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Your Favorite Halloween Movies

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | October 12, 2011 32 Comments

Last updated on October 22nd, 2012

I’VE DECIDED TO ADD a new category here at A Garden for the House: Entertainment. This will feature “fun stuff” like…movies. And since Halloween is around the corner, we might as well begin with Really Scary Movies. Which are your favorites? “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane,” starring Joan Crawford and Bette Davis (above), is one of mine. And here are five others which have made my blood curdle:

WHEN MICHAEL CALLS. This 1972 ABC TV-Movie gave me the creeps when I was a kid. Helen Connally (Elizabeth Ashley) starts receiving phone calls from her nephew, Michael. The only problem? Michael has been dead for 15 years! Creepy, creepy!

Fright Night. After Charley Brewster, a teenage horror-film-fanatic, sees his new neighbor, Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) commit murder, Charley is convinced that Dandridge is a vampire. Neither Charley’s girlfriend nor his best bud believe him…until they find themselves in Dandridge’s lair. Some comic scenes, but plenty of jump-out-of-your-chair moments, too. For a film that was made in 1985, I think the special-effects are terrific.

The Victim (1972). Rent this one for Halloween, folks. It scared the hell out of me when I was 12. The plot: During a fierce storm, Kate Wainwright (Elizabeth Montgomery) receives a distressed call from her sister. The sister is going through a nasty divorce. Kate drives through the storm to her sister’s large house, where she finds her sister’s dead body in a basket in the cellar. Who killed her? Why, Kate’s brother-in-law, of course. And now he plans to “off” Kate, too. This was Montgomery’s first film after her successful “Betwitched” series ended.

The Hunger. Can a horror movie be elegant? Yes. In this 1983 film, Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie play Miriam and John Blaylock, an attractive couple who live in a gorgeously-decorated Sutton Place townhouse. Turns out they are both vampires — she around 1,000 years old, and he around 300. They are musicians, too. Which means we get to hear them play chamber music, and specifically Schubert’s mesmerizing Trio in Eb Major. When John Blaylock suddenly begins to age (this has been a problem with all of Miriam’s lovers), he consults Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon), a doctor who researches premature aging. When the doctor visits Miriam to inquire about John, she soon finds herself swept into Miriam’s world.

Die, Die My Darling (1965). Probably more campy than creepy. Tallulah Bankhead plays a demented religious fanatic who’s son has recently died. When her son’s former fiancee (Stephanie Powers) arrives to pay her a visit, she becomes enraged when she discovers that Powers has participated in all kinds of sinful activities, like finding a new boyfriend, and — horrors! — wearing makeup. She then traps Powers in her attic where she torments her. It is worth watching the film just to hear Bankhead quote bible verse in her well-known booming voice, and to wail “Steeeeeeeee-ven!!!” while gazing up at her dead son’s portrait.

So which really scary movies — either new ones or old — do you recommend for Halloween night?

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Comments

  1. 1

    Dgonano says

    October 12, 2011 at 2:34 pm

    Just recently watched “Sudden Fear” staring Joan Crawford and Jack Palance. Pretty good film — I believe there were several Oscar nominations — and worth it just to watch Joan's expressive face as she figures out her new husband (Palance) doesn't love her and he's planning to kill her with the help of his girlfriend, Gloria Grahame (who looks a lot like Scarlett Johanssen to me). Kind of a noir thriller in the Hitchcock vein.

    I like your picks too, especially Baby Jane and The Hunger.

    Sadly, Joan's later effort, “Strait-Jacket,” isn't nearly as good, although she's still classy.

  2. 2

    Judy says

    October 12, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    I must have been the only ten-year-old who loved 'Die, Die My Darling!!' And let's not forget 'Children of the Damned!' 'Play Misty for Me' is a good psychological thriller. There's also 'The Nanny' with Bette Davis done in the mid-60's. These are all the movies I would run home after school to watch on TV — until there was 'Dark Shadows,' of course!

  3. 3

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    October 12, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    Dgonano – Thanks for the tip re: “Sudden Fear.” I must put this on my Netflix queue! And just watched the opening scene from “Straight Jacket” on youtube – what fun!

    Judy – Yes, Dark Shadows – the best! Would you believe I have not seen “The Nanny” — and me a big Bette Davis fan? Must correct this in time for H-ween.

