As has been the tradition lo these many years, the Friday before Halloween my kids and I settle in as I just start playing one movie after another until the last of us gives up. Here’s this year’s recap.
A-Haunting We Will Go (1942) – As is also part of the tradition, the first movie is an innocuous one which Michele, who sees no appeal in horror movies, will like. This Laurel and Hardy movie proved almost too innocuous; despite the title, there’s no haunting to be had. Stan and Ollie are hired to accompany a coffin by train to Cleveland, but the occupant isn’t actually dead — he’s wanted criminal trying to get into the city unseen. But the coffin gets switched with an identical one belonging to a stage magician. Hijinks abound, as you no doubt guessed.
Pumpkinhead (1988) – The classic Appalachian vengeance demon movie, marred only by the fact that the Southern California shooting locations look nothing like Appalachia. First-time watchers were impressed by the morality play aspect to it, as well as nifty practical FX. Fortunately, the hillbilly accent we affected all through the running time didn’t leach over into the rest of the evening.
The Lost Boys (1987) – Yes, it’s dated, but it’s still good — it’s one of the rare horror-comedies which actually has both horror and comedy, instead of solely using horror tropes to comedic effect. And, as Sariah pointed out, “’80s movies had the best soundtracks.”
Highway to Hell (1991) – Not nearly has high-profile as some of the other offerings; this is an updated Orpheus story, as Chad Lowe and Kirsty Swanson, on their way to get married in Vegas, encounter the “Hellcop” who drags her off to Hell (which turns out to be Utah, surprise surprise). It’s a little unfocused; there are subplots a plenty which never really pay off. But it’s got enough little Easter eggs to be fun. (Watch for a pre-stardom Ben Stiller in two small roles, as well as his father Jerry as a policeman in Hell, condemned to a diner where the waitress never actually brings the coffee or donuts.)
The Crow (1994) – Sariah and I were the only ones still awake for this one. As she said afterward, “It as gorier than I usually like, but it was aesthetic enough to make up for it.” I’m not sure I warned her away from the sequels strongly enough. (Extra resonance this week, with the whole Alec Baldwin brouhaha.)
IIRC, the waitress in question is played by Jerry’s wife (and Ben’s mom) Ann Meara. Literally, the only thing I remember about that movie is that all three were in it.
And I don’t know her, so I didn’t notice.
Great line-up!
For my Halloween weekend, I watched Toho’s “Bloodthirsty Trilogy” – The Vampire Doll; Lake of Dracula; and Evil of Dracula.
Respectable.