Recommended Non-Horror Movies for Halloween Time.

 

Hello my friends, October is only a few days away. Of course, to many movie lovers October is the time to revisit some of their favorite horror films. However, Halloween time watching does not need to be limited to horror. There are plenty of non-horror movies that are perfect for Halloween time. Here are some of those. Some of these movies are pure masterpieces while others are simply fun ways to spend an October evening. 

 The Spirit of the Beehive (El espíritu de la colmena) (1973) This art house film from Spain is essential watching to any true cinephile. Though the story line is simple (and it takes nearly 20 minutes to even establish the most basic facts about the characters), it has a hypnotic effect that simply draws you in as you watch it. From some of the most beautiful images in Spanish film history, an incredible performance by child actress Anna Torrent, a wonderful sense of atmosphere and a lot of hidden layers of depth this movie truly casts a spell on an astute viewer. With how much of this film centers around a little girl who becomes transfixed by James Whale's Frankenstein (1931), this is also a perfect movie for Halloween time. 

Casper (1995) Last Halloween season a wonderful friend of mine (God bless her) gave me a DVD of this movie. Before that I admit that the last time, I saw it I was a little kid. Watching it again as an adult, I was amazed by just how well it held up. Though this has never been a critical favorite, it is a delightful family movie that will now be part of my Halloween watching every year. This movie does a wonderful job of transferring the famous cartoon ghost from short films to a feature film. The movie has a good sense of humor, likable characters, wonderfully imaginative sets and a good sense of atmosphere. 

Ghost Breakers (1940) This is one of my favorite Bob Hope comedies. Putting Hope's lovable coward character into a spooky themed comedy is simply a wonderful idea. When this spooky themed comedy has a wonderful sense of atmosphere, the result is irresistible. Adding to the fun is that Hope is at his funniest here, with nearly every joke hitting the mark. 

Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988) This is one of the Looney Tunes compilation movies. This series of movies were combinations of new animated scenes and the classic Looney Tunes short films put together to create a feature film. With this format in mind, it is amazing not only how cohesive the story is but how incredibly entertaining it is as well. The selection of great spooky themed classic shorts is simply wonderful. The new segments of this movie are also a lot of fun. It is obvious that directors Greg Ford (an animation historian himself) and Terry Lennon (who had worked as an animator on the previous Looney Tunes compilation movies) perfectly understand these classic characters and their appeal. 

The Gorilla (1939) The Ritz Brothers may not be Laurel and Hardy or The Marx Brothers and their films are hardly what one would call art. Yet I always find myself having a good time watching their films. This is one of their best as they are put into a murder mystery in a spooky house. This movie combines the comedy team's usual sense of comedy (which may be an acquired taste, but it is one I acquired) with a surprisingly good mystery and sense of atmosphere. Even those who don't like The Ritz Brothers may find themselves enjoying this movie. 

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Valerie a týden divů) (1970) A truly brilliant arthouse film from Czechoslovakia. This film tells the story of a young 13-year-old girl growing into womanhood. The way the story is told though is anything but conventional. This is almost in a way like Alice in Wonderland reimagined as a dark and sexual nightmare. While it is not a horror movie, the film certainly dips its feet into that genre with some truly uncomfortable scenes. The movie also takes on a true dreamlike feel, where nothing makes logical sense but flows naturally from a place of emotions, fears and desires. 

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951), Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953), Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955) Combining Universal's most popular comedy team with their famous monsters might seem like a strange idea. Yet as anyone who has watched these movies know it worked out perfectly. These are some of the finest films from this later portion of Abbott and Costello's career. These movies feature them at their comedic best with many wonderful gags throughout. Also the monsters are incorporated fantastical into these movies. The classic monsters are never made into a joke but instead treated with the upmost respect and their creepy charms strangely work as perfect counterparts to Abbott and Costello's comedy. Adding to the fun is horror icons Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. and Boris Karloff. These are simply great fun.

Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers (1987), Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School (1988), Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988) Nothing makes for better Halloween watching than Scooby-Doo! and this trilogy of made-for-TV movies are easily fan favorites. With delightfully corny jokes, fun side characters (including real monsters and ghosts), an atmospheric feel, an indescribable warmth and a willingness to deviate from the typical Scooby-Doo formula these made-for-TV movies are pure comfort food for Hanna-Barbera fans (like myself) and a wonderful way to spend an October evening. 

Video Link: An Introduction to the New Wave Movements - TCM

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Valerie a týden divu) (1970)

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders is one of the most powerful movies of a movement called the Czech new wave. The Czech New Wave was an act of rebellion against the communist regime that had taken over Czechoslovakia, and often slipped as much by the censors as possible at this time. Most of the movies from this movement were dark and unforgiving narratives. Valerie and Her Week of Wonders was no exception to this. This movie has dreamlike, fairytale quality but also takes on the feeling of a nightmare.

