Best in Show: Thanksgiving Horror (Part II of II)

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5. The Awakening
In horror, the proper atmosphere can go a long way. This is why a film like The Awakening is so incredible. Dull and hazy, this movie is chilling. The Awakening is cold. It's the type of film that features a world where every single character is unwaveringly chilly. Even the ending does little to satisfy the onslaught of breezy dread that'll make audiences want to curl into a ball. Like so many movies on this list, there are no warm inviting evenings or cold, but comfy nights.



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4. Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County
When the original The McPherson Tape - later remade as the larger budget, Alien Abduction: Incident of Lake County - first came out, it was met with the type of fervor a real life unexplainable experience might have. People watching thought what was happening in the movie was true and although it's aged a bit, the horror remains just as terrifying. A mockumentary with plenty of steam in its engines, this movie follows a family settling in on a Thanksgiving dinner when an electric outage leads to the uncovering of a UFO. Filled with terror, the Thanksgiving dinner quickly becomes absolutely horrific chaos.





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3. The Visit

Despite the snow on the ground, there's something very Thanksgiving-esque about The Visit and its kitschy setting. Without direct mentions to any holiday seasons, viewers can easily settle in to a film that is most definitely set outside of Christmas or Chanukah. With mostly warm grandparents, foods baking in the oven and sweaters galore, The Visit has this familiar and cozy atmosphere - even if the eventual reveal is everything but. The Visit is sometimes comical, sometimes tense and in the beginning, very homey, making it the perfect movie to curl up around and watch.

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2. Kristy

Explicitly set during a college's Thanksgiving vacation, the indie slasher, Kristy, has never gotten the love it deserves. Spooky, dimly lit and incredibly ferocious, this film follows a student who decides to stay back on campus while most students go home. From empty corridors to entirely empty buildings, the film's isolation is something completely opposite of typical Thanksgivings. But, it's spot on this list is more because of the fact that it’s a great movie that is specifically set during Thanksgiving, even featuring its own very college dinner.

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1. The Witch

Want to feel like Thanksgiving is upon us?Watch The Witch. Easily one of the most iconic horror movies of the modern era, this period piece seems destined for November viewing. Inclement, grey weather, the constant threat of winter and the colonial characters are sure to immerse audiences in a world where a Thanksgiving feast is absolutely necessary but absent. The Witch is a stunning film; whether you're a fan of horror or otherwise, yet its best reserved for a time after Halloween when winter is upon us and stomachs crave turkey and corn.

Best in Show: Thanksgiving Horror (Part I of II)

Despite the horror of spending time with extended family around a table filled with food, Thanksgiving has remained a relatively untouched topic in horror. Sure, some films do touch on it and one, rather obnoxious killer turkey film (Thankskilling) is out there to enjoy (?), but pickings are slim. So what separates this list from any other fall horror list, well the films that made it on our Thanksgiving Horror countdown are movies that are either directly related to the pilgrim holiday or help set up the cold winter ahead. They're brooding, dark films lit by candles and backed by transitioning weather.

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10. Boogeyman

Boogeyman isn't a great movie, but it's one of those films that is actually set around Thanksgiving, warranting tis inclusion on this list. Unlike outwardly bad films like the aforementioned Thankskilling, there is real potential with this film. While it is otherwise wasted on cheap jump scares and quickly aging plot devices and tension, this ghoulish story does provide some sense of nostalgia for typical mid-2000s horror. Currently in a bit of a dark ages, these movies may be reflected on fondly in years to come for their cheap tricks and cracked acting.

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9. Hush 
Is Hush about Thanksgiving? Is it even about a family? No and no. But, what it is is a movie that finds a young woman, staying warm in otherwise cold weather, hunted by a man in a hat and jacket. The cold evening is obvious in this one and will chill you to the bone. Like many of the movies on this list, it's a bit of a stretch but in the world of autumnal movies, this one is definitely set later in the year. There are no warm oranges or nights in a sweater y a campfire. It's clearly not winter, but it's most definitely not before Halloween.