  4. 4

    Eric says

    October 12, 2011 at 5:05 pm

    Here's one: Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice? Ruth Gordon is great, and so is Geraldine Page. Page plays Mrs. Marrable, a widow who was left penniless by her husband. So she hires housekeepers, steals their money, and then kills them. Ruth Gordon applies for the job of housekeeper, in order to find out what to happened to her friend — the last employee of Mrs. Marrable. The suspense is terrific.

  5. 5

    Yolanda says

    October 12, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    I'm shocked! How could you forget THE EXORCIST?

  6. 6

    Carole says

    October 12, 2011 at 11:21 pm

    One of the most riveting movies I've ever seen is “Gaslight” with Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. No blood in this one, just pure suspense.

  7. 7

    Broken Barn Industries says

    October 13, 2011 at 2:16 am

    Okay, mine are old-school: Carrie, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (hell ya), Let's Scare Jessica to Death (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067341/)- kinda obscure, I think, and I Was a Teen-Aged Werewolf starring Michael Landon. I saw most of those as a child and to this day can't watch most horror movies. Scarred & scared!

  8. 8

    Katreader says

    October 13, 2011 at 4:47 am

    I'm not a fan of the horror genre, but I do like a good suspense film. I adore Hitchcock and Polanski. I'm going to go a slightly different route and give my must see movies for Halloween. Rosemary's Baby, The Tenant (another Polanski film), The Fearless Vampire Killers (a Polanski horror/comedy), You'll Find Out (Kay Kyser & the band in a haunted house with Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi,& Peter Lorre), Arsenic and Old Lace, and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

  9. 9

    Cary says

    October 13, 2011 at 10:11 am

    Kevin this is a fabulous idea! Love entertainment ideas from like-minded folks. I just ordered the Hunger from Netflix, ooooh! Did adore Arsenic and Old Lace as Katreader mentioned. One of my favorite scariest is the 1999 version of The Haunting. Delightful cast, great house! Also The Shining terrified me in the theater. Horribly scarey. I look forward to your next genre eagerly.

  10. 10

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    October 13, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    Eric – Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice? is a great favorite of mine, too.

    Yolanda – Glad you mentioned The Exorcist. It's almost too scary!

    Carole – Yes to Gaslight! This was Ingrid Bergman's first Oscar-winning role.

    BBI – I have to check out Let's Scare Jessica; someone else brought this film to my attention recently.

    Katreader – The Charlie Brown cartoon is MUST for Halloween! How could I have forgotten that one? Arsenic & Old Lace is a favorite, too.

    Cary – Glad you like the idea of an Entertainment feature here. I'm thinking of doing sexist coffee commercials from the 1960s next! Hope you enjoy The Hunger — if not for the story, then for the opulent townhouse on Sutton Place! The Shining — yes, almost too scary.

  11. 11

    badger gardener says

    October 15, 2011 at 11:53 am

    So glad to find another fan of The Hunger.
    I love Wolfen, a werewolf movie w/ an Ancient American twist. And perhaps a bit on the gory side but Halloween w/ Jamie Lee Curtis is classic. I first watched it as a teen-something babysitter after my young charges were in bed.

  12. 12

    Gil McAninch says

    October 15, 2011 at 5:01 pm

    Kevin, how about the William Castle stuff. Like “the tingler” or my personal favorite “Homicidal”? Glenn Corbett is reason enough to see that one! “Rosemary's Baby” (Castle produced, Roman Polanski directed) still holds up after 23 years. Very classy! The original “Baby Jane” was great. I also liked the Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave version too. Ok, it wasn't Davis and Crawford but it did have a kooky strangeness all its own. John Glover was great in that as well. And “gremlins” was a riot, and pretty dark in spots. “Gremlins 2” i liked also. John Glover again was an inspired choice for a “Donald Trump” like character. Finally, how about something from the master of strange, David Lynch? “Blue Velvet” is wacked out and spooky. Dennis Hopper is soooo over the top!

  13. 13

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    October 15, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    badger gardener – Glad you mentioned the original “Halloween.” How frightened you must have been, watching this while babysitting. I saw it back in 1978 and can still remember how my heart was pounding when I left the theater!

    Gil – Did not see the Redgrave remake of Baby Jane — hopefully it will play on TCM this month. Had completely forgotten about “Blue Velvet”, which introduced Kyle MacLachlan and Isabella Rosselini. Can still hear Rosselini singing the theme song in a very strange, very eerie, voice!

  14. 14

    suscha says

    October 16, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    How bout “Rosemary's Baby”…..or my fave
    The Shining with Jack Nicholson. Let's not forget the grandaddy of them all “Psycho”!