It is pointless to try to give a story summary for this film. This is because with the nightmare-like quality, the story makes little sense when written down or told, but is extremely powerful and involving when it is seen. This movie captures the feeling of a surreal nightmare perfectly, with dark haunting imagery and a dreamlike logic. This movie feels more like a poem than a narrative film. What a beautiful and profound poem it is though. The imagery of this movie is absolutely jaw dropping. Nothing in this movie looks real, whether it be idyllic or terrifying. This adds to the atmosphere and the story, neither of which are quite real either. So not only does this imagery look incredible but it is constantly pulling you further and further into the film. The calm scenes somehow manage to feel perfectly idyllic and lovely, and still give you a feeling that there is a dark side to this world we are going to see soon. The darker scenes are legitimately scary. The vampires in this movie (yes there are vampires) remind one of Count Orlock in F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu. Director Jaromil Jires, cinematographer Jan Curik, Art Director Jan Oliva and many more truly created a very visually unique and powerful film.

Jaroslava Schallerov as Valerie gives one of the best performances I have ever seen a child actress give. She is giving a very difficult role of a semi-naïve teenage girl entering such surreal and dangerous world, while experiencing a bit of a sexual awakening. She plays this role to perfection. Her performance is absolutely perfect on every level. She plays the role with a subtlety that would make many seasoned adult actors completely jealous. She seems to understand the dark and sexual undercurrents of this film perfectly (though I don’t know if she really did). Her performance makes it hard to ever look away from this film and is constantly drawing you into this dark and unforgiving world, making it seem more real while retaining its dream like quality.

Despite my writing about it this is a movie that defies any explanation, and seeing it is an incredible experience you will never forget.     

I Served The King of England (Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále) (2006)

I Served the King of England is a smart, sexy, fantasy-filled Czechoslovakian satire with a unique charm and wit. What is interesting is that despite being filled with sex and humor, this is a very quiet introspective film that wants us to do some of the work. This is not just a movie that demands our attention, but one that richly rewards it as well. There are many very quiet scenes that play like a classic silent film. All this makes the film seem rather unassuming making us even more amazed by the powerful emotions contained within. What this movie truly offers us is a fascinating and well observed commentary on human nature. About our striving for success, our sexual lusts and the part of us that only looks out for ourselves.

This movie is about a Czech man in the 1930’s named Jan (Ivan Barnev) who wants one thing out of life. He wants to be a millionaire (don’t we all). This desire in him takes precedence over all else, even politics. He works in various high class and expensive places to study those who are successful. The lifestyle he sees may be hollow, but the more he observes it the more he desires what they have. He is constantly working his way up the ladder by following these examples and sleeping with various women. However everything goes wrong when he marries a German woman (Julia Jentsch). After the Germans invade Czechoslovakia this makes him unpopular and ostracized.

This movie never praises nor condemns Jan the way a similar Hollywood movie might. Director,  Jirí Menzel creates a more morally ambiguous feel to the movie that makes it all the more fascinating. Even though Jan is not a traditionally likable character we see enough of ourselves in him to relate and maybe even be frightened by what we see. This also keeps the film from directly preaching to us. It gives us insights into the moral and political conflicts happening, but makes us come to our own conclusions about what we see. Rather than a political movie this plays like a very low key sex comedy. This gives it a deceptively light hearted and breezy feel to a movie with much deeper implications underneath.

This is not a movie to watch when you are emotional or easily distracted. You have to be completely absorbed in this movie for its subtle power and depth to truly reach you. Watch this in the right mood though and you will be in awe of what you see.    

-Michael J. Ruhland

Great Movies For Halloween Watching

Halloween is a holiday best celebrated by watching movies, in fact I believe it was created with that purpose in mind. So today I wish to share with you some movies, I think are perfect for watching this October. Some of these are very well known while others are overlooked gems, but I love each one of them and I hope you will check them out.


Valerie and Her Week Of Wonders (1970) This movie is pure art house cinema at its best and one of the best film of the Czechoslovakian New Wave. Each image is beautifully and lovingly put together creating a sense of pictorial beauty only movies can achieve. The story is shockingly different from anything you would see in mainstream cinema. It is never explained what exactly is happening or why it is happening. The story is instead completely fueled by emotion. What unfolds happens because of the emotions of the characters and not because of any form of logic. This movie at times can be peaceful, erotic, disturbing or terrifying. One thing is certain though this film is always fascinating. When I see this movie it has an almost hypnotizing effect on me making it hard to look away from. I recommend this movie for Halloween not only because of the terrifying scenes involving vampires, but also because it creates an uncomfortably uneasy feeling that is perfect for this time of year.

Nosferatu (1922) One of the films that helped above all to define the horror movie. This silent German classic, is still terrifying today. Images such as the Count Orlock appearing in the doorway, and the scene aboard the ship remain in one's mind long after the movie is finished. Max Shreck's performance as the horrible vampire is still amazing, and gives life to this horrifying character. Like all of director F.W. Murnau's films, one of the delights of this movie is the stunning look of the movie. The film has the qualities of a beautiful painting, while still remaining perfectly cinematic. This still remains a classic and one of the greatest Vampire movies ever made.


