Horror classics you should be watching

Horror movies are a classic way to get yourself into the Halloween spirit. There are always the classics that come to mind. Elm Street, Friday the 13th, The Conjuring franchise has even made its way up there. But I wanted to take a step back and look at the older and more deep-cut horror movies that some people may not know about. 

Let’s head on down to the video store and rent us a batch of oldies that you would have always found near the back of the store. A little weird, a little kooky and a whole lot scary. 

HOUSE

This is one of those unique finds that only horror movies can bring to life. House is the love child comedy horror from Director Steve Miner with the story by Fred Dekker. Following a writer trying to get through his life in his aunt’s house. But things may not be as they seem. With wacky creatures, hauntings and… an odd climax fighting undead soldiers from a portal in the bathroom? House is a movie carried by its fun interactions with the world, amazing set design and above all else a performance by William Katt that brings just enough goofy energy to the right scenes and the right amount of fear with a scary scene. Campy, charming and just a fun care for everyone. House is a classic horror movie overlooked today for its more family-friendly approach with just enough horror to be appreciated beyond the laughs. One of the best examples of a genre bend that holds up well even today. If you are looking for that lighter side of horror this Halloween look no further than House. 

Pumpkinhead

This movie holds a special place in horror cinema with not just what’s on screen but who is behind it. Looking through the credits of Pumpkinhead can reveal why its titular title character looks the way he does and how this movie for a small budget turned out the way it did. This is plain and simple a creature feature romp. Here to scare you with costumes and effects you couldn’t find often. By a team that is extremely strong at what they do. Why does he look like an Xenomorph? Look no further than the movie’s costume and special effects department. Shane Mahan, who had dabbled in lots of James Cameron’s movies including Aliens and Terminator. John Rosengrant, someone who still to this day is giving their best work in projects like The Mandalorian and Book of Boba Fett. With Director Sam Winston who also has an amazing catalogue of horror and creature movies under his belt. This movie was a passion project with lots of love being brought to the design of the creatures and sets by a crew with a small budget and an incredible knack for what they do. Pumpkinhead is one of those movies where you can see a crew show off what skills they have and the early dawn of some of the best in costume work. 

Wishmaster

Wishmaster is a movie no one would have thought to be real. A sinister twist on the classic three wishes story with horror and cheesy antics dialled to 11. Directed by Robert Kurtzman and Produced by the legendary Wes Craven. This movie holds a special place in many horror fanatics’ hearts as that one kind of bad, kind of fun and lots of weird wrapped in. With inventive kills, really funny scenes that show their age and above all else the strangest cast of cameos ever seen. With Robert Englund, Angus Scrimm, Ted Raimi, Tony Todd and even Tom Savini. If you think you have heard of these names, that’s because Wish Master is a movie with the fun idea of including all these horror icons in it. There are even more tossed in for good measure too. It’s honestly the best thing about the movie. A fun horror reward in the form of an “I see you” situation. Does it help the movie is fun to watch with a strange story and overall goofy production? Absolutely. 

Earth vs. The Spider

Here is what it truly means to be a horror classic in the making while also having a minimal budget and almost no one talks about it. Directed by Scott Ziehl this movie takes the creature transformation genre and spins it in its own way. With some of the most fun story beats, a slow-burn character study and above all else a creepy look into the mental state of someone who desperately wants to be something but goes about it in the wrong way. Many who watch this might think it’s kind of like a previous movie in the genre “The Fly” This might be true but what this one does differently is instead of the story being explained by the hero-turning creature. This is presented as someone thinking they can use the gift they have and continue to spiral down while not fighting it. It brings out the best vibes for a low-budget horror that brings some of that early 80s flair. Even if the movie was made in the 2000s.

These are some of those movies that when I was younger, loved to death. There are so many horror movies to explore beyond the MEGA CLASSICS that play all the time on TV with horror marathons. Why not really take the plunge this Halloween season by digging a little deeper to find that gold. 

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