Friday, October 25, 2024

7 Best Halloween Movies Where Kids Saved The Day

 


An overlook film genre for spooky season are the family friendly movies, you know the one's when kid's save Halloween. During my routine Halloween movie viewings, I was watching Monster House and thought about other movies where kid's were the main protagonist who made Halloween safer for everyone else. With that, here are 6 of the best Halloween movies where kids saved the day.


7. Ernest Scared Stupid


Jim Varney's famous character Ernest P. Worrell was featured in television special and nine films, they barely had any plot and mainly used to highlight slapstick humor. My favorite Ernest movie is 1991's Ernest Scared Stupid, the film features a town overran by trolls released from a curse due to Ernest's negligence. When Ernest can't take on the trolls himself, he enlists the aid of neighborhood kids to help him in the battle.

6. Spirit Halloween


2022's Spirit Halloween: The Movie is an unfortunate victim of poor promotion by it's distributor. I remember hearing about the film, but absolutely do not remember one single commercial promoting the film. I also think audience members hearing the title weren't sure how to receive the film, but it is a underrated gem. It follows a group of friends who decide to intentionally get locked in a Spirit Halloween store overnight, and must battle haunted animatronics and merchandise in the store. Led by a corrupt real estate developer (Christopher Lloyd) who has been trapped in a curse for decades. 

5. The Curse Of Bridge Hollow


Another 2022 film, this time courtesy of Netflix The Curse Of Bridge Hollow starred Priah Ferguson of Stranger Things fame. Alongside Marlon Wayans and Kelly Rowland, with Rob Riggle , Nia Vardalos and other character actors rounding out the cast. The film follows Priah's character Sydney and her parents moving to the small town of Bridge Hollow which has an obsession with Halloween. Sydney basks in it, while her father Howard (Marlon Wayans) who is a scientist detests it. They soon must team up as a family to save the town when a old curse from Stingy Jack brings all the decorations to life.

4. Spaced Invaders


This 1990 film follows a quintet of Martians receiving a signal from a Halloween broadcast of War Of Worlds and mistake it for a real occurrence. They head to Earth to join in the "fun" but finding no invasion, try to find out what is going on. They are confused for kid's dressed in Halloween costumes and befriend a young girl named Kathy (Ariana Richards, Jurassic Park fame) and Brian. Soon they realize Earth is truly under distress by another alien race the Martians have been in battle with, the Emperor Drones from Arcturans. It's campy, it's 90's, and it's a fun ride. 


3. The Monster Squad


                                   

Clearly inspired by other 80's film's like The Goonies, Gremlins, and E.T.. This 1987 cult classic opened the door for later films where kid's save the day. It follow's a group of horror film loving kid's dubbed The Monster Squad, who must battle Universal Classic Monsters when Dracula awakes and set's out to take over the world (classic trope). The kid's must not let that happen before midnight when Dracula will pretty much be invincible. 

2. Goosebumps


2015's Goosebumps was based on the R.L. Stine children's books of the 90's. Character's from various Goosebumps books led by Slappy the dummy come to life and take over a small town with no intent of ever returning to the world their books. Jack Black stars as a fictional version of R.L. Stine who must work with his daughter and some neighborhood kid's to save the day. 

1. Halloweentown


This 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie is a childhood classic. It follows a group of siblings who learn their come from a lineage of witches and warlocks, and travel to a place where Halloween exists year round. And it's inhabitants are all variations of creatures associated with spooky season, skeletons, ghosts, trolls etc. They must save the town from a mysterious demon who is intent on destroying it and the other side, the "mortal" world. 





Wednesday, October 23, 2024

8 Things That Cultivated My Love For Films

 

I've hit 200 blogs written here on A Blog By B, Thank you!!! to everyone who has ever read a blog of mine. I'm sure if you've read enough articles you know I love my movies, and I am a very nostalgic person. Since this is my 200th blog, I decided to write a more personal blog and discuss a few things that have made me the movie buff, nostalgic individual I am today. I didn't get this way overnight, so with that here are 7 things in my life that have cultivated my love for film.


HBO First Look


I have always, always been fascinated by filmmaking and the entire process of it. HBO use to produce a half hour series, First Look which looking back was more promotion of a film than a true peek behind the scenes. What they did share in episodes always intrigued me and made me appreciate at a young age the magic of moviemaking and all the work that goes into big productions.

