I loooooooooooooove Halloween! The only trouble is it’s not so super popular here in Australia – again why do the Americans have to have all the fun?! Kids don’t dress up and go trick or treating (well maybe a handful do) and there really isn’t a fuss over anything pumpkin related, but I refuse to let the day pass without some acknowledgement. I have to at least watch one of my beloved horror movies to celebrate!
My love of horror movies started waaaaaaaay back when I was a kid, shitting myself silly staying up and watching blood fests on late night TV. My parents really weren’t that fussed (not sure if that was a good or bad thing, I think I turned out OK *eye twitch*) and I was able to indulge in the classic slasher movies of the day. My favourite? A Nightmare On Elm Street, of course!
Freddy Krueger haunted my dreams too, but thankfully I always woke up. He plagued me at night, but yet I was a masochist and loved watching the movies and being scared. It also didn’t help that I actually grew up on Elm Street!!
I’m such a huge fan of the Elm Street series that I have collected some memorabilia along the years….
Also, as some of you may have seen, I went to visit the actual house they used in the movie when I was in L.A. in July. And a couple of years ago I was lucky enough to fulfill my childhood dream/nightmare and meet Robert Englund who played Freddy Krueger (the original, I will not speak of the massacre that was the remake *shudder*)….
Alas, I don’t have any groovy Halloween recipe ideas, or an awesome costume/make-up tutorial for you as I’m not as adept at celebrating the holiday as some of you northern hemisphere peeps are (can anyone explain what the fuck candy corn is??!) But I do have a PhD in Gore & Slasher Movies and I’m able to pass on my fountain of knowledge in what to watch to scare the bejesus out of you this Halloween.
This list changes a lot and I have definitely left out some stellar cult classics (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween and Evil Dead to name a couple) but for 2014 in no particular order here are my top ten horror movies to watch this October 31st…
1. A Nightmare on Elm Street; the original and the best! How can you go past Freddy Krueger and his burnt face haunting you in your dreams? Plus Johnny Depp in his first acting role – need I say more?
2. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 – The Dream Warriors; The scene where Freddy uses one of the characters veins as puppet strings haunted me as a child!
3. Scream; I love that they took the piss out of the horror genre and then spat it right back in our faces! The opening scene with Drew Barrymore is pure horror gold.
4. Silent Night, Deadly Night; this is the reason Santa Claus scared the fuck out of me for years – that’s all I’ll say!
5. IT; did anyone like clowns before this movie? Well you definitely won’t after. Another masterpiece by Stephen King that thankfully wasn’t butchered severely in the movie adaptation.
6. Damien Omen II; the first Omen movie was great – but this tops it. So many movies have subsequently ripped them off so you know it’s good. The scene in the elevator will freak you out and make you take the stairs!
7. Rosemary’s Baby: How can I go past a movie with my name in it? Yes, it freaked me the fuck out when I saw it and no, I will not be naming my child Adrian!!
8. The Shining; Stephen King supposedly loathed this adaptation but I love it. Jack Nicholson at his spookiest and who can forget REDRUM….. REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM!!
9. The Exorcist; I have an early memory of walking into our living room as a kid when this was on, right at the head turning scene – yep it freaked me out and yep I still love it. All I can say is I can’t look at a crucifix the same way 😐
10. Wolf Creek; I had to add an Aussie classic in this list. John Jarrett is super chilling as the maniac Mick Taylor, you’ll never want to go backpacking in the outback again!
So, do you like scary movies? What are your favourites?
Categories: People & Places
A Red Lip And A Nude Shoe 
Oh god…I am such a sook I just can’t watch them. What little I have seen of any of these has been through my own fingers; clamped firmly over my eyes. Although for some reason The Shining doesn’t count and I actually own a copy on DVD which I do watch at least twice a year. My darling daughter must go elsewhere for her fix of the horror movie genre. In fact, tonight she will be spending the evening with your lovely niece indulging in as much gore as they can find!
I believe my darling niece may have got that from me!
I get it Donna, some people love roller coasters and bungee jumping to scare them, I don’t understand those crazy fuckers! I’d much rather sit safely on my couch and watch Freddy and the gang scare me 🙂 xo
Awesome write Rosie!! Here here for Halloweeen!!! Great to see that its actually picking up momentum in the last 5 yrs & people are talking bout it. I must say it was awesome living in NY & really letting loose. Horror movies ?? Uh ah… not for me… i shit myself hard… give me candy anytime !!! Your a tough chick, i know you can handle a bit of gore suspense!! Happy hell to ya!!
Hey Suzanne, I know – 10+ years ago trying to find a pumpkin to carve was nigh impossible!! Now it’s becoming more popular in Oz which I love!
Can’t wait to get out of the office and hit the couch with some scary movies 🙂 xo
I love all of your movie picks! I also loved “When a Stranger Calls”. All Halloween candy is like 75% off now. I will pick up some Candy Corn for you and mail it. It’s an American classic Halloween candy!
Hahahaha ok! I look forward to it…I think 😐 x
Oh, and remember the song from “Dream Warriors” by Dokken???? Waaaaahhhh!!!!!
Of course! That was the coolest song and do you remember the clip?
Of course!!!!
Aw I effing love a spot of Halloween! Fave horror movie has got to be Silent Hill, did you ever see it? Scared the shite out of me LOL, I was trying to scramble out of my seat in the cinema & had to be held down!
Ooooh I haven’t heard of that one but I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it! I Love a good recommendation 🙂 xo