Confession time: I'm a huge wimp.
I really don't like horror movies. I mean, isn't real life scary, distressing and traumatic enough? Why must forms of entertainment subject us to things intended to bring out the worst in us, and horrify and disgust us? Even for the sake of "thrills"? It just fuels paranoia and hysteria, and people (mostly girls, women, the trans community, and people of colour) have actually been killed because of this type of media that is consumed in our culture.
Aren't films supposed to make us think, and come out as better, more well-adjusted people than when we were before we sat down to watch them? Aren't films supposed to be enjoyed? To be a happy escape? To help us to explore a different viewpoint from our own? And educate us in a positive way?
Why is horror that is genuinely clever, self-aware, subversive and ripe with social commentary on what scares us in society so rare? Or really, why is horror that likes women, the trans community, and people of colour so rare?
But on this night - the night of All Hallows Eve and Samhain - I am going to count down my personal, subjective and opinionated list of films that are horror, Halloween themed, or in general could be considered scary or spooky. Some of these films, that are horror or thriller, I can stomach, and they are what I would call subversive for their genre. It's less about the blood, gore, and horrific imagery, than the social commentary. The scares come from how real and true they are in modern society - and humanity.
What is the nature - the root - of fear?
Yeah, most of the films on this list are feminist, and their protagonists are female. Some of them are aware of straight, white, cisgender privilege; and of puritanical extremes and the Madonna/Whore dichotomy. Not all of them are, however - those are films that I can enjoy regardless. I don't watch anything for budgets blown on gore and ultraviolence - and the voyeuristic torture and deaths of women - that's for sure. As well as being disgusting, these horror tropes are too easy, and lazy; thus why they are so overused. I want movies that are smarter, more substantial, and have more emotional range and resonance than that.
Well, without further ado, here is my Top 20 Halloween Movies list - containing my favourites, and therefore my tastes, and my opinions.
Enjoy!
20. Dracula's Daughter (1936)
A sequel to the Bela Lugosi classic that is surprisingly funny and quite clever. It's not based directly on any work of literature, but on its own it is enjoyable. Dracula's Daughter stars more than one female character and they each possess agency, and they are three-dimensional. Marguerite Churchill's Janet Blake is a cheeky delight, but the haughty-yet-sympathetic performance and presence of Gloria Holden as the titular daughter cannot be overstated. She is perfect as Countess Marya Zaleska, self-loathing and all. She is not a complete, emotionless monster here; she's just someone who wishes to live a normal, happy life, but can't because of the influence and intended roadblocks of the men around her. The film is flowing and glowing with queer and lesbian subtext - though of course Bury Your Gays is to be expected. Dracula's Daughter is not scary in the slightest, especially by today's standards, but as a comedy and an exploration of a woman trying to thrive and simply live in the 1930s (or whenever this is set, it's hard to tell at times) but tragically to no avail, then it is worth the watch. It also serves as a subject of study of lesbianism in film in the 1930s.
19. Black Christmas (2019)
Not a popular inclusion, I know. This modern remake of a 1974 slasher classic is full of the usual clichés, and isn't scary in the typical sense. But I think Black Christmas from 2019 is worth a second watch, from a feminist lens and understanding. Another thing it isn't is subtle - the female team of filmmakers clearly made it with the agenda of pushing for social awareness, and literally fighting rape culture and white male supremacy. The supernatural element added in lessens the impact a little, but I see what they were going for in terms of showing just how contagious and thriving misogyny and toxic masculinity are. Internalised misogyny and complicity in misogyny (particularly in frat boy culture and beyond) are also given legroom. Yes, the film is political, and self-aware. It doesn't relish and get its kicks out of college girls being killed in horrific ways - nor does it linger on them long - and only the Final Girl surviving in the end? That is not the case here. There is a strong sense of sorority sisterhood and support throughout Black Christmas. The protagonist, Riley Stone, isn't some virginal paragon of "perfect womanhood" - but a rape survivor, who wasn't believed, and who didn't in fact "ruin" her attacker's reputation. She ends up fighting her rapist and literally coming out on top. Black Christmas was made for the #MeToo era, and if that bothers you, then tough, it's supposed to expose uncomfortable truths. Plus, it has a wonderfully badass black girl wielding a bow and arrows. Spoilers: she doesn't die! And Riley's love interest (who also survives) is POC. Okay, I admit I haven't actually seen the original film - because I'm a wuss - but regardless, in watching a loyal sisterhood of girls in the cusp of adulthood - of going out into the big wide world - taking back what is theirs and refusing to be victimised, then the 2019 remake is something I would watch over and over again. Because it is right: women are strong, they can do anything on their own without men, and they will never be broken. I find it to be a more effective, and more female-and-POC-friendly, feminist horror movie in the midst of #MeToo than, say, Jennifer's Body. Yeah, I said it. Come at me. Opinionated list, remember.