Pinocchio (1940) This may seem like an odd choice to some, but this movie is easily the darkest and most creepy of Disney's animated features. I think the reason for this is actually very simple. That is that Pinocchio might be the most powerless Disney hero. He has neither the brawn nor wit to fight the truly horrifying villains. He run or he can avoid them, but a showdown between good and evil is impossible in this movie. Think of the scene in Pleasure Island when the puppet's friend Lampwick is turning into a donkey. This has often been called the most horrifying scene in Disney animation. However I will argue that the reason for this is not the transformation itself, but rather that we are seeing what is happing for the perceptive of Pinocchio. Our hero can't do a thing to help his friend and he knows it. All he can do is watch in horror at what is happening in front of him. Watching in this scene we are in the same powerless position. We know it is too late for Lampwick and the best we can do is praying it doesn't happen to Pinocchio. This scene creates a sense of suspense and unease in a way no other scene in Disney animation does, because in almost any other animated Disney film we know things are going to turn out right, but here that certainty is taken away from us and we come the horrible realization that maybe the traditional Disney happy ending isn't going to happen. Beyond just this uncomfortableness, this is a great movie to watch at anytime and one of Disney's finest achievements. The artistry, humor, animation, characters, music and yes even horror all come together to create a cinematic masterpiece that is not only unique by Disney standards but by movie standards in general. There will never be another movie quite like this, but thank goodness we have this one.

Vampyr (1932) Carl Theodore Dryer's first sound feature is still a brilliant work of art. The images in this German film are ones that stay in the audience's mind and haunt their nightmare's all these years later. Story-wise this may be a typical Vampire-themed horror movie, but the way the story is told is unlike any other film I can think of. This film draws one into a creepy dreamlike world, that makes the movie have an unreal feeling that makes the movie even scarier. Though this is a talkie, the use of title cards and some scenes of complete silence make this feel like a silent film in all the best ways. This is a horror movie you will never forget.

The Orphanage (2007) A highly intelligent and spooky Spanish horror film. This movie is constantly suspenseful, and none of the plot twists did I see coming. However they made perfect sense when they happened. However this film isn't just scary. This is also a very touching movie. Our main character has to deal with the disappearance of her child and these scenes are downright sad. This uneasy and suspenseful movie is a modern day classic of horror.

Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988) This was the last of the Looney Tunes compilation feature films that began with The Bugs Bunny/ Roadrunner Movie (1979). These films combined classic Looney Tunes cartoons of the 1940's, 50's and 60's, with brand new animation made specifically for these new movies. This is probably the second best of these films (after The Bugs Bunny/ Road Runner Movie) and just an excellent movie all around. This movie incorporates many really great short films and often times these are cartoons that don't receive as much constant praise as the ones used in the previous movies. That does not mean they are lesser, but rather that they aren't the ones you see mentioned everywhere. These classic cartoons are just as hilarious as they were in their day and are beautifully put together in this compilation. The new animated scenes, while you can argue aren't as great as the classic shorts (whatever will be?) are very well done and highly entertaining in their own right. To add to these new scenes is the great musical soundtrack. If the music in these new scenes reminds one of what is heard in various classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, that is because the music used here was actually the Carl Stalling and Milt Franklin scores for various classic Looney Tunes. This makes these new scenes feel much more like the classic cartoons. This is a spooky themed story using spooky themed cartoons making it a perfect treat for this time of year.


The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) Considered by many film critics to be the greatest Spanish movie of all time, this movie is truly a masterpiece. Though this movie may have a subtle political message about dictator Francisco Franco Bahamonde, it still holds so much more for those who can't understand this commentary. The children's reaction to seeing Frankenstein (1931) speaks to us about the power of cinema. This is especially true of one little girl named Ana (Ana Torrent) who begins to feel a strong kinship with the creature after seeing the movie. Not being able to understand why the creature drowned the little girl in the movie, she asks her big sister to explain. Her sister tells him that what she saw was fake, besides the sister had seen the creature and he is now a spirit. This explanation causes Ana to show kindness to a wounded solider she finds. Though I won't talk about what this leads to, this part of the story shows how beautifully simple many children view the world and how it is sad we have to lose that. All in all this is a beautiful movie that never fails to move me.

  Psycho (1960) and The Birds (1963) Despite how disturbing and intense Alfred Hitchcock's movies get, he only directed two real horror movies. Not shockingly these two movies show the master at his best. What makes them work so well is that neither really starts as a horror movie. In fact The Birds begins as a romantic comedy and Psycho begins as a character study of Marion Crane (Janet Leigh). This helps create much more of a shock when the horror happens. These two movies are legitimately creepy and I still feel a little uneasy when seeing a group of birds outside a window. These movies have been dissected so many times, that there is not much I can say that hasn't already been said. However if you for any reason haven't seen them see them as soon as possible, they are brilliantly made movies by a master filmmaker and still retain all their power today.


This is not a list of my favorite Halloween movies, nor is it a list of the best. These are just simply some movies, I really like and hope you will too. I plan to recommend more Halloween movies in one of these posts each year so if one you really like doesn't show up here maybe it will next year.


-Michael J. Ruhland