Halloween is upon us and you are looking for movies that will scare your pants off.
Forget slasher movies. Unstoppable killers such as Jason from the "Friday the 13th" franchise just aren't scary.
Zombie movies are fun, but they mostly feature gore, which may be nasty and messy but it really isn't scary.
Giant creature movies are another genre that just doesn't scare us. Some are better than others such as "Them" about giant ants, but it comes up short in the terror department. Others are just plain silly including "Night of the Lepus" about giant bunnies ravaging a Southwestern community. C'mon. Giant bunnies? At least the giant grasshoppers in "Beginning of the End" were attacking Chicago.
Monster movies also aren't very scary. Frankenstein, Dracula, the Mummy and the Wolfman may be classic monsters, but they don't make us shake in our theater seats.
Horror movies come in all shapes and sizes, but here are six, all available on video and DVD, that should send chills down your spine in time for Halloween.
"Frailty" (2001) -- Bill Paxton stars and directs this film filled with twists and turns about a man and his sons on a mission from God to kill demons only they can see. Other stars include Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe and Missy Crider.
"Psycho" (1960) -- Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece about a woman (Janet Leigh) who steals thousands of dollars from her boss and then checks in to the Bates Motel. Leigh reportedly said the movie's famous shower scene so unnerved her she was unable to ever again take a shower. Other stars include Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin and Martin Balsam. It was remade in color a few years ago but the original is better.
"Halloween" (1978) -- Director John Carpenter kick-started the slasher craze with this film about a killer who returns to his home town on Halloween after escaping from a mental hospital in downstate Illinois. The theme music is absolutely haunting. Stars include Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Nancy Loomis and P.J. Soles. The film inspired several sequels, and Rob Zombie has resurrected the franchise with his own twisted take on Michael Meyers and company.
"The Haunting" (1963) -- There's not a single headless body or ounce of blood squirted in this film about three people and a psychic researcher who spend some time in a haunted house and rile up the spirits within. Stars include Julia Harris, Claire Bloom, Russ Tamblyn and Richard Johnson. Avoid the crappy remake that came out a few years ago.
"The Omen" (1976) -- Gregory Peck is the new U.S. ambassador to Great Britain who discovers that his son may indeed be the anti-Christ of biblical prophecy. Other stars include Lee Remick and David Warner.
It also inspired several sequels and was remade a few years ago. Stick with the original.
Jenny, I know what love is.
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