We’ve been giving you guys ideas on how to celebrate Halloween for three years running now; from enthusiasts to conscious objectors, there’s plenty of ways to please everybody. So this year we thought we’d go down the route of horror movies – with a difference.
That’s right, even the most devout “Halloween is a stupid, made-up holiday for kids” non-believer can’t argue with our suggestion on this one. Watching scary movies is one of the best ways to spend Oct. 31st, or if you already have party plans, Nov 1st, while you’re nursing a hangover.
So turn the lights down, grab some popcorn, and enjoy!
Blood: The Last Vampire
This Japanese anime (yes, it’s a cartoon, but it’s definitely NOT for kids) follows Saya, the world’s last remaining vampire and humanity’s only protector against deadly demonic forces. The film takes place in the days leading up to the Vietnamese war, on a US army base in Japan, where Saya is tasked by the Secret Service to hunt a pack of demons responsible for a string of grisly murders against its inhabitants.
The animation is beautifully cinematic, and the action set pieces are spectacular, but what makes Blood perfect viewing for Halloween is its atmosphere and sleek story. Not your typical Halloween vampire movie.
What We Do in the Shadows
Speaking of non-typical vampire movies, What We Do in the Shadows is humorous look at three modern-day vampires living together in a house in New Zealand. The film is written by and stars Flight of the Concords’ Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi, which should give you some idea of what to expect from this very dark comedy. Incase not, check out this reel of very, very funny moments.
Housebound
Another horror comedy from New Zealand, Housebound is just as terrifying as it is funny at times. When a female young offender is sentenced to house arrest with her mum, she begins to notice strange things happening.
The laughs and funny dialogue are punctuated with moments of genuine shock and tension. This is comedy at its absolute weirdest – in a truly scary kind of way.
The Cabin in the Woods
You may have heard of this one when it first came out… and totally missed the concept, based on its generic title and premise of teenagers, isolated cabin, and creepy goings on.
In actual fact, Cabin in the Woods is a send-up of the traditional horror/slasher genre that is so mind bending, we couldn’t help but love it. It essentially revolves around a satanic corporation who are tasked with staging cheesy horror movie setups in order to keep satanic forces entertained. It’s clever, funny and cruel.