familiar horror trope/character. This cast is an 80s onslaught with Zach Galligan, Deborah Foreman, Miles O’Keeffe, Dana Ashbrook, and David Warner as the evil waxwork proprietor to name a few. This film is so much fun, and if you’ve never seen it it is great to watch with friends. The gore and make-up effects are on-point, and the humor works even if the movie itself isn’t going too far of its way to make it so. There is a sequel that is also really good, but the first is essential viewing!
Spookies
1986
I don’t care what anyone says, this movie kicks all kinds of ass. The plot is inconsequential because the star(s) of this movie is the outstanding creature effects. Even more interesting is the story behind how this movie got made, and the changes that occurred throughout the production. I will admit that there is one particular scene with muck monsters that really throws the tone off (again, the reason why this is there is a story in and of itself), but that shouldn’t detract from just how inventive and unique the creature designs are here. This is kitchen sink horror at its best, and even though it isn’t a very coherent film it certainly is a lot of fun to watch. Those of you old enough to remember those video store days are sure to recall the cover art, and if you passed it over before you should give it another chance with the outstanding Vinegar Syndrome blu-ray!
