As a wannabe-hipster, I'm basically obsessed with two things: succulents and vintage movies. So, in preparation for Halloween, one of my favorite holidays, I decided to ask some of my friends and family what their favorite throwback Halloween movies were, and here's what they had to say! And, I had to include my favorite as number 13!
1. "Dark Night of the Scarecrow"
"I liked it because you could see eyes peering out of the scarecrow hanging in the field. It was pretty scary! One of the iconic phrases from the movie was 'Bubba didn't do it!'"
2. "Friday the 13th"
"It was the first scary film I remember attending. I was 13 when it came out. I went with friends to watch a movie about teenagers being murdered one by one! I screamed the loudest, I'm sure!"
3. "Poltergeist"
"It came out in 1982. I like it because it includes some classic horror motifs such as ghosts, scary clowns, an evil tree, etc., but all in a suburban, 'normal' setting that makes it relatable and thus scary as hell!"
4. "Hocus Pocus"
"I love it for the nostalgia. The movie has a unique mix of spooky comedy which the cast portrays wonderfully. The costumes, scenery and witchy magic really make you feel you're back in Salem, MA. And don't forget about the music. 'I Put A Spell On You' will go down as an all-time classic Halloween song."
5. "Sleepy Hollow"
"This is also a wonderful Tim Burton movie starring Johnny Depp. This movie is spooky and a little scary. It has awesome special effects and a creepy story line. The gothic scenery really sets the tone for this somewhat 'dark' movie."
6. "Salem's Lot"
"Well, when it came out I was little. When I saw it, I was maybe 12 or so. It was my first time seeing a vampire movie, and it was relatable. I was in the woods all the time playing as a boy, and there are a couple scenes in there set in woods! Very scary!"
7. "The Birds"
"I'm not really into horror movies. But I remember the first scary movie I saw was 'The Birds' by Alfred Hitchcock. I liked it because even their pet birds were affected! Creepy!!"
8. "Edward Scissorhands"
"It's a classic, bizarre Burton movie. A kind of fairytale Halloween movie. You have a strange and very 'different' person (Edward) living in a gothic mountaintop castle and below is a suburb. They perceive Edward to be weird and dangerous, but really he is kind, lonely and in need of friendship."
9. "Children of the Corn"
"Who doesn't believe in kid power and want to ensure a good corn harvest every year? What's looking back at you behind the rows?"
10. "Silence of the Lambs"
"I could watch 'Silence of the Lambs' a million times and never tire of it. It keeps you guessing and tells an incredibly twisted story that you think could be real because there is no way someone could make this up. Dr. Lector is a horrifying cannibal, yet you could somehow see yourself enjoying his company as long as he doesn't invite you for dinner. The only thing lacking is a believable Southern accent from Jodie Foster."
11. "Misery"
"I love 'Misery' because well... Kathy Bates! It's a great story that is completely believable and is filled with horror, humor and even a pig."
12. "The Blair Witch Project"
"I like the rawness of it and how simple it was to produce but still cause the suspense and fear one looks for in a horror film. Of all the scary movies I have seen, and I have seen just about all of them, this one is the only one to leave me really freaked out."
13. My all-time favorite: "Halloween"!
Part of the reason I'm sure I like it so much is because it was the first scary movie I ever saw. But, that isn't to minimize its scariness: It had the perfect blend of a haunting story, a pretty good level of plausibility and some really good jump scares.
So there you have it! Halloween is only a few days away, but you still have enough time to watch all of these classics! And if you watch them even after the 31st, who says the party has to stop?
