A Very Special Happy Halloween

Hey everyone. Happy Halloween! Today is my favorite day of the year (after all, I did devote an entire month of articles to it here on YDKS Movies) and, to celebrate further, I have prepared yet another countdown for you all. This one is pretty special. It is the Top 8 Halloween Movies / Television Specials (I couldn't come up with 10, sorry). In this countdown, I will cover movies and television specials that I believe evoke the Halloween spirit the best. So get ready because its about to get all Halloween up in this place. 

Honorable Mention: Trick R' Treat

As far as I'm concerned, this could be number one on this list if Warner Bros. would just wise up and release the damn thing. Seriously, I've been waiting to see this movie for over a year now. All the test screening reviews are glowing and it looks like it is so much fun. The trailer released for it just oozes the Halloween spirit. Plus, it's a horror anthology film in the vein of Creepshow but taking place entirely on Halloween. How could people not like that? This movie needs to be released and in theaters. I want to see it so bad.

Check out the awesome trailer for it below.

8. Freaks and Geeks- The Halloween Episode

Freaks and Geeks is one of my favorite television shows ever. It's incredibly funny, touching and usually very sad.  Like all the other episodes on Freaks and Geeks, this episode is really sad and kind of destroys the Halloween spirit. It basically presents Halloween as a holiday that only encourages more awful things to happen to good people (which, in all honesty, it can be). It also deals with the sickening realization of being too old to trick or treat. Still, despite it saying Halloween basically sucks, it's a wonderful episode (one of my favorites) and I just couldn't not mention it. For me, this episode kind of represents the Halloween of the junior high years. It's not really the glorified, fun holiday that we grew up on. Still, there are bits of that still waiting to come out (as can be seen in the end with Lindsey and her mother). 

Below I've included the costume montage. It's really funny. If you've never seen Freaks and Geeks, be sure to check it out.

7. The Office- The Halloween Episode

Much like Freaks and Geeks, The Office is one of my favorite television shows ever. In the Halloween episode in Season 2, Michael has to decide who he is going to lay off by the end of the day. He was suppose to take care of this task already but decided to leave it for Halloween because it is "very scary stuff." This is one of my favorite episodes of The Office. Everything feels very surreal with everyone in costume and the ending is really great. Plus, I just really like two-headed Michael. The scene where he acts like he is taking advice from it on whether or not to fire Dwight is amazing. Although this episode doesn't evoke the Halloween spirit in a classic sense, I still thought it was worthy enough to be on this list.

Also, I have a clip that isn't from this episode but from last night's episode (which had a Halloween opening). It features Creed, Kevin and Dwight all dressing up like Heath Ledger's Joker from The Dark Knight. It's pretty amazing. Check it out.

6. Goosebumps- The Haunted Mask

Just to get this straight, I'm referring to the television adaptation of this book, not the book itself. I have to admit, the Goosebumps television show really doesn't hold up very well. It's really cheesy and filled with bad acting and effects. However, the first episode of the show has always stayed with me throughout the years. It revolves around Carly Beth, a girl who is absolutely terrified of everything (quite the problem to have in horror related material) buying an evil mask that makes her...umm... evil and conforms to her skin. It all takes place on Halloween and that setting is really used well. There's a lot of shots taking place on foggy roads (not sure why, but I'll take it), lots of trick or treating and lots of Carly Beth running around scaring kids. Plus, there's a really bad effect of floating Halloween masks chasing people around. That sounds like Halloween to me.

Here's a video of some clips from it if you're not familiar with this one.

5. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

I watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown this past weekend on DVD. Even though it's only twenty-five minutes long and was made thirty years ago, it still holds up. It shows Halloween from a child's viewpoint and really manages to capture it's overall spirit in tone. It also manages to address some deeper issues with Linus' obsession and devotion to the Great Pumpkin, something that obviously does not exist. Overall, it's a pretty wonderful special that I feel like I could watch at any stage in my life and still really enjoy.

Below, I've embedded a clip of my favorite part of the special where Charlie Brown keeps receiving a rock instead of candy from people. Enjoy.

4. The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of those movies that manages to work as both a great Halloween film and a great Christmas movie. The scenes dealing with Halloween absolutely define the Halloween spirit. Last year, I watched this movie on and off during the entire month of October. It was great. To show how awesome this movie is when it comes to Halloween, I embedded the "This is Halloween" scene below. 

3. Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus is one of those movies that I think everyone grew up with as a child. When I worked at Movie Gallery one summer, I ended up putting this movie in the DVD player on a very slow night and, when I did, I kept having customers come up to me saying how much they loved this movie. I don't blame them. Sure, it's a silly, kid's movie but man do I love it anyways. It's got one of the strongest nostalgic pulls of any movie I've seen. Plus, it's just bursting with the Halloween spirit. I don't think I'm friends with anyone who doesn't love this movie.

