Smile! It’s Halloween!
It’s my favorite time of year – when the scariest films of all time return to my TV screen! Everyone has a favorite horror film – you know, one that really scares you…and modern cinema has given us SO many incredible images to shake us up…
You get the idea – there are old classics and new favorites – all created to scare the hell out of you this Halloween season – I wanted to share some of my favorite horror films…and also highlight some lesser known films that deserve to be seen!
More on these incredible Twin Horror Directors in a moment, but first, we begin with what is, without question, the greatest horror film ever made – one that forced viewers to flee the theater because it was too much to watch!
Time To Celebrate “The Exorcist!”
I think this is the scariest film ever made…and without a doubt the greatest horror film of all.
Here is the original trailer, that only hinted at the intensity of this film:
In the more than forty years since it was released, “The Exorcist” has remained one of the most shocking films ever released….because of moments like this:
And of course, there is a scene that will never be forgotten – a scene that continues to shock an audience:
“Cue The Soup!”
The moment that little Regan unloads gallons of green liquid onto her guests is a legendary horror scene…but equally entertaining is the banter that the demon has with Fathere Damien:
Demon: What an excellent day for an exorcism.
Father Damien Karras: You would like that?
Demon: Intensely.
Father Damien Karras: But wouldn’t that drive you out of Regan?
Demon: It would bring us together.
Father Damien Karras: You and Regan?
Demon: You and us.
Great “Exorcist” Trivia!
Here is some great trivia about the film:
The refrigerated bedroom set was cooled with four air conditioners and temperatures would plunge to around 30 to 40 below zero. It was so cold that perspiration would freeze on some of the cast and crew. On one occasion the air was saturated with moisture resulting in a thin layer of snow falling on the set before the crew arrived for filming.
Oh yeah, and then there is the “head turn” sequence! As you can see in this picture, little Regan is holding a crucifix for all the wrong reasons…another scene that was so shocking that audience members fled the theaters when it was playing – this type of horror reaction just doesn’t happen any more!
This film is so intense and scary that the original teaser trailer, which consisted of nothing but images of the white-faced demon quickly flashing in and out of darkness, was banned in many theaters, as it was deemed “too frightening”.
And then of course, there is the projectile vomiting scene!
The substance that possessed Linda Blair hurls at Father Damien Karras is thick pea soup. Specifically, it’s Andersen’s brand pea soup. The crew tried Campbell’s but didn’t like the “effect.”
Tons of great stories and commentaries on the special edition blu-ray….check it out and relive a classic!
Of course, “The Exorcist” wasn’t the first movie to feature of child acting up…in fact, some evil begins before the baby is even born!
“Rosemary’s Baby!”
Mia Farrow’s performance as a young pregnant wife who feels something isn’t right with her new baby is the glue that holds this shocking classic together…
Roman Polanski’s horror film lives up to the hype – get a bunch of great behind-the-scenes stories about the movie here:
One of the greatest horror films of all time began as a Stephen King novel – his first novel in fact, and still the greatest film ever made from one of his books!
Classic “Carrie!”
One of the greatest honor films ever made is by the Master of Suspense, Director Brian DePalma!
The story of young Carrie White, ostracized in high school and tormented by her religious fanatic of a mother, is one of horror’s greatest achievements. Here is a bun of fun trivia about the movie, and a look at five of Brian DePalma’s greatest thriller!
Of course, by the end of the 70’s, one film because the new standard for horror:
It was the night that “HE” came home! Director John Carpenter’s classic horror film made Jamie Lee Curtis the reigning “Scream Queen”…
“Terror Train!”
Another of Jamie’s great thrill rides was on “Terror Train”! If you want to celebrate the “slash-tacular” horror films of the 80’s – and read about some great “Halloween” trivia, then check some of the best right here:
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More scares to come!
Categories: 70's Cinema, Cult Movies, Exploitation films, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Halloween, Horror films, Movies, Obscure Movies, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
Yay! Just looking at all the pics in your post made me want to snuggle up for a scary filmathon! I started watching horror films when I was a kid (hey, I still turned out okay 😉) and I hold a lot of the classics dear in my heart. The more gore and weirdness the better. I’m pretty sure that my mum didn’t really think my name sounded pretty, but that she named me Carol Ann after Poltergeist (just took the ‘e’ off the end to pretend that wasn’t really the reason!) xx
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I love that! Thanks for sharing! I am trying to share a wide range of spooky films, so those who don’t like the wilder stuff can still enjoy the season! Thanks for commenting, great to hear from you!
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I tend to avoid anything too nasty – I find too much horror rather unpleasant, lol.
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There are more suspenseful ones as well as the “slashers” but you have to be in the mood to be scared!
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Hi John, I don’t think I ever saw The Exorcist. I remember being scared by Rosemary’s Baby and want to read the book again. I thought The Shining was a very scary book. It was more scary for me than Carrie although I did enjoy Carrie. I also enjoyed Firestarter. Stephen King’s earlier novels were all very good.
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Robbie, The Exorcist is one of the most perfect films ever..beautifully written directed and acted by an “A”-list cast, a story that builds in two ways: first in a slowly growing dread as a mother tries to find out what’s wrong with her daughter, while a young Priest questions his faith…and then a second half that is simply the most unrelenting wave after wave of shocks, made more powerful because of the great character development in the first half of the film…it’s worth a watch
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I remember being terrified by the exorcist! and loved carrie and rosemary’s baby
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Have you found a scary recipe for Halloween?
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Yes I have…not sure how it will go over but it’s always fun to see the feedback! Thanks for asking!
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I’ll be waiting for it.
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How about the Universal Monster Movies? They were the best!
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I have an entire month to come…going through all eras!
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I have never seen The Exorcist and don’t plan to, but I have never forgotten Carrie! Everyone talked about The Omen at the time, 1976, nobody dared call their babies Damien for a long time!
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The Exorcist was so powerful at the time. I was in the cinema watching it with a girlfriend who was so scared, she hid her face inside my jacket for the whole film. I’m not so sure it holds up today though. Some of the effects now appear to be quite ‘obvious’, and rather clunky.
The horror film that scared me the most was the original Japanese version of ‘Ringu’. I found that film very disturbing.
Best wishes, Pete.
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