For My Halloween Viewing Pleasure

[rusty_armour]

For the past few years, I've found myself popping in certain DVDs to celebrate Halloween. As I've kicked off the viewing a bit early (and boobamiaow has expressed an interest in my list), I thought I'd share this year's choices with you. I should probably warn you that some of my movie selections aren't exactly traditional. It's also possible that they won't all make it on the list. I'll include my absolute must see movies first, though, apart from tonight's DVD, I'm not sure what order they'll be viewed in.

The first film I'll start with is Hot Fuzz because I watched it tonight. Yeah, I know. Not exactly Halloween fare. However, while it's basically a murder mystery/buddy cop comedy, there are horror elements as well. I mean, Billie Whitelaw is in it and she was scary as hell in The Omen.

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This is kind of a given, but The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

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Clue is probably less of a given. However, I can't resist seeing more Tim Curry once I've watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show. And Clue does take place on a dark and stormy night and, of course, involves murder.

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No Halloween would be complete without the 1939 version of The Hound of the Baskervilles. It's, like, watching the Jeremy Brett version of "The Blue Carbuncle" during the festive season.

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Lastly, I've added An American Werewolf in London to the list as I bought the DVD last year.

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If I have time, I might watch Murder By Decree. I've had a craving for it ever since I finished reading Lyndsay Faye's wonderful pastiche, Dust and Shadow. I had originally toyed with the idea of watching it tonight. However, after this week's episode of The Tudors (involving the first two stages of a man being hung, drawn and quartered), I decided to avoid any films based on historical events! Uh, in this instance, I'm referring to Jack the Ripper and not Sherlock Holmes. *g*

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The other film I might have to watch (although I saw it not all that long ago) is Murder on the Orient Express. Again, not really Halloween fare, but I'm reading the novel and already find myself tempted to stick in the DVD.

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Well, I'd better go or I won't have time to watch anything. *g*

Comments

[funkyinfishnet.livejournal.com]

Nice DVD selection there. I'm terrible with anything scary so I tend to stay indoors and hide during Halloween lol. I will be watching The Crow though, because it's dark and scary and makes me cry because Brandon Lee is no longer alive. Then I like to light a candle for him. Anthony is okay with me doing this ritual, bless him. He knows I like routine :)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Although I'm kind of a wuss, I love Halloween. I have a fascination for ghosts and other supernatural elements. However, saying that, there are only certain horror movies I can watch. I don't mind some of the classic ones, such as The Exorcist and Amityville Horror, but I'm not a fan of the ones involving chainsaws, etc. It's nice that you watch The Crow and light a candle in Brandon Lee's memory. I'm glad Anthony doesn't have any issues with the ritual. :-)

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

Hmm... funny you picked "Hot Fuzz" over "Shawn of the Dead" for Halloween. ;-) I don't do Halloween at all but I like the choice of dvds. "Clue" looks interesting as does Rathbone's version of "Hound of the Baskervilles". I don't know any of the others, I'm afraid. But I have a big soft spot for "Hocus Pocus". *blush*

[boobamiaow.livejournal.com]

Haha ta for the list-not what I was expecting!!

I love Hot Fuzz. It's a great film. Very funnier and much gorier than I expected when I first saw it. I really have never got the Rocky Horror Show. I mean I've watched it and sort of liked it, but it's really not a film I would even go out of my way to watch!
I can't remember Clue, but I know I've seen it and also like Tim Curry. I love Amercan Werewolf!

I really haven't seen many Sherlock films-was never into them either (although my Dad loves them).

I've been watching a horro documentary on BBC4 and last night was all about hammer horror films so now I want to find some old horror films.

I'd have to have some Halloweeen films in my viewing. I love Halloween 3-season of the witch. I also love The Fog-not halloweeny but I'm gonna watch it. I'll let you know if I watch anything else!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Hmm... funny you picked "Hot Fuzz" over "Shawn of the Dead" for Halloween. ;-)

I would have watched Shawn of the Dead if I had the DVD. I keep thinking I should buy it. However, to be honest, I didn't find it half as funny or enjoyable as Hot Fuzz. Don't get me wrong. It's a great movie, but Hot Fuzz is more appealing. I think it might be because I'm more familiar with the murder mystery genre than the horror genre. I also saw Hot Fuzz before I saw Shawn of the Dead.

I don't do Halloween at all but I like the choice of dvds. "Clue" looks interesting as does Rathbone's version of "Hound of the Baskervilles".

