Hard to believe in a few short weeks it'll be Halloween! Fall is officially here and the temperatures are getting cooler, soon we'll be celebrating "All Hallows' Eve." For me Halloween ranks right up there with Christmas. The decorations, candy, costumes, parties and of course horror films!

I’ll spent every spare moment possible this month watching all my favorites. For me there’s nothing quite like the wholesome, quality, family entertainment of a good horror film!  Everyone’s got their favorites but for me it just isn’t Halloween until I watch the following films at least once.

Every October I begin my annual unhealthy diet of snack foods and horror films, I love this time of year! This could easily be the top one hundred must watch horror films, it’s hard to narrow down the list to just five. There’s so many great films out there and I’m a fan of most of them. So many different genres, characters and stories to choose from. The following are the bare essentials, the movies I must watch during the Halloween season. Yes it’s a season as far as I’m concerned, here’s some of my favorites:

  • 5

    Night Of The Living Dead

    A true horror classic released all the way back in 1968 this film forever changed the zombie genre. We can all thank director George Romero for this groundbreaking  movie that to this day is considered the standard to which all others are compared to. When the zombie apocalypse happens, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. This will be the official training video on the behavioral patterns, diet and ecology of the undead.

  • 4

    The Exorcist

    Ranking high on the creep out factor released in 1973 and directed by William Fredkin “The Exorcist” is one of the scariest if not creepiest movies of all time. Sure the subject of demon possession and the devil had all be covered before but not like this. Not only an incredible film the score is as creepy as the movie itself. Everyone knows the melody to Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield. Sure the name isn’t too familiar but as soon as you hear it all you can think of is “The Exorcist”. Plus all the unusual, if not other worldly issues the crew faced both during and after filming. Everything from accidents, fires, suicides and deaths. It all adds up to one hell of a horror film!

  • 3

    Friday the 13th

    Back in 1980 the slasher film genre was revitalized by what would become one of the biggest horror franchises of all time “Friday The 13th”. It was inspired by John Carpenter’s “Halloween” so it certainly wasn’t the first slasher film of it’s kind, but it built upon what was already there and took it much, much further. Directed by Sean S. Cunningham and written by Victor Miller it’s a true all American success story. The film takes the audience on a blood and gore thrill ride while Jason Voorhees dismembers the counselors of Camp Crystal Lake. Our villain Jason Voohee’s has become one of the most recognizable characters in horror with not only films to his credit there’s books, T.V. shows, comics, action figures, video games and more.

  • 2

    Hellraiser

    No list would be complete without 1987′s “Hellraiser” it’s one of my all time favorites. Written and directed by the one and only Clive Barker it’s one of those films that was not only ground breaking but left critics and fans wondering what the hell category does this film fit into? None, it’s in it’s own category all by itself. Horror defined, this movie introduces you to an all new but ancient evil the Cenobites! Leading this demonic clan is Pinhead played by the incredibly talented actor Doug Bradley who’s voice and posture brought a very real and sinister nature to the film. The lines this guy delivers with the masterful script and screen play provided by Mr. Barker make the Cenobites the most terrifying demons of the underworld. I love all these films!

  • 1

    Evil Dead & Army of Darkness

    Hail to the king baby! These films are indeed royalty and always end up at the very top of my list of horror movies I have to watch during the Halloween season. It’s just not Halloween without “Evil Dead” 1 & 2 plus the comic horror masterpiece “Army Of Darkness”. Sure they’re not the scariest or even goriest but they are without a doubt the funniest horror films ever made! Written and directed by Sam Raimi and staring Bruce Campbell the “Evil Dead” series got it’s start back in 1981 and have some of the most memorable lines and slap stick comedy ever. Who hasn’t proudly displayed their shotgun above their head and loudly declared “This is my boom stick!”

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