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8. The Village

There are plenty of reasons to have qualms with The Village. Critically panned and relatively predictable, the one thing this M. Night Shyamalan film gets right is it’s deeply fall atmosphere. The small, cut off town at the center of this movie is deeply unnerving, but also extremely communal; something those hesitant to celebrate Thanksgiving will resonate with.

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7. Shelley

An IFC Midnight original, Shelley is a prenatal Danish horror movie featuring plenty of warm flickering lights and chilled woods. Set in a remote cabin, Elena is tasked with being a live in maid for a couple with sinister intentions. Easily one of the more underrate films of the last few years, Shelley is a sleepy and bone-cold movie that'll leave viewers deeply unsettled. Definitely more of a late-fall movie than a spooky Halloween flick, Shelley may not feature a feast, but it does feature enough transitional climate to make the perfect film to watch on Thanksgiving.

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6. Howl

There's something very cold and distant about this indie werewolf flick. Filled with dark scenery, Howl is a British horror film that takes place entirely on a train. The exterior shots are rainy and dense fog continuously rolls through. Add on the brooding forest surrounding the stranded and jacketed passengers and this movie's tone is undeniably chilled. But, unlike wintery films featuring characters trotting away from dangers in the snow, these victims can all run - that is, if they don't get caught first.

31 Days of Horror (Pt. II of II)

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October 16th - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Maybe not so much a horror film as it is whimsical, but the hefty tone of the feature-film adaption of Sweeney Todd makes for something perfect for the dark fall months. With cannibals abundant and grisly set pieces, this movie feels like a bit crazy, but is all in good fun - at least for those of us who don't have our throats slit.

October 17th - The Mothman Prophecies

Shrouded in mystery The Mothman Prophecies perfectly captures the lore surrounding the winged beast seen by many in a film perfectly suitably for October. While not the scariest, this twisting movie is an impressive and dimly lit shroud of obscurity. Sure to bolster your belief of the mythical, The Mothman Prophecies brings one of the most well-known folk tales to the mainstream.



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October 18th - Night of the Living Dead
At first glance, this black-and-white zombie film may feel dated, but upon watching, viewers will realize it transcends times. Forging the way for so many undead films that followed, Night of the Living Dead is an iconic masterpiece and required viewing for the month of October. The dread throughout, the scares sprinkled in and the unique acting all wrap up into something efficient and entertaining.

October 19th - The Conjuring

The go-to modern classic, recognizable to nearly anyone and scary to most, is The Conjuring. Deeply embedded in the fall season, The Conjuring uses hyper-stylized visuals to convey a chilling atmosphere. It is bon a fide and deserving of everyone's eyes and there is no better time to watch than right before Halloween.

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October 20th - Creep
With a sequel forthcoming, there's no better time to revisit Peachfuzz the wolf than right before Halloween. With nothing more than a cheap Halloween mask to help take on the killer's identity, this grounded slasher film is uncomfortable and insane. It never goes into outlandish territory and instead focuses on setting up a sympathetic dying man with some odd quirks. This of course unravels into something far more sinister, but oh well. That's life.

October 21st (Weekend Double Feature) - Annabelle: Creation/Ouija: Origin of Evil

In a world of abundant mediocre sequels, these shockingly good prequels make a perfect horror double feature. Released on Video-on-demand on October 20, Annabelle: Creation is one of the most impressive horror films in a year of impressive horror films. Round out the night with the surprisingly efficient Ouija: Origin of Evil and you're sure to have a great time with these retro period pieces.

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October 22nd (Weekend Double Feature) - Hell House LLC/Fear. Inc.
Sometimes when you go looking for something scary, you bite off way more than you can chew. That's essentially what happens in this pair of movies. Like The Houses October Built, both Hell House LLC and Fear. Inc. feature a group of friends who are prepared for horror, but not the real kinds they end up facing. Hell House LLC recounts an incident at a local haunted house attraction gone wrong and in Fear Inc. a man employs a scare company to come strike terror in his friends. Both are perfect for October.

