The G33KPRON Writers Pick Their Favourite Halloween Movies!

Halloween is upon us, so what better time than to gather your favorite GEEKPR0N writers together and have a little roundtable discussion as to our favourite Halloween movies.  So kick back and take notes, because we’ve got a bevy of movie ideas for you to curl up on the couch with tonight!

We asked our writers “What is your favorite movie to watch on Halloween and why?”, and here’s what they said:

J.E.E.:  Young Frankenstein (1974)

I completely fell in love with Mel Brooks’ films when my parents showed me Robin Hood: Men in Tights when I was 6 years old, so any excuse to watch his movies is great. Young Frankenstein is a beautiful satire of golden age monster flicks and has so many memorable examples of Brooks’ quirky, rapier-wit sense of humour. Gene Wilder’s whole-hearted dedication to the film’s creative process make it a unique and believable film. Definitely worth the watch if you’d prefer having a laughs instead of screams around Halloween.

 

 

SUNNY:  The Lost Boys (1987), Shaun of the Dead (2004), and Ginger Snaps (2000).

 It’s so hard to choose just one favourite horror movie, as I bounce between vampires with the 80s campy The Lost Boys, and zombies with Shaun of the Dead, and a new interpretation of werewolves with the Canadian Gingersnaps. Basically I like classics with a twist!

 

 

JONNY:  Jaws (1975)

 

I’ve seen it numerous times and I still don’t know when that damn shark is going to jump out. The monsters we see very little forces my brain to make the worst out of a bad situation.  Also, it keeps me from swimming in lakes, oceans and pools for a long time.

 

 

DEBI:  Near Dark (1987)

 

I always try to vote for the lesser known films. So mine is Near Dark. It was introduced to me by my friend Craig over 15 years ago when he spent about a year wearing a spur on one ankle to emulate Lance Henrickson’s character. Also has Bill Paxton, he rawks. Little known fact: it’s a vampire movie and yet they never say vampire even once.

 

AARON:  The Thing (1982)

 

It’s not every day you see a movie that’s a perfect blend of psychological terror and in-your-face horror, but John Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi horror The Thing hits that perfect sweet spot. The Thing is funny, scary, suspenseful as hell, and features some of the coolest practical effects you’ll ever see, as well as Kurt Russell rocking a luxurious beard.

 

 

MATTHEW:  When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2001) & May (2002)

 

For me it comes down to two films. The first is the 2001 movie When Good Ghouls Go Bad: in which the main character has Christopher Lloyd as his fun-loving grandfather and discovers why his new town doesn’t allow the celebration of Halloween. As a result, zombies come out and there is a wonderful dance and farewell at the end that just makes me smile and remember what All Hallow’s Eve had always meant to me. The second film is the 2002 film called May: which is about a young woman who is so lonely and awkward around people that, in the end, she likes to “make” her friends. What can I say, this time of year makes me very sentimental.

 

 

MANDA:  The Halloween Tree (1993), Hocus Pocus (1993), and The Lost Crown (2008 – Video Game)

 

If we’re talking about kids Halloween movies? The Halloween Tree, a movie about four kids who learn about the origins of their various Halloween costumes (by traveling through time of course) while at the same time trying to save their ill friend’s spirit from being claimed by Death…I think…it’s never clear who he is. It’s a surprisingly dark story and unlike my runner up, Hocus Pocus, it’s one that I can still watch today without thinking “Man, this is cheesy”.  Now, if we’re talking “scare you out of your skin” movies…that one’s tougher…I love scary movies…actually, you know what? I’m not going with a movie, I’m going with a game I like to play every year around this time. The Lost Crown. It’s an adventure game from indie game developer Jonathon Boakes and it has some legit terrifying moments, which is something for a game in which you can’t actually die. I love a good ghost story though, and it’s a lot of fun hunting for ghosts and finding out their stories. The same goes for his other game, Dark Fall

 

 

HOPE:  The Shining (1980)

 

 

I can’t handle gore and torture sequences but I love an eerie movie that keeps you tense all the way through. Every time I watch the shining I notice something new and I adore that

 

 

KARINNA:  Too many to list!

 

 

Considering that horror is one of my favorite movie genres, there’s no way I could name just one film. We have the comedic cult classics, Evil Dead and Army of Darkness; the excessively gory Saw films; the perfect mixture of comedy and gore in Cabin in the Woods (seriously one of the best horror films I’ve seen in a long time, along with the remake of Evil Dead). George A. Romero, Tim Burton and Quentin Tarantino movies are up there, too. As far as “Halloweenie” movies, Hocus Pocus is my absolute favorite. I make a point to watch it more than once every October.

 

 

ROB:  Trick’r’Treat (2007)

 

 

As a horror fan, Halloween is the best time of year to get caught up on new horror films, so when I was introduced to Trick’r’treat a few years ago, I was taken aback at how impressive it is. Set up as an interconnected anthology of stories, director Michael Dougherty weaves a tale that explores the rites and rituals surrounding modern Halloween, and then puts a dark spin on them (with the help of Sam, Halloween’s new official mascot). There’s blood, guts and gore, dark humor, and incredible acting throughout the entire film. If you haven’t seen Trick’r’Treat yet, make sure you add it to your horror movie marathon this year. You won’t be disappointed, although you may never take Halloween traditions for granted ever again.  And as an added bonus Legendary Pictures just announced that Sam will be returning in Trick’r’Treat 2!!

 

Now we turn it over to you dear readers.  What are your Halloween night movie favorites?  Let us know in the comment section below!