I think you might enjoy Clue. It's very clever and funny. Oh, and the dialogue is wonderful. And what can I say about the Rathbone version of Hound of the Baskervilles? I think it's brilliant. It may not be entirely faithful to the original novel, but the spooky atmosphere makes up for it. I don't know why, but I think the film works even better because it's in black and white. It makes everything seem more menacing somehow.

I don't know any of the others, I'm afraid. But I have a big soft spot for "Hocus Pocus". *blush*

Hey, whatever works. I have to admit that I haven't seen Hocus Pocus, but it seems like a great choice this time of year. :-)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Haha ta for the list-not what I was expecting!!

Yes, the list isn't exactly full of the usual Halloween fare. *g*

I love Hot Fuzz. It's a great film. Very funnier and much gorier than I expected when I first saw it.

I absolutely love Hot Fuzz. I howled when I saw it in the theatre, while wincing at the gorier scenes. I think last night was my fifth or sixth viewing and I still laughed loudly during certain parts of the movie.

I really have never got the Rocky Horror Show. I mean I've watched it and sort of liked it, but it's really not a film I would even go out of my way to watch!

It's not for everyone. I think you have to be a bit sick and twisted to appreciate it. *g*

I can't remember Clue, but I know I've seen it and also like Tim Curry.

I think Clue is hilarious and Tim Curry is wonderful in the film. I definitely recommend it.

I really haven't seen many Sherlock films-was never into them either (although my Dad loves them).

Well, to appreciate Sherlock Holmes films, I think you have to be a bit sick and -- Nah. Just kidding. *g*

I've been watching a horro documentary on BBC4 and last night was all about hammer horror films so now I want to find some old horror films.

Oh! There's a Hammer version of Hound of the Baskervilles. I can't stand it myself, but you might get a kick out of it if you're wanting to explore the Hammer body of work.



I'd have to have some Halloweeen films in my viewing. I love Halloween 3-season of the witch. I also love The Fog-not halloweeny but I'm gonna watch it. I'll let you know if I watch anything else!

I have to confess that I haven't watched any of the Halloween films, which may not come as a big surprise now that you've seen my list. *g* Let me know if you do watch anything else. I'd be curious to know.

[tazzles.livejournal.com]

Good luck with your dvd watching. I love Hot Fuzz. It's hilarious. Maybe you could watch Shaun of the Dead too.

I would recommend the original Day of the Triffids. Scared the bejeezus outta me when I was little. I still refuse to watch it to this day! Or the remake, though that sounds like it follows the book and so might not be as scary......

Don't get too scared! ;)

[karen9.livejournal.com]

I like your choices, though I haven't seen them all.

I can recommend a good scary, without horror, film: The Others, with Nicole Kidman. It's chilling, unusual, and moving.

[karen9.livejournal.com]

The Crow was an affecting movie,though I found what happened to his girlfriend horrific. I thought she should have exacted her own revenge.

Brandon Lee was great in the movie. It sounds a bit sick to say of a dead man, but he was sexy.

[karen9.livejournal.com]

"However, after this week's episode of The Tudors (involving the first two stages of a man being hung, drawn and quartered), I decided to avoid any films based on historical events!"

God! I couldn't watch that. It's bad enough reading about it and imagining it. Barbaric.

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

That's an excellent selection. I saw Hot Fuzz for the first time recently and was surprised by how much of a horror film it was in the end!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Good luck with your dvd watching. I love Hot Fuzz. It's hilarious. Maybe you could watch Shaun of the Dead too.

Thanks, tazzles! It's nice to know that you're a fan of Hot Fuzz too! :-) I don't actually own a copy of Shaun of the Dead, but it's the kind of thing SPACE might show around Halloween, so maybe I'll catch it then. I have seen it before, though I have to admit that I enjoyed Hot Fuzz a lot more.

I would recommend the original Day of the Triffids. Scared the bejeezus outta me when I was little. I still refuse to watch it to this day! Or the remake, though that sounds like it follows the book and so might not be as scary......

That's a movie I've never seen, though I've been curious about it for a long time. I'll definitely keep an eye out for it. Thanks for the rec. :-)

Don't get too scared! ;)

What's the fun of that? *g*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I like your choices, though I haven't seen them all.

Thanks, karen9. :-) Considering that most of the films on this list are pretty old, it's not surprising you haven't seen them all.

I can recommend a good scary, without horror, film: The Others, with Nicole Kidman. It's chilling, unusual, and moving.

