It’s not easy to create a horror movie that doesn’t rely solely on sudden loud noises or gore to shock viewers — which is perhaps why so few films in the horror genre rise above mediocre. A movie like
Carrie has some wonderful scenes, but the overall mood is ruined by shifts in tone as if it can’t make up its mind what kind of movie to be.
Hellraiser has its share of frightening scenes, but the overabundance of gore makes it difficult to watch. And movies like
Portergeist suffer from being too absurd, concocting elaborate explanations for the supernatural. What I admire are movies that create a sense of horror with more subtlety and artistry. While the following movies are not all completely in the “horror” genre, they all thematically deal with horror. In alphabetical order, here are my top 13 picks to put you in the Halloween spirit.
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There are plenty of films about music or musicians (the UC Berkeley Media Resource Center has a fairly comprehensive list). Less common are films that use music as a key plot element, even though the subject is not music. Music has a background but structurally important role in these movies, underscoring a key point. Listed below are some examples (I’m sure there are significant films I’ve missed) which I’ll add to over time. Continue reading →
Face it: we’re fascinated by ghosts. Especially this time of year, during the season of Halloween and the Day of the Dead. Whether as metaphors or as intimations of our mortality, you don’t need to necessarily believe in ghosts to appreciate them. These ten songs and CDs represent a variety of styles, from somber to playful, from traditional to experimental. But they all share a sure sense of artistry that deals with the dead, the dying, or things departed. 
I confess, Halloween is my favorite holiday. But most horror music disappoints when it comes to setting a truly creepy mood. Pop hits, cheesy maniacal laughter and backbeats just don’t cut it. So I’ve scoured the web to find the best music to give you goosebumps.