Halloween Movie Recommendation #7: "Tombs of the Blind Dead" (1972)

Halloween Movie Recommendation #7:

 

Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972)

"Who are these unholy savages who hunt out their victims by sound alone?"

 

Directed by Amando de Ossorio

Starring: Lone Fleming, Cesar Burner and Maria Elena Arpon

 



"In the 13th century there existed a legion of evil knights known as the Templars, who quested for eternal life by drinking human blood and committing sacrifices. Executed for their unholy deeds, the Templars bodies were left out for the crows to peck out their eyes. Now, in modern day Portugal, a group of people stumble on the Templars abandoned monastery, reviving their rotting corpses to terrorize the land." (Jeremy Lunt via IMDB.com)

 

 

A Spanish horror film that is the first of the Blind Dead series by director Amando de Ossorio. This film just oozes atmosphere, especially when the Templar Knights are shown rising from their graves and when they're on horseback. Not only that, but it features one of the best endings to a horror film! Don't believe me? Check it out and you'll see for yourself.



Halloween Movie Recommendation #6: "The Return of the Living Dead" (1985)

Halloween Movie Recommendation #6:

 

The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

"They're back from the grave and ready to party!"

 

Directed by Dan O'Bannon

Starring: Clu Gulager, James Karen and Don Calfa

 

"On his first day on the job at an army surplus store, poor Freddy unwittingly releases nerve gas from a secret U.S. military canister, unleashing an unbelievable terror. The gas reanimates a corps of corpses, who arise from their graves with a ravenous hunger for human brains! And luckily for those carnivorous cadavers, there is a group partying teens nearby, just waiting to be eaten!" (Blu-Ray)

 

 

Grab a beer, sit back and relax while you enjoy this horror/comedy zombie flick!



Halloween Movie Recommendation #5: "Black Sabbath" (1963)

Halloween Movie Recommendation #5:

 

Black Sabbath (1963)

"The most gruesome day in the calendar!"

 

Directed by Mario Bava

Starring: Boris Karloff, Michele Mercier, Lidia Alfonsi and Mark Damon

 

"A trio of atmospheric horror tales about: A woman terrorized in her apartment by phone calls from an escaped prisoner from her past; a Russian count in the early 1800s who stumbles upon a family in the countryside trying to destroy a particularly vicious line of vampires; and a 1900-era nurse who makes a fateful decision while preparing the corpse of one of her patients - an elderly medium who died during a seance." (IMDB.com)

 

 

Atmospheric and scary are the two words I'd use to describe this excellent film from Mario Bava. All three stories were fantastic, but the last one, The Drop of Water, would have to be my favorite because it genuinely scared me...it's that creepy. Black Sabbath is a must see for any horror fan.



Halloween Movie Recommendation #4: "Phantasm" (1979)/"Phantasm II" (1988)

Halloween Movie Recommendation #4:

 

Phantasm (1979)/Phantasm II (1988)

 

Phantasm: "A young boy and his friends face off against a mysterious grave robber known only as the Tall Man, who keeps a mysterious arsenal of terrible weapons with him." (IMDB.com)

 

Phantasm II: "Mike, now released from a psychiatric hospital, continues his journey to stop the evil Tall Man from his grim work." (IMDB.com)

 

 

 

 

It was too difficult to choose between the two films because both should be seen, so I decided to go ahead and group them together as one recommendation. I haven't seen parts III or IV yet, but I am planning on watching them this month.





Halloween Movie Recommendation #3: "Trick 'r Treat" (2007)

Halloween Movie Recommendation #3:

 

Trick 'r Treat (2007)

"Poison, drowning, claw, or knife. So many ways to take a life."

 

Directed by Michael Dougherty

Starring: Anna Paquin, Brian Cox and Dylan Baker

 

"Trick 'r Treat takes the Creepshow/Tales from the Crypt approach to nefarious new depths with four interwoven tales set on Halloween night: a high school principal moonlights as a vicious serial killer; the quest of a young virgin for that special someone takes a gruesome turn; a group of teens carries out a cruel prank with disastrous consequences; and a cantankerous old man battles a mischievous trick-or-treating demon." (Blu-Ray)

 

 

For me, this has become an essential horror movie to watch on or around Halloween and it'll be that way for several years because it's a blast. Highly recommended!



Halloween Movie Recommendation #2: "Creepshow" (1982)

Horror Movie Recommendation #2:

 

Creepshow (1982)

"The Most Fun You'll Ever Have Being Scared!"

 

Directed by George A. Romero

Starring: Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Leslie Nielson, Ted Danson and Stephen King...among many others

 

 

"Five tales of terror are presented. The first deals with a demented old man returning from the grave to get the Father's Day cake his murdering daughter never gave him. The second is about a not-too-bright farmer discovering a meteor that turns everything into plant-life. The third is about a vengeful husband burying his wife and her lover up to their necks on the beach. The fourth is about a creature that resides in a crate under the steps of a college. The final story is about an ultra-rich businessman who gets his comeuppance from cockroaches." (Todd A. Bobenrieth via IMDB.com)

 

 

If I had to pick my favorite story of the five, I'd have to go with the third, Something to Tide You Over. I find it to the creepiest and the thought being buried up to my neck in sand during low-tide is a horrifying thought.

 

Creepshow 2 was released in 1987 and while it's not as good as the first, I'd actually recommend it for a watch because of the second story titled The Raft. Sadly, the other two stories are a bit of a letdown, so they could be skipped.



Halloween Movie Recommendation #1: "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974)

With today being October 1st, I've made the decision to recommend a horror movie each day this month in honor of Halloween.

 

Let's get started with recommendation #1:

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
"The idyllic summer's day that became a nightmare of fear and blood..."
 

Directed by Tobe Hooper

Starring: Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Allen Danzinger and Edwin Neal

 

 

"...A group of five young friends face a nightmare of torment at the hands of a depraved Texas clan."

 

 

I decided to start off the month with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) because I believe that it's one of the best horror films of all-time.