Regular Cable TV


Through good old cable TV and shows like Dinner And A Movie, I was introduced to films like The Breakfast Club, Top Gun, and Day's Of Thunder. One of my stop and watch it movies Gleaming The Cube I first saw on the USA network and they would repeatedly play it in the summer.


Columbia Video


I was somewhere between 6 or 7 when my grandmother joined Columbia House and ordered several VHS tapes, a decent amount for me. Just like that I saw movies like Stand By Me for the first time, had copies of childhood favorites like Problem Child 1 and 2 and Don't Tell Mom The Babysitters Dead. New releases at the time Stay Tuned I wore those tapes out. I think my grandmother had that membership for a good 5 years, and I added a lot of films to the library during that time. In fact I'm one of the few people on this planet who still have a VCR and I've held on to many of those VHS tapes to this day.

Encore



Back in the 90's Encore was an upstart cable channel, and it kind of catered to the movie buff in all of us. I know it did for me for sure. Encore is where I first saw films like Fast Forward. D.A.R.Y.L. Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo, Just One Of The Guys, Short Circuit. Something I shouldn't have been watching in Stripes, Cherry 2000, the first Vacation film.

Along with those films, Encore also is where I first saw the original Karate Kid, one of my personal favorites Last Dragon, and Ghostbusters. All of these were heavy hitter films that to this day have a impact on my life and my personality. 

What I really enjoyed about Encore and this was before the internet was that it was very informational. Encore would have short breaks where a host would provide behind the scenes information on the next movie about to play. From how the character of Sho'nuff came to be in The Last Dragon. Who wrote the script for Karate Kid, Eddie Murphy turning down the role of Winston in Ghostbusters. The station was just a treasure trove of movie knowledge that I ate up to add to my repository of useless facts.


VCR


When I was about 7, it was either my uncle or a older cousin showed me how to use a VCR, and the concept of blank tapes and recording. From there I was off to the races, recording sitcoms, cartoons, movies, wrestling events, even music videos. I got the timing down to when to hit record to a science, and thought a set of blank tapes were a gold mine. Like I mentioned previously I still have a VCR and just like the movies I obtained, my blank tapes full of random things I've recorded are still safe in my vault.

DVD's


Man when DVD's and DVD players became more affordable and started to take over from VHS I was in awe. Besides the clarity of movies the special features often drew me in. I use to really enjoy watching deleted scenes and offering my own opinions on why it should have been in the movie or I could see why it was cut. Next to the deleted scenes my favorite special feature was the commentary. While it could be distracting hearing filmmakers discuss the thought process behind how the movie got greenlight, made, challenges etc. I was a sponge for.

Movie Theaters


It's an expensive hobby (but honestly what hobbies aren't these days?), but going to the movies is something I have loved since I was a kid and still love today. The 1989 Batman film is the first movie I vividly remember seeing in theaters, with Karate Kid III and Ghostbusters II  being the first movies I remember seeing at a Drive-In a few weeks later, I was only 3 years old at the time by the way. I just love getting my popcorn and sitting in a theater getting immersed into the world and the characters. It's even better when it's a movie that was made specifically for the movie theater experience.

The first movie I saw coming out the pandemic was Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021, just sitting in the leather chairs and eating my very buttery popcorn. I just felt home and thought to myself, man I really missed this. I still get annoyed if I'm running behind and miss a trailer even though I can clearly catch it online. The movie theater experience is a huge contributor to me being a movie buff.

 

Relatives


I grew up like a lot of people my age spending a lot of time at grandma's house. I had older cousins who were between 5-8 years older than me that were also always at grandma house. As they got older and aged out of certain toys or films, they would leave them behind. I would find them and take them in like a lost pet. So old VHS tapes my cousins left behind were my introductions to shows like Captain Power: Soldiers Of The Future and Masters Of The Universe. They also would let me watch movies with them I was a tad too young for, but they were coming of age and understood the films. So movies like Juice, or the Child's Play films I watched with my older cousins.

 We use to stay up late and watch music videos replay on The Box (if you know you know), watch Nick At Nite or get snacks from the store and have "parties" watching TV. Looking back this is the biggest influence on my love of certain properties and why I'm so nostalgic towards the 90's. It always reminds of the good times I just wanted to hang with my older cousins. 

Monday, October 21, 2024

Five BasketBall Hidden Gem Films

 

The NBA season officially kick's off this week and to celebrate the spirit of alley oops, jump shots, and slam dunks. I figured why not write about some basketball movies. There's classics like Hoosiers, White Men Can't JumpAbove The Rim, Coach CarterHe Got Game, and Love & Basketball. Then there's the not quite classic tier but good films the Blue Chips, Glory Road, and Sunset Park of the world. The list goes on until you get to the one's you either never heard of or forgot about. 