18. Assassination Nation (2018)
A very violent but important film that needs to be seen by everyone, even the squeamish, once - and perhaps never again, for how intense and disturbing it is. The physical violence and bloodbath don't really kick off until near the end, at any rate. Assassination Nation is the scariest film on this list, because it is real. Or it can be real. It is a cautionary tale for the internet and social media overindulgence age. Nothing is private anymore, and lives can be destroyed by a single hack and leak. And several leaks. As a result, people - but mainly men and boys - can turn into monsters (as the white supremacist patriarchy has nurtured them into), in a fit of rage and the desperate human need to blame others. The human need for scapegoats; to react violently against the marginalised and powerless in society. If given the chance, these power-hungry men may even brutally murder people - but mainly women and girls - in a mob mentality approach. Sam Levinson's 2018 fuck-you-patriarchy is a backlash against the fiery shit heap that is the political climate of the last few years. Themes of abuse, slut-shaming, victim blaming, disownment, and other types of vitriol and deadly misogyny are addressed to a devastating depth in Assassination Nation. There is a reason why the town the movie is set in is called Salem. It pushes boundaries and makes a sincere effort at diversity. For example, one of the four girls in the main girl group, Bex, is trans, and is played by a trans actress, Hari Nef. Assassination Nation is similar to Black Christmas in its subverting the slasher movie formula, and making it about girls surviving in a world that wants them dead just for existing. There is no Final Girl; but girls who live, and will do it by fighting back in self-defence, but won't cross the line and become no better than their male oppressors and attackers. They also reference #NotAllMen. However, both of these films share a flaw: their protagonists are still white, cisgender and heterosexual. But it's a step in the right direction towards horror and slasher flicks meaning something more than blood and gore and violence against women. Assassination Nation - very intense, raw and bloody, but it is so for a reason. Nobody in it is in any way a "perfect" human, and that's how it is in reality. This experience is worth it. Besides, if I couldn't finish Ginger Snaps because of its gore, yet I could watch Assassination Nation and have strong enough feelings for it to include it on a favourites list, than I'm sure that anyone else easily scared can get through it too.
17. Crimson Peak (2015)
A gothic ghost story by master filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. It stars Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston, in their best, most believable (and less gimmicky) performances I've seen. They really drive the film. Crimson Peak can be enjoyed as a popcorn film - even I don't think it's that scary or creepy, and it can be slow-building in its plot progress. As the protagonist Edith Cushing says of her own writing, it is a story with ghosts in it, not really a ghost story. And it isn't a traditional love story, either. It is rather predictable, and the shocks wear off quickly (even the incest, which is merely a given in horror stories). Edith doesn't seem to have any female friends; only a male childhood friend who may achieve his quest of escaping the friendzone, which is unfortunate. But I am a fan of the stylised Victorian setting, the colourful dresses (especially on Edith), the symbolism (abundant and heavy-handed as it is), the snow, the contrast of red on white snow, and the clever, resourceful, intrepid and emotional heroine. The ghosts in the haunted house are not the evil ones - it's the murderous living who have to be stopped. Plus, for horror, it contains one of the funniest lines ever put on film: "In America we bank on effort, not privilege," says Edith's father. I'm paraphrasing, but I nearly die of laughter - not fright! - every time I hear it. So for good fun, and a demonstration of feminine strength, I recommend Crimson Peak.
16. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
A black-and-white, spaghetti western-inspired Iranian movie about drugs, prostitutes, the slums, and other aspects of human suffering in the underprivileged walks of life. And there's a female vampire in it, too. A record and vinyl-loving, skateboarding, kind-of hipster vampire, who covers up in black when walking alone at night, with only her eyes and part of her white face visible, as she seeks justice and retribution from the bad men populating Bad City (yes, that is the name of the setting). She has a taste for bad guys - for their blood and death. But she's cool. She may love a man who amusingly calls himself Dracula, and flee for freedom with him. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a quiet and slow-moving film, and that's the beauty and staying power of it. It isn't scary - except maybe the part where the vampire girl bites off a guy's finger and feeds it to him before she sucks his blood, but that's as gruesome as the movie gets - but it is about life. Small, insignificant life, filled with indulgences, and never leaving, never moving forward. The vampire girl (she isn't given a name) is a spectator of this life, mostly passive but active when she needs to be (at night). She sucks blood; everyone else sucks other types of live force out of everyone around them: their money, their energy, their soul, their agency, their will to live. All because of an addiction, like drugs, and being static, feeling they are not good for anything else. It is a loop, a cycle, that is suffocating and deadly for everyone involved. Involved and trapped. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night isn't pretentious exactly, but it is an expression. A macabre yet sentimental and strangely hopeful triumph in Iranian cinema. It is shot in an old fashioned style, but its content isn't old fashioned. The Girl does make a female acquittance too; a desperate man might love and help her in the end, but she doesn't need him to "save" her. She's very lonely, like the humans, but she doesn't need anyone or their approval. Companionship, maybe...she's cool and independent either way. No change is necessary. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a unique vampire picture, and feminist and woke. Watching it is like being in a dream - a strange dream, never to be forgotten. A cat features prominently as well. Aw!
15. Daphne & Velma (2018)
Now onto a kids' movie! Daphne & Velma is a live-action spinoff and prequel in the overreaching Scooby-Doo franchise, that focuses on Daphne Blake and Velma Dinkley and their developing friendship in high school - no one else in the gang is present at all, not even Scooby himself. It is silly, goofy, colourful, preppy, and makes little sense. But is that outside the realm of Scooby-Doo? That's what makes it fun! Almost everyone who worked on this film behind-the-scenes is a woman, and women should be allowed to make silly kids' media too. They should be allowed to make all kinds of movies. Don't put them on a pedestal, guys, and blast them when they inevitably don't meet your impossible expectations, in order to make yourselves feel superior. Making films isn't easy, you know. And screw the Oscars. But anyway, Daphne & Velma - for the little girl looking for female empowerment in all of us. The actors are great in their parts, and sweet. The special effects are not bad for its budget, either. A funny little popcorn flick saturated in social media and bright, colourful outfits. The YA novel book, Daphne and Velma (the first one, The Vanishing Girl, preferably), is also worth the read - read my review of it here. This is one tight and effective girl pairing.
14. Interview with the Vampire (1994)
My favourite vampire movie based on one of my favourite vampire novels. What a beautiful, bountiful, atmospheric, and emotional rollercoaster, containing fantastic performances by Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Christian Slater, Antonio Banderas, and Kirsten Dunst. You can read my book review here for more of my thoughts on the story. The film manages to be faithful to Anne Rice's common themes of vampires and how they are not so different from humans after all. What constitutes a monster? It doubles down on the blood and gore, and ups the drama and emotional stakes (no pun intended). A dark, gothic, rich and satiable landmark in vampire cinema. It's Interview with the Vampire, dammit! See it. I'll make you into a vampire fan yet.
13. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
A comedy musical with a horror edge - or is it a horror musical with a comedic edge? - and somehow it's rated PG. Really, what's not to love about Little Shop of Horrors? Every single actor is perfectly cast in it, the songs are phenomenal, the dark comedy tone manages to stay on point with all the elements put in, the pacing and comedic timing are spot-on, and the practical effects are stellar. This is 80s filmmaking at its best. Sure, it's not so PC nowadays, but it goes to show how good the movie it is that I still enjoy the hell out of it. And it's from the 80s, of course it's problematic. Little Shop of Horrors is a fun film, and a treat for musical fans, and fans of comedy and dark humour.
