October Movie Thrill-a-thon II — 2016 Edition

The month of October is a special month in our house. It’s Thrill-athon month! Originally started in 2015, this list is a continuation of what is becoming a tradition where we watch movies that adhere to, roughly, the following parameters: involves ghosts, the devil (or preferrably devil babies), mystery, the undead, the occult, the supernatural, murder, or suspense. Films that heavily rely on gore or jump scares have to be really fun to be included.

★ — Wish I hadn’t
★★ — Meh
★★★ — Worth a watch
★★★★ — Killer

Unexpected Gems

These are the movies we’d either both not watched or, better yet, never heard of before and really enjoyed. In our attempt to stick with the above requirements, it sometimes it takes some digging, sometimes we just happen upon them.

It Follows

★★★★ We really enjoyed this movie more than anticipated. It’s not complicated, gets the plot setup quickly, and has a satisfying end. It’s very original and just a lot of fun.

The Witch

★★★★ Saw this in the theater and it’s wonderful. The pacing, the acting, the suspense added by just the color grading of the film! It’s all amazing and is a new classic in my book.

Sleepaway Camp

★★★ Haven’t seen this movie? Haven’t heard of this movie? Stop. Stop right now and go watch it. Don’t ask anyone about it, don’t read about it. Please. Trust me. Just go watch it. It’s not good, but it’s also perfect just the way it is. Watch all of it. Trust me. It’s awesome. This is firmly a Thrill-a-thon favorite.

Chopping Mall

★★★ This is not a good movie. That said, it’s a three star thrill-a-thon movie. Totally fun, totally bad, totally great.

Manhunter

★★★★ We didn’t really know what to expect from this movie and hadn’t heard of it before. That said, it’s directed by Michael Mann so, that should tell you all you need to know. Need more? It’s got Hannibal Lecktor in it. The pacing is slow, but it’s beautiful. The music is also amazing. It’s a wonderfully executed 80’s thriller.

Turds

Forbidden World

★ I hated this movie and was sorry I watched it. It’s lazy. Super lazy and dumb. Cheap plot tricks, gratuituous and needless scenes, and the most horrible set design and lighting I’ve ever seen. Also the story is dumb. This Alien knock-off is best left on the shelf at the video store.

Night Train to Terror

★★ This movie was bad, but it was also kinda fun. So technically it’s a turd but, you kinda need to see it. It’s got Satan and God talking over a table on a train and then cuts to a teenage band shooting a music video. That’s before things even get started being weird.

Children of the Corn

★ After hearing this movie mentioned so many times in elementary school we had high expectations for this. Unfortunately it’s just about unwatchable. It’s super boring. Sure they did some amazing things with a very low budget. Sure Linda Hamilton is in it but sheesh, it’s just not good.

Classics and The Rest

• Let the Right One In — A Triumph (The original one)
• The Lost Boys — A Classic
• JAWS — A Classic
• The Thing — A Triump AND a Classic
• The Crow — Awesome, and sad
• Young Frankenstein — A Classic
• Repo Man — Radical
• The Silence of the Lambs — A Classic
• 28 Days Later — Great
• Krampus — Fun!
• Killer Klowns from Outter Space — WTF, but OK
• They Live — Obey!
• Ghostbusters (2016) — Fun!
• Alien — A Triumph
• The Rockey Horror Picture Show — Duh
• Rosemary’s Baby — Perfection