Stocking up on Horror Movies

Hey everyone...
Anyone else here stocking up on some new (to your collection at least) horror movies... to get ready for a fun-filled October?

Within the last month I bought several horror movies... most of them "Blind Buys"... most of them I got very cheap so hopefully they won't be too bad. Any opinions on any of these?...

1. The Changeling
2. Dead Birds
3. The Tingler (Vincent Price)
4. The Breed (2001)
5. 976-Evil
6. Pulse (1988)
7. Crazy Eights: After Dark Horrorfest
8. Lake Dead: After Dark Horrorfest
9. The House Where Evil Dwells
10. Embrace of the Vampire
11. The Dunwich Horror
12. Burnt Offerings
13. Swamp Thing
14. Scanners
15. The Girl Who Lived Down the Lane
16. The Invasion
17. Skeleton Man
18. The Willies
19. Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge
20. Psycho II/Psycho III/Psycho IV: The Beginning
21. Shadow Zone: The Undead Express

That is it for this month... but I will definitely be getting a few more next month as well. So what do you say... is there any winners in the list?

Every year in October (this will be year 6) I have a Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon where I see how many horror movies and either horror TV Series eps. or Halloween eps. I can watch within the month. Last year I broke my own record when I watched 84 Horror movies and 34 Horror or Halloween TV eps.

Every year I post to different forums my thoughts on each movie/episode... and how far I get in my marathon. Is this something that would be of interest here at HTF? If so I can be sure to post here as well this year.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Im pretty sure every year a few of the guys do an Oct. horror movie challenge. I never watch enough to make me want to jump in on the challenge. Youve been here a long time, cant remember that far back? ha!

A few of your movies i have never heard of, The Willies?
The Breed isnt bad, i like Psycho II, and i have a soft spot for The Tingler. Its not good, but its fun. Swamp Thing has 2 things going for it, naked Adrienne Barbeu (sp?) bosoms, but i think they cut the scene out of the current DVD release.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

For some reason I was never much into the movie section of this forum. I always tended to stay in the TV Series section once it was created for some reason. I will be trying to fix that in the future though.

I did find out that The Willies is an Anthology Horror (several shorty stories in a movie with a wrap around story... think Cat's Eye, Creepshow) But I think it may be geared more towards younger teens/families.

I will be looking for the horror challenge this year once it comes up.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

IMO "The Changeling" (1980) is one of the scariest films on the your list. It is one of those films that uses atmosphere to scare you and be sure to watch it in the dark but not alone. George C. Scott and Melvyn Douglas were in top form

Just as in "The Haunting" (1963) and "The Innocents," which are not part of your buy, you will see no blood, but as you watch it you keep looking over your shoulder for some sort of presence.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Thanks... will be sure to make it one of the first ones I watch for the marathon (well once it gets dark out!)

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Nice thread Pete.

The Dunwich Horror was really good. It is quite creepy, and well acted.

Look for a very young Talia Shire(Talia Coppola back then) a full six years before she stole people's hearts in Rocky.

I also have a recommendation.
Shock Waves(1976) starring Peter Cushing. I don't think I'll see as many Halloween flicks as you during the month of October, but I do love horror movie marathons, and Shock Waves is a staple film for me

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Oh yea, i love Shock Waves too!

One of those CBS Late Night Movies that disappeared for YEARS before it came to DVD.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Looks like a good list! Be sure to join in on the SCARY MOVIE CHALLENGE if it happens this year! the watching numbers get scary, well into the hundreds, so your in good marathon company.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Thanks for the Recommendation... Shock Waves is going to my wishlist.

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Sounds like fun! The best I ever did was 84 movies. But that is because I also do horror TV Series eps (Supernatural, Friday the 13th: The Series [this year!] and so on) As well as Halloween episodes of any TV series (Roseanne, The Simpsons, Home Improvement... or any other show). So that cuts down on the numbers of movies for me a little.

But I will definitely look forward to joining in.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

I was just searching the forum for the past years Scary Movie Challenge.. but had no luck... just wanted to look over how you all did it before to get an idea what to expect. Can anyone point me to a previous thread?