12. Carrie (1976)
Yeah, I can stomach Carrie, which is often listed as one of the greatest horror films ever. But it's not that scary, nor that creepy, to me. Maybe because I enjoy seeing the female characters and their development. Maybe because I can appreciate it as a well-made, well-polished, atmospheric, and ambitious film, with an emotional core to it (for a teenage girl's coming-of-age metaphor and horror tragedy, it needs one); it knows it doesn't need to be overly bloody and gory in order to get its point across. Its scares lie in its not-so-over-the-top and raw, human characters, who are played expertly and beautifully by Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Betty Buckley, Nancy Allen, John Travolta, and many others. Its scares lie in its human nature, and how terrible we are as a society to teenage girls. Bullying is evil, okay? I view Carrie as more campy than scary, but perhaps that's just me. It doesn't detract from its feminist leanings. It remains very much faithful to Stephen King's debut novel, without the overt problematic elements (see my review of the book here for an explanation). A coming-of-age Halloween classic.
11. The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
A witch film that is one of the best at exploring feminist themes; the multilayers and facets of how women suffer at the hands of all kinds of men, and the empowering of women through each other. It is about female friendships - and sticking together, no matter what. The Witches of Eastwick holds up a mirror to the patriarchy: it is ugly as hell, yet surprisingly easy to fall prey to and get lost in its "charms" and seduction. It is surprisingly easy to normalise and tolerate, until taken to extremes. In which case something has to be done about it, or else women will be killed by it. The Witches of Eastwick is an honest-to-goodness adult film - the "sexiness" (the sex happens offscreen) has nothing to do with it. Slut shaming and challenging conservative and medieval puritanical systems are themes that are also included. A dark comedy fantasy that, again, contains perfect casting, and pushes boundaries. It's not perfect in its rep, but for the 80s, it is a queen's landmark for feminism in film. Aaaaaaaand it's directed by George Miller of Mad Max: Fury Road fame. Remember: women are powerful, and together they could stop the devil himself - meaning the patriarchy.
10. Mary Shelley (2017)
A lovely, beautiful, quiet, unpretentious, touching, poignant, and creepy biography of the author of Frankenstein, who is a young girl. With her pen she can elicit change in the literature world - and the horror world. Mary Shelley is one of the precursor authors to create the horror genre as we know it today - she knew how horror stories can be used to crawl into our skin and make us face our deep-rotted fears. Fears concerning death, but also rebirth and moving on from a death. Mary Shelley is a feminist treasure, made by women for women, and it stars Elle Fanning at her best (she is a very good actress who, as is typical for women in Hollywood, is unfortunately often cast in terrible films, but Mary Shelley is not one of them). It is a raw and honest look into a woman's life and her creativity and intelligence - no matter the time period, women are, by some degree, dismissed and treated as lesser in any "man's" field. It is also about Mary's loves and losses. But it is her work that is most important, and the film doesn't forget that, even with all the drama. What a gem in filmmaking.
9. Ghostbusters (aka Ghostbusters: Answer the Call) (2016)
Ghostbusters (2016) is a good film, and the immense amount of backlash and hate it receives on the internet comes entirely from misogyny and toxic nostalgia, and you can't convince me otherwise. It's not perfect, but nothing is, so get over it already. Stop putting women on a pedestal; they don't owe you shit - this applies to Daphne & Velma, and it applies to this Ghostbusters remake. I don't want to talk about this film too much, since I know that its legions of dedicated haters won't change their minds about it, no matter what anybody says, and I wish to distance myself as much as possible from this fanbase whose deadly toxicity could top the Star Wars fanbase. Seriously, these fanbases are far scarier than any horror movie, and here's another reason to watch Assassination Nation: it's a warning for how a hate-filled and toxic masculinity mob mentality can end up getting someone killed, and quite frankly I think it's a miracle that no one has been physically hurt or killed yet because of these entitled, fragile and insecure science fiction fanbases which still operate on "it's a boys' club, and girls have cooties so they shouldn't be allowed to do anything but be my sex fantasy". Misogynistic and racist man-children, I have a message for you: Grow up, get over it, and except that the world does not revolve around you and what you want. You still have what you love originally, so what are you mad about exactly? Oh, women and women of colour are getting attention - attention and space which you feel you are entitled to - gotcha. Ask yourselves this: If you had daughters - or if you do have daughters - which Ghostbusters film do you think she will be most inspired by? Which will encourage her to be her full and better self? But back to Ghostbusters in one line: it's fun, funny, and the action and music are spectacular. It can be enjoyed on its own merits. See here and here for more of my thoughts on the remake. Female friendships FTW! Smart women FTW! Women saving the world FTW!