Below, I put clip of the witches' performance of "I Put a Spell on You." Enjoy it.

2. All the Halloween movies

This one was kind of a no-brainer. Since all of the Halloween movies take place on Halloween, they are going to be filled with Halloween-related material. Michael Myers himself is kind of like a demonic version of the holiday itself: a killer dressed in a costume that attacks only on that holiday. All of the movies contain various takes on the holiday. I particularly liked Rob Zombie's take with the holiday- he really pulled off the atmosphere of Halloween quite well.

Here's a video someone made with Michael Myers doing his thing. 

1. The Halloween Tree

I absolutely love The Halloween Tree. For some reason or another, I cannot find anyone who is familiar with this thing. Based on the children's book by Ray Bradbury, this cartoon special aired on Cartoon Network and unforunately is not available currently on DVD. It follows a group of kids on Halloween who chase the spirit of their friend Pip through time, experiencing Halloween throughout the years and in various countries and cultures. This cartoon special, for me, is the definition of Halloween. It not only explores Halloween in today's culture but the cultures of various countries through history. How could I not love this?

If you have never seen this, please watch the video below. It is the first part of the cartoon. If you want, you can watch the whole thing on YouTube.

I hope you all enjoyed this countdown. This officially marks the end of YDKS Monster Fest 2008. I hope you all enjoyed it. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to take a break. Happy Halloween everyone. Go and eat lots of candy.

The 25 Greatest Horror Movies Ever, Part 5

Since it is Monster Fest here on YDKS Movies, I figured it was the perfect time of year to work on a countdown of what I consider the 25 greatest horror movies of all-time. Although you may not agree with my list, it is my opinion based on the large amount of horror films that I have consumed over the years. Unfortunately, there still are some "classics" I have yet to see such as Rosemary's Baby and Jacob's Ladder. Because of that, these titles will not appear on the list. However, all of the horror films on this list are nothing but solid films and, if you haven't seen them already, you should check them all out.

Check Out Part 1 of this List Here

Check out Part 2 of this List Here

Check out Part 3 of this List Here

Check out Part 4 of this List Here

Part 5 of 5.

5. Psycho (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock basically invented the slasher genre with this film. Psycho is one of the greatest horror films ever created. One of the reasons for that is that it simply tricks you. It makes you think that Janet Leigh is the main character of the film, getting you to invest in her for the first half of the film, before having her get killed brutally with a knife while taking a shower. It’s still shocking today and I cannot imagine the impact it must have had on audiences back in 1960. The direction is absolutely superb (especially in the infamous shower kill), the music by the great Bernard Herrmann is scary and exhilarating, the acting, especially in the case of Anthony Perkins, is great, and the black and white really adds to the appeal of the film. Norman Bates is one of the best horror film villains because he feels so real. I’m sure this kind of guy is really out there (in fact, he’s partly based on real life serial killer Ed Gein, as is the killer in the next film on our countdown). 

Plus, it’s the first movie to ever feature a toilet (terrifying!). 

Anyways, if you want a really solid horror film that’s guaranteed to satisfy almost any audience, go no further than Psycho.

Oh and here’s that infamous shower scene.

4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Tobe Hopper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre feels real. The first time I saw it, by the end of the film, I actually felt like I was starting to lose my mind along with the main character of the film. The experience of watching this film is really not like any other film viewing experience you will ever have. From the insanely creepy opening shots of the Hitchhiking taking pictures of dug up corpses (with that eerie camera flash sound) to the insanity-filled dinner scene, you really start to feel like you are there. It’s just a really bizarre and maddening viewing experience. In fact, the first time I watched this movie, I truly didn’t like it. It just bothered me. I felt incredibly uncomfortable watching it. However, please note that Hopper manages to create this terrifying and almost-documentary-like atmosphere with barely any gore once so ever. For some reason or another, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has gained the conation of being one of the goriest movies of all-time without really have a drop of blood spilled on camera. That just shows you how powerful the film is. It’s an incredibly visceral experience getting through this film. There really isn’t anything else out there that slightly resembles it.

3. Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Dawn of the Dead is my favorite zombie movie of all-time. It’s scary, fun, has a lot of social commentary and is incredibly entertaining. George A. Romero manages to make a film that works in so many ways and, honestly, manages to be both disturbing and really, really fun to watch. At one point, you kind of get the feeling that it would be fun to live in a mall surrounded by a bunch of zombies. Then, as things get terrible, you begin to think otherwise. Romero also manages to stick in some ample social commentary in there on consumerism and materialism. That’s what I like in my zombie movies: blood, guts and a message. The movie also has a great cast, especially in the case of Ken Foree as Peter. I’ve stated this a couple of times during Monster Fest but Peter is definitely my favorite character in horror history. He is such a bad a it’s not even funny. He also knows how to perform an abortion… the most random and inappropriate fact that he discloses to Stephen during the film. Other highlights in the movie include a zombie versus a helicopter propeller, amazing special effects by horror legend Tom Savini, an awesome score by Goblin, some nice direction and the works. This movie really has it all. Zombie movies just don’t get any better than this.

