It's a special time of years in the Northern Hemisphere. The air starts to get a bit more cool and crisp, maybe enough to bring a jacket out at night. Speaking of night, those start to get shorter. The sunsets pair strikingly with the darkening, falling leaves that crunch and clatter pleasantly with every step. Naturally, because Fall also heralds the Halloween season, many scary movies are set during this time of year. I'd like to highlight some that truly capture the unique atmosphere of the season and help ease those who can't wait for it to get here. Thankfully we don't have to wait much longer.
Halloween (1977)
Easily my favorite slasher movie. That is owed certainly to how well Haddonfield is shot and the look of the town. The trees are only slightly browning and errant leaves blow with the chill wind across the ground. Jack 'O Lanterns and trick or treaters add to it all. But a big thing I enjoy is how empty and isolated the locations feel. Many shots of houses on the street appear to sit alone in the night, despite knowing the other homes are right there. There's such a masterful use of lighting in Halloween that the darkness feels like a character itself.
Trick 'R Treat (2007)
Let's skip ahead thirty years after Halloween. If Halloween had a too subdued depiction of Fall for you, Trick 'R Treat takes it to another level. A must watch movie every October, this anthology style film revels in the season and setting. There are people in costume all over the place and bags of candy, jack 'o lanterns glowing with menace and piles of dead leaves in almost every scene. At times in scenes you might even mistake the crunch of dry foliage for that of bones scattered across the ground. Heavy emphasis is also placed on myths surrounding Halloween night, you know... the bad ones we hear every year. The ones we hope aren't real...
Hocus Pocus (1993)
You may have heard the screeching tires of the left turn we just took, bear with me. Now just as I start to type this out I realize that I have a lot to say about this one. A review is certainly in the future. While not so much a horror movie, it does have a fairly sinister edge at times for a Disney production. But, because it's Disney, this is a beautiful film. All the outdoor scenes were filmed in Salem, Massachusettes in full Autumn majesty and the extras decked out for Halloween really serve to put you in another time and place like only Disney can. A fun fact to add to this, Hocus Pocus, despite normal reasoning was a Summer release. So weird.
Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)
We're just gonna stay on this road another minute or two if you don't mind. Say what you want about the Ernest movies, but this one is a gem. The most surprising thing is how incredible the monsters look. The prosthesis and animatronics wouldn't look out of place in a more serious pure horror production and many of those don't even match this quality. Work on the sets is also stellar. The old witch's house, the foggy forest and many others really give you the idea that there is a supernatural history about the town that's been forgotten by it's citizens. Sure, it's light on the scares, but it more than makes up for it in setting and mood.
Pumpkinhead (1988)
Alright, alright. We're back on the main road, just a little detour on the scenic route. This may seem like a strange choice at first glance, but the name alone is evocative of Fall. Add to that a seriously spooky set design and one of the most amazing animatronic monsters I've ever seen and it all makes sense. I can't imagine watching Pumpkinhead and not thinking of October. You come for the monster and Lance Henrikson, but you stay for the the fog, lightning and twisted trees that really bring it all together.
With any luck these suggestions can keep you nice and calm until the leaves start to change, it's coming soon and we just have to wait a little longer. Before we know it, Halloween stores will be opening and the costumes will be on the shelves. But not long after that the Christmas stuff comes out, then things get really terrifying out there... So until next time, don't be afraid to be a little scary.
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