Horror flicks for Halloween

By TAMMY MALGESINI 

East Oregonian

Published on October 25, 2013 12:01AM

What better time than Halloween to kick back and watch a good scary movie.

Rather than forking out a fistful of cash at the movie theater, I suggest popping your own popcorn and renting a DVD or perusing through Netflix choices — then curl up on the couch for your own personal scare-fest.

Although you won’t flinch to the latest horror flicks, don’t fret because according to Rotten Tomatoes’ Top 100 Horror Movies, more than 75 percent of the top 100 were released prior to 2000. In fact, of the nine movies that received 100 percent on the Tomatometer, only two — No. 5 “Spoorloos (The Vanishing)” (1988) and No. 9 “The Witches” (1990) — were released since the mid-1960s.

Why give so much credence to Rotten Tomatoes? Well, my husband, John, rarely budges from his recliner to go to the show with me unless it’s received positive reviews from the tomato crew.

My suggestion of seeing the recent re-make of “Carrie” was rebuffed barely after the question left my lips. Not only did he tell me it received a big splat from Rotten Tomatoes, but a review in last weekend’s East Oregonian Entertainment page reveals the remake is “only effective in stops and starts.” That’s a far cry from the original release in 1976, which is No. 62 on the all-time list with 92 percent on the Tomatometer.

While we’re talking about the original “Carrie,” the ending of the Stephen King adaption scarred my high school boyfriend. Even though I didn’t scream like a girl, he had claw marks on his hand as I freaked out and tightened my grip.

Another one from my adolescent days would be “The Exorcist” (1973). The vision of Linda Blair’s head spinning due to demonic possession is forever embedded in my memory. I first saw the movie when I was 14 and I don’t recall if the actual show or my mom’s response when she found out I saw it was more frightening. Although it didn’t make the top 100 on Rotten Tomatoes, it did receive 87 percent on the Tomatometer.

And to finish off the trifecta of scary flicks from my school days, I present to you “The Omen” (1976). How freaky is it that not even 15 minutes into the film something happened and the screen went black at the Egyptian Theatre in Coos Bay. We were given tickets to come back. After sneaking out of the house a second time, me and my best friend and I (whose name shall not be revealed, lest her children read of her adolescent antics) returned to see the spawn of Satan’s reign of terror. (85 percent on the Tomatometer).

Other flicks receiving 100 percent from Rotten Tomato include “Repulsion” (1965), “Frankenstein” (1931), “The Bride of Frankenstein” (1935), “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920), “The Invisible Man” (1933), “Vampyr - Der Traum des Allan Grey” (1931) and “Them!” (1954).

RT Scare Central also gives a nod to “King Kong” (1933), “Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror” (1922), “Alien” (1979), “The Invisible Man” (1933), “Psycho” (1960) and “Jaws” (1975).

As for me, I’ll be watching “The House That Dripped Blood.” Although I rented the 1971 release a few years back, the pain medication I was taking after surgery rendered it unmemorable. However, parts of the movie must have lingered in my subconscious as evidenced by a comment I made to my husband as he left for work.

“Listen,” I said. “Do you hear it? It’s a dripping sound.”

———

Tammy Malgesini is the EO community editor. Her column, Inside my shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.