2. The Shining

The Shining is so scary. Really, it is. Out of all the movies on this list, this is the one that really just gets under my skin and gives me chills the most. The first time I saw this movie, I was pretty young (anyone seeing a pattern here?) and it was a pretty tough watch. For me, this is actually my favorite Stanley Kubrick movie. It’s his least detached (a problem that I have with some of his other films) and his most visceral. I know Stephen King had a lot of problems with the changes Kubrick made to his novel but I still just love this movie. The direction is absolutely perfect, the acting (especially by crazy old Jack Nicholson) is great and it’s just so damn creepy. The scenes with the lady in the tub, the people dressed like animals having sex in one room and the blood bursting out of the elevators all still haunt my mind. I have those images so ingrained in my head that I’m pretty sure they will never leave. However, who could forget the scene with Jack Nicholson chopping down the door with an axe and yelling like a crazy man? Shelley Duvall’s reaction to the axe breaking through the door absolutely sells the scene like no body’s business. Really, this is an amazing horror film. It’s so good that you can basically see this entry and the number 1 entry as interchanged if you like. Well… maybe I like number 1 a little more. But man, The Shining is really an amazingly solid horror film. It’s as good as they get… plus a little more.

For kicks, here’s the infamous “Here’s Johnny!” scene.

1. Halloween (1978)

Halloween is the granddaddy of the modern horror film. Although Psycho started the slasher genre, Halloween is the film that kicked off the slasher movement in horror. Surprisingly, it did that with little blood and gore, something that would come to be quite abundant in the genre for the years to come. The first time I saw Halloween I was absolutely traumatized. I can still remember the day. It was a Friday, November 2, the day of my dad’s 40^th birthday. I was ten years old. My mom had rented the film for me by request. I was so scared the entire time that I watched it from the doorway of the room, standing up. Never… never in my entire life have I been so terrified of a film. Never have I been so terrified of a film character like I was terrified of Michael Myers. I’m not sure what it was that tapped into me and caused so much fear. I’m not sure if it was John Carpenter’s subtle but tension-building direction, his incredibly creepy score, or Myers himself. I think it was a combination of all of those things. But, mostly, I think it was that white, blank, faceless mask. It was just so void of emotion and feeling. For Carpenter, Myers was just a shape- a symbol of evil itself. I agree with this notion. There’s a reason I kept seeing him and his empty, faceless mask everywhere I went after seeing this movie. I’ll be honest- I really did not sleep right for a month after seeing this film. It was crazy. Halloween is the scariest movie I have ever seen and I think there is an easy answer as to why- it’s just so simple. A kid kills his sister when he’s six years old. Fifteen years later, he breaks out of an asylum, puts on a white mask and starts killing a bunch of teenagers. It’s so simple it shouldn’t be scary at all. However, by keeping the story on the basics, Carpenter was able to make a dread-filled, atmospheric horror classic.

Watching this movie today, I still get a little creeped out. When I turn the lights out, I make sure to move to my bed as quickly as possible. Before closing my eyes, I can’t help but think I see Michael’s mask through the dark of the room. I look around for another five minutes. Then, maybe, I close my eyes. It’s still a little hard to sleep at night after watching this one. After all, Michael’s still out there. Evil never dies.

I really hope you all have enjoyed this The 25 Greatest Horror Films Ever Countdown. It’s been a lot of work to keep up with it because, honestly, I’ve never been this busy in my life. Anyways, I hope that you kind of agree with all my choices. They came from the heart. If you haven’t seen any of the choices, be sure to get out there and watch them. They are all great.

Thanks for reading.

Watchmen Ending Not Changed?

Despite all the confirmation I got on the ending of Watchmen being changed last week from its original graphic novel ending, it turns out that that may not actually be the case.

According to ComicBookMovie.com (the site where I originally got the leaked test screening reports) and my reliable friend Jeff, the Portland test screening of Watchmen was actually a test of fan tolerance to a more mainstream ending. Apparently, people hand selected to attend the screening were not chosen randomly. Despite saying that it was a secret "blind" screening for people not familiar with the comic, it was the opposite. The ending from the graphic novel has been supposedly been filmed and the special effects for a certain something in it have been completed (notice how I'm being clever to avoid spoilers here?). 