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Here's a link to the final tallys, you can go to the first post to follow the whole thing.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...5-post614.html

I proudly retained second place, there by leaving responsibility of starting this years challenge to Travis. If no one else steps up, I'll probably start it regardless.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Thanks Russel...
Horror is my absolute favorite genre. I am always watching horror movies. And I am really preparing for this year's marathon. I have been abstaining from horror for quite a while now... and will not watch another until October 1st! The Last horror movie I watched was on July 27th That means I am now 49 days horror free... so I am planning on hitting it pretty hard this year!

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

The Changeling is one of the best scary movies ever made, imo.However I recomended it to a self proclaimed 'horror' movie fan and it left him cold. I later realized he wasn't a horror fan so much as a slasher movie fan so that's probably why. Changeling is pretty much bloodless.

During the DD 20% off sale in June, I bulked up on horror titles-off the top of my head I picked up
The Amicus Collection (The Beast Must Die, Asylum, And Now The Screaming Starts)
The House That Dripped Blood
Trilogy Of Terror
Who Ever Slew Auntie Roo
Hammer House Of Horror
Cabinet Of Caligari
Night Of The Sorcerers
Count Yorga dbl Feature
The Sentinel
The Car
Lady In White
Chamber Of Horrors

I would defintely recommend the Amicus anthology titles like House That Dripped Blood, Asylum, Tales From The Crypt. Just watched HTDB for the first time a couple weeks back and loved it.

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I figured I'd wait another week or so until it's a little closer to October. I don't plan on having as much free time this year so you got a chance to go for the #1 spot.

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I, myself am a horror fan. I love both... the bloody gore movies as well as those that are more atmospheric. So I think I will be good with it. And thanks for the recommendations. Out of that list I already have Trilogy of Terror but I believe that is the only one. It is hard to remember all I have though since I have almost 600 horror movies alone.


I am looking forward to it.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

I agree with the other recommendations for "The Changeling." I bought it recently after reading an online post saying it would appeal to those who liked "The Orphanage." That included me. I think "The Changeling" is a good, atmospheric ghost story.

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Good titles. I love the Amicus pictures. The Beast must Die, and Asylum are great. My Brother and I used to watch this horror show in the early 80's called Son of Svengoolie. It aired late Saturday nights, and played everything from the Hammer horror films to Japanese giant monster movies like Gamera. We really loved Who Ever Slew Auntie Roo. One of my favorite horror movie memories.

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Exactly. I'm glad to own it on dvd.

Why don't tv stations have late night monster movies anymore? I miss that.

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Sounds great... I always enjoyed a good ghost story.

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I also strongly recommend THE CHANGELING. I was blown away by this in 1979 and continue to treasure it on DVD, even though the transfer is not exactly stellar. Others on your list are generally inferior, or not horror at all (THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LIVES DOWN THE LANE is a quiet thriller, not a horror film, but very good). BURNT OFERINGS is a mixed bag. I don't care for the kid (Lee Montgomery) and Karen Black has always been a bit of an irritation for me. In fact, even Bette Davis and Oliver Reed seem misdirected here. The film is incredibly slow for a Dan Curtis production. However, the atmosphere is pretty thick and the ending, while perhaps somewhat predictable, is heady. THE DUNWICH HORROR would have benefitted from a less psychotic musical score (by Les Baxter) and better acting and script, but any movie that features a nude scene (albeit with a stand-in) with Sandra Dee can't be all bad. Interesting (if confusing) climax. THE TINGLER is as campy as they get, but once a Vincent Price fan, always...etc. Typically gimmicky William Castle production, not the slightest bit scary, although the bathtub sequence is reproduced in color on the DVD.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Looks like you go a good stack of titles.

I picked up about 55 new ones to my collection including Dead Birds.

I also have The Changling on hand. Last year I watched it for the first time in many years and it has lost absolutely nothing! I agree with other posters, it's as spooky as they get. Good old George C Scott.

Dunwich Horror is one I usually watch early on. It's not a great film but it gets me in a horror mood for some reason. Love the colored lighting.

Swamp Thang! I like that kid who runs that store in the middle of nowhere. The film has a great overall feeling to it. Perfect October flick.

