Hi FOLKS,

Looking forward to HALLOWEEN? me too, i LOVE IT.

Love the Toys, food & movies around this time, I would normally have all my decorations & toys (Yup I am still a BIG KID at Heart) up, boxed & up in the ATTIC they normally head down just before the 1st OCTOBER and HALLOWEEN at ours LASTS the whole MONTH

Usually watch a whole lot of HORROR Movies throughout the Month so I thought i would LIST My Favourite TOP 20 HALLOWEEN Movies worthy of your consideration during this HALLOWEEN SEASON...many you'll have heard of but some might not have.

Being a MOVIE FAN i could LIST 100 or more that i LOVE but these are give or take my TOP 20 although there are some HIGH PROFILE movies which don't make my cut of TOP 20 the likes of "The Exorcist", "The Omen", "Cabin in the Woods" & "Trick or Treat" but hopefully you'll get a KICK oUT of this which i plan on completing by the end of this WEEKEND...so sit BACK & enjoy the TRAILERS.

Starting with Number 20 on my list we have...
"JASON X"
Might surprise some? but when you realise it has not only JASON being awoke in the FUTURE but has SCI-FI ELEMENTS, spacecraft & the like then you might get WHY i enjoy it so much...YES it's still basically your typical SLASHER film but it's set IN SPACE


At No 19
As a comedy it would be HIGHER up my LIST but just had to include it for the atmosphere it creates.
"YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN"
Where Wolf? There, Wolf


No 18
"THE MIST"
A wonderfully made & atmospheric movie...ONE DAY those words you READ here at the beginning of this Trailer may well come to pass.


And the last one for today at
No 17
"AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF in LONDON"
A more MODERN trailer for this 1981 film which i first saw at a friends house on old VHS TAPE aged around 16.
This is when i fell in LOVE with JENNY AGUTTER (yet another CRUSH Chris? afraid so! is there anyone you didn't have a crush on back then? hmm NOPE pretty much everyone )


BACK TOMORROW with MORE from my HALLOWEEN MOVIES LIST

HELLO My LITTLE DEVILS

BACK for MORE I see...on this FRIDAY the 13th

At Number 16 we have...
"NIGHT OF THE CREEPS"
The Director (Fred Dekker) is really someone who should have gone on to direct far more GENRE films, he also directed a CLASSIC Kids Horror much higher up on my list but this one has an old fashioned style & wit about it...Here's the trailer...


Number 15
"THE BLOB"
No not the hopeless 1950's original movie starring STEVE McQUEEN but the DELIGHTFUL 1988 remake directed by another director who would go on to again make another fun picture higher up on my list of FUN 'Halloween' movies.


Number 14
"THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD"
Sounds like one of those BANNED Video Nasties from the 1980's so many of us teenagers might remember hearing about right?
Well NO actually it's NOT, it's not even that gory! this is more a HORROR COMEDY which works a treat at providing a number of CHUCKLES along the way, had to review the trailer to check LINENNA QUIGLEY (1980's SCREAM QUEEN) didn't show up too much as she spends a great deal of the film naked but it's done with tongue firmly in cheek...it's the MORTUARY Guys that will have you cracking up!
I have this on BLU-RAY & in the STEELBOOK form due to the AMAZING Artwork (you might know I LOVE Artwork)


At Number 13 (pretty apt being FRIDAY THE 13TH) is...
"THE FLY" (1986 Version)
Now unlike the original McQUEEN version of "THE BLOB" which I really don't like...the original "THE FLY" from 1958 stars one of my favourite OLD TIMER HORROR STARS in the shape of VINCENT PRICE, a truly delightful old fashioned type of Gentleman in the same vein as the kind & lovely PETER CUSHING here in Britain & that original film is HOKEY but GREAT FUN.
This remake by the MASTER of BODY HORROR (David Cronenberg) is EXCEPTIONALLY WELL DONE & is probably HIS best film?
At it's roots it's a TRAGIC LOVE STORY, Geena Davis as the love interest is perfect but JEFF GOLDBLUM gives what must be his BEST PERFORMANCE EVER in this film! the INSECT POLITICS Speech is 'CHILLING'
One of the BEST HORROR FILMS of ALL-TIME but curiously not quiet a TOP 10 HALLOWEEN pick but my do I LOVE IT!


And that's where we shall END Todays PICKS.

What's THAT???

Ah, The Children of the Night what sweet Music they Play

Same Place Same Time Tomorrow

Welcome Back my GHOULISH Friends...

