I couldn’t pass up taking part in Thursday Movie Picks this month since it’s Halloween themed! If you know me, you know I love Halloween. If you don’t normally take part, now would be a great time to jump in! It’s very simple, based on the theme of the week pick three to five movies and tell us why you picked them. See, I told you it was easy!
1. Amityville Horror (112 Ocean Avenue)
The original “Amityville Horror” terrified me as a kid. Don’t ask why I was allowed to watch it but I did. There was a house in my neighborhood that had the same style windows and it always creeped me out. What’s actually very sad about the house is that it was a place of a mass murder. I think some people forget about that since the movie took over the story. Ronald J. DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family while they were asleep, which included his parents and four siblings. Do I believe the house is haunted in real life? I don’t know. But I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s just a weird feeling in the air there based on the history of the house.
2. Poltergeist
I mean, what could possible go wrong when you build a house on top of a cemetery? I do love a movie that sticks to one location, especially a scary movie. I think it just adds to the dread. You can’t really escape. Plus your home is supposed to be your safe space. Is there anything worse than being trapped in your own home? And look, another movie that I watched when I was way too young!
3. Paranormal Activity
I’m actually not sure I’ve ever seen the entire movie. I don’t scare easy but again, having your home taken over by ghosts or demons doesn’t sound like a fun time. I’m not trying to bring that energy into my nightmares. I do love a good “found footage” style move though. Did you know this movie was originally an independent feature that was completed for just $15,000? Paramount made a few changes/additions for $200,0000 but even that is a small budget. It just shows that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to scare the crap out of people.
I could have listed one or two more, but wanted to keep it short this week. I don’t want to repeat any movies during the challenge! What are some of your favorite horror movie houses?
I’m assuming we’re talking the original versions of the first two not the weak remakes. the first Amityville was cheesy fun even though the root story is indeed very dark and sad. I loved the original Poltergeist! The story is far-fetched but the cast was wonderful, they played it straight with no winking at the audience which really pulled you in. Zelda Rubinstein could not have been more perfect as Tangina! I made it about 10 minutes into Paranormal Activity and thought it was too rotten to waste my time on so I turned it off.
I went with some older titles, a classic, a comic/horror/musical pastiche and a late period silent that was thought lost for decades.
The Haunting (1963)-Dr. John Markway (Richard Johnson) is doing research into psychic phenomena. In the service of that study he invites two women-lonely, eccentric Eleanor (Julie Harris) who has experienced supernatural events previously and brash Theodora (Claire Bloom) who is gifted with ESP. On arrival they are joined by the mansion’s heir, cynical Luke (Russ Tamblyn) and are immediately overwhelmed by strange sounds and events. Soon Eleanor comes to believe the house is alive and speaking directly to her. Loaded with atmosphere and extremely well-acted.
You’ll Find Out (1940)-Debutante Janis Bellacrest (Helen Parrish) books Kay Kyser and his big band, the Kollege of Musical Knowledge including singer Ginny Simms and cornet playing sidekick Ish Kabibble to play at her 21st birthday party at a remote spooky mansion. Between performances, Kay finds Janis’s guests-quirky Aunt Margo (Alma Kruger), pretentious professor Fenniger (Peter Lorre), creepy Prince Soliano (Bela Lugosi) and irritable Judge Mainwaring (Boris Karloff) on the bizarre side and begins to suspect that Janis is in danger. When a powerful storm blows in and strands everyone overnight events both scary and wacky transpire. Goofy musical comic/thriller is the only onscreen pairing of Lorre, Karloff and Lugosi.
Seven Footprints of Satan (1929)-When mayhem breaks out at her father’s party Eve (Thelma Todd) and her fiancée Jim (Creighton Hale) jump into a limousine and think they are safely away from danger. Shortly afterwards though they find themselves at the house of “Satan” who may or may not be a criminal mastermind, a supernatural fiend, the devil himself, or some combination of all those things. As they make their way through odd rooms they encounter an imp, a dwarf, an ape-like man, a gorilla, Satan’s Mistress and “the Spider”. Finally they are tested with the Seven Footprints which could lead to fabulous wealth and freedom or servitude to Satan…and maybe Death! Originally released in both silent and partial sound versions only the silent one (long thought lost as well) survives.
Paranormal Activity is the only I’m familiar with and it was such a disappointment.
The other two are pretty good! Just make sure you watch the originals and not the remakes!
Amity is a fun flick that I was not scared of and that’s saying something. I still have to see Poltergeist but will pass on the 3rd. I have heard weird things in my old home…one time, I was watching a movie, a kissing scene and I heard footsteps coming fr9m the back door coming to where I am. I only heard the footsteps, so did my dog, I realized my the. Husband wouldn’t be home yet so I was prepared to t(row my wine in the guy’s face. When I was ready to see him the footsteps stopped! My dog went to look and I found her in my library…nobody was there.
I’ve had spooky personal experiences too! Makes sense that you wouldn’t watch a movie that might hit too close to home!
Poltergeist – I forgot that aspect of the story, that the house was built on a cemetery.
Though I mean aren’t a lot of buildings built on what used to be cemeteries, just that most people probably don’t know it? I live in a land scarce country, you can’t avoid it, there are several places that used to be cemeteries where the graves were exhumed and residential buildings, shopping malls, offices and train stations have been built on them.
Oh for sure there’s a lot of buildings out there that have been built on top of cemeteries and the like! Still kinda creepy to think about. Can’t even rest in peace around here anymore lol