5th Annual HTF October Scary Movie Challenge (1 Viewer)

Mitty started it. Kenneth Cummings continued it. And this year I'll be kicking off the 5th Annual HTF October Scary Movie Challenge. I know it's still about 24 hours early (depending on where you live), but I thought what the hell. Those of you who have participated before know the rules, and for those of you who haven't, it ain't that complicated. These are the rules that Mitty first posted with small revisions from myself.

1. Watch 13 Scary/Horror/Halloween-Themed films before midnight on October 31, 2004 (use your own timezone to set the ending time).

2. Two of the above must be new discoveries, movies you've never seen before. The point of this is to see those few movies you've always meant to see, but never got around to. I recommend more than 2, but 2 is the minimum to pat yourself on the head and say you completed the challenge. Please specify new discoveries in your film list by making them bold, adding asterisks, different colors, etc.

3. If you were part of the challenge last year, no more than two of the same films can be RE-watched. I'll grant a couple since some movies (ie. Halloween, Rocky Horror) are simply tradition and I'm willing to give credit for these. (Revision: This only applies to those going for the 13 movie challenge)

4. Come here and talk about 'em.

5. There is an uber-category, the Ultimate Splatter Challenge for those who wish to put all of the rest of us to shame. This is the heavyweight division. These people, if they choose to accept the challenge, must view 31 horror/scary/halloween themed movies before dawn on Nov. 1st. The rest of us will bow down in awed reverence to these truly "Splatterific" HTF members. The bragging rights will be awesome and long lived.

6. There has been discussion over the past two years as to what movies qualify. Is Silence of the Lambs a horror movie? Does The Nightmare Before Christmas count? From now on, if you wanna include it, go for it. There will be no hairsplitting. If The Wizard of Oz send you to the dresser for a fresh pair of boxer shorts, all the power.

To get an idea of what went on last year, here is a list of the Splatterific HTFers:

ULTIMATE SPLATTER-HEADS
Peter M Fitzgerald (110)
Justin_S (50)
Matt Stone (44)
Scott Weinberg (39)

As you can see, last year Peter absolutely put us all to shame. I still don't know how that man watched so many films without becoming a permanent extension of his couch. In any event, I guess the ultimate challenge is to top 100 movies, since that is precisely what Mr. Fitzgerald did last year. I'm unemployed and out of school this time around, so you suckers better all watch out

[c]Scott's 2004 Horror Challenge Movie List[/c]

1. Orca (1977) {B-}
2. Christine (1983) {B+}
3. Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982) {C+}
4. The Legacy (1978)* {C+}
5. The Sentinel (1977)* {C}
6. Demon Knight (1995) {C-}
7. Bordello of Blood (1996) {D}
8. Snakehead Terror (2004)* {D-}
9. Duel (1971) {A-}
10. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Meyers (1988) {C+}
11. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Meyers (1989) {C-}
12. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) {B}
13. Creepshow 2 (1987) {B-}
14. Village of the Damned (1960) {A}
15. Children of the Damned (1963)* {C-}
16. Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Meyers (1995) {D}
17. The Stepfather (1987) {B}
18. Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives (1986) {B+}
19. Madman (1982) {D}
20. Dead & Buried (1981) {B+}
21. The Prowler (1981)* {D+}
22. Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood (1988) {C}
23. Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) {D}
24. The Others (2001) {A-}
25. Blessed (2004)* {D+}
26. Lost Things (2004)* {C-}
27. Cube Zero (2004)* {B}
28. Dead Meat (2004)* {B-}
29. Jennifer's Shadow (2004)* {D}
30. H.H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer (2004)* {A}
31. 28 Days Later (2003) {A-}
32. Method (2004)* {C+}
33. The Fog (1980) {A-}
34. Waxwork (1988) {B-}
35. Waxwork 2: Lost in Time (1992)* {C-}
36. Q (1982) {B-}
37. Dog Soldiers (2002) {A-}
38. Blue Sunshine (1976)* {C-}
39. Re-Animator (1985) {A}
40. Below (2002) {B+}
41. Session 9 (2001) {A-}
42. Frailty (2001) {A}
43. New Orleans: Rich & Haunted (2004)* {D-}
44. The Invisible (2004)* {B+}
45. Tears of Kali (2004)* {C}
46. The Locals (2004)* {C+}
47. Little Shop of Horrors (1986) {B}
48. The Burning (1981) {C+}
49. The Omen (1976) {A-}
50. The Jackhammer Massacre (2004)* {C+}
51. Squirm (1976) {C}
52. The Incubus (1981)* {D}
53. Near Dark (1987) {A-}
54. Dracula (1931) {A-}
55. The Invisible Man (1933) {A}
56. The Invisible Man Returns (1940) {C+}
57. Species (1995) {B}
58. The Invisible Man's Revenge (1944)* {B-}
59. Unspeakable (2004)* {D-}
60. An American Werewolf in London (1981) {A}
61. The Grudge (2004)* {D}
62. Monster Man (2004)* {D+}
63. The Ghosts of Edendale (2004)* {C-}
64. Shaun of the Dead (2004) {A-}
65. Dawn of the Dead (2004) {B+}
66. The Thing (1982) {A+}
67. Spasms (1983) {F}
68. Frankenstein (2004)* {D-}
69. The New Kids (1983) {D}
70. Frankenfish (2004)* {D+}
71. Rosemary's Baby (1968) {A-}
72. Gremlins (1984) {B+}
73. Final Destination (2000) {B-}
74. Zombie Lake (1981)* {F}
75. The Terror (1963)* {D}
76. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) {A-}
77. White Zombie (1932)* {D-}
78. 'Salem's Lot (2004)* {C-}
79. Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1970)* {F}
80. The Hills Have Eyes (1977) {A}
81. Prophecy (1980) {C-}
82. The Hills Have Eyes Part 2 (1985) {D-}
83. Sleepy Hollow (1999) {B+}
84. The Exorcist 3 (1990) {C-}
85. May (2003) {A}
86. Rawhead Rex (1986) {C+}
87. The Prophecy (1995) {C}
88. The Prophecy 2 (1998)* {D}
89. Cathy's Curse (1977)* {F}
90. Halloween (1978) {A+)[/list=1]

whatever happened to Mitty anyway?

