October Halloween Marathon 2018
Initially I decided to watch (in certain cases re-watch) 31 nice appropriate things in this Halloween season, at least 10 specials and 21 movies (feature films as I regularly watch tons of shorts anyway). The plan mutated a bit towards the end as October turned to be super busy, so in the last few days I decided to drop the 31 limit off and watch as much as I can (at least that was an intention).
Still, until Halloween night was over I was only able to see 25 things. Overall, for a first attempt at movie marathon of such scales I did okay, I guess. Plus, I'm having a bit of a bonus marathon.
If you want some more festive mood yourself feel free to join in or use that list to choose what to watch. I'd also very much appreciated if you check out my own Halloween Specials. A few new are coming this very month!
Counted:
25 (18 feature films, 4 webisodes, 2 TV episodes, 1 short film/standalone TV special)
Earlier installments: 2014-2017, 2018, Halloween Hangover 2018
Later installments: 2019
Still, until Halloween night was over I was only able to see 25 things. Overall, for a first attempt at movie marathon of such scales I did okay, I guess. Plus, I'm having a bit of a bonus marathon.
If you want some more festive mood yourself feel free to join in or use that list to choose what to watch. I'd also very much appreciated if you check out my own Halloween Specials. A few new are coming this very month!
Counted:
25 (18 feature films, 4 webisodes, 2 TV episodes, 1 short film/standalone TV special)
Earlier installments: 2014-2017, 2018, Halloween Hangover 2018
Later installments: 2019
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25 titles
- 1984–198944mNot Rated7.8 (166)TV EpisodeDirectorMichael LandonStarsMichael LandonVictor FrenchNancy FrangioneDuring Halloween night, Jonathan helps a little boy get over his fears (and in the process get even with his older sister).An amazing, charming and wholesome Halloween special of a very unique and cool passion project series by Michael Landon. Lots of great character actors in the episode. Highly recommended.
- DirectorSteven J. SantosStarsMarc SummersShiri ApplebyJonathan BrandisMarc Summers and a trio of kids are locked inside a mysterious magician's club occupied by the world's best illusionists.Pleasant, if a bit simplistic offering with some nice magic tricks and a cameo by John Astin.
- DirectorRobert HarmonStarsRutger HauerC. Thomas HowellJennifer Jason LeighA young man who escapes the clutches of a murderous hitchhiker is subsequently stalked by the hitcher and framed for his crimes.A very welcome re-watch of one of my most favorite movies. It mixes neo-noir, slasher, action, road movie and other genres into a very pleasant experience, quite appropiate for autumn.
- DirectorAlan BergmannStarsHarry AndersonMarkie PostJohn LarroquetteHarry falls for Kim, a beautiful and free-spirited young woman. But then she appears in court, claiming to be a witch, with a tabloid reporter hovering in the background."Night Court" is one of the shows that I think never was aired in Ukraine despite it seems that most of the American sitcoms did, so checking out a Halloween special of that series was a bit of an educational experience even as cultural context was a bit unknown.
- DirectorRuben FleischerStarsTom HardyMichelle WilliamsRiz AhmedA failed reporter is bonded to an alien entity, one of many symbiotes who have invaded Earth. But the being takes a liking to Earth and decides to protect it.At first I thought it would be a stretch for a horror marathon, but movie, despite PG-13 rating has more then enough elements. Overall it feels like a pleasing b-movie from late 80's and early 90's. Neither perfect, nor very original but quite enjoyable.
- DirectorFrank HenenlotterStarsRick HearstGordon MacDonaldJennifer LowryOne morning, a young man wakes to find that a small, disgusting creature has attached itself to the base of his brain stem. The creature gives him a euphoric state of happiness but demands human victims in return.I've seen a lot of strange and offbeat movies, so my standards for word "weird" and that respect are quite high and this movie meets them to a T: a lot of directorial decisions by Frank Henenlotter are delightfully and seemingly quite precisely odd. Despite mostly being a horror comedy, movie does a great job at unnerving the audience from time to time with almost surreal sequences like one in the beginning.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonMichael BiehnA human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn son is the key to humanity's future salvation.Some people would think it does not have enough horror elements in it, but it has a basic structure of a typical slasher film (and it was a very concious directorial decision). Yet another re-watch of one of my most favorite movies and considering I have another re-watch planned I'd better draw the line with re-watching and bring more new stuff to the table! In my defense that was to have my definitive bodycount of the movie greatly updated.
