Harvest of the Dead

 

Boo! (2018)

 

Hayride

 

The Coven (2015)

The Coven (2015)

After sitting through a lecture on witchcraft, a group of English school girls decide to sneak into Queenswood on Halloween to camp out for the night. Yet, as their celebration winds down, they unwittingly find themselves exploited by a witch controlling their fate. The Coven is an English horror movie directed by John Mackie, featuring Dexter Fletcher. The poster for the movie looks similar to The Craft and suggests a film about a group of girls getting involved with witchcraft. While the plot involves witchcraft, the story takes a different direction than the poster suggests and is more about girls being lost in the woods. While most of the cast are young, they all seem believable as classmates, but the story is disjointed and relies too much on nepotism. The Coven is a spooky Halloween-centric story that misleads its audience into thinking it is ripping off The Craft while it is instead borrowing much of its story from the Blair Witch Project. 

Spine Chiller

 

Cemetery Stories

Final Girl: Halloween

Creeping Death

Truth or Die

 

All Hallows Eve: Eve

Terrifier 3 (2024)

Terrifier 3 (2024)

A horror villain hasn't been as popular since his debut over ten years ago as this silent and deadly menace. With the release of the original Terrifier movie eight years ago, David Howard Thornton's portrayal of Art the Clown has transformed him into the new face of horror, a slasher that fans can't get enough of. Art the Clown has evolved into a horror icon unlike any other in recent years. It has been five years since the deadly night that Sienna and Jonathon survived, and both are dealing with the physical and psychological aftermath. While visiting her family and trying to enjoy the Christmas holiday, Sienna suspects that Art the Clown has returned to finish the job. Still, she isn't sure she can survive another confrontation. What has made Art the Clown so popular in the past decade is the truly creative and sadistic methods utilized by this silent menace. Most slasher killers don't put the effort that Art employs; his kills are brutal, and this franchise has made it popular with horror fans. Terrifier 3 stands out among other franchise films in that this movie isn't merely a vehicle for Art to mutilate more people; the focus on Sienna Shaw and the aftermath of her nearly fatal encounter helps to carry this film into a new holiday season. Lauren Lavera returns as Sienna and delivers an award-winning portrayal, showing why she is now one of the premiere scream queens in this era. Elliott Fullam returns as her brother Jonathan, showing what a great pair they make as screen siblings. Damien Leone has hit a triple with this entry, amping up the gore and creative slays with a new holiday setting, giving Art the Clown a new season of murderous mayhem. Since the first Terrifier release, Art the Clown has become a fixture at fan cons and Halloween events, with David Howard Thornton becoming a fan favorite. Before its release, Terrifier 3 earned some scorn for the intense violence, but fans of this franchise know precisely what they are getting with Art the Clown. 

The Pumpkin Man

The Hollow

Idle Hands (1999)

Idle Hands (1999)

A teenage stoner and his two friends have an awkward situation when the spirit of a serial killer takes control of his right hand. The murderous desires of the hand make it uncomfortable for his two buddies and new girlfriend as he fights for control as the hand leaves bodies for him to take care of. Idle Hands is a 1999 comedy directed by Rodman Flender, starring Devon Sawa, Seth Green, Elden Henson, and Jessica Alba. Idle Hands is a silly black comedy that works due to Sawa's excellent slapstick-style performance. His comic delivery works well, with the costars Green and Henson providing excellent support as his stoner pals. Idle Hands has become a cult classic and one of the best stoner buddy comedies of the late 1990s, joining the ranks of Friday, Half Baked, and Scary Movie. 

The Curse of Halloween Jack

 

The Jester (2023)

The Jester (2023)

During the Halloween season, two estranged sisters are brought together following the funerals of their father, but the reunion only brings more tension between them. They soon find themselves stalked by a mysterious jester figure who leaves several dead bodies in his path as both sisters must band together to fight back. The Jester is a 2023 holiday slasher directed by Colin Krawchuk and stars Lelia Symington and Delaney White. At first glance, this movie looks like a Terrifier copycat, and it is not difficult to think as much when you watch the silent Jester behave in a manner that Art the Clown is known for. Despite these similarities, The Jester is not a mere copycat, as the movie is less sadistic than Terrifier. The Halloween setting heavily factors in the plot as the dark comic style of The Jester is in full display with its often unique methods of mayhem.

