This year’s Halloweenfest was off to a bad start after the first ten days, but the last ten films have been great. Of course, werewolf movies were front and center, but there were some other great monster movies.
10. Halloween Ends
I was so excited about this movie. I loved the 2018 sequel, and even though Halloween Kills had its warts, I still had faith. I respect David Gordan Green and Danny McBride for challenging the status quo, but the end result wasn’t what fans wanted. Ends feels like a serial killer character study with a Halloween film tacked on. Jamie Lee Curtis is fabulous as always, but it’s just not enough to save this movie. Laurie Strode and Michael Myers deserved a better ending.
Rating: 5/10
9. The Terrifier
I never thought this movie would rank higher than Halloween Ends in a million years. Art the Clown is genuinely a terrifying villain. The makeup and aesthetic of The Terrifier are top-notch. Unfortunately, the dialogue and acting are not. Art is menacing, evil, and scary. He acts without reason, and his only drive is to kill. This aligns with some of the great horror villains ever put to film. Unfortunately, there is no plot, and Art is left to wander around an abandoned building, killing people who stumble in. Also, the ending is beyond bad.
Rating: 6/10
8. Night of the Living Dead (1990)
Reboots and remakes are rarely passable, let alone good. The original Night of the Living Dead is a classic and almost perfect. So why remake this movie? The simple answer is George A. Romero wanted it for personal reasons. While the 1990 version feels very derivative of the original, plenty of new things make it fun. Tony Todd and Patricia Tallman do a terrific job as leads. The makeup is, of course, incredible. There’s a minimalistic vibe that makes it feel even more special.
Rating: 6/10
7. Speak No Evil
I won’t say much about this film because I don’t want to spoil it. This might make you think this film is special or a must-see. You might also be confused by why Speak No Evil has a higher rating than a few films about it. It’s because Speak No Evil is a hard film to recommend. It is well crafted, and the acting is masterful. The direction is thoughtful, and the score can be haunting. However, the character’s awkwardness and the plot’s nastiness make this a brutal watch. If you’ve seen either version of Funny Games or The Strangers, you’ll understand my trepidation.
Rating: 7/10
6. Night Life
I wish this film were easier to find. Here’s a link to the movie on Youtube. It’s the only place I could see it. The quality isn’t great, but if you can get past that, I promise this is a fun little gem of a horror movie. Night Life is also known as Grave Misdemeanors. It stars Scott Grimes as an assistant at his uncle’s mortuary. The legendary John Astin plays his uncle. This movie has a unique take on the zombie and is sometimes very scary. It’s also very tongue and cheek. The gore and makeup are decent, but the poor quality made it hard to tell. The ending of this movie will undeniably give you a smile!
Rating: 6.5/10
5. Girls Nite Out
I love a good slasher. The 80s are full of slashers. Unfortunately, most of them were terrible. But now and then, I’ll stumble upon a slasher I haven’t seen, and I’ll immediately love it. Girls Nite out is one of those films. While it’s not the scariest or most well-done film, it’s a lot of fun. The killer is dressed as the school’s mascot, a goofy-looking bear. The killer has taped knives together as makeshift claws. The movie takes time to get going, which is a little frustrating, but the ending is worth the pacing issues.
Rating: 7/10
4. Dog Soldiers
I’ve had Dog Soldiers recommended to me many times. I always pushed back because I thought the title was terrible. I thought it was a silly action movie disguised as a horror film. I was wrong. Dog Soldiers is a thoughtful and unique take on the werewolf genre. The film is directed by Game of Thrones alum Neil Marshall. That pedigree shows here. This is a character-driven movie with some amazing effects. The werewolves look great. The makeup is so good. My biggest issue with this film is the pacing and the action. The hand-to-hand fighting is edited with quick cuts that make the action hard to make out.
Rating: 7.5/10
3. Split Second
Before I started this year’s Halloweenfest, I had never heard of Split Second. I knew nothing about it except that it starred Rutger Hauer and Kim Cattrall and was directed by Tony Maylam. Maylam directed The Burning, which was on part 1’s list. Split Second is a wild film. It’s based in flooded England, and there’s a serial killer that Hauer must take down. The killer isn’t entirely human, and this creature is unique. The design and menacing nature make this a film, unlike anything I’ve seen. I usually love Hauer, but his character in this movie is straight from a cliche riddle detective movie. I wish the acting and dialogue were better because this could have been a classic.
Rating: 7.5/10
2. Werewolves Within
I’ve never played the video game, but I have to say this might be the best video game adaptation ever made. I say that because this movie is magnificent. The film plays out like a whodunit in the style of Clue or Knives Out. The humor is perfect, and the tension is thick. The horror moments were good but not great. A lot is lacking when it comes to actually seeing the werewolf. I imagine the lack of budget has a lot to do with this, but when you see a movie like Dog Soldiers, you can’t help but wonder what a different team could have done. Despite this, the movie is fun, tense, and creative!
Rating: 7.5/10
- The Wolf of Snow Hollow
Jim Cummings has made a nice name for himself, making quirky indie films. His writing and directing are excellent. His acting is okay. His persistence to cast himself as the lead may have hurt this film. There are a few moments that are uneven in tone because it seems like he’s trying to showcase his acting. Outside of the uneven tone, this movie is one of the best werewolf movies I’ve ever seen. This is much like Werewolves. Within is a whodunit. The two films differ because we see a lot of the wolf, which is terrifying. This makes the end hit much harder than Werewolves Within!
Rating: 7.5/10