So, hopefully, they will go with the original graphic novel ending in the final theatrical cut. It is at least assuring to know that it has supposedly been filmed and will at least be featured in a director's cut DVD. But, honestly, they should put it in the theatrical cut. After all, that's the way Watchmen ends. So, that's the way the movie should end as well. Plus, I just really, really want to see it on the big screen. Bad. 

So, if you're testing for fan tolerance Warner Bros., well, you know my answer. That announcement last week basically ruined my week. Stop f-ing with me and give me my original ending. 

Really, I'm sick of caring about this so much. 

Source: ComicBookMovie.com , Jeff (Note: These links have spoilers in them; be warned)

The 25 Greatest Horror Movies Ever, Part 4

Since it is Monster Fest here on YDKS Movies, I figured it was the perfect time of year to work on a countdown of what I consider the 25 greatest horror movies of all-time. Although you may not agree with my list, it is my opinion based on the large amount of horror films that I have consumed over the years. Unfortunately, there still are some "classics" I have yet to see such as Rosemary's Baby and Jacob's Ladder. Because of that, these titles will not appear on the list. However, all of the horror films on this list are nothing but solid films and, if you haven't seen them already, you should check them all out.

Check Out Part 1 of this List Here

Check out Part 2 of this List Here

Check out Part 3 of this List Here

Part 4 of 5.

10. The Evil Dead

The first time I watched The Evil Dead, I had to turn it off. I was eating pizza at the time and all was honky dory until I got to the tree rape and pencil-in-the-ankle scenes. After that, I was kind of grossed out. Finally, when I got to the part where the deadite eats her own hand off, I had to stop it. It just wasn’t going well with my stomach. I ended up finishing it the next day. As time passed, I realized how effective The Evil Dead was. I had been a long time since I had been grossed out by a movie to the point that I had to turn it off and finish it later. I was also inspired by Sam Raimi’s energetic and unorthodox directing style. Finally, when I found out how little the movie was made for, I began to think, “Hey, I can do this.” So, in the end, The Evil Dead was a big inspiration to me. It’s the kind of horror movie that has it all: great scares, lots of gore, awesome direction and Bruce freaking Campbell. His character wasn’t a complete bad a yet in this entry but I’m okay with anything Bruce is in. I was tempted to put Evil Dead II on this list as it is one of my favorites but, after thinking about it, I just had to go with the original. It just had the biggest impact on me.

9. An American Werewolf in London

I’ve already said a lot about An American Werewolf in London during Monster Fest but I guess I’ll say a little more. When I was about ten, my dad forced me to watch this movie. It pretty much traumatized me. The first werewolf attack, the crazy dream sequences and the incredible transformation all terrified me. However, as time has gone by, I have come to truly love this movie. It’s really funny, scary and very fun to watch. It has a little of everything. For me, standout scenes include the constant use of Griffin Dunn coming back as a rotting zombie, the insane dream sequences (the one with the hospital bed scarred me), and the aforementioned transformation. Rick Baker got an Oscar for his special effects work in this movie and he deserved it. This movie really has it all: laughs, scares, a great soundtrack, fun and even some emotion. Please watch it if you haven’t already.

8. Jaws

As far as I’m concerned, Jaws is Steven Spielberg’s best film. Well, maybe it’s not his best film but, out of his massive library, it’s my favorite one to watch (next to Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurassic Park). This movie caused so many phobias dealing with the ocean and water in general that it would be travesty to not to put it on this list. I love this movie so much. I love the direction, the classic, terrifying score by John Williams, the great ensemble of actors, the setting, the effects- just everything. That crazy rack focus that Spielberg pulls on Roy Schneider after that little boy gets eaten is one of my favorite shots in film history (my brother and I still refer to it as the Jaws shot and have tried to pull it off ourselves… but to no avail). To me, the scariest part of the entire film is the U.S.S. Indianapolis speech that Quint gives on while they are all out to sea. That story still bothers me in many different ways. Anyways, as far as I’m concerned, Jaws has it all. Watch it immediately if somehow haven’t seen it already.

7. The Thing

John Carpenter’s The Thing is the greatest remake of all time. It is incredibly scary, claustrophobic, psychological, paranoid and incredibly gross. They really don’t get much better than this. Everything about this movie is creepy and manages to get under your skin. It has a great cast (especially with Kurt Russell being a complete bad a once again), some solid atmospheric direction by Carpenter, a great bass-driven score by Ennio Morricone (of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly fame), and some truly amazing special effects by Rob Bolton. The dog kennel scene still grosses and weirds me out every time I see it. However, out of all the gross-out and tension-filled scenes, the blood-testing scene has got to be my favorite. It has one of the best jump scares and reactions from a cast that I’ve ever seen. Overall, The Thing is a real horror movie through and through. It’s the kind of horror film that they make for real men.