- DirectorRoger CormanStarsJonathan HazeJackie JosephMel WellesA clumsy young man working at an impoverished flower shop discovers that the strange plant he has been nurturing has an insatiable appetite for blood, forcing him to kill to feed it.Rather amazing small movie: for an estimated budget of $27,000 and roughly 2 days of filming (Roger Corman is a legend and a big filmmaking inspiration of mine) plus minor pick-ups it has some great acting in it (and some of the weirdest characters ever put to film), is well-paced and very entertaining. Enjoyable all the way through! Note: two films in succession with Dick Miller in them and he's great in both.
- StarsMatt RyanDamian O'HareLaura BaileyAn animated series centering on the adventures of supernatural detective John Constantine.[Note: Placeholder until feature film version will have its own page]. A very season-appropriate DC animated feature (expanding and greatly altering initial web-series version) which pits famous comic book character John Constantine against some of his scariest enemies. Horror is quite strong and severe in this one, animation is rather well-done and voice acting is really good.
- DirectorJohn IrvinStarsCraig WassonAlice KrigeFred AstaireTwo generations of men find themselves haunted by the presence of a spectral woman. When the son of one of the elderly men returns to his hometown after his brother's mysterious death, they attempt to unravel her story.A very nice-looking movie: in director's own words they intended it to "look like a Christmas card" and with some nice set pieces and matte paintings they achieved it. Moreover it has a great ensemble cast with veteran character actors. Still, pacing of the movie is all over the place and it feels a bit on the slow side and with fewer scenes which are really memorable.
- DirectorBharat NalluriStarsKirsten DunstWilliam AthertonDebbie FanAlex Corvis returns to the world of the living to solve the murder of a young woman that he was wrongly accused of.Despite some solid performances threequel feels a bit on the cheap side. It's a bit amazing that moderate budget of $10M was low for them enough to use stock footage of crow from the original movie, though as the rest of the movie doesn't look particularly overspending either. Not without it moments and has some nice scenes and solid performances, but I'd rather not call it "the best of the Crow sequels" as a critic quote on some of the posters suggest (still, it brought enough money that the fourth installement followed). Especially since we never had an adequate version of The Crow: City of Angels, which fell a victim of some of the most brutal executive meddlings ever in film history.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsChristopher ReeveKirstie AlleyLinda KozlowskiA small town's women give birth to unfriendly alien children posing as humans.An unplanned re-watch (as marathon was partially re-planned with some strategic cable TV finds where I was staying), but any John Carpenter movie is a good addition. This one has some very intense acting and a feel of dread in it.
- DirectorWalter HillFrancis Ford CoppolaJack SholderStarsJames SpaderPeter FacinelliRobin TunneyA deep space rescue and recovery spaceship with a crew of 6 receives a distress call from a mining operation 3432 light years away. A rescue operation via dimension jump is made. Bad idea.Notoriously ruined by executive meddling, the movie is quite enjoyable to watch if for odd reasons. I guess it's one of those movies which are like seeing a train wreck: it's hard to take the eyes off it. Horror elements are strong genre-wise and rather tired specific-case-wise if that makes any sense.
- DirectorMarek PiestrakStarsKrzysztof KolbergerRoman WilhelmiEwa SalackaThe trio of adventurous pals, a man who is a scientist, a fine lady and a former military pilot are in the Indochina jungles looking for some mysterious vase that holds a metal container that is of no mundane origin.Another unplanned re-watch. Movie has a minor cult following in Post-Soviet countries and one of the reasons are rather strong horror elements. Practical effects in this one have an odd tendency of look both unconvincing and terrifying (although pilot's corpse looks way better and realistic then what I remembered) which is a rare achievement (that giant mutant snake is a stuff of nightmares whether you notice it was made of papier mâché or not). An odd beast of a movie which is never quite sure what it actually is and multiple endings are not helping.
- DirectorGenndy TartakovskyStarsAdam SandlerAndy SambergSelena GomezCount Dracula and company participate in a cruise for sea-loving monsters, unaware that their boat is being commandeered by the monster-hating Van Helsing family.Considering it was released in October in Japan and Poland and is also about several rather iconic monsters I decided that it fits into the marathon. Nothing truly special, but is not entirely pointless. I guess it's a bit too kid-friendly to really have the chops for spooky season, but you can do worse then that.
- Good Bad Flicks is an amazing review web-series hosted by Cecil Trachenburg, a real champion when it comes to rediscovering obscure genre movies and approaching well-known ones from previously unused angles. Regardless of whether it is a casual laid-back humorous review he always approaches the movie with maximum research attention and just care for the craft at a whole. Since many specific movies I wanted to see this Halloween marathon are decisions specifically inspired by Cecil it was crucial for me to fit some of his own Halloween specials in there. This one is rather simple but very enjoyable with a mondegreen karaoke post-credits scene that really sets it apart from the rest.