I'm here to educate and refresh your memory about those films. Here are five hidden gem basketball films you may like. 


5. Eddie


This 1996 film followed the 90's film trope of a average joe becoming the head coach of a pro team and uses unconventional methods for winning results. Whoopi Goldberg stars as a New York Knick fanatic named Edwina better known as Eddie, she wins a contest to become the assistant coach for a half and leaves such an impression. She is selected to become the head coach (mainly as a publicity stunt by the owner). Unsurprisingly in the film world, she rejuvenates the Knicks to make the playoffs, and help's many players learn more about themselves along the way.

Eddie isn't available on any streaming service. There are a few rips uploaded to YouTube though.

4. The Winning Season


This 2009 film definitely flew under the radar of basketball films, it stars Sam Rockwell as Bill Greaves a borderline acholic busboy who is spinning his wheels in life. A friend of his who now is the principal at a high school, hires him to coach the girls varsity basketball team. Bill is a bit in over his head, and the girls give him a run for his money. Eventually he help's them through their own personal struggles, while they alley oop in helping him rebuild his relationship with his daughter. The film also stars a young Emma Roberts and Rooney Mara, and actually has plenty of heart.

The Winning Season is available on Tubi, Pluto TV, and The CW app.

3. Hurricane Season


Another film with heart is 2009's straight to DVD film Hurricane Season starring Forrest Whitaker. Also starring Tajiri P. Henson, Lil' Wayne and Bow Wow the film is based on the true story of high school coach Al Collins and his team. After Hurricane Katrina devasted New Orleans and the surrounding communities, Al assembles various players from different high schools in the area to assemble a team. They head out to the road of winning the state championship, giving the area something to smile about and rebuilding their respective communities. 

Hurricane Season is available on Peacock, Tubi, and the CW app.

2. Celtic Pride


Boston Celtics fans have a reputation for being quite fanatical. This 1996 film exaggerates that claim feeding into that reputation. The film stars Dan Akroyd and Daniel Stern as two Celtics fans who lives pretty much revolve around the team. As the Celtics are poised to lose the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, the two come up with a scheme to kidnap star player Lewis Scott (Damon Wayans) until after game 7. Effectively guaranteeing Boston will win, that is until Lewis blackmails them into choosing prison or The Celtics. One of Judd Apatow's earlier films, it is not for everyone but if you just need some mindless entertainment this one's for you.

Celtic Pride currently isn't available to stream without renting. I have seen it on tubi quite a few times, so it should cycle back on it soon.

1. Rebound: The legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigult


Legend has it Earl 'The Goat" Manigault is one of the best basketball players that never was. This 1996 HBO original movie starring Don Cheadle and directed by Eric La Salle helped tell his story. Earl was a playground legend on the streets of New York in the 60's. He had an amazing leaping ability and was highly sought after in high school and college. Yet, he succumbed to the allure of drugs and eventually hit rock bottom. This film follows his life up to him turning things around, it makes you want to learn more about the goat. As well as think about other legends who never made the NBA who stories deserve to be told. 

I don't believe this film has ever been available to stream. If you want to see it there are rips uploaded to YouTube, quality isn't the best but gets the job done.

Saturday, October 12, 2024

5 Horror TV Dramas You Probably Never Heard Of

 

Spooky season is the perfect time for some good dramas to check out. Dramas like Stranger Things, Masters Of Horror, Black Mirror, From, and the American Horror Story series. Are all well beloved and known amongst horror enthusiast and the general public. For each one of these series that are popular, there are several that just never caught on. With that here are 5 horror dramas you probably don't remember.

All Souls-UPN


Debuting on UPN in April of 2001, this horror drama actually was a interesting concept. It followed the staff at a teaching hospital that is haunted, beget by the spirits of the hospital dating back to the civil war. Victims of various experiments that have been conducted at the hospital over the years. The show created a mythology for the series that was to be revealed as it progressed, but the show was pulled after 2 episodes. Remaining episodes were aired later that summer, but All Souls was cancelled with only 6 episodes airing.


GvsE-USA network


G vs E was a USA network drama that aired during the days of Pacific Blue and La Femme Nikkita. Entertaining series in their own right, but not the quality of later USA network originals like Suits and Burn Notice. Debuting in the summer of 1999, the drama had a comedic tone to it as well and a very 70's aesthetic. It followed partners Chandler and Henry agents of the "Force", a agency that works under the leadership in heaven against "The Morlocks" who operate as soldiers for hell. 

