We Live Entertainment’s Favorite Halloween Movies
Here at We Live Entertainment, we LOVE movies. Its that special time of year where the staff and fans of We Live Entertainment tell you their favorite horror/ Halloween movies. Did we manage to scare up some of your favorites?
Leah Hather: Hocus Pocus
Most people like to watch Halloween for Halloween. But me, I am a wuss, instead of scaring myself silly I prefer to indulge in some nostalgia for Halloween and watch Hocus Pocus. Come little children I’ll take thee away into a land of enchantment.
Nicholas Casaletto: The Cabin in the Woods
I love this film for so many reasons. The tongue and cheek humor with a plot full of twists and turns makes for a fun and one of a kind movie going experience. This film catches you off guard, makes you think and has an ending only a film like this could pull off. It’s scary, gory and all kinds of fun. The film is best watched with a big group of people, and even better knowing nothing about the plot going into it. I always make sure “Cabin in the Woods” is a must watch on every Halloween.
Chase Lee: Trick or Treat
I have been a horror fan ever since I saw “Halloween”, “Friday the 13th”, and “Nightmare on Elm Street”; but as someone who blind bought “Trick or Treat” two weeks ago and has watched it twice so far, it has become my new favorite horror film. Everything about it screams horror (see what I did there) by having it an anthology and showing many creepy “campfire” style stories. It’s darkly comedic, creepy, creative, and a fresh take on the horror genre, especially with not many modern horror films hitting a classic horror film vibe.
Tony Estrada: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
This is the true definition of a horror masterpiece. There is so much imagination that is put into this very eerie atmosphere thanks to the late Wes Craven. Robert Englund brings so much personality and creepiness to the character Freddy Krueger making him easily one of the most iconic and terrifying characters ever put on screen. Heather Langenkamp was great as the film’s protagonist Nancy Thompson who is a character that you want to see win by the end of the film because she is likable and the film does a convincing job of making you care for the character. The exploration into how haunting your own nightmares can be really adds to the suspense and horror of the film making it more deeper than most of the horror films out there.
Adam Haskell: Gremlins (1984)
This is a BIG childhood favorite of my mine, I just adore this film so much. There is is so much passion and creativity put into this film. This film blends horror, comedy, action, romance, and suspense so perfectly. It’s truly a one of a kind film you can watch on both Halloween and Christmas, I absolutely adore this film and it’s one I always love revisiting.
Mark Krawczyk: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
It is always hard to pick when asked “What is your favorite horror film?” because I have many. Texas Chainsaw Massacre is at the top of my list. One of the main reasons I enjoy this film so much is how raw and dirty it feels. The low quality is due to budget BUT I think it adds a documentary type of aesthetic to the film that gives it an extra edge. The characters are disturbing and the story plays on basic fears of being trapped in the middle of nowhere. The late Marilyn Burns performance helps sell the fear so authentically that the audience feels her terror. I am also very amused at how many people feel this film is gory but if you pay attention it really isn’t. It plays with your mind and while what happens on the screen is disturbing, there really are only two rather gory scenes in the entire film, and those do not last long. This is a classic and is on my regular watch list.
Daniel Rester: Scream (1996) / The Evil Dead (1981)
While I wouldn’t put either in the top ten horror movies of all time, my two favorite horror films in terms of re-watching are Scream and The Evil Dead. Scream is a brilliant meta horror film and both fun and scary at the same time. The characters are well-drawn and the dialogue is very memorable. It’s also great to show to people who have never seen it and watch their faces as the exciting twists are revealed. As for The Evil Dead, it’s super low-budget horror creativity at its finest. The second film is better in terms of overall quality, but the first film has a certain gory charm that keeps me coming back. Also, Bruce Campbell flying into seemingly endless shelves is hilarious.
Gabriel Alcantara: Creepshow (1982)
Remember back in the day when people used to tell that spooky story at Halloween parties where they’d make you touch food with your eyes close and they’d say you were touching body parts? Well, forget that nonsense. If you’re having a Halloween party, gather around the TV and watch the 1982 classic Creepshow instead. Creepshow is a must watch during the Halloween season. Director George A. Romero (doing a movie that isn’t entirely about zombies, whaaaat?) and Stephen King gave us one of the best Horror anthologies ever made. Its gory makeup effects and chilling storytelling make the film timeless. It gives me chills all the time. Plus, it’s quite funny. When I was a kid, thanks to the segment “The Lonely Death of Jordy Verrill”, if I fell on the grass and my pants had grass strains, I’d panic.
Henrik Kovalenko: The Thing (1982)
The characters are great in that movie, practical effects are great, soundtrack is great and it shows that remakes can be good.
Matt Marshall: The Shining (1980)
From “2001: A Space Odyssey” to “A Clockwork Orange,” Stanley Kubrick is without a doubt one of the greatest directors in cinema. His approach to Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’ is full of unnerving brilliance. While it may be a 2.5 hr slow burn and deviate from the source material, Kubrick still delivers one terrifying experience. From Nicholson’s unhinged performance to its claustrophobic setting, ‘The Shining’ is horror at its finest.
Ashley Menzel: The Halloween Tree
The Halloween Tree is based on the story by Ray Bradbury. It even won a Daytime Emmy as well. It tells about these friends who learn about the origins of what Halloween is about when they find that one of their friends is taken away. Ray Bradbury is the narrator and Leonard Nimoy voices the children’s guide in the film. I’ve watched it probably a hundred times and still love the story.
Scott Menzel: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas might not be a horror film but defines a great Halloween movie. The short but delightful stop-motion film features a wide array of weird characters lead by Jack Skellington, visuals that completely capture everything that one loves about Halloween, and the soundtrack is amazing all by itself. This is one of those rare holiday classics that has something to offer audiences of all ages from 5 years olds to those in their 60s-70s. The film is timeless and one that I watch every year on Halloween.
Thanks for reading and comment below with your favorite Halloween/ Horror films. Happy Halloween!
