October gives us Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day, but October is more famously known for Halloween. From children trick-or-treating to costume parties for all ages, the last day of October brings creepy/comical joy to many. I’m long past all aspects of trick-or-treating (yay). Costume parties are fun, with “costumers” getting more creatively elaborate with their get-ups. Even amusement parks have extended their operating schedules beyond October to get in on the Halloween fun (and profit opportunity). Another main entertainment event for October, however, is watching horror movies or shows.

Whether an original screenplay or adapted (e.g., from a novel), horrors are based on stories (I had to go there). Scary movies elicit fear, of course. And fans seek that “rush,” of the heartrate shifting from the emotional ride scenes take them through. We all have our favorite type of scary movie; I’m a fan of supernatural/paranormal and most psychological horrors.

Horror Movie Basics (To Scream or Not to Scream)

Whatever your preferred way to be frightened, these are some trademark features of a scary movie (regardless of sub-genre):

• The fear boils down to a noun (person, place, or thing). People (nutcases/altered beings). Places (new world with new creepy rules, zombie apocalypse setting, etc.). And Things that go “bump” in the night (monsters/demons).
• Low lighting. There is the occasional creepy scene in daylight to counter the horror-movie tropes. But generally, it’s nighttime, or in a dank basement, a subway tunnel, or a dark forest…
• The music or sound effects. Music majors can get all technical regarding this component, but the creepier this element is, the better. There’s the classic screech noise in Psycho, the threatening undertones of two simple duhn-duhn tones in Jaws, and the creepily nerve-wracking repeating piano-tink in Halloween. Scary-movie music is eerily cool but then not so much because it’s also unpleasant for some reason (cue psychobabble). Moody or offbeat tones that create an anxious anticipation and tension you feel in your muscles? Oh, yeah: a must.
• The jump scare. This is where the fun starts, what we came for! Features 1-3 combine to form this self-explanatory but critical horror film trope. Filmmakers can go overboard with these to the point of viewer “been there, done that” desensitization. But a good jump-scare fake-out is seasoned-viewer gold. The overused scare-behind-the-refrigerator-door ploy could use more jump-scare fake-outs. The jump-scare puts us in the movie, stimulating our fight-or-flight response along with the character’s and leaving everyone unsettled and, well, frightened. In the theater, jump-scares require a jacket or shoulder for refuge. Viewing them from the couch necessitates a throw-blanket for hiding behind as the tension builds!

Die-hard horror aficionados can expound on the scientific reasons behind these features’ impacts, but this isn’t a science lesson.

Such Gory Options

So many options in the horror movie category. So many scary ways to get your fear on. From supernatural possessions to slasher films, here are a few standard sub-genres:

• Supernatural/Paranormal (ghosts, ghouls, witches, Regan, Pinhead, Katie, Freddy). Demonic-Spirit City. Lots of pointless holy water and crucifix maneuvers come into play before discovering the answer lies with some old sacred folklore rule.
• Psychological (Jigsaw, Norman, Jack, Hannibal, Freddy). Nutcase City. Something’s gone wonky in the perp’s old noggin and they’re killing (again). Now, potential victims (and viewers) must use their noggins to figure out how to get things back to normal.
• Slasher movies (Jason, Freddy, Michael, Leatherface, Scream-movie multis). Gore City. These are all about the unique or unexpected ways a knife, hammer, screwdriver, buzzsaw, drill, axe, pencil, etc., can result in the most blood and gross you out—before a gun or flamethrower settles the matter. Maybe. Part ten, anyone?
• Monsters (Drac, Frankie, Wolfie, Willard, Ben, zombies, Freddy). WTF City. The “boogie man” on steroids with fangs, reincarnated parts, more fangs, hordes of large incisors, more reincarnated parts (or people) …

You may have noticed Freddy Krueger listed for each of these. His character (from the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise) touches on each of these even if only in passing. Also, I’m a Freddy fan.

The Frightening Franchises and the Must-Sees

Speaking of movie franchises…

First releases of some films were so popular/original, they have a run of sequels (and prequels), creating their respective “universes.” Some examples: Friday the 13^th, Hellraiser, Nightmare on Elm Street, Alien, Paranormal Activity, Final Destination, Saw, Candyman, Scream, The Conjuring, Insidious.

If you’re a serious horror-movie fan, these 13 (wink-wink) movies are must-see films: Psycho, Nightmare on Elm Street, Night of the Living Dead, Alien, Halloween, The Thing (1982), The Exorcist, Jaws, Nosferatu, Rosemary’s Baby, The Shining, The Conjuring, Sinister. There are others, of course, but these should be on the checklist. And we’re talking first/original releases, here. Remakes have their place, so let the debates begin.

Horror movies continue to evolve, combining genres and sometimes defying the tropes. Today’s films also try to incorporate many present-day fears and anxieties weaving through society. Recent horror movies have taken on premises having more than a trace of plausibility. Talk about scary…

Where’s my throw-blanket…?

Until next month, stay serif.