October 23rd - The Fourth Kind
For all the love of ghosts, goblins and witches during the Halloween season, people often forget aliens. With big action flicks abundant and plenty of classics going around, it may be easy to overlook the underrated gem, The Fourth Kind. Easily one of the more terrifying entries in the abduction subgenre, The Fourth Kind pairs "real life footage" with some terrifying "reenactments."

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October 24th - CropseyHorror documentaries are often pretty over-the-top. With too much effort put into dramatizing the accounts of people and reenactments that'd make any viewer cringe, it can be hard to watch them. But some great ones do exist. None more so than Cropsey. Low-key and dark, this brooding documentary follows a pair of filmmakers examining, and never quite solving the stories surrounding a derelict building in New York City. It leaves quite a bit to interpretation, all to the film's benefit.

October 25th - The Nightmare on Elm Street

The Nightmare on Elm Street is the most 80s thing to come out of the 80s. From its soundtrack to its styling, this comical and scary horror movie is perfect for October. It's got everything you could ever want to get you in the mood for Halloween; oddly grotesque props, some gory death scenes and an easily recognizable killer.

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October 26th - The Blair Witch Project
If you've ever been in the woods during the fall, you can pick up on the creepy atmosphere all around you. Playing on that fear is the iconic Blair Witch Project. Whether it’s the bumps in the night or the occult objects the group of friends find in the mornings, this movie gives viewers plenty to be afraid of. Watch and then go into the woods and who knows, maybe those sounds you hear will be all the more scary to you.

October 27 - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Leatherface wears a mask of sorts, so what better time to watch this disturbing film than around Halloween. It's a classic slasher with plenty of gore and, despite the hot setting of the south; this movie is best viewed in the coolness of autumn. Don't eat while Halloween candy while you watch though, you'll regret it.

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October 28th (Weekend Double Feature) - Scream/ Scream 2
Kick off Halloweekend with one of the greatest horror films of all time: Scream. Acting as a satirical revival of the inundated subgenre, this slasher franchise is one of the most permeating films in the industry. Everyone loves it and rightfully so. Start with the first and go to the equally as strong second. Without a doubt these movies have spawned the longest-running Halloween costume of all time. With plenty of mask variations available for the spookiest day of the year, your Ghostface options - just like the killers in the franchise - are endless.

October 29th (Weekend Double Feature) - Scream 3/Scream 4 

Is this entire weekend really supposed to be all about the Scream franchise? Yes, 100 percent. Sit down and watch all four in the same night, over the course of a weekend or throughout the month. It doesn't matter so long as you watch them all before the 31st. Even with the ridiculousness of Scream 3 and the glossiness of Scream 4 marring the Wes Craven creations, these movies are undeniably amazing.

October 30th - Trick 'r Treat

Getting the cult status in horror is a difficult task that has zero formula, but no movie has ever captured the heart of so many from unpredictable places like the cult classic, Trick 'r Treat. An anthology horror film connected by a cute, but admittedly disturbing masked child named Sam, Trick 'r Treat goes everywhere; from camp and gore to terrifying ghoulish scares. With the potential for a sequel constantly bubbling under the surface, the mark made by Trick 'r Treat is destined to stick for years to come.



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October 31st - Halloween
Finally reaching Halloween, there's only one movie left to see: Halloween. By namesake alone, this film is the pinnacle film of this spooky holiday. Avoiding Halloween, whether the original, sequels or eventual remakes, is sacrilegious. Halloween is a master class of slasher prestige and Michael is one of the most iconic villains in horror. There simply is no better time to watch this movie. Halloween on Halloween is like brushing your breathing, you have to do it.  

