Alright, I'll get two very big points out of the way before I even start this list:
1. When I say the "Funnest Halloween Movies", I literally mean movies that you'll both be scared from and enjoy a good laugh with. A perfect type of Halloween film to me is one that works both in when you have the lights off while you're alone AND when you have a party full of friends and it's playing in the background.
Now, I'm not a huge horror fan because it suffers from the fact that 85% of the genre turns out really, really terrible. Even a good concept becomes boring quickly once it makes it to film. So, when horror gets it right, it's usually amazing. But, most movies in thisgenre tend to lack my key focuses when judging a good film:
a) Characterization - I have a hard time rooting for characters who do very stupid things, which is the status quo for main characters in horror movies. But, I love it when a horror movie has at least 2 intelligent individuals who know what they're doing & how to react to a situation.
b) Originality - I'm looking at you vampires/zombies/werewolves/serial killers. We have seen all of these creatures in so many scenarios, they've even been in space. So, for a movie to be intriguing enough to play any of these concepts with a grain of salt, turn them on their heads, establish it's own set of rules or (even do the impossible) make them scary/terrifying again, I tip my hat.
2. Remember, this list is "NEVER HEARD OF" horror films. Cool movies that may have slipped under your radar or you never gave a shot. Maybe you just didn't hear about them because the filmmakers couldn't afford marketing(which is often the case in horror movies). So, before anyone even says it: Yes, I love The Thing(1981), The Descent, The Shining, Nighmare On Elm Street 3(only that one), Shaun of the Dead, Halloween 1 & 2, etc. But, they aren't on this list because you already know about them. I'm just here to add some really dope movies to your library.
TOP 6 HORROR FILMS YOU MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF!!!:
6. DOGHOUSE - I admit, this is basically the "Entourage" of all zombie movies. That it is grotesquely womanizing, childishly immature and one-sided on the battle of the sexes. But if it weren't, I doubt it'd be half as fun. Hilariously crude, yet charming, this is a fun zombie flick to watch with your buddies. Particularly, male ones.
When our humble lead character goes through a rough divorce, his large group of stereotypical male friends take him on a weekend vacation, specifically designed to get him wasted and laid. Which goes well, until they come across a town where a zombie virus only attacks creatures with the X-chromosome. And yes, that means it's ONLY female zombies in this flick. Yet, it somehow remains charming and fresh in it's humor, while raising the stakes into an intense action movie somewhere around the 3rd act. All leading the way to it's very tongue-in-cheek finale that can leave you with a smile.
5. TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL - There isn't a bone in my body that doesn't wish I would've came up with the concept for this movie. The moment I heard the plot synopsis, I fell in love with it. I didn't even see a single frame of the movie, yet. All this movie really had to do was deliver on it's gimmick and carry it until the end. And it does in a really awesome way.
The heart of this movie actually stems from our usual knowledge of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "Wrong Turn", etc. The usual "evil, inbred cannibals from the hills" type of story. When a group of teenagers decide to go on a camping trip in a secluded area, their paranoia immediately arises when they discover two large, burley hillbillies are uncomfortably close to their vacation area. When one of their group is taken away by said hillbillies, after she experiences a swimming accident, they gather together to seek revenge and take action. Unknowingly aware that both hillbillies are some of the most dimwitted, kind-hearted individuals they'd ever meet. They're actually nursing their friend after her injury, so she can happily continue her vacation. But, with her friends on the prowl to attack her "kidnappers", they continuously die in constantly gruesome, horrific, hilarious ways... by their own doing.
Let me say that Alan Tudyk(Dale) is already a reason why you should watch any movie he's in. From his short, scene-stealing role in "Transformers 3" to the classic "Firefly", I'm pretty sure he can do any role asked. Which is needed, because the shock and sincerity that comes from our title characters after every gruesome death only heightens the gory comedy to new levels after every death. Your jaw will land on the floor and a tear down your cheek from the laughter.
I highly recommend this but please don't go anywhere near the cool trailers. They give far too many of the cool deaths away. The shock of it is half the fun.
4. Grindhouse presents: PLANET TERROR - This movie is a party. Even when I watch it, I feel like I should have a room full of people around me eating popcorn, while pointing and laughing at the most insane visuals on-screen. This flick is both a modern day love letter and parody to the 70's grindhouse horror movies of back-in-the-day. When the premise could start so simple in the first act, yet things go absolutely berserk and make no sense by the end of it. Where every character who hasn't died yet has been severely altered from who they were in some way. Where you can tell that they changed the entire script while they were filming the movie and they just rolled with it. Except, this movie is doing it to you on-purpose, with a wink and a smile as it takes you on an action movie where shit blows up for no reason, everyone has a gun by the third act and every character is not afraid to blow up any monster that runs in front of them while flirting with any character next to them.
I don't even want to get into what the plot is, because to be honest, neither does the movie! It's designed so you talk about it as if you were a little kid trying to describe something cool to your folks after you saw it: "There was this scientist who takes people's balls! And then Fergie was fighting zombies! And then this stripper got a rocket launcher for a leg! And then her boyfriend could shoot everything from anywhere because he never misses! And then a pimp and some strippers shot zombies out of a low-rider on a military base! And then Bruce Willis shows up because... he's fuckin Bruce Willis!" Yeah, this movie has a ton of cameos, stars, fun and it even secretly ties into the movies "Kill Bill" & "From Dusk Till Dawn" if you pay attention to some clues. Get ready for a party, with this one.
3. BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON - I can almost guarantee you that this will be your favorite horror character of all-time. You will be quoting him for days. This is seriously like if the TV series "The Office" or "Parks & Recreation" made a horror movie.
Ever wondered how Jason walks, yet catches up to his victims? Why the lights go out in slasher flicks when something goes wrong? Why the car doesn't start when the victim is trying to get away? Why won't they jump out the window to flee the house with the killer in it? This movie answers all your questions with a hilarious smile.
It takes place in a world where Jason, Freddy and Myers have always existed. Where they've achieved legendary status and now an average guy, Leslie Vernon, wants to be the next supernatural serial killer. So, he hires a documentary film crew to follow his antics around as he tries to gather a group of teenagers to kill and he trains to make the ultimate horror night. Which includes working on cardio, to make it seem like he's running when he walking. Fabricating his own supernatural origin on local newspapers so he can create a legend. And setting up the 3rd act by laying down the average horror movie traps(shaving tree branches so they break, lowering batteries in flashlights, making the floor boards creeky) around an old shanty house. And what makes this so much funnier is that fact that Leslie is an awesomely, hilarious, charming main character! You feel like you could have a conversation with the guy and you'd be laughing with him as you shoot the shit. But, the movie sways you into realizing you're laughing at a serial killer with a problem. Even the camera crew is loving every moment with him.
I won't get into the third act, because the movie launches 3 plot twists at you to steer you in new ways of viewing each character. But, the biggest twist is played on the audience: It reminds you in an extremely harsh way that you're watching a horror movie and all the rules establish have been broken.
Find this wherever you can!
2. TRICK R' TREAT - A horror movie, Pulp Fiction~style!
In all honesty, you should know about this movie, but it had so many licensing problems that it was delayed for two years and wasn't even released on Halloween! But, it's good for any year to crack open and enjoy. You're essentially getting 4 Twilight Zone-style horror movies, but they all find subtle and clever ways to connect to each other. From a story of a murderous, undead child spirit, to kids in a graveyard fighting against a legend, to a serial killer neighbor, this movie surprisingly really delivers.
The crew who made this all took their money from the excellent "X2:X-Men United"(thus, why you'll see Brian Cox and a young Anna Paquin) and poured their hearts into a very entertaining experiment. This is my personal favorite Halloween themed horror film by a large margin. Each plot twist is clever, dark, humorous and the story follows the rule of "if you deserve to be killed, you're going to get it before the credits roll." If you could take your favorite haunted house experience and jam-pack it into a DVD, you'd get this film.
1. ATTACK THE BLOCK - I love this movie. Let me start by saying that not only is this my favorite movie of 2011, but it's on my list of favorite films ever made. It's like the writers and directors took everything I would've ever wanted into a sci-fi/horror/action/comedy and rolled it into this film. One of my favorite moments in a theater was being at South By Southwest this year and seeing this film receive a standing ovation from a crowded theater immediately as the credits rolled. As a matter of fact, after reading this, Google this movie for reviews. 9/10 chances, it will be glowing with positivity over how high quality this film is.
The concept is simple: A street gang must defend the projects from invading space aliens. Sounds like such a B-movie plot. But, what elevates it is the characterizations. The movie even starts the audience with these characters to make them appear very unlikable. They're thugs, thieves, bastards and mindlessly dangerous to their community. They're the kids you want nothing to do with and it's your initial instinct when first meeting them. But, as the frames progress, you see each one has their own individual purpose, fear, quality and love for one another that shows they've created their own small family as they try to survive in a neighborhood far larger than them.
So, when the movie progresses to add blood thirsty aliens into the equation, the intensity amps up to 11 when you realize you don't want a single character to die. And these aliens are such original creations, they deserve a round of applause for their originality. How they are just shadowy blurs, w/ glowing teeth, that light can't bounce off of. How they are relentlessly vicious, fast, strong and (most importantly for me) can't be stopped by someone simply closing a door or locking them away. If they want to kill you, they will find you with extreme prejudice. And with Joe Cornish & Edgar Wright(Scott Pilgrim, Hot Fuzz) behind the camera, you get some of the most intense action scenes and awesome one-liners to turn a group of kids into iconic superheroes on your screen. To even raise the quality epic levels during these scenes is a soundtrack by Basement Jaxx. Yes, Basement Jaxx. One of the most successful bands of the past decade provide the first tech/Dubstep soundtrack to an action/horror movie.
It's a movie where you'll genuinely feel the losses, root for the heroes, lean on the edge of your seat and feel yourself grow with our young main characters as they leave their youths behind to become heroes who need to spend one night saving the world. The odds are impossible and their weapons range from only bats and samurai swords, but you never see them back down.
I repeat: I love this film and it's DVD release on October 25th can't come fast enough. This will forever remain on repeat.
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