8. Black Swan (2010)
A stunning, stylish, gorgeous passionate, meticulously paced and structured, and unsettling psychological thriller. Black Swan is more disturbing than outright scary, but the humanity of the characters, the female presence, the suspense, the unravelling of its psychological elements and on a single state of mind, the striking symbolism, the classical music, and the harrowing aspects of ballet (it is a very hard and stressful type of dance for professionals - physically, emotionally and mentally), they are what keep me coming back to rewatch it over and over again. It is a delicious (not so delirious) cinematic beauty that leaves you with all kinds of feelings. Everyone in it is superb, of course, and even the lesbian sex scene has a story point to it, or a character point. It is about coming-of-age, and sexual awakening, and the pressures put on young women to be perfect all the time to impress men - and to see other women as rivals instead of allies and friends, and the tragedy this mindset brings about. Black Swan - a well-received, well-loved feminist/thriller/horror title that deserves its praise. Divine. Bravo.
7. Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998) and Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost (1999)
Now we come to my favourite subject in film - animation! I'm including both of these classic Scooby-Doo movies from the long gone VHS era into the same place. I only saw bits and pieces of them as a kid, but it's not until very recently that I caught up with them and watched them in full. I'm glad I did. They are funny and enjoyable cartoons. Both movies go into the supernatural-is-real territory, which I am not fond of since the whole point (intentional or not) of Scooby-Doo is to show kids that there is always a rational, logical explanation for everything - no superstition or myth is true - and that the real monsters in life are people. But Zombie Island and Witch's Ghost manage to be intriguing, thrilling and fun joyrides, with surprising care and effort put into them, so I don't care much. They are not scary for older audiences, but they can serve as gateway drugs for kids to get into the horror or ghost story genre. Plus, I'll consume anything if Daphne and Velma are in it (ironically, Scooby-Doo himself often is the least interesting member of Mystery Inc.; like, is there a lot you can do with him, for variety?). And who can forget the Hex Girls!? So for a good, light, spooky and exciting time for your children on Halloween, and for quality animation throughout the ages, then these Scooby films come as a recommendation from yours truly.
6. Corpse Bride (2005)
A quiet, precious, sweet, funny, satirical, unpretentious, low-budget Tim Burton stop-motion animated film. In spite of its title, Corpse Bride isn't scary - it doesn't push any boundaries in that area of children's filmmaking, and it is better for it - and it is anything but lifeless and stale. There is a beating heart here. The amount of care put into making it is evident everywhere. I do so love stop-motion animation! It's perfect for this type of creative storytelling. The contrast between the grey, strict and rigid living of the Victorian era, and the colourful, free and dancing dead, is exceptionally done. The songs are brilliant; my favourite is "Tears to Shed". I personally felt a more emotional connection to Corpse Bride than I did The Nightmare Before Christmas. Despite the usual Tim Burton trappings - most notably Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter cast as the leads - this is from back when he gave a remote crap about what he was making, and the leads don't play their usual typecasting in his films (made easier in that these are voice roles, I suppose). For a laugh and a cry with your family this Halloween, I propose Corpse Bride.