31 Days of Horror (Part I of II)

Halloween comes but once a year, but the month of October should be filled with all things spooky. No matter your plans, sitting down and watching some scary horror films will provide you with everything you need to get in the Halloween mood. This week's compiles 31 horror films (bonus weekend double-features) in honor of the most terrifying month of the year. The movies on this list will scare you, set the tone for fall and give you all the legendary iconography representative of Halloween. So without further ado, the 31 Days of Halloween Movie Masterpiece (16 to 31 tomorrow): 

 



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October 1st - The Houses October Built/The Houses October Built 2

Is it fair to have a double-feature be the first and second in a series? Yup! What better way to kick off the month than a movie with October literally in the name? The answer is there isn't. The Houses October Built will set the tone for some truly great scares even if it’s not an insanely complicated film. Perfect way to begin the month.

 

October 2nd - The Babadook

For all the annoyingness that is the child at the center of The Babadook, this film offers plenty of dark tones and creepy scenes that'll leave viewers with nightmare. It's vintage feel and practical effects will make you yearn for Halloweens past and by the film's end, everyone should be left feeling a little more unsettled.



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October 3rd - An American Werewolf in London

Horror during the Halloween season should be all doom-and-gloom. That's why including movies like An American Werewolf in London are a must. Chilly, scary and, at times, comical, this film has everything from a lycanthropic transformation to decaying bodies and is a must on any October horror list.

 

October 4th - The Witch

Perhaps more Thanksgiving than Halloween, The Witch will provide the perfect witchy feeling to Halloween. However, unlike also must see non-horror films like Hocus Pocus, nothing about this movie is sweet and succulent. It's a disturbing and chaotic rabbit hole that'll leave you clutching your babies and your animals a little closer.

 



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October 5th - Friday the 13th                                    

A summer-set classic, but also one that sparked years and years of Halloween costumes, Friday the 13th is a necessary classic. While the slasher at the core of this franchise first ends up not being Jason at all, Friday the 13th is the movie you have to see if you've ever gone out in a hockey mask to collect candy.

 

October 6th - Evil Dead

Players’ choice on this one. Both the 1981 original and the 2013 remake are worthwhile endeavors to get you in the mood for October. Each features plenty of twisting branches, grotesque kills and a curse that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.



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October 7th (Weekend Double Feature) - The Orphanage and The Awakening

This night is reserved for a pair of films set in secluded schools and orphanages. For one, orphans make for some scary horror content and sure The Orphanage is more summerset, but it's a spooky Spanish horror film featuring hollow hallways and a masked child that make for an adventure not for the faint of heart. Tack on The Awakening and you have two very accomplished horror films to round out your night.

 

October 8th (Weekend Double Feature) - Insidious/Insidious: Chapter 3 

Insidious is sure to go down as a modern day classic and its absence on any list of Halloween films is a gross oversight. With all the ghoulish figures, jump scares and terrifying haunted house scenes a person could ask for, it is by-and-large one of the scariest movies to come out of the modern film era. For the second movie of the night, skip the shaky sequel and go straight for the underrated gem, Insidious: Chapter 3; a film that has tense, spooky atmosphere and enough jump scares to make your heart stop.

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October 9th - Noroi: The Curse

Often dubbed as one of the scariest horror films ever created, the found-footage Japanese hit, Noroi: The Curse takes the creep factor to the max. More investigative than straight-up horror, Noroi pulls no punches and instead features a number of deaths; disturbing characters and a climax that is, well, scary.

 

October 10th - The Taking of Deborah Logan

The obsession with this movie is borderline obsessive. If there is a list or a category or anything in regards to horror, chances are The Taking of Deborah Logan deserves to be on it. Seemingly coming from nowhere and continuously overlooked, this film is an absolutely terrifying found-footage endeavor. Taking place in cooler months, it'll definitely get you ready for Halloween, all through an old woman more likely to give you hard candy rather than chocolate.