Even though they are technically dead, Chandler and Henry walk amongst the mortals and have strict rules about their mission and the rules they abide by to survive. The show was later retitled to Good vs Evil, moved to the Sci-Fi Channel and lasted one more season. Which is a shame because it had potential.


Midnight, Texas-NBC


A fairly recent drama that no one seems to remember, Midnight, Texas debuted on NBC in 2017. Main character Manfred Bernardo (François Arnaud) who is a psychic, guided by the spirit of his grandmother to travel to the town of Midnight. Once there he finds a community of various "types", vampires, werewolves, witches, warlocks, fallen angels etc. All who have come to the small town to get away from something, and be around common type of people. While uniting to combat outside threats. 

The show managed to get 2 seasons before being cancelled, and lost in the consciousness of people's minds.

Fear Itself-NBC

 
                                  

This 2008 horror drama Fear Itself  was an anthology series much in the same vain as Twilight Zone or Masters of Horror. Actors and actresses such as Eric Roberts, Elizabeth Smart, Wendell Pierce, Anna Kendrick, and Brandon Routh all appeared in various episodes for the series. While having buzz and potential the show never caught on. Debuting in June of that year, it was never really given a chance being preempted for the Olympics that summer. With no definitive date on when it would return, the show only aired for eight episodes, with an additional four filmed and completed never to be seen.



50 States Of Fright-Quibi




50 States Of Fright caught a raw deal, it was released during the height of the pandemic on a upstart streaming platform that was shut down by the end of the year. Executive produced by Sam Raimi, 50 States of Fright was an anthology horror series, that told a horror story from each state. Since Quibi was intended to provide short form storytelling, each episode was only around 10 minutes long. Thus the show was able to produce 20 episodes spilting them into 2 seasons before the service was dissolved.





Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Ten Random Funny Halloween episodes

 Just like spooky season brings great films, it also brings forth some great episodes of sitcoms. So I spent some time digging through various crates and crafted a list of ten funny Halloween episodes. Let's begin!

Everybody Hates Chris-Everybody Hates Halloween


This season 1 episode has all the hallmarks of a classic Halloween sitcom you can relate to. Rochelle ever the overprotective exaggeration mother lets the kids know they can't eat the candy without her inspecting it. Julius needs to make the candy stretch, and Chris feels he is too old for Halloween. That is until he get's invited to a party, and askes Rochelle to make him a costume. In this episode all the characters are true themselves through the spirit of Halloween.

Everybody Hates Chris is available on Peacock, Paramount +, Disney + and Hulu, and Tubi.

Modern Family-Halloween


This season 2 episode of Modern Family, is a delightful episode. It shows how OCD Claire is about Halloween. Her house is top notch decorated for Halloween and she has the entire family involved in her holiday shenanigans. All she wants is a perfect Halloween and to scare trick or treaters while her family deals with work issues, and in the case of Gloria accent issues. 

Modern Family is available on Peacock and Hulu. TBS and USA wear reruns out of this show.


Bernie Mac Show-Night Of Terror


This season 5 episode goes by two titles Night Of Terror and 13 going on 9. It's not a  Halloween themed episode per say, but fits into spooky season. The episode involves Jordan just turning 13 wanting to stay up late and watch a Horror movie. When he goes against the grain and does, his nerves get the best of him and he must become a "man" as the forces are coming to get him. Meanwhile Wanda has her own bad luck at a church auction when she has a wardrobe malfunction.

Bernie Mac Show is available on Hulu and Disney + and Tubi.


Freaks And Geeks-Tricks And Treats


The third episode of the cult classic Freaks And Geeks is funny and has a lot of messages about growing up and life. This was the episode that drew me into the show and I backtracked and followed it from there until it's cancellation. Anyway it's Halloween night, and the freaks in the story decide they are gonna to cause mischief and chaos smashing pumpkins and mailboxes. Meanwhile the Geeks all deal with some kind of insecurities and uneasiness about growing up, as they have different opinions on costumes, Halloween, and is it "cool" to trick or treat anymore.

Freaks and Geeks is available on Hulu and Disney +, and Paramount +.

Black-ish-The Purge


This season 3 episode brilliantly spoofs Halloween and the film franchise The Purge, and all the wackiness that comes with spooky season. The neighborhood decides to have mischief night on Halloween. Ruby's all in while Rainbow is not. Diane and Jack decide to venture out and Rainbow has to save the night.