5. ParaNorman (2012)
This was once one of my all-time favourite films. That has changed because on continuous rewatching I find the dialogue to be quite atrocious, repetitive and heavy-handed. But it's still a special animated movie for me. Mostly because of it's flawless stop-motion, it's anti-prejudice theme and it's understanding of how fear in humans works. It can be slow and not all the characters are interesting or have more than one dimension to them. It's major theme of witch-hunts and bigotry would have worked a lot better if Norman was a girl. But as I say in an old blogpost:
'ParaNorman' looks like a totally unoriginal mess on the surface. But beneath the silly horror elements - ghosts and zombies - is a film with a phenomenal amount of heart. It's a story about prejudice, and even makes the connection between bigotry and fear - fear of the unknown, of human uncertain, which is something the whole horror genre is based on. [...] It captures the feeling of isolation - especially from the viewpoint of a child - in a seemingly narrow-minded and hopeless world in the truest way I've seen in any film [...] 'ParaNorman' isn't based on any existing story, like a book, as with Laika's other films, 'Coraline' and 'The Boxtrolls'. It is its own original thing; something that's so rare in Hollywood right now. 'ParaNorman' is also the first family film to explicitly feature a gay character - a non-stereotyped one at that. It could have done more in terms of race in its prejudice theme, but as it is, 'ParaNorman' is an instant classic. Intense and suspenseful like a horror film, while subverting that same genre in almost every level, there is a lot this film has to offer us.
A pinnacle in animation and horror.
4. Return to Oz (1985)
This dark sequel to the 1939 classic definitely counts as a Halloween movie - it's got pumpkins in it, and it's even set around Halloween back in Kansas. Hard to believe that Return to Oz is a Disney film - wait, no it isn't, actually. Perhaps because I was (un)fortunate enough not to have seen this as a kid, and get scared witless then, that I adore and appreciate it all the more as an adult. It is a well-told, well-paced, creative and magical film that challenges us on what is appropriate viewing for children (a lot of family films in the 80s did this, in fact). The practical effects and Claymation are terrific and help add to the atmosphere - oh how I miss the time when films used these conscientious, solid, rustic and charming tools as a means of making the magic look more real onscreen, before CGI took over everything. There is both a darkness and a charm to be found in this classic-in-its-own-right - nonstop thrills and magic abound in Return to Oz, with plenty of female characters and players to boot. A fantasy classic, and a real Halloween treat for the family.
3. Coraline (2009)
I already talked about this stop-motion animation and fantasy masterpiece before. Here is a rundown of my thoughts on Coraline, which is also one of my all-time favourite motion pictures, from a past blogpost:
My type of movie! Stop motion animation, vibrant and meaningful colours, a moody, imperfect and unconventional female lead, creepiness, a lesson about bravery that genuinely challenges kids, playful scenarios, a witchy, ethereal feel and atmosphere, and a black cat. [...] The original Coraline book is one of my favourite children's books, and it is the perfect fit for an animated adaptation. The movie does push boundaries (and conservative sensibilities, as Laika likes to do, and I applaud them for it) - adults can enjoy it as much as kids. To be a little scary is to be thrilling, and to teach a life lesson that not everything is as it seems. Most of the time if something is too good to be true, it probably is.[...] Coraline can be watched - and read - again and again. It's a shame that Laika, after the success of their first film, to this date hasn't made another with a female protagonist. It worked brilliantly the first time, why not do it again?
For thoughts on Coraline's themes, and the original book, read my novel review here.
What a great movie. And another colourful, delicious, scary treat for the kids, with a strong female presence.
2. The Love Witch (2016)
Another favourite film, and what a gorgeous film it is! From a Favourite Film list I did years ago:
A feminist witch film that is sensual, sexy, gorgeous, mesmerizing, and as addictive as chocolate. [...] 'The Love Witch' pays homage to retro, Technicolor B movies from the sixties-eighties, and is a tribute to female leads who rarely receive the recognition they deserve in those films. The cinematography and overall style are wonderful. It is feminine and sweet, but deadly. A labour of love for writer-director-producer-editor-designer-scorer Anna Biller. A great and effective outlook on and insight into modern gender roles as well, and how harmful they are to society. A damaged woman, a female survivor, is hardly at fault, but sometimes, in an aftermath and follow up to a traumatic event, she is not entirely blameless either, unless she is a victim. A victim of the stifling patriarchy, enabling the power play of abuse and devoid of genuine love and affection. [...] I can't do it justice. Watch the seductive allure of Wicca and 'The Love Witch' for yourself. You many never be able to stop watching it.
