This week on "October Fright Fest," there is a brand new set of films that I believe will help you get into that time of year where witches run rampant and pumpkins show their evil smiles.
The theme this week is possession movies. People have always been fascinated with demons and aliens. Hollywood has capitalized by creating a slew of films dealing with monsters able to take hold of their hosts. So kick back and enjoy. Watch the movies with a few friends — that is, if your friends aren't already possessed.
"Insidious" (2011)
The most recent film deals with a family that is being haunted in a house they just moved into. The wife sees things, the husband behaves strangely — pretty standard stuff. Things change, however, when their child goes into a mysterious coma. Desperate to escape the haunting that terrifies them, the family moves into a new house. When the hauntings follow them to this home, they begin to suspect it may not be the house that was haunting them.
"Insidious" is a rare horror film that relies more on suspense than shocking images or grotesque violence. There are some truly scary scenes that pump the suspense up to an apex and then punctuate it with a great payoff. A prime example of this is when we meet the main antagonist of the story. Giving away his name would ruin a lot of suspense in the film, but suffice to say, he adds a very real and scary threat to the movie.
This film is also effective because of how real it feels. Despite the fact that a lot of the action takes place in dreams or surreal sequences, the action definitely feels like it could really happen. The whole film is nearly undone by its terrible cliffhanger ending, but the rest of the movie is strong enough to make it worth watching. This is one that will definitely stay with you all night after you see it and into the morning, when you're still awake.
"The Thing" (1982)
Unlike the other two films on this list, "The Thing" doesn't deal with a supernatural terror. Instead the film deals with an alien — one that can take the form of anything it touches. The story concerns a group of scientists in Antarctica who stumble upon an abandoned Norwegian science base with an unexpected visitor. What ensues is a white-knuckle ride where the crew desperately tries to find the alien and kill it, before it destroys them all.
"The Thing" was initially a flop at the box office, mostly because "E.T." was released two weeks prior. But it has been re-evaluated and is now considered a classic. This is certainly justified by not only the fantastic script but also by the excellent special effects. I won't spoil the cooler scenes, but some transformations in the film are pretty incredible to watch. "The Thing" is a masterpiece of sci-fi horror, a jittery ride that spares no expense to make every moment as entrancing as possible. This is director John Carpenter at his finest: plunging you into an icy tomb where you're not sure who, or what, is around the corner. The ending to the film will stick with you for a long time, along with the entire story. "The Thing" is one of the most intriguing horror films ever, and you should make a point to see it.
"The Exorcist" (1973)
This is the granddaddy of all possession films — a movie so riveting that it changed the landscape of film when it was released. The story of Reagan (Linda Blair) and how her possession by a demon has terrified audiences for nearly 40 years and still remains scary. As Reagan starts behaving strangely, Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller) begins to doubt his faith when his mother dies from a terminal illness. Karras is further troubled when he is called upon to help Reagan. Eventually Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow), an experienced exorcist, discovers the possession and moves to stop it.
There is little to write about "The Exorcist" that hasn't already been written. It is one of the most iconic horror films ever made and is chalk-full of scenes that would go on to define the horror genre. If you haven't already seen it, then you need to go to the nearest video store and pick up a copy right now. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
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