Horror films are the staples of American cinema enjoyed by millions worldwide. It touches the places we are scared to admit while alone at night, slowly eating our popcorn while looking over our shoulders for that imaginary killer. Jump scares and dramatic music crescendo to scary scenes that stay burnt onto our brains for years, navigating our twisted thoughts and fears through dark October nights! Here are my top three of all time.
Halloween
Halloween night 1963, little Michael Myers executed Judith his teenage sister. He gets locked up for over a decade. On October 30, 1978, while being transferred – adult Michael Myers escaped from Smith’s Grove asylum. Upon returning to Haddonfield, Illinois, the place of his birth – he stalked his next victims.
John Carpenter’s classic horror picture was possibly the standard for American Horror cinema. Jamie Lee Curtis became the model for scary movie heroine. The tall, masked man will forever make one check their surroundings on velvet, Autumn nights, during of course the Halloween season.
The Exorcist
One of the most prolific horror movies of all time. A story of an exorcism based on actual events. Regan played by Linda Blair began acting strangely. She started levitating and speaking in demonic tongues. Her fearful mother played by Ellen Burstyn sought medical help but hit a dead end. A local DC priest, surmised the young girl must be under the control of the devil.
The priest recommends an exorcism, and the Catholic church sends out an expert in the field of demonology played by Max von Sydow – to help take on the difficult job of saving the young girl from Satan’s grasp. The Curse of the Exorcist might actually be scarier than the film itself – google it!
The Shining
Jack Torrance – played by critically acclaimed actor Jack Nicholson took a job as a winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel in Colorado, to solve his severe writer’s block. He along with his wife, Wendy played by Shelley Duvall, and their son, Danny Lloyd, plagued by psychic premonitions. Unfortunately, Jack’s writing stalled and Danny’s visions became more disturbing, Jack discovered the dark secrets of the hotel and dove into insanity unraveling into a homicidal maniac whose only goal is to kill his family.