V/H/S Beyond

 

Halloween Night (2006)

Halloween Night (2006)

Asylum Studios is better known for its mockbuster movies, so seeing a traditional slasher from the studio behind Atlantic Rim and Transmorphers is surprising. A Halloween costume party goes south when a poorly staged prank disrupts the drunken fun. This event distracts the partygoers from the disguised killer who uses his convenient mask to murder folk one at a time. Halloween Night is a by-the-book slasher film that checks off all the boxes you expect with an 80s-style slasher. Despite being an Asylum movie, this is one of their better efforts, as the film is pretty bloody, has a cool villain, and plenty of the usual horny teens breaking all the rules of slasher movies. While it is derivative of Halloween and Friday the 13th, October Night is a fun throwback to the age of 80s slashers and won't disappoint if you are looking for a bloody, stabby, slashy movie.  

Halloweentown (1998)

 Halloweentown (1998)

Marnie is a 13-year-old girl who longs to celebrate Halloween with her friends but finds that her mother strictly forbids this with her siblings. When her grandmother pays a visit, she is encouraged to embrace her love for Halloween, and when she sneaks out, she learns that her family has a magical secret. While Disney is better known for its cartoons, it also has a rich tradition of live-action action on holiday fare, and Halloweentown has emerged as one of the most believed Halloween films. Featuring a cast that includes Hollywood legends Debbie Reynolds and Judith Hoag and introduces Kimberly Brown as Marnie. Halloweentown is a delightful film that celebrates family and the cast to help deliver a spooky, fun time with great characters and a story that isn't too scary for younger audiences. While the film's special effects might seem rudimentary compared to bigger-budget movies, Halloweentown delivers a story that has made it one of Disney's best Halloween family movies.   

Amityville Scarecrow

 

Halloween Horror Tales (2018)

Halloween Horror Tales (2018)

A lady dressed in white presents four dark tales in this anthology that, despite its title, does not involve Halloween. The first story involves an escaped lunatic who dresses as a clown; the second tale focuses on an actress being interviewed by a horror personality; the third involves a deadly sunflower, while the last one features a detective investigating some murders. Halloween Horror Tales was released in 2018 and directed by Jeff Kirkendall, a fixture in Mark Polonia's micro-budget movies. While the stories span from creative to outright silly, the movie overall reflects the low-budget style that Mark Polonia movies are known for. The sets are simple, the props and effects cheap, and the actors are little known outside Polonia's movies. Overall, this movie suffers from a cheap look, and the stories suffer as a result; it also seems misleading to have the Halloween title as there is not one reference to Halloween in any of these segments.   

Autumn Road (2021)

Autumn Road (2021)

Two brothers who run a local haunt attraction have to relive the events of a tragic night when a young friend disappeared years before. This event resurfaces when her sister returns after a tragedy, which brings her back to her hometown, exposing the brothers' rift and some dark secrets. Autumn Road is a 2021 indie horror film directed by Riley Cusick and starring Lorelai Linklater, Riley Cusick, and Lar Park Lincoln. Unlike other haunt movies that have been released in recent years, Autumn Road focuses more on the troubled relationship of the two brothers and how it has shaped their lives. While the film is set during the Halloween season, it is more a psychological thriller than a slasher, as viewers might suspect. The brothers are portrayed by a single actor who effectively portrays both roles, but it follows the trope of a good and evil brother often seen in other horror films. Autumn Road is a bit slow, but the best parts are the contrasting roles of the two brothers and how easy it is to forget that there is only one actor.   