I guess I'll try, again, and probably fail, again

I've been waiting for this to start. I have my Netflix queue set and ready to go. Again I should have no problem hitting the 13 but will most likely fall short of 31.

First up for me will be either Memento Mori from Netflix, Freaks which I've been saving since I bought it in August, or Shaun of the Dead.

I've got a bunch of stuff queued up on Netflix too. It's getting more and more challenging to watch films that I haven't seen, but I'm sure there's still plenty of good stuff out there (especially silent era stuff that I haven't seen).



No clue. I emailed him last year before the challenge started, but never heard back...and Kenneth ended up starting the thread.

I'm in!

Knock yourselves out, guys! Although formally retired from competition, I'll be with you all in (evil) spirit! And I'll be watching some scary movies in October (possibly over 31), natch, just not "officially".

Here are links to the last three HTF Scary Movie Challenges, for the curious. Plenty of fine fear films in there, that some of you might want to seek out for viewing for this year's tournament:

October 2001 Scary Movie Challenge

October 2002 Scary Movie Challenge

October 2003 Scary Movie Challenge

Have fun!

I'll go for the 13, don't know about the 31.

Does it count if you go see them in the theater? Like Shaun of the Dead, SAW, etc?

Thanks for the walk down memory lane Peter, I forgot I watched Freaks for the Challenge last year. I must have caught it on TCM. I had no idea 18 was the most I'd watched and I only watched 12 in 2001, what was up with that? I hope to blow by that this year.

Joe, theatrical releases are fair game.

I was going to do this last year but got on too late, so this will be my first time around. I know I can easily see 13 and I'll bet I can get 31. I'm in.

I'm loaded down with work tonight, but I should be able to catch a flick after midnight. Now, the question is...what should my first film be?

Is it October already? gees. Definitely in this year, i've said i'll do it the last couple of years but always get side tracked with other films. This year i'll commit to at least 13.

At bat: The Toolbox Murders

Is the Hooper remake out on DVD yet? I remember hearing news about it last year, but haven't heard anything since.

I started viewing my horror titles a few days ago but will join this officially.

It has been out in R4 for quite a while. I think it's a rental only.

I'm a horror fanatic, but I've never participated in this before.

Looking over my large pile of yet unwatched DVDs, I see that 88 of them are horror films and there are even a few that I've never seen before...so count me in!

My only goal is to beat Brook's total :p)

I started these a few days ago. I know they won't count but it's good to have a place to say a few words about them. First time views are in bold.

Face of the Screaming Werewolf (1964 * 1/2)

One of the ultimate Jerry Warren films has Lon Chaney playing a mummy who is stolen by some crooks. They unwrap him and before you know it the full moon is out turning Chaney into the wolf man (not werewolf). This was taken from two other Mexican films and the Chaney footage was shot new and rumor has it that Ed Wood filmed a few of the scenes. This is another horrid mess from Warren but if you enjoy his other films you should get a kick out of this one. Chaney, the poor guy, is clearly effected by his alcohol abuse and it's rather sad to see him here.

Voodoo Man (1944 ***)

Another cheapie Monogram title with Bela Lugosi, John Carradine and George Zucco. Lugosi plays (!) a mad doctor is kidnapping young girls hoping to bring his comotosed wife back to life. As with the other Monogram films, this one here doesn't contain too much story but it's rather fun to see the three horror legends working together. Lugosi, as usual, is quite good but it's Carradine who steals the show as his dumb monster. Carradine is so over the top that it's very funny and adds a lot of charm. There's also a twist "joke" ending, which is pretty funny.

Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967 1/2 *)

A real horrid film but it does have Chaney, Carradine and Rathbone. Three redneck country singers spend the night in a haunted house where they are stalked by the big three. The country music is horrid plus the actors are downright embarrassing. The three legends have nothing to do and once again, it's rather sad seeing Chaney in the shape he's in.

Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973 ** 1/2)

Sexy women are killing men with sex in this cult classic. The film wasn't as much fun as I was hoping but the nudity kept it going. However, even nudity can get boring and the actual story really didn't help matters. Still, a fairly entertaining film worth a look.

Invasion of the Star Creatures (1962 BOMB)

Without a doubt one of the worst films ever made. Two stupid soldiers, trying to be Abbott and Costello, land in a cave where beautiful women try to take them hostage. A jokes are horrid, the performances are beyond bad and the "monster" effects are below even Corman standards.

Maniac (1934 BOMB)

A "BOMB" but also one of the best bad movies ever made. This 1934 shockers has nudity, two women fighting with needles plus a hilarious scene where the crazed doctor pulls the eye out of a cat's head and eats it. The performances are so incredibly crazy that you'll be laughing your ass off. Without a doubt one of the worst ever made but I have to watch it at least once a year.

I'm sure you'll have no problem beating my total Bill since you usually watch 15-20 more movies a month than I do. I probably won't even start tomorrow. I have so much work to do that I'll be lucky if I can watch the two non-horror Netflix I have in the next two days.

on The Eye

I think I can do 31 films this year.

I'm in.