My favourite horror films for Halloween
As it is the season I thought I would write about my favourite horror films that I would be watching (or would like to watch) at Halloween. This is in no particular order, but these are some of my favourite horror films and films with horror elements:
1. Death Note (2006)
This is a film from Japan based on the Manga. I include this in the list because the subject matter deals with supernatural beings (shinigami) and death. I think it is a horror in a sense and therefore this film fits. The live film deviates from the original story but only because some of the elements of the story wouldn't be possible in live action on a budget and also because they tried to fit the story into two films that are about two hours long each. The characters are all there though, Light, L, Misa, Ryuk and Rem. The only real complaint I have is that Misa is not a blonde. The premise is still the same though. Light (Fujiwara Tatsuya-san) finds a 'death note' dropped into the human world by a shinigami (Ryuk) and uses it to become god of the new world where he dishes out justice. His decent into madness is explored in the film and his competition with his nemesis L (Matsuyama Ken'ichi-san).
2. Ring trilogy
I haven't put the dates on these because they are from the late 1990's and early 2000's. I am not talking about the couple of films that were remade by Hollywood here, this is about the Japanese originals. This trilogy was the first set of films I had ever seen from Japan when I was in my early teens and they are amazing. They follow a series of people who try and break the curse of the girl, Sadako, who was pushed into a well and who has been killing people through a video. Once watched you have one week to try and break the curse before you are killed by the angry spirit of Sadako.
3. Paranormal Activity (2007)
This is a 'lost footage' film by Oren Peli. The story takes place over a couple of weeks in the new house that Micah and Katie, a young American couple, have just moved in to. A curse that appears to have followed Katie from her childhood has joined them in the house and the creepy events escalate to a traumatic and violent end. There were several sequels and spin off films for this and some are better than others, but this original film is the best.
4. The Woman In Black (2012)
This films stars Daniel Radcliffe in one of his first roles since Harry Potter. A doting father (Arthur Kipps - Radcliffe) has lost his wife and has struggled to bring up his son. Working as a lawyer he is called to a bleak and isolated house to put a dead woman's affairs in order. While staying in the local village he learns of the curse of the 'woman in black' who has been killing local children. Can Kipps break the curse? This is a story beloved of many a GCSE student and although the ending is a little different it is still a great adaptation and fantastic horror film.
5. Devil (2010)
A group of people are stuck in a lift and are being picked off one by one. All of them are horrible people, but which of them is actually the Devil and doing the dirty work? This is a short film at around 80mins and was not really critically acclaimed. Also, once you have seen it once you know who it is, but I still really like this film.
6. Battle Royale (2000)
The first film I saw Fujiwara Tatsuya-san in. I've mentioned this film before. A group of kids are dropped on an island under the country's Battle Royale programme and they have to kill each other until only one is left. They have three days to do it and have exploding collars if they go against the rules. It is extra creepy because it is children that are involved.
1. Death Note (2006)
This is a film from Japan based on the Manga. I include this in the list because the subject matter deals with supernatural beings (shinigami) and death. I think it is a horror in a sense and therefore this film fits. The live film deviates from the original story but only because some of the elements of the story wouldn't be possible in live action on a budget and also because they tried to fit the story into two films that are about two hours long each. The characters are all there though, Light, L, Misa, Ryuk and Rem. The only real complaint I have is that Misa is not a blonde. The premise is still the same though. Light (Fujiwara Tatsuya-san) finds a 'death note' dropped into the human world by a shinigami (Ryuk) and uses it to become god of the new world where he dishes out justice. His decent into madness is explored in the film and his competition with his nemesis L (Matsuyama Ken'ichi-san).
2. Ring trilogy
I haven't put the dates on these because they are from the late 1990's and early 2000's. I am not talking about the couple of films that were remade by Hollywood here, this is about the Japanese originals. This trilogy was the first set of films I had ever seen from Japan when I was in my early teens and they are amazing. They follow a series of people who try and break the curse of the girl, Sadako, who was pushed into a well and who has been killing people through a video. Once watched you have one week to try and break the curse before you are killed by the angry spirit of Sadako.
3. Paranormal Activity (2007)
This is a 'lost footage' film by Oren Peli. The story takes place over a couple of weeks in the new house that Micah and Katie, a young American couple, have just moved in to. A curse that appears to have followed Katie from her childhood has joined them in the house and the creepy events escalate to a traumatic and violent end. There were several sequels and spin off films for this and some are better than others, but this original film is the best.
4. The Woman In Black (2012)
This films stars Daniel Radcliffe in one of his first roles since Harry Potter. A doting father (Arthur Kipps - Radcliffe) has lost his wife and has struggled to bring up his son. Working as a lawyer he is called to a bleak and isolated house to put a dead woman's affairs in order. While staying in the local village he learns of the curse of the 'woman in black' who has been killing local children. Can Kipps break the curse? This is a story beloved of many a GCSE student and although the ending is a little different it is still a great adaptation and fantastic horror film.
5. Devil (2010)
A group of people are stuck in a lift and are being picked off one by one. All of them are horrible people, but which of them is actually the Devil and doing the dirty work? This is a short film at around 80mins and was not really critically acclaimed. Also, once you have seen it once you know who it is, but I still really like this film.
6. Battle Royale (2000)
The first film I saw Fujiwara Tatsuya-san in. I've mentioned this film before. A group of kids are dropped on an island under the country's Battle Royale programme and they have to kill each other until only one is left. They have three days to do it and have exploding collars if they go against the rules. It is extra creepy because it is children that are involved.
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