Ooooh! Thank you! :-) This is another film I've wondered about, so it's great to get a rec from a friend. And, if I'm not mistaken, it deals with ghosts, which is a subject I'm really interested in.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Actually, if I'm going to be completely honest, I didn't watch it - not the whole thing, anyway. I was able to get through the hanging, but I cranked down the volume and hid my face for almost all of the drawing. *g*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Yes, Hot Fuzz did turn out to be quite the horror film in the end with the mysterious hooded figures killing people in gruesome ways and that dirty little secret the whole village was sitting on top of - literally. There was even a scene where all the hooded figures gathered at night in a churchyard, chanting, "The greater good". I mean, you can't get much more horror film than that, surely. *g*

[boobamiaow.livejournal.com]

Am just about to watch Halloween 3. You should watch it-it's a stand alone film in the series and doesn't involved Michael myers. It's about a brand of Halloween masks and a very catchy Halloween jungle *g* I'll say no more!

[boobamiaow.livejournal.com]

*shudder* The Others-I totally freaked out in cinema watching that-and it was only a 12 certificate!! I'm not normally such a wuss but I nearly bruised my friends knee because I grabbed it so hard in fright!

[boobamiaow.livejournal.com]

I remember this ep well. I felt properly queezy ill for a good hour afterwards. Really horrific.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Well, after that recommendation, I'll have to check it out. :-) Maybe I'll be able to catch it on TV this week.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Looks like that's two nods for The Others. That's another film I'll have to watch out for on this week's TV schedule.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was one of the nastier episodes in terms of brutality and gore. I've been trying to remember if anyone is killed in a horrible way during Catherine Parr's time, but my memory is failing me. I know she herself came close to being in hot water, but managed to maneuver her way out of it.

[njc2007.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, I like those choices. I especially like Rocky Horror and An American Werewolf in London. (Please kill yourself so we can die.)

Here's a couple more for you to consider for future years:
- Shaun of the Dead
- Return of the Living Dead (has the smart zombie that asks the dispatcher to send more paramedics)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, I like those choices. I especially like Rocky Horror and An American Werewolf in London. (Please kill yourself so we can die.)

I'm glad you approve. :-) I ended up watching An American Werewolf in London last night. That scene in the porno cinema is one of my favourites. That and the scene in the Underground. *g*

Here's a couple more for you to consider for future years:
- Shaun of the Dead
- Return of the Living Dead (has the smart zombie that asks the dispatcher to send more paramedics)

LOL. Yeah, I've had a few people suggest Shaun of the Dead. I don't own the DVD as I didn't like it as much as Hot Fuzz. However, I think I'll probably end up buying it eventually. I'll also keep a look out for Return of the Living Dead. Sounds like it's worth it for the smart zombie alone. *g*

[njc2007.livejournal.com]

Return of the Living Dead is not a great movie, but it does have a more interesting take on the zombies. It did not take itself seriously at all.

[boobamiaow.livejournal.com]

Just watched the trailer-is the Hound a werewolf then?....

[boobamiaow.livejournal.com]

Last night I watched 'Satan's Little Helper'
It was rubbish. Tonight I'm going to watch 'Trick or Treat' (the 80s one-not Trick R Treat which I watched last yr and thought was ok)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

No, it's supposed to be a hound, though, to be honest, I can't remember what the hound looked like in the movie. I've, uh, tried to block out most of the film. While it isn't the worst adaptation I've ever seen of the novel, it's near the top of my list. *g*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. You're really getting into this. I've only managed to watch two films on my list so far, though I might be able to squeeze one in tomorrow night. Anyway, I'm sorry that Satan's Little Helper was rubbish. I hope you enjoy Trick R Treat. :-)

[boobamiaow.livejournal.com]

Last night I watched Halloween H20, the night before I watched The nightmare before xmas. Tonight I'm tired and just gonna find some halloween eps on you tube of garfield, peanuts etc. Tomorrow I'm gonna watch Rob Zombies remake of Halloween and then I'll see what Helloween films are on tv on sun night. I'm feeling a bit Halloweened out hehe

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I'm seriously impressed! You've certainly been doing a better job than I have! No wonder you're feeling a bit Halloweened out! *g* Well, I watched Rocky Horror last night and now I'm debating whether to watch Clue or Murder on the Orient Express tonight. I was going to go with Clue, but I've got a big craving for Murder on the Orient Express because I finished the novel on Wednesday. Maybe I'll give in to the craving and squeeze Clue in tomorrow with The Hound of the Baskervilles. There are a couple of ghost programs on tomorrow night, so I'd have to get through them before then.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your Halloween viewing! Happy Halloween in advance! :-)