Now where are we upto (insert MANIAC Laugh)

Oh Yeah Number 12
"FROM BEYOND"
Directed as a follow up to "RE-ANIMATOR" by Stuart Gordon (another film I like) but this is my FAVOURITE as it deals with SCIENTISTS working with a machine that DISCOVERS another DIMENSION
Trouble is there are ALL SORTS of NASTY, GORY SPOOKIES on that side!
Add in a GREAT, FUN CAST, some humour & Barbara Crampton wearing well let's just say most guys would like it yup it's NAUGHTY but it's PLAYED with tongue in cheek, I LOVE a good OVER-THE-TOP Mad Scientists Movie & this along with "LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE" (which just fails to make my 20) is probably my favourite!
NOT for CHILDREN but if in the MOOD a whole lot of GOOEY & somewhat NAUGHTY Horror FUN....Trailer shows very little but there are MONSTERS Galore!!!


At Number 11
"WAXWORK"
Another 'Cult' Horror film probably few of you have ever heard of but again it's FUN & it's an ANTHOLOGY (a collection of SHORTER STORIES brought together to make a whole film) & I LOVE a GOOD Anthology film such as "Creepshow", "Trick or Treat", "Asylum" (the one with the strange headed robot) & "Dr Terror's House of Horror's" with Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee on a TRAIN to WHERE? ALL of those are GREAT but I have a fondness for this one...

This was followed up with a sequel called "WAXWORK 2 : Lost in Time" which is almost as much FUN.


And HERE we REACH My TOP 10 'HALLOWEEN' Movies
So you know they're REALLY GOOD if they're making my TOP 10

AT Number 10
"A NIGHTMARE on ELM STREET 3 : Dream Warriors"
I also LOVE the 1st & very Original Nightmare on Elm Street but this is by far & away my favourite of ALL these FILMS as it features a WONDERFUL STORY of Sleep Deprived Children in a HOME & includes some WONDERFUL Fantasy elements (Super Creature Effects)
The guy that directed the early remake of "THE BLOB" also directed this (CHUCK RUSSELL)


Number 9 (we're into single figures now...so things are getting really GOOD )
"HOCUS POCUS"
A Terrific film for all the family at this time of the year!


No 8
"HALLOWEEN" the first & original & superbly directed film by John Carpenter (a HUGE favourite of mine as you'll see later on )
Some may be surprised this is not higher up on the list.
There is so very little now between these 8 films from here on in, it's basically just down to what did I enjoy most OVERALL & although it's set on ALL HALLOW'S EVE & is a GREAT movie for HALLOWEEN I just think the next 7 pip this OLD WONDERFUL Classic!
I actually have the RARE original USA One Sheet from 1978 for this showing Michael Myers (THE SHAPE) hand clutching the knife & in a neat movement effect with it the PUMPKIN is FORMED...simplistic ART but rather CLEVER I think.

A little tame thesedays but VERY Atmospheric
"Was that the BOOGEY MAN?", "As a matter of fact, THAT WAS"....Awesome!!!

Final one for tonight but it's a GOODIE...

At No 7
"EVIL DEAD 2"
Sam Raimi's BEST FILM combining HORROR with COMICAL elements.
So OTT you can't help but NOT take it SERIOUSLY.
Bruce Campbell is well...GROOVY


I'll see you for the FINAL 6 Tomorrow but I promise I won't "SWALLOW YOUR SOUL", Not WHOLE Anyway

Hello my Fiends
It's LATE...Bark at the MOON late

As teenagers for awhile back then I hung out with a group of METAL HEADS & we would walk the streets late at nigh singing this

So BACK i see for ONE LAST TIME...

Here are MY TOP 6 HALLOWEEN Movies...HUINT THEM DOWN Now before the 31st YOU WON'T REGRET IT

Let the FINAL COUNTDOWN (yeah i was sorely tempted to add EUROPE's SONG at this point but ON with the FILMS)
At NUMBER 6
"THE HOWLING"
And my personal favourite out & out WEREWOLF Movie...don't get me wrong there's not a great deal between this & An American Werewolf in London but that is more comical / horror than this which is pretty much ALL OUT HORROR, brilliantly made & directed by one of my favourite directors (JOE DANTE) it has many unsettling moments but the ATMOSPHERE that is created here brings to mind those EC American Comics, it's all here if you love werewolves & happens to star an actress i am very fond of (DEE WALLACE, she was the mother in E.T.) & she's wonderful here!