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October 11th - The Last Exorcism

While you'd think naming yourself the last of something would make you, well, last, The Last Exorcism spawned a pretty mediocre sequel and did little to stop the subgenre from moving forward. However, perhaps the quality of The Last Exorcism should have warranted it to be the final nail in the exorcism industry. It’s a terrifying found-footage film taking place in a Podunk town with very questionable religious motives - perfect for the Halloween season.

 

October 12th - Behind the Mask: The Rise and Fall of Leslie Vernon

An indie darling and cult gem, Behind the Mask: The Rise and Fall of Leslie Vernon is the type of cheeky slasher film that'll leave you laughing uncomfortably. It’s a divisive little horror film filled with heart and is sure to put you in the Halloween mood as it satirically rips into the subgenre and brutally attacks our protagonists.

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October 13th - Poltergeist

Without even acknowledging the pointless remake of this horror classic, it must be noted that Poltergeist is an October must. What can be said for this ghoulish flick that hasn't already been talked about? Sure, its graphics may have dated terribly and its acting isn't as strong as some of today's standards, but between the clown toy scene and the bodies in the ditch, Poltergeist is worth your time.

 

October 14th (Weekend Double Feature) - Sinister/Lake Mungo

Mystery swirls around these two films' plots and both have terrifying results. In each, we find characters attempting to unspool a murder, or in the case of Sinister, a series of murders. Is something supernatural going on or is there another, more realistic story? Well, as anyone who knows anything about Sinister can attest to, Bagul certainly isn't human. Lake Mungo on the other hand? That one you'll have to watch to find out. With a much smaller release, this slow-burning horror film is quite the bone chiller.



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October 15^th (Weekend Double Feature) - The House of the Devil/The Innkeepers

Ti West is quite the horror icon. With both The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers, he's proven himself to be an adept director that can balance absolutely terrifying moments with more lighthearted comedy. The two films that work best together are his retro-flavored movies, The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers. Each are perfectly shot masterpieces that deserve even more credit than they're given and both are some of the scarier choices for a fall night in.  

 

 

Best in Show: Autumnal Scares (Pt. II of II)

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5. A Nightmare on Elm Street

While the legendary 80s film, A Nightmare on Elm Street, may also be suited better for a Halloween-specific article, there's a certain chill to this movie that is reminiscent of fall. From dense fog and teens, this supernatural slasher is somewhat of an enigma when it comes to horror. While the killer is dead, he's not the typical ghostly being that haunts horror films like it. No, he's an actual killer and as he chases his victims through assorted dreamscapes, audiences can expect to be fully immersed in a world that's perpetually fall.



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4. The Conjuring

Old period home, chilly mornings and plenty of fallen leaves. Yes, I could be describing just about any of the movies on this list, but I'm talking about the one, the only: The Conjuring. Easily one of the scariest modern horror films, The Conjuring is meant for fall viewing. Its autumnal setting, often referenced in the film's cinematography and character's fashion feel exclusively autumnal. From witches to ghosts, this movie has everything and it’s all wrapped up in a nice orange and brown bow.



3. The House of the Devil

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The House of the Devil should always be your go to for 80s-inspired, satanic cult films. Highly stylistic and equally terrifying, this movie will prep audiences for the cooler evenings of fall; sweaters, dim-lights and an older home secluded by branchy trees make this movie delectably fall-oriented. The House of the Devil is sure to bring you and your friends into the fall mood thanks largely to the leads attire and surroundings.



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2. The Blair Witch Project/Blair Witch

Say what you will about the surprise sequel to The Blair Witch Project, but the pair complements one another nicely and perfectly capture fall in the Northeast. Like many rural areas there, the setting of these two films features deep woods, leaf-covered grounds and plenty of dewy foliage. Whether watching Heather & co or James & friends getting hopelessly lost in the woods near Burkittsville, ME, the sense of chilled nights and earlier sunsets permeates every scene. Pair this with the casts' hiking gear, visible breath and the iconic snot scene and The Blair Witch Project series will herald you into autumn with gusto.