6. A Nightmare on Elm Street

A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of those horror movies that I saw as a child that really scared the crap out of me. What is scarier than a demonic character like Freddy Krueger that can kill you in your sleep? This is my dad’s favorite horror movie of all time and I can see why: it has some great nightmare stalk sequences (yes, that’s right, it’s imaginative horror), some solid direction by Wes Craven, a career making performance by Robert England as Freddy Krueger, a creepy score and probably one of the best concepts / movie villains ever. The idea of Freddy Krueger is just terrifying. Seeing him pull a girl around a room and over a ceiling during her nightmare, slashing her to bits in the process, is absolutely petrifying. However, to me, the standout sequence in the film is when Freddy gets newcomer Johnny Depp, pulls him into his bed and then creates a giant blood waterfall out of him. Did that make any sense? If not, please watch the embedded video below. 

I will have to say this though- the "surprise" ending to this movie sucks. I just had to say it.

Stay tuned for Part 5. It will be up before or on Friday.

Speech of the Week #14

Hey guys, welcome to a new column here on YDKS Movies entitled Speech of the Week! For now on, every Monday I will post a new scene from a movie that features a speech of some sort being given. After all, there are a lot of famous scenes in film where characters give an influential speech of some sort. Then again, there are also a lot of scenes where characters give a speech and it just comes off cheesy and lame. In this section, you will see both kinds. That's right, people, I'm giving you the good and bad of film speeches all wrapped up in one great big package. I hope you all enjoy.

This week's speech is from a movie that I really didn't like very much: Rob Zombie's House of  a 1000 Corpses. In this speech, Captain Spaulding gives a group of disposable teens a run-down on the legend of Dr. Satan during the middle of his murder ride. Yeah, the murder ride. It features a tour of the world's worst serial killers. This is really the only part of the movie that I can remember because I thought the concept of a murder ride was pretty funny. Anyways, the speech is fun because it kind of works like an old ghost story and Sig Haig is pretty awesome. Just by watching this scene, it's so evident how much Zombie has improved as a director since. Also, does that kid in the front of the roller coaster look familiar?

Yep, that's Dwight from The Office.

Current Events: I May Have A Cavity

You don't know me very well (unless your name is Wesley. I will return your phone call soon, I promise), but I plan to change that just a little today. I hate cavities. I do everything in my power to keep from getting them. I am willing to do the extra work now i.e. brush my teeth constantly, so I will never have to see the dentist and expect painful results i.e. getting a cavity filled. I have my undergrad in Business Administration, and those same principles above apply to my retirement plan. It is just the way I think. So what is the point of toothpaste and worry and brushing if I am just going to get a cavity anyway? I will never know. I sit here constantly wondering if I should go to the dentist only to talk my self out of it and simultaneously concoct theories as to why my tooth hurts when I eat. It has worked so far, and a visit to my nearest masochist is a long ways off.

So, there. You know a little about me now. And in lieu of my current circumstances, the fact that every one's favorite holiday is just around the corner, and the fact that tooth pain is one of the perennial fears of the human psyche, I thought it only appropriate that we should explore some dental torture. Below are my Top 5 Dental Torture Scenes.



The Dentist (The Whole Movie)

If you like going to the dentist, I am sure you need help. I am also sure many people stopped going all together after this little gem of a torture movie came out. I haven't seen this in quite some time, but I remember my mom being just absolutely terrified at the thought of ever watching it again. Sure, this is THE obvious pick, but this movie manages to play on some of our deepest fears as food-loving human beings. Check out the video here.



Marathon Man (Is it safe?)

I haven't seen this movie completely, but I have seen the infamous Is it safe? scene. And the fact that I may have a cavity makes this scene incredibly personal for me. One of the things keeping me from going to the dentist is the metal hook I know the dentist will inevitably use to poke and prod all the holes in my teeth. After watching this scene, I have been contemplating never going to the dentist again. Check out the video here.



Oldboy (Toothless Security)

Oldboy is one of the most diabolical revenge movies I have ever seen. But the tooth pulling scene after Oh Dae-su makes his escape has haunted my dreams ever since I watched it. Using the split-edge side of a hammer, Oh Dae-su pulls out fifteen teeth from a helpless security guard. One for every year he was in captivity. The close up of the split-edge surrounding the tooth and the cut to Oh Dae-su as he twists, pulls, and rotates the handle of the hammer is almost too much for me to handle. Check out the video here.



Cast Away (Self-Surgery)

When I first watched Cast Away, I knew that when Tom's tooth started hurting, that he was going to do something about it. I just didn't know it was going to be so horrifying. The man is a beast, and I could have never extracted a tooth from my own mouth in the same way portrayed in this movie. I have only seen this scene once, because I have turned my head upon every subsequent viewing. Check out the video here.