We are NOW into the TOP 5 & at 5 is...
"THE MONSTER SQUAD"
Probably (unless you folks know of a better one) the BEST Kids HORROR / HALLOWEEN FIlm EVER made...
A Group of kids including a darling little girl who befriends FRANKENSTEIN??? nah we ALL call him that but it's actually FRANKENSTEIN's MONSTER who is WONDERFUL but add in the other kids who are FANTASTIC & all the old CLASSIC MONSTERS in the shapes of DRACULA, WOLF MAN, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON & THE BRIDES.
This is a witty & beautiful made movie that baffles me WHY it was NOT a HUGE HIT at the time?
FRED DEKKER the guy that directed "NIGHT OF THE CREEPS" also directs this (HIS BEST PICTURE)
It's a DELIGHT & it's DAMN near PERFECT for FAMILY VIEWING this 'Halloween'
I LOVE this film so much i have the original QUAD POSTER, the Front of House Cinema Stills & the BLU RAY with GREAT EXTRAS.
It something i would HEARTILY RECOMMEND to anyone & i still don't understand why the likes of BBC1 or ITV cannot put such a film as this on PRIMETIME between the times of 7pm-9pm on the 30th or 31st of OCTOBER...they'll be NOTHING on those channels on these nights that beat this!
I think you see how much i LOVE this film right?


So WHAT 4 films are better viewing than this on HALLOWEEN NIGHT...well try this one at
NUMBER 4
"PARANORMAN"
You may notice that most of this films are dated from the 1980's (there's JASON X & THE MIST from later years) which is a SHAME i feel that NO HORROR or HALLOWEEN Themed film has managed to be made in the past 20 or 30 years or so to make it (although i have heard the new remake of Stephen King's "IT" might be worthy? not seen it yet but if it's a match for the MINI SERIES from the 80's then it should be worth checking out)
PARANORMAN blew me away when i saw it for the first time.
A DELIGHT from START to FINISH...incredible atmosphere (i mention that a lot don't i? but it HAS to have a feeling, a look of something strange & curious i think) the ANIMATION is a JOY, if you can see it in 3D do so, super story & VERY VERY TOUCHING i thought.
PERFECT KIDS HAlloween viewing.


AND NEXT UP...THE TOP 3 HALLOWEEN Night Movies

And to the TOP 3 HALLOWEEN MOVIES of ALL-TIME (ok my current TOP 3)
They are so close that they are interchangeable, so 3 could well be 1 & any other combination but if you were to ask me right now then this is how my TOP 3 would look...

At 3
"BRAM STOKER's DRACULA"
Directed by a TOP NOTCH Director (FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA) with a superb cast, i know Mr Reeves as an English Gentleman is pushing things but i'll forgive this because we are given another TREMENDOUS Atmospheric (you knew that word was coming right?) YARN which closely follows BRAM STOKER'S Book.
It may surprise some to see non of the HAMMER HORROR MOVIES shows up here...that's NOT to say they are not WONDERFUL & ENTERTAINING because they are, they're also atmospheric too but i have to go with what i feel i like most but you can pick virtually ANY Christopher Lee Dracula film & i'd love it & there's THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, TWINS of EVIL but this for me is the BEST version made so far featuring this character.


NUMBER 2
"FRIGHT NIGHT"
I truly ADORE this film...ADORE, ADORE, ADORE, Roddy McDowell as PETER VINCENT is damn near perfect as a TV HORROR HOST (the like of ELVIRA in the USA) who gets called up by CHARLEY to investigate a new neighbour he suspects of being a VAMPIRE.
Brilliantly acted, Super story, Great (here it comes) ATMOSPHERE, Terrific special effects & directed with a wonderful eye by TOM HOLLAND.
Chris Sarandon is one charming villain here but for me it's ALL ABOUT Peter Vincent & Roddy brings his A GAME to this WONDERFUL Horror/Comedy film that also got a pretty good sequel called you'll not be surprised to hear FRIGHT NIGHT 2.
They REMADE this film with COLIN FARRELL & to be fair it's NOT TOO BAD, it's updated a little & has some style to it but the ATMOSHERE & CHARM from this ORIGINAL is missing.
This is the THE MONSTER SQUAD almost from ADULTS but featuring mainly VAMPIRES....and it's a JOY.
Oh & you'll be singing along with THEME as it ENDS.


AND MY NUMBER 1 all time HORROR & HALLOWEEN Movie Pick is & probably always will be....

"THE FOG" (1980)
Don't ever mention the remake to me...THAT DOES NOT EXIST in my WORLD...if i could burn it from EXISTANCE i would it's THAT BAD & is so FAR REMOVED from this WONDERFULLY (get ready for it) ATMOSPHERIC movie that i really don't know WHY they ever REMADE it as it doesn't come anywhere near close to this UNDERRATED original version...so MAKE SURE you watch the right version! this 1980 one!