Meanwhile Dre and Charlie decide to play a Halloween appropriate prank on Jr. After Jr. Embarrasses Dre on the court and it goes viral.

Black-ish is available on Hulu and Disney +.

Malcolm In The Middle-Halloween


This season 7 episode of Malcolm In The Middle has the family on edge. During a guided death tour around town, Malcolm, Reese, and Dewey get startled when their house is one of the tour stops. With the story being a grisly murder occurred there years ago. When they share the news with Hal, he can't handle it and borderline has a nervous breakdown. Meanwhile Lois has a day with a shoplifter at work and her coworkers could care less. While Dewey and Reese have a run-in with a elderly neighbor. 

Malcolm In The Middle is available on Hulu and Disney +.

Boy Meets World-Then There Was Shawn


While this episode technically did not air during spooky season, it 100 % is a Halloween episode. Inspired by the slasher genre that gained popularity in the late 90's, this season 5 episode is one of the sitcoms best.

After the group is stuck in detention and Mr. Feeney leaves the room, things start going awry. One by one folks are picked up and nothings adding up. It's a really fun and entertaining episode.

Boy Meets World is available on Disney +.

Abbott Elementary-Candy Zombies


This season 2 episode of Abbott is kind of like a caper crime episode. A bag of candy is stolen by a student at Abbott and dispersed to other students (even babies). Soon all the kids are on a sugar high, and the staff must stop them from overrunning the school like zombies, find the culprit and a loose baby. Meanwhile Janine starts rethinking her personal life and work/life balances after being invited to a Halloween party by a old friend. 

Abbot Elementary is available on Hulu, Disney +, and Max.

Family Matters-Stevil


At this point in Season 8 of Family Matters, the show had reached jump the shark levels. Regardless of how iffy that season was, this episode is a bonafide Halloween classic. Stevil was a ventriloquist doll Steve Urkel acquired, one night as Steve fell asleep and left the bedroom window open. A lightening bolt struck the doll and bought him to life. Stevil wastes no time making Urkel think he is crazy and terrorizing the rest of the Winslow family. 

Family Matters is available on Max, Disney + and Hulu.

Martin-The Night He Came Home


One of the funniest Halloween episodes ever, now I'm a bit bias because of how much I love the sitcom Martin but it is top tier. This season 1 episode features the gang congregating on Halloween night to enjoy the night. They decide to perform a seance to call on Old Man Ackerman, Martin ever the cynic doesn't believe in it. He's in a rough Halloween night.  

Martin is available on BET +, Netflix, and Peacock.

Friday, October 4, 2024

Remake Theater: My Boyfriends Back

 Earlier this year Lisa Frakenstein debuted in theaters. I enjoyed the movie and its campy 80s quirks,  although it did not do well during it's release,  moviegoers who saw it during that time enjoyed it, now that it has been streaming for a few months. More people have learned what a gem it is, I truly believe it is on the path to becoming a cult classic. Watching it reminded of a quirky comedy from the 90's My Boyfriends Back. If you've read previous blogs of mine, you're aware I am a advocate of Hollywood remaking films that had potential but just weren't successful for whatever reason, and starting over. My Boyfriends Back fit's perfectly into that category.


My Boyfriends Back is a 1993 film starring Andrew Lowrey (Andy the goofy friend of Buffy's boyfriend in Buffy The Vampire Slayer film) and Traci Lind. Then unknown actors Matthew Mcconaughey (almost unrecognizable), Matthew Fox, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman appear in the film as well. Lowrey's character Johnny has a crush on Lind's character Missy, the prettiest girl in the school. He concocts a plan to save Missy from a fake robbery win her heart and her hand as her prom date, but what a ill-conceived plan that is. Andrew dies, but returns from the grave to win her heart. Causing mass hysteria in their small town, and learn what young love is all about.



The film is a horror comedy covering a young zombie. There's no real gore in the film and most of the film is played for laughs. I mean at it's core it is a film about teenage love so that is understandable. It also plays into the lore of zombies, which has gained a huge interest from the pop culture world after the success of The Walking Dead series. A remake would not survive in today's theater landscape, but it is a prime streaming candidate.

Light-hearted fare, young teenage love, a guy doing crazy things to win his crushes affection, zombies. It has all the making's to be entertaining material for a new generation with some slight updates to fit the 21st century. The original was distributed by Touchstone Pictures, which is a Disney subsidiary, so Disney could make it a Hulu original film or sell the rights for a remake. Peacock could use material like this for original content. 


