There's a certain breed of horror movie that is near and dear to the hearts of many, especially this Halloween season- bad practical effects, bizarre dialogue and performances, movies that ride that line perfectly between 'scary' and 'comedic mess'. You know the kind I'm talking about. Mostly from the 80's and 90's, these movies, for me and many others, capture that feeling of the Halloween season so well- two parts nostalgia, one part unsettling.
So grab some friends, steal your brother's Halloween candy, and spend this spooky season watching some of these cringey-classics.
1. "Re-Animator"(1985)
Based (very loosely) on an H.P. Lovecraft short story, "Re-animator" is a cheesy jewel of a movie. It follows Dan Cain, a medical student who becomes frustrated with his inability to save people from death. Enter Herbert West, the entirely normal looking fellow pictured above, who in the opening scene of the movie is seen injecting his dead college professor with some glowing green goo (also pictured above) that momentarily brings the professor back to life, only for his eyes to explode out of his head. Herbert flees the country, moves in with Dan and turns Dan's basement into his laboratory to further his research of re-animating the dead. And the madness ensues from there.
This movie stands tall in the campy-horror hall of fame for completely leaning into its ridiculous elements, while also staying true to its story. It's a simple, tight plot that doesn't waste its time, and you can tell the actors were having fun in their performances too, specifically Jeffrey Combs, who played Herbert West. Dude is a maniac in this role.
Also, there is a talking, decapitated head. That's worth the price of admission alone.
2. "Fright Night"(1985)
Man '85 was a wonderful year for terrible movies. "Fright ight" follows Charley, who is a horror movie junkie, spending sleepless nights watching a series called "Fright Night", a show hosted by a man who claims he's a vampire hunter.
Naturally, the new neighbor (who's crushin' hard on Charley's mom) that moves in next door to Charley is a vampire. Or is he? (spoilers: he is). No one believes Charley, is the thing. 'Boy's seen one too many scary movies,' they say.
This movie was "Disturbia" before "Disturbia". Y'know, minus Shia, and plus vampires.
3. "Creepshow 2"(1987)
The sequel to the '82 movie, "Creepshow 2" is an homage and love letter to the horror comic books from EC Comics of the 1950's, where the original "Tales From the Crypt" was birthed.
Directed by George Romero (the man who popularized the modern interpretation of zombies) and written by Stephen King (some nobody who wrote a few obscure things), "Creepshow 2" is an anthology of horror shorts, inter-spliced with cringe-inducing 80's-animated sections. The first "Creepshow" feels deadly serious next to its sequel here, whose actors come off as aliens doing their best impression of people-speak.
The middle section of the movie "The Raft" is especially great. 4 teenagers go out to an isolated lake to get high and go swimming, where they find something waiting for them in the water. Something vaguely environmental-message-y waiting for them. It's a damn good time.
4. "From Dusk Till Dawn"(1996)
An obvious one, but one worth a mention. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, written by (and starring) Quentin Tarantino, "From Dusk Till Dawn" segways halfway through its story from a criminals-on-the-run sort of movie to a schlocky, over the top vampire comedy. And it actually works, too.
The comedy is bizarre and unnerving (specifically Tarantino's psychotic character), the effects and costumes are so uncannily fake looking that they do end up looking sort of creepy, and the performances are all spot on, over the top. Cheesy it may be, "From Dusk Till Dawn" basks in its own cheese. It's proud of its cheesiness, and you should be too.
5. "Trick 'r Treat"(2007)
A more recent one this may be, "Trick 'r Treat" recaptures that same campy madness that exists in the movies listed above, with a modern day coat of paint on top of it
"Trick 'r Treat" showcases the various supernatural goings-on with multiple characters, young and old, throughout a single town on Halloween night. Jumping through time and plot lines, "Trick 'r Treat" showcases killer school principles, werewolves, town curses, and some sort of physical embodiment of the spirit of Halloween.
Directed and written by Michael Dougherty, "Trick 'r Treat" presents itself as less a linear story and more a love letter to the horrors of Halloween, both silly and sinister.
Also worth a recommendation: "Krampus", from the same creator as "Trick 'r Treat", which stands as a modern interpretation of the niche Christmas-horror movies of the past. Equally over the top, the practical effect monsters in the movie are something everyone needs to see.
