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Spend spooky season with some great movies
By Movie Reviewer Collin Frazier
@Collin_53
I’m going to be fully honest: I hate horror movies. I had some bad memories with them when I was younger and I tend to avoid them. Also, most of them do the same song and dance: big scary man chases around a group of people, kills them until one lone survivor stops him. That said, if a horror movie can have a good story, then I will suck it up and watch the movie. Here are some movies that can make your Halloween celebration much more festive this season.
- Us, directed by Jordan Peele
If you would have told me five years ago that half of the minds behind Key and Peele would be one of the best, if not the best, horror film directors of this generation, I would have called you nuts. Lo and behold, two films in Get Out and Us have proved me wrong. While I cannot vouch for Get Out very well, I can for Us. Not only will you experience tension, you will get this sense of dread caused by the main antagonists of the film. Lupita Nyong’o shines as the main protagonist and antagonist, showing two different sides of the same, messed-up coin. Finally, this film has many not-so-hidden messages on race and class, it is important in today’s world. The score, the supporting cast, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and I am excited about what comes next from Jordan Peele in Nope. Rating for Us: 93/100
- Army of Darkness, directed by Sam Raimi
To call this a horror film is a bit of a stretch as it is more of a fantasy-adventure film, but since it is a part of the Evil Dead franchise, I’m counting it. It was one of the first horror films I remember watching and actually enjoyed watching, largely because of how funny it was to me at the time. Even today, some of the throwaway lines make me burst out laughing. The action sequences blend gun-shootouts and medieval action very well, and the make-up used for the Deadites are very impressive. Of course, anything Evil Dead cannot be talked about without talking about Bruce Campbell and his career-defining role as Ash Williams. Williams uses his charisma, humor, and chainsaw of a hand to make this film hilarious, fun, and quotable when watching the film again. Hail to the king, baby! Rating for Army of Darkness: 87/100
- Scream, directed by Wes Craven
Wes Craven and I have quite the history. Nightmare on Elm Street freaked me out so much as a kid that I still avoid it today. Scream, on the other hand, is a different story. It not only revived the very dead slasher genre of horror, but it also turned it on its head. There has never been a film that blends horror, comedy, and self-awareness quite as well as the original did. Sure, it falls victim to the same tropes it makes fun of later in the franchise, but the original did not. It pointed out all the cliches of the slasher films before it, from the many, many sequels (looking at you, Friday the 13th), to the lone survivor always being a female (Halloween, Elm Street). I enjoyed the meta humor the first time I saw this. The kills were not only creative and terrifying, but the fact that the killer was not some invincible beast, rather a normal person, made the chase sequences funny and realistic. Lastly, the cast is so great in the movie. While some people picture Matthew Lillard as Shaggy in Scooby-Doo, I picture him as Stu Macher. If you want a good slasher to watch this Halloween but still make you laugh, this is my best suggestion. Rating for Scream: 95/100
Whether you are going out or staying in on Halloween, having a movie on can certainly make it a more fun time. Be safe this Halloween, and enjoy a good movie! For more suggestions, click on this link to see what horror movies UF alumnus Dylan Frazier recommends.