- Being spoiler-immune and planning to watch some movie I usually do the digging. I like to know some specific moments that, when noticed, will make it all the more worthwhile. Good Bad Flicks' "Exploring" section is all about that: unlike usual reviews it almost pokes no fun at movies of intereste, instead focusing on what makes them great and deserving to watch. It makes for a great insight in filmmaking even for those who know a lot. Planning to see Halloween III: Season of the Witch I knew this would totally compliment the viewing.
- DirectorScott DerricksonStarsBenedict CumberbatchChiwetel EjioforRachel McAdamsWhile on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.Okay, it barely fits but considering it's from Scott Derrickson, who primarily works in horror and it has some elements of the latter plus heavy occult themes... Why not? Marathon has gone a bit off the rails anyway so why not make it even more eclectic and actually enjoy it? Moreover, as many planned movies, Doctor Strange is one of those movies I waited for ages to get my hands on for some reason, so it also fits into the theme of catching up with some of the recent movies. And I also got an AMAZING other half of double feature to go with it, which is a solid excuse in my humble opinion. As for Strange: could have been better, but is very nicely done with many solid performances and neat touches. Derrickson certainly knows how to direct the movie which I respect a lot even though many of his efforts are hit and miss with me.
- DirectorAlbert BandCharles BandStarsJeffrey CombsYvette NiparJay AcovoneAn unspeakable evil has come into our dimension and wants to rule over Earth, and only a mysterious sorceror known as Doctor Mordrid can stop him.A very effective double feature with Doctor Strange, considering it was an adaptation of the same character at early stages of the writing and it shows. A nice b-movie which seems a bit unsure about what it is exactly, but still does an effective job with a very competent cast, pleasant atmosphere and fun moments.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsDonald PleasenceJamie Lee CurtisTony MoranFifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.An always welcome rewatch near holiday of the same name. Used it as an inspiration for my very own Halloween special and also compiled a very inclusive bodycount.
- DirectorDavid Gordon GreenStarsJamie Lee CurtisJudy GreerAndi MatichakLaurie Strode confronts her long-time foe, Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.Saw it in theater (of course) and very much liked it. Strong acting, some very impressive and imaginative scenes, a very classy and neo-classic slasher movie (if that makes any sense). Some of the big highlights were, as expected: James Jude Courtney's very impressive performance (I knew I've seen him somewhere but it took me by surprise he portrayed one of my favorite comic book superheroes in Firearm) as well as the return of Jamie Lee Curtis, Nick Castle, P.J. Soles and even John Carpenter himself. His, Cody Carpenter and Daniel A. Davies's music really elevates the film to a total pleasure.
- DirectorGuy MagarStarsDennis LipscombLeslie WingSuzanne SnyderA Manic depressive artist survives a suicidal fall only to be possessed by a murdered gangster, who uses the artist to seek vengeance on those that ended his life.A hidden gem: a rather obscure movie, but a very good one in practically any aspect, from flawless acting and in-camera special effects that mostly hold up really well to great and catchy music. Highly recommended.
- DirectorTommy Lee WallaceStarsTom AtkinsStacey NelkinDan O'HerlihyKids all over America want Silver Shamrock masks for Halloween. Doctor Daniel Challis seeks to uncover a plot by Silver Shamrock owner Conal Cochran.While it definitely got a major cult following through the years, that movie was unjustly bashed way too long, so the reputation is still there to regain. For shame: it is quite good and was promising an interesting and good future for the franchise which was replaced by repetitive line of sequels (even if with some good movies throughout).
- CreatorStuart AshenStarsStuart AshenAlec PlowmanParadoxAshens (Stuart Ashen) reviews (usually in front of a brown sofa) an assortment of products, from gadgets to food (usually bad ones, called by him "tat") and does comedy skits from time to time.[Note: Placeholder until specific episode will have its own page] "Ashens" seldom disappoints when it comes to holiday-specific specials.
- DirectorJames RolfeStarsJames RolfeInezhCharlie KraslavskyThis Halloween season, the Nerd visits the Resident Evil franchise by reviewing the worst of the bunch.Being a major horror fan makes James Rolfe a lovely Halloween special creator, although choices has become more and more unlikely for Halloween specials now that he reviewed practically anything at this point. It also makes them pleasantly unpredictable and I can't get enough.