Yes the atmosphere is set straight from the off here with John Houseman's GHOST STORY to the kids on the beach close to MIDNIGHT (TIME for ONE more STORY)
I remember our lovely teacher at junior school telling us a HORROR STORY close to HALLOWEEN & it's stayed with me (probably why i like this opening sequence)...IT was the broken down car story in the middle of nowhere (remember that one?)

FRANKLY i love EVERYTHING about this film but one of the MAJOR THINGS i LOVE about this (apart from the overall LOOK of it & how well they did with such a LIMITED BUDGET) is the CHARACTER of Father Malone played by HAL HALBROOK, a terrific character actor who also appeared as the villain of the piece in "CAPRICORN ONE"
"We're celebrating MURDERERS" is a truly chilling line from him here...but i LOVE his whole speech & THAT ENDING!!! Chilling!
The LOCATIONS are a huge reason this film works for me, it is my dream & hope that possibly ONE DAY i shall be able to VISIT the U.S.A & this LIGHTHOUSE & other locations used here (there is a good brief locations video on YOUTUBE worthy of checking out)
BLAKE & his CREW is right out of a GHOST BOOK.
Oh & ADRIENNE BARBAEU the RADIO DJ is one FOXY LADY who sounds great as the DJ at the LIGHTHOUSE...Yup i LOVE "THE FOG"
I even remember BBC1 showing it late one night (approx. midnight to 1.30am) and a weather report said there would be a FOG in our area, i watched it & midway through opened the curtains & sure enough there it was, a HEAVY FOG BANK outside...I JUST HAD to go OUTSIDE for a quick moment (how could i NOT) just to see if i would get a chill...I DID SPOOKY stuff...I got back inside pretty quick before BLAKE could get me NOT THAT i WAS SCARED of COURSE it was COLD...honest!

Yup that's my NUMBER 1 Halloween MOVIE pick.

HOPE you have a FUN Month watching Horror movies & hopefully this list might HELP you FOLKS work out what to watch?

"WHY NOT SIX BLAKE...WHY NOT ME"

Well of course when you DO A TOP 20 or BEST OF there is always something in the back of your mind saying...

YOU'VE FORGOTTEN 1 or 2 & this i have done with these 2 SUPERB Movies...

Where they would FIT in the scheme of things? well let's just say they would be fighting high & probably would make MY TOP 10.

These two films are...
"POLTERGEIST"

Found this also which is something i don't ever recall seeing before...


And then for some CRAZY reason i FORGOT this...one of my ALL-TIME favourite movies & although it's more COMEDY FANTASY than HORROR it's still a great pick for HALLOWEEN & it is of course...
"GHOSTBUSTERS"
I was still in High School when this hit CINEMAS in 1984 & i remember going to see it 3 or 4 times within a few weeks YEAH that GOOD, that UNUSUAL, it stood out like a sore thumb way back then, i had see nothing like it before, the chemistry between the 3 guys is MAJOR & a KEY reason why it works so well (they all knew each other from Saturday Night Live & "STRIPES" & it shows!) Ernie Hudson as the 4th hired GHOSTBUSTER is just as good & FUNNY here...not sure you could use that line of his to the MAJOR now but it's still FUNNY.
SO MANY Funny & or AMUSING LINES here that are still MEMORABLE (even to me now!)
"You gotta try this POLE" he persuades them to buy the old fire station just because it has a POLE
Where do these stairs lead? they lead UP.
Ok, so she's a DOG!
We came we saw...WE KICKED it's A..
What did you do RAY? i tried to think...well you know the rest & what he dreamt up
How DID i FORGET this??? damn memory.


MAY RETURN with a FEW OTHERS that didn't quiet make my TOP 20 which are still GREAT to WATCH.
One of these would have been included in MY TOP 20 but i felt like it would have been a bit of a cheat...i speak of "SALEM'S LOT" but that was NOT originally a MOVIE but a FANTASTICALLY Creepy 2 PART Mini-Series.
It was ONLY later edited into a long 3 hour movie for VIDEO but the mini series in 2 parts which is longer & has scenes NOT included in the cobbled together movie is the way to go.
I remember seeing it as a TEEN & it's CHILLING & actually rather SCARY with the RELIGIOUS undertones...and EVERYONE that saw it REMEMBERS the Kid at the window tapping away


A FEW OTHERS to FOLLOW