I wish I had Scanners. Really good film. the effect hold up.

The Girl who Lived Down the Lane is superb. It's almost as Halloween atmospheric as the movie Halloween. I recommend Dead Zone (Cronenberg/Walken version) to go along with this one for some reason.


A few I bought...

Some oldies:
Tomb of Ligeia/An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe-thanks to a forum poster here I got this oop DVD for cheap! I've only ever seen Ligeia.
Most of the Amicus films-didn't get The Skull yet but might.
Cannibal Holocaust-scared to death of this thing! Is it even worth it for braggin rights?

Newer stuff:
Child's Play 1 thru 5-Haven't seen 1 thru 4 since they came out. Never seen the last one.
Wolf Creek-never seen!
Hostel-never seen but I love Cabin Fever.
TCM The Beginning-got stuff like this used in case is does actually stink

I hope my stack is worthy. A LOT of them I've never seen at all.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Who do we have to call to get it rolling again?

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

Radioman,

Wow, I haven't seen this one in many years. I own a VHS copy of it, but not the DVD. I remember it having quite a haunting atmosphere.

As we move closer to my favorite holiday of the year (which we celebrate for a minimum of a week ), I bring out some old classics, like the original House On Haunted Hill, and The Hand and I Bury the Living (from the Drive-In Classics collection); we also watch many from the Disney vaults that my children really enjoy each year, like the four Halloweentown films and stuff like The Phantom of the Megaplex, R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour, and Tower of Terror, among many others that we own on DVD and VHS.

I also watch The Shining and two or three Hitchcock films (usu. The Birds, and Psycho for starters); I also revisit a couple of the Dr. Phibes films as well as one or two of the Poe works set to film (with Price in the lead role).

We also mix in about a half dozen or so "Halloween"-themed shows from our favorite t.v. series.

Re: Stocking up on Horror Movies

This is a very good idea. I didn't have much time last year to watch that many movies during the challenge, but the year before I hit it pretty hard. After October I felt like I didn't ever want to watch another horror movie again. Of course that feeling went away after a few weeks.

I need to start stocking up on new horror myself.

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Pete, if you don't have them I can also recommend "The Howling" and the 1979 original tv version of "Salem's Lot" directed by Tobe Hooper. Both are required viewing at Halloween time at my house. But then I'm partial to vampires and werewolves.

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Yup... I have them both. I am sure I will be watching plenty of vampire movies... Vampires is my all-time favorite sub-genre for horror.

I will have lots to choose from... including those mentioned in the first post at this time I have 554 Horror movies in my collection. Plus any that I may buy in October. So don't believe I will run out before the month is over!

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It freaked me out more than once. Like The Others, there's a really nice use of sound. Also, the setting was about perfect. George C Scott added so much to the film's success.

I remember the DVD transfer being okay for a film of its age. Maybe uneven, looking great one second, not so much great the next. Although, when I ordered it I wasn't sure if it was full screen or wide. Luckily it was wide.

My fav too! Better than Christmas by far!

I Bury the Living is so good! I love the scoring on that one. As if the story needed a jolt of tension it gets it anyway.

Dr. Phibes I adore. Theater of Blood is also pretty fun...although it does have that nasty poodle incident!

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I really enjoyed THE CHANGLING as well. It gave me nightmares as a kid, and revisiting it last year, still holds up. THE ORPHANAGE is right up there I think, I'm not really partial to ghost stories, but that one really worked.

I plan on watching a bunch of Hammer and Italian horror this year that a friend sent me. I might even jump into the Godzilla movies. Yeah, you could argue they are a bit sci-fi, but giant monsters equal horror!

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Agreed... Halloween is my all-time favorite Holiday too. Which is why I celebrate it the entire month!

I really enjoyed I Bury The Living too... I got that one on a cheap free dvd. It came in that free 20 Disc 40 Movie boxset you got for subscribing to Total Movie Magazine.

I am a bit embarrassed to say that I never got to see the Dr. Phibes movies... but that is because I used to not give the classics a chance... if they were pre-1980s I wouldn't even consider it... but don't worry... I learned better... just still catching up now.