By Vada Clark, Staff Writer
Scream. Slash. Run fast. Blood. Adrenaline. Crazy thrash. Psycho killers. Insane thrillers. And all the glory gory horror movies bring to our twisted minds.
It’s spooky season again, the true “most wonderful time of the year,” and horror movies are all the rage. While younger kids get a thrill out of trick-or-treating on Halloween night, many of us teens get our thrills elsewhere.
Halloween isn’t just a fun holiday where you get free candy and play the world’s biggest game of dress up – it’s also one of the most classic horror movies.
“Halloween” is a chilling tale of a young man named Michael Myers. When Michael was 6 years old, he murdered his older sister and was admitted to an asylum. After 15 years, he escapes from the asylum and begins killing. Myers’ motive for killing was to murder any remaining members of his family. Anyone else who died was just collateral.
The first movie in the series, released in 1978, still holds strong with a 4.4-star rating and a 96 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The movie itself may seem like a stereotypical horror movie to people these days, but its unique story and chilling cinematography in 1978 set the tone for many horror movies released today.
In 2021, “Halloween Kills” was released to begin the wrap-up of the now 13 films in the “Halloween” series. This film, with 2.8 stars and a 39 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, brings little hope to the new “Halloween Ends” movie that was released on Oct. 14.
Michael Myers is well known for his creepy, dead-eyed and pale-faced mask, though not many know the story behind it. The production designer and editor of the film, Lee Wallace, picked up a Captain Kirk mask at a random store on Hollywood Boulevard. He simply altered it to look more terrifying than the loveable face of Captain Kirk from “Star Trek.”
Several horror movie icons wear a mask, such as Leatherface, who we attribute to being one of the most iconic horror movie characters and the star of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movies. The series of films follows a cannibalistic family abducting unsuspecting teens and brutally slaughtering most, if not all, of them.
The eeriest thing about the “Massacre” movies is the inspiration behind them. While the graphic scenes of cutting someone’s face off, sewing pieces of it together, and then wearing it may sound terrifying enough, the fact that it’s loosely based on a true story makes it all the more horrifying.
Ed Gein was the inspiration for many horror movies, and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movies are no exception. Also known as The Plainfield Butcher, Gein was a serial killer located in Plainfield, Wisconsin. He was a grave robber, which explains the countless number of kitchen utensils made from bones, chairs upholstered in human skin, masks made from faces, and one of the most notable, his skin “leather” gloves.
His most well-known victim was found in his home hung by her ankles. This and the furniture made of human skin clearly contributed to the story of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” as did Gein’s obsession with his mother and the fact that he lived in a farmhouse outside of town.
The first “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movie, released in 1974, just six years after Gein’s conviction, set the tone for the rest of the movies within the franchise. Having a 4.0-star rating with an 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes almost 50 years after its release proves that the film still holds strong in its overall creepiness and disturbing cinematography.
The 2022 Netflix adaptation is another story. I’m not saying every “Massacre” movie is a hit, but this one takes the cake as the worst “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movie that was ever released. A 2.0-star rating and 31 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes should say it all, but allow me to further explain.
Several plot holes within the story make it choppy and confusing. The iconic farmhouse is located in the heart of the town, whereas in the original films, it is hidden away. The acting was poor and, quite frankly, I think many high school theater departments could’ve done a better job.
People who haven’t watched other “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movies may have enjoyed it, but I am not one of those people. As a true fan, I found it rather disappointing.
On the other hand, films that never disappoint are those within the “Evil Dead” franchise. The “Evil Dead” movies starring Bruce Campbell are no doubt odd and twisted. These movies, to today’s standards, would probably not be considered to have “great cinematography,” but more along the lines of one of those b-flick horror movies we know and love.
The first “Evil Dead” movie follows Ash Williams and a group of his friends staying at a cabin in the middle of the woods. In this cabin, they find the Necronomicon, a book of spells bound in human skin. After reading from this book, Ash unintentionally unleashes evil onto the world.
Even with this movie being regarded as a b-flick, it still stands at a 4.4-star rating and a 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and rightfully so. While the storyline can be confusing at times, what more do you need than blood, screaming and good old-fashioned possession?
“Evil Dead” had a remake in 2013. As a diehard fan, I personally don’t love it, but I do think it deserves the 4.2-star rating and the 63 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Two years later, however, Bruce Campbell came back with a comedic series, “Ash vs Evil Dead.” It had a strong hit and released three seasons. If a 4.8-star rating and a 99 percent on Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t tell you how fantastic of a series this is, then I guess you’ll have to watch it for yourself.
Look out, though, because in 2023, “Evil Dead Rise,” the new and most likely final part of the franchise will arrive. Campbell, the executive producer, has said that his character will not be making an appearance, nor will he be mentioned in the film, as it is to be a stand-alone film and not a part of the “Evil Dead” trilogy.
Whether you’re enjoying candy, screams or both, having this list of fantastic classics on your horror movie itinerary will make this Halloween season head-rolling, monster-mashing and pumpkin-smashing.
Sophomore Vada Clark can be reached at 25clarkva97@daretolearn.org.