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1. The Possession

If you're not a woman in your 60s you may not realize that Labor Day is a huge time for garage sales. So, in honor of the holiday itself, it's only fair to give the top spot on this list to a movie that's entire plot stems from a garage sale. That, in addition to the greyness, fallen leaves and general atmosphere of fall, all makes The Possession the type of movie that will have you fully prepared for autumn. The nights scenes are spooky, the day scenes are dull in color and the movie as a whole has an ambience reminiscent of childhood and jumping in leaves, or whatever the horror version of that would be.



Best in Show: Autumnal Scares (Pt. I of II)

Hear that? The fallen leaves crunching under your flip-flops? Well, that's the quickly changing season. Summer is nearly over and for many of us Labor Day is the nail in the coffin. School is back in session, hoodies become a necessity and pools become way too cold. In cinema, films have long used the seasons to set the tone of the movie; capturing the symbols of the time of year and drawing viewers in with those aspects. In fall, it’s often either a film related to Halloween or has plenty of falling leaves, grey skies and dim lighting to signify the months of September until late November. This week's list covers the most autumnal horror films that'll make the season change a little easier.

Note: As this film is more about the beginning of fall and not Halloween, movies explicitly related to the holiday will receive their own list later in the season.

10. Hollow 

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Dimly lit and grey all around, 2011's British import, Hollow, feels perfect for a night in surrounded by blankets. While never fully acknowledging the season - some characters wear shorts, while others opt for sweaters - there's something perpetually cool about the countryside in this film. While maybe not the strongest film, there are plenty of brief scares to instill fear and leave you unsettled. All of this complements autumn feelings as warm candles are placed throughout the film's night scenes giving it an orange glow that'll leave you craving pumpkin.





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9. My Soul to Take

Wes Craven's critically panned slasher film, My Soul to Take, may not have won over viewers and audiences, but its woodsy setting, constantly falling and sweatshirt-wearing students give the film an undeniable sense of September. Craven captures the setting of this film perfectly, and while perhaps some things could be improved on, there is a very clear sense for the time of the year it’s meant to take place during. Letterman jackets abound, My Soul to Take is like the football game-reminder that the change of seasons is upon us.


8. House at the End of the Street 

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Spooky to some, terrible for others; this is the space where we find films like House at the End of the Street. While many would argue there's plenty to pull from this twisted mystery-thriller, others would argue that its best meant unwatched. However, disregarding the films quality, this movie will definitely make you ready for the changing season. Whether Jennifer Lawrence's character is taking long walks home or peering into the woods around her house, the dampness of the movie and the fact that she's beginning classes at a new school all lend themselves to a feeling of fall.

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7. It Follows

Between beaches and a few scenes in a pool, it may be possible to confuse It Follows as a summer set movie. But, as if it took place during Labor Day itself, viewers will notice the cool lighting and colors, flannel-adorning characters and general sense of summers end. It's impossible to mistake: It Follows is a tale that comes with the fall. This movie seems like the perfect lead in to the season of changing leaves and long pants. The hues and lighting, the crispness of the atmosphere and the scenes taking place in the school all make for an experience that'll undeniably set you in the mood for pumpkins lattes and scarves. You know, if you're into that sort of thing.

6. The Woman in Black 

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Maybe meant more for the future Halloween movie list, maybe not. But, The Woman in Black includes everything you could think of from nostalgic autumn weather. Dark hues, cooling weather and period clothing reminiscent of fall, This film, like many time period pieces before it, has an air of nostalgia that just about anyone can connect with; whether or not you were alive. And, what works in tandem together better than reminiscing and fall? Nothing. That's the answer. While Christmas brings the thoughts of joys of Christmas past, autumn often brings such nostalgia of coziness and sweaters that it’s impossible to ignore.