And from my Favourite Fictional Witches list:
Another dark, dangerous, and lonely and complex witch from one of my new favourite movies. Elaine is explicitly anti-feminist, and a sexual predator of men. But that's what she's been brought up to believe in - from the disastrous relationships of her past - and she is terrified of her ideal man leaving her, and not loving her. But patriarchal expectations of both men and women are BS, as the film proves. Elaine tries to act as a heterosexual man's fantasy come true, domestically and sexually, on par with the patriarchy's standards for women in general. Of course this is a self-destructive path; for her psyche, not to mention the body count. Elaine is a witch who is like a tragic horror movie monster. She's very much human and sympathetic, similar to Carrie. Like many of the witches on this list, she's been a lifelong abuse victim, and sadly can't quite handle independence and loneliness. She may be broken beyond repair. But Elaine is an alluring and fascinating creation on screen, with her own Victorian mansion, reminiscent of old movie femme fatales, and Morticia Addams. Her confidence is a mask, like her make-up. She is sick to death of disappointing romances in real life, away from childish fairy tales and classic stories. Vulnerable, narcissistic, and tragic, Elaine might just need more supportive female friends, from toxic-free backgrounds. And new ways to express herself sexually in a healthy manner. You will fall under her spell; be unable to take your eyes off her.
Phew! I think that's enough. Now for my number one Halloween movie pick...
1. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
No introduction is needed. I love Pan's Labyrinth, and I've talked about it many times before on my blog.
Here's another film mixing together fantasy and harsh drama - both genres complement and parallel each other beautifully in 'Pan's Labyrinth'. It is one of the darkest films I've ever seen - and it's dark in the best way possible. There is meaning and symbolism behind everything; it isn't grim and gritty for the sake of it, or to prove a point about it being an adult film. It is what I think of as THE adult fairy tale, done right. There's also a strange, mystical and melancholic charm to the whole spectacle. Myth and fairies grow in the mind of a young girl surviving the Spanish Civil War near the end of WWII - surviving her tyrannical stepfather, a Falange Officer. Captain Vidal is one of the most frightening villains I've seen in celluloid, and he isn't a fantasy creature of any kind - he is very real in his evil actions, and that is what makes him terrifying. The more dangerous the grounded reality becomes, the more increasingly dangerous the girl's fantasy world is, as she clings to her stories desperately whilst still scared for her life and her family. Every character is memorable and proactive, with the girl being the only one who directly interacts with the fantasy world. 'Pan's Labyrinth' is a tragedy of a tale - not a spoiler, we are shown what will eventually happen in the first shot of the film - but it breathes glimpses of hope throughout. I recommend listening to Guillermo del Toro's director's commentary as well, as he offers a lot of insight into the film, and supports the idea that maybe the fairy tale elements are not in the protagonist's imagination after all. But we are left guessing throughout. 'Pan's Labyrinth' - one of the best at cinematography, special effects, setting an atmosphere, layering the horror and fantasy elements, psychoanalyzing childhood, and showing the best and worst of humanity. The music is also perfect. This is what film making is about - 'Pan's Labyrinth' shines in its own darkness - a beautiful, ethereal flower on a powerful, magnificent tree.
Pan's Labyrinth - a beautifully scary story about so many things. Mainly overcoming adversity in desperate, fascistic times.
Well, again I bid you all a Happy Halloween.
Real life and the ever-increasing uncertainty of the future looming ahead of us may be frightening and depressing - far more than anything that films show us - but remember, we can get through this. We can survive through these times. Together. Humans have done so before and by hell and back we can do it again, and keep on doing it. Nothing is set in stone; nothing will last forever. Be there for each other. Support each other. Remember, you are not alone. We are all in this together, every single one of us. So let us love and care for one another - and help one another. Whatever comes, remember love, and you will be ready for anything. For love never dies, no matter what anyone tries.
To all, have a good night.
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