American History X (The Curb)

Confession: I have never seen American History X. But I always knew about the curb scene. So this morning, mere minutes ago, I watched it. When his teeth touched the curb, I lost it. And now, I won't be able to sleep tonight. Check out the video here.

The 25 Greatest Horror Movies Ever, Part 3

Since it is Monster Fest here on YDKS Movies, I figured it was the perfect time of year to work on a countdown of what I consider the 25 greatest horror movies of all-time. Although you may not agree with my list, it is my opinion based on the large amount of horror films that I have consumed over the years. Unfortunately, there still are some "classics" I have yet to see such as Rosemary's Baby and Jacob's Ladder. Because of that, these titles will not appear on the list. However, all of the horror films on this list are nothing but solid films and, if you haven't seen them already, you should check them all out.

Check out Part 1 of this List Here.

Check out Part 2 of this List Here.

Part 3 of 5.

15. The Exorcist

Okay, I know I’m going to get some crap for this. Why is The Exorcist not in the top ten? Well, growing up, The Exorcist was the only movie that my mother banned me from seeing. Apparently, it had traumatized her as a young teen and, because of this, it was the only movie that I was absolutely barred from seeing. Because of this, I did not see The Exorcist until pretty late in my life. When I finally saw it, I could see why it bothered her so much. The Exorcist is a really expertly made horror film that manages to get under your skin. It really is genuinely scary and feels real. However, I would be betraying myself if I put it any higher on this list. Because I did not really grow up with the film like the others on this list, it is just not as close to my heart. It’s a great film and it definitely is one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen but, because of my history with it, I just cannot put it in front of some of my other favorites.

Still, if you have not seen this movie, you definitely should. The horror is subtle, artistic and incredibly well done. It contains some great performances from everyone around, a tight and well-crafted story and some really freaky scenes. Plus, it’s got a girl spewing pea soup all over some priests. What’s better than that?

14. Monster Squad

For Jason and I, Monster Squad is an incredibly special film. This is my favorite film from my childhood. While it could be argued that it is technically not a horror film, it takes everything I ever loved about horror cinema and puts it all into one movie. It has Dracula, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Wolfman, The Mummy and Frankenstein’s monster all coming back to modern time in order to obtain an amulet that will fill the world with evil. The only thing that stands in their way is a group of kids obsessed with horror and monster movies. Also, there’s a bad a named Rudy who smokes and spies on girls undressing and a fat kid named Fat Kid. Um, how could I not love this movie? This movie has a huge cult following and there’s a reason why- this movie is incredibly fun and entertaining to watch. In fact, I cannot think of a more pleasurable film to watch. It basically manages to take all the love I have for horror and put it all up on the screen. That’s really what I see this film as- a giant love letter to horror.

Plus, if you didn’t know, the Wolfman's got nards (please watch the video below).

13. Fright Night

Speaking of cult horror films, they don’t get much better than this. Much like Monster Squad, Fright Night is one of those movies that basically takes everything that I love about horror films and puts it on the screen. Director Tom Holland has claimed that this film is basically a love letter to the gothic horror films and the Hammer vampire films that he grew up on. And it is just that. It manages to work as a great throw back to the classic gothic horror film as well as working as a contemporary 1980’s horror film. Chris Sarandon is a complete bad a as the head vampire. He manages to make the role very tragic, scary and funny at the same time. The scene where Charlie discovers he is a vampire from across the street is one of my favorite scenes in horror history. There is some great direction, acting and editing in that scene. Roddy McDowell is also really awesome as Peter Vincent, the washed up Vincent Price / Peter Cushing type of actor that gets stuck in the middle of a real vampire situation. He really has some wonderful moments in the film. Overall, the whole film is just a lot of fun to watch. It’s got some solid direction, acting, gore effects, a love letter feel and lots of energy. I wish more people knew this one. Check it out if you’ve never seen it.

12. Suspiria

Suspiria is one those horror films that basically transcends the genre. At times, it feels like an elaborate art film. Other times, it almost feels like a torture film. Plus, there’s a great sense of gothic horror thrown in there. One thing is for sure- after seeing this movie, I was convinced that director Dario Argento was a genius. His use of lighting, sound and color in this movie is amazing. Despite it being insanely graphic, this is one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen. Argento treats his scenes of violence and horror as a form of art, slashing bright, red blood around as if it were paint. There's a lot of surrealism employed. The score that Italian rock band Goblin does for this movie is absolutely amazing. The main theme is so hypnotic and really manages to get under your skin. I felt that this movie also succeeded in making witches scary again. The portrayal of witches in this movie feels very real. That scene were you see the shadows of them moving through the night on those Roman buildings is in grained in my mind. Suspiria is really one of a kind. If you haven’t seen it, you are definitely missing out on something very unique and special.