  15. 15

    Anonymous says

    October 16, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    Shot in the Dark

    Audrey Hepburn & Richard Crenna

    Very suspenseful!

    Deborah J.

  16. 16

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    October 16, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    suscha – Re: Shining – I'll never forget the little boy shouting “Redrum! Redrum!!” And those twin girls….creep-o!

    Deborah J. – I saw “Wait Until Dark” as a kid — what a heart-pounding thriller. Audrey Hepburn was brilliant in this, and should have won an Oscar!

  17. 17

    Cary says

    October 17, 2011 at 11:33 am

    Ooooh yeah, Wait Until Dark. Scarriest film ever! (except for all the other greats :)) haha. Kevin!!! Watched The Hunger last night. Wowsie! Funny I commented to my husband that the house was really a star of the show and had forgotten your suggestion to enjoy the Sutton Place home. Have never seen a building like that, FANTASTIC!!! You are so funny, thanks again!

  18. 18

    Pamdemonium says

    October 17, 2011 at 10:01 pm

    Kevin, Oh…does anyone remember Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte? (I'm still having a hard time with gazebos). Even though it's more of a cult classic, Dementia 13 used to spook me out pretty good. Great idea with the new entertainment page, Kevin.

  19. 19

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    October 18, 2011 at 11:58 am

    Cary – Every interior decorator should see “The Hunger”!

    Pamdemonium – I definitely remember Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte! Can even remember the theme song. It was fun to watch Olivia de Havilland change from sweet to evil. (The role was originally supposed to go to Joan Crawford, but apparently she'd “had it” with Bette Davis!)

    Saw Dementia on TV once…creepy, yes.

  20. 20

    Daniel says

    October 24, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    The best horror movie—“Fright Night”; I'm disappointed that they are remaking it. Another good one from 2-3 years ago is “Drag Me To Hell” which has an amazing shock ending.

  21. 21

    Marcia says

    October 26, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    The Hellraiser movies….scary!

  22. 22

    blake says

    June 23, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    Hello,

    Louis Jordan made two scary films about antique mirrors back in the seventies. I can’t remember the titles but I think one of them was ” Fear no Evil” He plays a pychiatrist.
    I haven’t seen them since I was a child; and I have tried to locate a copy but never was successful so far. Does anyone remember those movies?

  23. 23

    Cathie Wagner says

    August 18, 2012 at 11:02 am

    Now don’t laugh at me, but my favorite Halloween movie is “Hocus Pocus”.
    O.K. you can laugh and you will if you watch it. The Sanderson sisters are a hoot!
    I haven’t seen “When Michael Calls”. Will have to see if a library has a copy to watch.
    Your website is such fun. Thanks!

  24. 24

    Mike says

    October 22, 2012 at 2:22 am

    Motel Hell is also a classic. it could happen.

  25. 25

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    October 22, 2012 at 11:37 am

    blake – No luck with Netflix?

    Cathie – I’ve seen “Hocus Pocus” many times. Bette Midler is a hoot!

    Mike – You are right. It…could…happen.

  26. 26

    Eileen says

    October 22, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    A Werewolf in London

    Eating Raul

  27. 27

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    October 22, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    Eileen – Eating Raul was a scream. Glad you mentioned it.

  28. 28

    Rosemeri says

    October 22, 2012 at 1:11 pm

    I already mentioned this on your FB page, but my all time favorite is “The Uninvited” with Ray Milland from 1944. I love that movie but it is hard to find..

  29. 29

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    October 22, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    Great choice, Rosemeri. I have “The Uninvited” on VHS. The English countryside, the music, and the scent of mimosa…all in one very scary film (that has a very pleasant ending).

  30. 30

    Lori Anderson says

    October 22, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    Black Christmas, the 1970’s version with Olivia Hussey (but I usually save it for Christmas)

  31. 31

    Debra says

    June 1, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    All time scariest movie is Trilogy of Terror with Karen Black. The first time I saw the movie I was only 12 years old and home alone. The third segment, Amelia, had me sleep with the lights on for months! The story is about a women who buys a talisman doll with razor sharp teeth and a spear that turns to life. I can still hear the sounds of that demon doll scurrying through the apartment. Classic!

  32. 32

    Cecily Frazier says

    October 26, 2015 at 8:30 pm

    The Haunting of Hill House. I never got over it– so scary!

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