Amityville Cult

 

The Booth

Bonnie and Clyde

Thinner

 

The Big Sick

Big Game

Beginners

Blood and Chrome

The Abandoned

 

Capote

Boxcar Bertha

 

The Black Dahlia

 

Amityville: Mt Misery Road

 

No Do: The Beckoning

 

Pete and Re-Pete

Battle Royale

 

Hangry

Baba Yaga

August Underground Penance

August Underground: Mordum

August Underground

Atrocious

 

Arizona

 

The Amityville Murders

 

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

 

Action Point

 

Acacia

 

ABC’s of Death 2

 

7 Colombian Kilos

 

2:13

 

21 & Over

 

13: Game of Death

 

When Evil Lurks

 

The Guns of Navarone

 

Death Walks at Midnight

 

The Revenant

Quadrant

The Skin

Immaculate

 

Stream

The Monster Walks

The Monster Maker

 

Bride of the Gorilla

 

Fanboys

 

The Vampire Bat

Casino Royale (1967)

Tahoe Joe 2

A Haunted House

The Hunted

Alien Romulus

Mothman

Landlocked

Savor

New Fears Eve

Donner Pass

 

Blood Predator

 

Kong Island

Return of the Slasher Nurse

Horror in the High Desert 3

 

Tarot (2024)

 

Death Game

Blood Bite (2020)

Blood Bite (2020)

A scientist who survived a shark attack is invited to a research facility and amusement park to observe the work being done with sharks. Yet the genetically enhanced shark wreaks havoc on the facility as a group of survivors tries to escape its hungry jaws. Blood Bite is a 2020 Chinese horror movie, also known as Horror Shark in some markets; the film is directed by Wang Liang, who also appears in the movie. The cast features mostly Chinese actors, along with one American who speaks Chinese but is dubbed just as poorly as the rest of the cast. The movie extensively uses CGI and green screens, giving the film an odd look in many scenes. While the sets look great, the same can't be said for the shark CGI; it is abysmal and even features a red-tinted shark that roars. Blood Bite borrows heavily from Deep Blue Sea, Jaws 3, and some other shark films, so this movie has nothing unique to make it stand out and would probably be better if it was not dubbed. 

90210 Shark Attack (2015)

90210 Shark Attack (2015)

A group of overly attractive Oceanography students meets at a posh Beverly Hills mansion to work on a significant school project involving anthropology and the local ocean sea life. The teacher tries to get the students to focus on their work, but one of her students has a past that may invite trouble for them all. 90210 Shark Attack is a 2015 film directed by David DeCoteau and features an attractive young cast with little experience. The film is chock full of beautiful California scenery and aquatic stock footage to pad the running time. However, so much is spent on pointless dialogue, extended scenes of male beefcake, and little action. While the movie appears to be a shark film, it is more of a supernatural monster movie with horrible-looking CGI. Donna Wilkes stars, but this is far and away below her great work in Jaws 2 and Angel.    

Virus Shark (2021)

Virus Shark (2021)

After a shark bite leads to a global pandemic, scientists in an underwater research facility race against time to find a cure. After making some progress, an infection broke out among the crew members, who feared the virus and the deadly sharks used in the experiments. One of many movies produced and directed by Mark Polonia, Virus Shark features the usual amateur FX, poor acting, and cartoon monsters that are his staple. While this movie looks better than the usual Polonia movie, it still involves a bunch of folks just talking between the goofy shark scenes and laughable dialogue. Made with Covid in mind, Virus Shark clocks in at 75 minutes, so we at least get an extra 10 minutes of goofy shark roar to carry this no-budget effort.  

Red Water (2021)

Red Water (2021)

A seemingly fun time on a sailboat turns into peril after all four people onboard find themselves stranded after jumping off without a ladder to get back on board. They are soon attacked by a shark and trapped on a small raft with no supplies and oars. As the tensions rise among the survivors, the shark takes its time picking them off one at a time. Red Water is a 2021 Chinese action movie also titled Huge Shark. The cast features three women and one male, and some of the most absurd English dubbing as the original film was done in Mandarin. While the movie's first half does not stand out too much, the last part is better, even if it follows the plot of The Shallows. Chloe Zhao is the most experienced actor in the film, with a number of Chinese films on her resume; the struggle she faces would have worked better if the movie had focused on her exclusively. I will say that Red Water at least makes an effort to copy a Shark movie that isn't Jaws, well, mostly.