Below, I’ve embedded the first murder from the film. It is pretty graphic so be warned. However, it is one of the most insane things I have ever seen put to film so, if you are into crazy stuff, check it out.

11. Scream

Over the years, there has been a lot of backlash against Scream and, I for one, believe it is very unjustified. Sure, the sequels weren’t that great but the first film really was a landmark in the horror genre. It started off a whole new slate of slasher films in the 1990’s (a trend that I enjoyed a lot more than the recent J-horror ghost movie remake trend and the torture horror trend). It managed to be quite scary, funny and clever. The screenplay by Kevin Williamson (the guy who created Dawson’s Creek of all things…) was really standout. The direction from Wes Craven only made things better. This really is a great horror film. The opening scene with the killing of Drew Barrymore is one of the most intense openings from any horror film I’ve ever seen. The use of the killer calling the victims on the phone, the constant awareness of other horror films, and the mystery of the killer’s identity all make Scream an incredibly entertaining and engaging film. But the best part for me is the lack of motive by the killer(s). That was a pretty ballsy way to go.

I know some people aren’t into this one (or at least they say they aren’t) but, as far as I’m concerned, this is a horror classic.

Stay Tuned Next Week for Parts 4 and 5.

Monster Fest Video of the Day #15, 16 and 17

Since it is Monster Fest here at YDKS Movies throughout the rest of the month of October, I figured I would try and start a new daily article (school work pending, of course) that features movie clips from various horror films. After all, what better way to celebrate Monster Fest than to watch video clips of cinema's greatest monsters?

Sorry I haven't been able to get any Monster Fest Video of the Days up lately. It's pretty amazing that I've been able to get any posts up at all. I've had five tests, two quizzes and a paper this week. It has been pretty awful. I cannot tell you how happy I am that it is Friday. It really is great. 

Anyways, to make up for my missed days, I've decided to post this compilation of Jason Voorhees pawning people from Friday the 13th: Part 3. After all, it is Friday and I just posted the Friday the 13th remake trailer yesterday, so I guess it is appropriate. I'll be honest, this video is pretty gross. However, I guess it is pretty cool to see Jason pawn people after a long week of studying and writing papers. Also, what's up with that Andy kid handstand walking? Who does that? Jason gives it to him bad but that's what he gets for doing crap like that.

Anyways, enjoy.

*Warning: This video is NSFW.*

Friday the 13th Remake Trailer Released

The trailer for the remake of Friday the 13th was released on MySpace today in HD. Check it out above.

Like all Michael Bay produced remakes of horror classics, the trailer is incredibly well-cut, stylized and fun to watch. I really like how they used the voice over of Mrs. Voorhees over all the footage. It actually made it kind of creepy to watch. Yes, that's right- a trailer for a Jason movie that's creepy. It's been awhile for something like that to happen. It was also great to hear the chi-chi-chi-ha-ha-ha sound effect and some of the classic Friday the 13th score. Hopefully, that will be in the final film as well.

I know a lot of people are against the remaking of this film but I could really care less. I mean, it's Jason. They've already put him in space. As far as I'm concerned, they can't do anything else that would be more embarrassing than that. 

It could be bad but, when you think about, all the movies in this series are pretty bad. So yeah, it looks like it could be fun. I'm going to see it.

Source: MySpace

New Watchmen Poster Revealed

Click to enlarge.

It looks like it's Watchmen day today. I just posted the new extended trailer that premiered on Spike TV's Scream Awards last night and now Yahoo has revealed the new poster for the film. It showcases the death of the Comedian as he is throw out of the window of his apartment and the graphic novel's signature bloody smily face falling after him. Pretty awesome idea for a poster. I mean, it's a guy falling to his death. You don't see that everyday in poster artwork.

Enjoy.

Source: Yahoo

New Watchmen Extended Trailer from Spike TV's Scream Awards

Zack Synder and company premiered an extended version of the original Watchmen trailer last night on Spike TV's Scream Awards. Ever since the news of the ending change hit the web last week, I have been considerably less-excited about seeing this movie. At the beginning of last week, I was so excited that I could barely stand it. This movie was the only thing that was on my mind. Now, I'm still excited but not much more than the average film. I'm sorry but, for me, you just gotta have that original ending. It makes the book so much more than it already was. And knowing that it's not going to be there when we get to the end is definitely going to take a lot out of the experience for me. I'm sorry but it's true. What makes me even more sick is all these sheep that were so fast to jump on the bandwagon for the new ending. Are saying that Zack Synder has a better idea than Alan Moore? There's no way in hell that that is true. He should have done what he said he was going to do, grown a pair of balls and gone with the original ending- not just in spirit but all the way.