It's been 31 years since the original debuted and it had a lot more potential than it was given credit for. Time for someone to sort through the crates, find this hidden gem and start crafting a remake.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

10 Of My Must Watch Spooky Season Movies



 


It's spooky season! Besides the decorations, carved pumpkins, and lot's and lot's of candy. Spooky season always brings us to catching up on horror favorites or checking out a new horror movie. For this blog I decided to share my ten Halloween movies I must find the time to watch, every year.


10. Vampire In Brooklyn


I love a good vampire movie, and despite what critics and haters may say Vampire In Brooklyn is a very good vampire movie. Argue with your mother if you feel otherwise, but it serves it's purpose. It may not be Eddie Murphy's best work, but it was a perfect blend of comedy and horror. The make up for Eddie's character Max was top notch, and the story touched upon and left a goldmine of an idea on the table. Black Caribbean Vampires and Max trying to preserve his race, perfect fodder for a legacy sequel. 

9. Beetlejuice


Not sure if it's Michael Keaton's performance, or the rendition of Harry Belafonte's Jump In The Line, Shake Senora that make the movie infectious. Either way it just is, it has comedy, world building with how the undead operate and is surprisingly timeless. The film has spawned a cartoon, broadway musical, and just released last month a sequel. Which highlights the movie is a classic and must be watched every year.

8. Monster House


I was twenty years old when Monster House released, I enjoyed it then and I enjoy it now. I really think if I was a kid when it released, you couldn't tell me it's not the greatest movie ever. It has the tropes of the old creepy neighbor, neighborhood rumors, and that house. Oh man something is up with that house, and the legends behind it are believable. It's a great movie for kid's with just enough scares but nothing gruesome, and adult's will enjoy it too. Hench why I watch it every year.

7. Zombieland


I'll admit I've never gotten into zombies, even when The Walking Dead was probably the most popular show on earth I didn't watch it. Zombieland however is one good funny ass movie, starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin. The movie is part road trip, part survival movie as the quartet hit the road in hopes of reaching a city free of zombies. It's hilarious and the few action scenes don't disappoint. When it's on, I take a break from whatever I'm doing and watch it.

6. Final Destination


The original Final Destination released in 2000 was legitimately the last movie, for a good 10 plus years that had me on the edge of my seat and scared (The Conjuring released in 2013 took that spot).  The story and as a result the murders in the movie were very unique and a bit believable. The sequels are hit or miss in my opinion, but 20 plus years later I watch this every year like it's my first time seeing it.

5. Fright Night


1985's Fright Night is an unapologetic 80's movie, a true product of it's time. It's campy as well, and has some undertones that leave you not sure if the filmmakers intended to have it that way or not. Outside of that it's a damn good vampire movie, about a horror film obsessed young man who suspects things are not quite right with his new neighbor.

4. People Under The Stairs


Wes Craven's 1991 film The People Under The Stairs is his best work outside of the original Nightmare on Elm Street and hell that is debatable in my opinion. The film stars Brandon Adams as a young boy through some mishaps, finds himself trapped inside the house of some psychotic occupants. He set's out to escape and save those trapped in the house done wrong. I didn't realize until I got older the movie has a strong socio-political message about racism, the effects of certain economic policies on lower-income citizens, and gentrification among others. It's really a dope movie with a dope message. 

3. Killer Klowns From Outer Space 



Sure it's campy, the plot quite absurd and the production low budget, but damnit the film works. Alien clowns come to earth and wreck havoc on a small town. What could embrace the spooky and wildness of spooky season than that? The movie actually has some very creative death scenes due to the nature of the  villains. It's campy, it's B-movie grade, and it works. 

2. Ghostbusters I and II


This maybe considered cheating, cause it's two films but oh well. The original Ghostbusters film and it's sequel I can watch year round all the time. However during spooky season both are getting multiple views from me like I've never seen them before. Besides the films themselves, you can't miss the theme song during this time of year. It has a stranglehold on pop culture 40 years later for a reason.

1. The Lost Boys 


Let's be honest some vampire movies may have better plots or special effects, or gore. It's just one problem, none of those films are The Lost Boys. To me  The Lost Boys is the epitome of  a cool ass film, let alone a Vampire film. Keifer Sutherland as head vampire David oozes a charming but vicious demeanor. The rock and rap medley of the late 80's is in force here, and the beach front town provides a different aesthetic from other vampire movies of the time. I can quote the film like it's second nature, and the third act at the house is still one of the better horror film third acts.