Anyways, enough of that. The new trailer contains a lot of the old trailer but also has a lot of new shots. As expected, everything looks like a money shot and there's a lot of slow-motion (this is Zack Synder we're talking about here). Also, if you look carefully, you can see a shot from the new ending with Laurie and Dr. Manhattan. Still, there is some cool stuff in there. I liked seeing some of Ozymandius' Antarctica retreat, Rorschach still looks like a bad-a, giant Dr. Manhattan looks awesome, the visuals look really good and that shot of Laurie and Dan kissing in front of the nuclear explosion that is coming at them is wonderful (in fact, that was one of my favorite panels from the graphic novel- glad that made it in there). I also like the full version of the Comedian being thrown out of the window.

Obviously, I still am nursing my wounds over the ending change but it will probably be a decent movie. Since it doesn't come out until March 6th (lawsuit with Fox pending), maybe I will be over the change by then. At least I didn't have to find out about it while in the screening. Now that would have been devastating. 

Check the new trailer out at the top of the article.

Someone Dares to Adapt Haunted as a Film

According to /Film, Koen Mortier is writing and directing a film adaptation of Fight Club / Choke writer Chuck Palahniuk's controversial Haunted. The book is made up of twenty-three short stories told by people on what they think is an oridinary a writer's retreat away from the rest of the world in an old, abandoned theater. However, as time goes on, it turns out more than they originally thought is going on and that their food and power supply is slowly becoming more and more limited. As this occurs, their stories become more and more extreme, disturbing and insane.

I have not read Haunted but I have heard that it is one of the most disturbing and honestly upsetting books that Palahniuk has written. Out of all of his books, it seems like the least likely to be adapted into a film. Most of this has to do with the most infamous of the short stories in the book. This short story is called Guts.

While I have not read Haunted, I have read Guts. Guts is probably the most messed up thing that I have ever read. It revolves around two friends of the narrator and two of their masterbation experiences gone horribly wrong. At the end of the story, the narrator gives his own experience in that field and it is definitely the worst of the three. I was told about the story by my friends Guy and Zach. It is one of those things that you would hear about from someone else just because it is so insane. This story is so shocking that over 60 people have fainted when Palahniuk has read it aloud at public appearances in book stores. It was published in Playboy (ironic, isn't it?) a few years ago and you can read it free on Palaniuk's website here. But be warned- it really is the most painful thing I've ever read. It will get to you in ways you never thought possible.

So yeah, after reading that, I have no idea how this movie is going to be made without being NC-17. I honestly cannot see a film adaptation of just Guts being feasible. But who knows, I could be wrong. We will see.

Source: /Film

Speech of the Week #13

Hey guys, welcome to a new column here on YDKS Movies entitled Speech of the Week! For now on, every Monday I will post a new scene from a movie that features a speech of some sort being given. After all, there are a lot of famous scenes in film where characters give an influential speech of some sort. Then again, there are also a lot of scenes where characters give a speech and it just comes off cheesy and lame. In this section, you will see both kinds. That's right, people, I'm giving you the good and bad of film speeches all wrapped up in one great big package. I hope you all enjoy.

This week's Speech of the Week comes from Ed Wood's cheesy monster film Bride of the Monster. I figured that this would be appropriate considering I just did a review of the the Tim Burton film based on Wood's life, which not only covers this movie but this very speech. It is also very fitting because today is Bela Lugosi's birthday. This is the infamous, "Home? I have no home..." speech. If you believe the movie, this speech was written on the spot for Lugosi (of Dracula fame- by this point he was a washed up, morphine addict unfortunately) after a long night of filming in a dirty lake with a fake octopus. In other words, this speech was supposed to be his reward for all his hard work. The result is a very cliche and laughable speech but Lugosi gives it his all and somehow manages to make it slightly heartbreaking (especially if you know what's going on his private life at the same time).

Sure, the speech is really stupid but at least Lugosi gave it his all. 

Monster Fest Video of the Day #14

Since it is Monster Fest here at YDKS Movies throughout the rest of the month of October, I figured I would try and start a new daily article (school work pending, of course) that features movie clips from various horror films. After all, what better way to celebrate Monster Fest than to watch video clips of cinema's greatest monsters?

Sorry I missed the Monster Fest Video of the Day yesterday. I was so upset by the Watchmen ending change news that I just didn't feel like posting anymore.

Today's video comes from probably the only decent sequel in the Nightmare on Elm Street series- A Nightmare on Elm Street 3- The Dream Warriors. In this scene, Freddy takes a girl in a mental hospital who has always wanted to be on TV and... well, puts her there. This scene is hilarious and has one of Freddy's best one liners ever.

Also, it contains a really random cameo from Lawrence Fishburne at the very end. This was before he got famous or anything like that.

Check it out, it's a good one.