TCM Imports: Timeless Favorites and Hidden Gems of World Cinema (2025)

 

One problem I often have with a lot of American writings about international cinema is that often these writings are too academic and aimed at intellectuals or film scholars. Though these writings can often be very well written and insightful, they unfortunately perpetuate the idea that these films can only be enjoyed by intellectuals and are not accessible to the average movie goer. This is a fully false perception as international cinema is just as accessible to those who loved modern Hollywood blockbusters and can be enjoyed by anyone who likes movies.

 TCM host, Alicia Malone's new book takes an unpretentious and wholly accessible look at films from all over the world. This book would be a perfect introduction to anyone who has never seen a foreign film. Here she selects 52 movies including well established classics and little-known gems that even well versed cinephiles have never seen. While it is impossible to ever make a list of the 52 greatest international films, this is a very well-made list that includes many wonderful films that every movie fan should experience. It is also a very well-rounded list that is sure to have something to please any movie fan. The movies included range from the silent era to just a few years ago, from art films to fun genre flicks and from a wide variety of countries. 

I have never read Alicia Malone's previous books and am most familiar with her as a TCM host. As such I was very impressed by her writing style. Her writing style is a lot of fun to read, while being quite insightful at the same time. The way she writes about each movie here will make you automatically want to watch it as her joy and love of movies can easily be felt. At the same time, she provides a very insightful look at each of these films. She provides background information about the filmmakers and how these movies came to be. She also often puts the film into their context in film history and their roles in various film movements. Yet she does so in a way that never alienates newcomers. As such she creates a book that it a lot of fun for those unfamiliar with international cinema, while also being a great read for cinephiles. 

Movie Review: The Room Next Door (La habitación de al lado)

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

An absolutely lovely film. 

 Pedro Almodóvar is one of my favorite filmmakers and his first feature length English language movie (though he has directed some short films in English) does not disappoint. Almodóvar is known for always bringing out the best in his actresses as well as working with the best actresses in movies. Here he works with two incredible great actresses Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. Needless to say, these two give wonderful performances here. Not only are both of them at the top of their game here but they also play off each other perfectly. You completely believe the friendship between these two and feel a deep connection whenever they share the screen. This makes it so that you grow deeply attached to both these characters as well and your heart breaks with them and you feel both their sadness and joy. Yet this movie is not simply made of big dramatic moments. It is in fact the quieter and less eventful moments that really make the film work. Almodóvar understands that when you have great actresses like these, sometimes you just want to stop and spend time with them. This is helped by smart dialogue (for a filmmaker who doesn't work much in English, the dialogue is often perfect here) that the actresses handle like the pros they are. This dialogue often takes a deep meditative look at death, while celebrating life at the same time. This manages to be a film about death that is not only heartbreaking but uplifting at the same time. The result is something incredible touching, intelligent and poetic. 

The music by Alberto Iglesias (who also did music for such Almodóvar films, The Flower of My Secret (1995), Live Flesh (1997), All About My Mother (1999), Talk to Her (2002), Bad Education (2004), Volver (2006), Broken Embraces (2009) and The Skin I Live In (2011)) is also really beautiful and captures the film's meditative feel. 

A real must watch. 

Movie Review: Robot Dreams

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

An incredibly moving animated film. 

Without a single word of dialogue, this seemingly simple film will move you to tears by the end. The story starts off as simple as can be. A dog is lonely and in need of a friend. He buys and builds a robot and the two quickly grow a real close connection. These scenes of the two having fun could have been released as a short film and been a pure delight. However, the story does not end there, and the movie goes on to be something much more profound and beautiful. I expected to enjoy this movie, but I did not expect to be moved as deeply as I was. This movie goes from the warm hearted and funny movie it starts as to being a deeply intelligent and thoughtful mediation on loneliness, friendship and the passage of time. What is amazing is that for a movie about a dog and a robot, this mediation is very open and honest about these themes. It does not simplify anything and among the happy and sad scenes there are many that are bittersweet. This is something that is especially true about the passage of time. What happens as time passes is something more complex than simply happy or sad and this movie is unafraid to look at this with this complexity. While there are scenes that we might hope could have gone a different way, these scenes are perfectly honest about all of them. The look at friendship is equally complex and intelligent. Any close relationship has its moments of joy and of sadness. This movie captures both of these feelings perfectly. As for loneliness anyone who has ever felt lonely can attest to how accurate this movie is. 

Yet this is an animated family movie about a dog and a robot. Even with the complex emotional scenes this film also has all the joys you could want from this type of movie. The early scenes after the robot are built are incredibly joyous and this joy is completely infectious. As the movie ventures into more complex territory, it still keeps its sense of humor. While not always laugh out loud funny the humor is creative and fun. Therefore, it will keep a smile on your face. This whole movie is also full of great imagination and the whole film is full of pure and awe-inspiring imagination. This imagination also keeps this movie very accessible to young kids, even with its deeper themes. 

This is director/writer Pablo Berger's first foray into animation and hopefully not his last. Berger has a love of silent cinema and even directed the modern silent film, Blancanieves (2012). Here again he masters of making a modern film using this truly timeless form of storytelling. He stated that making Robot Dreams, he made the crew study the silent films of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. While this film has its own unique feel the influence of these great artists can truly be felt. The great character design work was done by Daniel Fernández Casas. Casas is best known for his work with Illumination having done great work on such movies as Sing 2 (2021) and The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019).

This is a must-see for all animation fans. 

Movie Review: Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow (Inspector Sun y la maldición de la viuda negra)

 

Michael's Movie Grade: C

An okay animated film from Spain. 

This movie is a comedy starring an inept detective. Because of this it can feel quite similar to many films based around similar characters. While it may not be as funny as The Pink Panther movies, it does have its moments. There are not many laugh out loud moments here, but there are definitely some gags that made me smile or giggle. The main character is a fun one and his ineptness as well as his misplaced self-confidence, lead to a lot of fun. His relationship with his sidekick was also quite good. While the mystery may be very similar to what we have seen before, it has enough to keep its audience entertained. The animation is honestly quite good, and I very much enjoyed the design work as well.

Unfortunately, many of the side characters here, come off as very bland and boring. The film also never really took advantage of its interesting setting. Also, even at less than an hour and half this movie can feel longer than it needs to be. 

This is not a great movie by any means, but it is entertaining enough.   

Movie Review: Strange Way of Life (Extraña forma de vida)

 

Note: This new short film is currently in movie theaters paired with another short film from director Pedro Almodóvar, The Human Voice (2020).

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A wonderful short film from one of the best living filmmakers.

I admit I am biased when it comes to this film, as Pedro Almodóvar is one of my favorite filmmakers and I love westerns. In this his first western, he both embraces and subverts (after all there is a homosexual romance at the heart of this film) the conventions of the genre. The result is a movie that is both purely western and an Almodóvar film. The focus of this movie is not on the gunfights or action but rather the complex relationship between the two main characters. These are two cowboys who are seeing each other for the first time in 25 years and soon find their lives once again intertwined. While the romantic tension between them is very prevalent, it is anything but a happy reunion as the circumstances revolving around their reunion is anything but happy (I dare not give away much more about the story here). This is a very dialogue heavy film and perhaps what is most impressive is just how great this dialogue is. For only this filmmaker's second film in English, his knack for great dialogue translates perfectly to this language. In fact, the dialogue here is incredibly smart and thought provoking. It is also incredibly natural and never once sounds pretentious. This great dialogue is truly enhanced by incredible performances from Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal. Both of them bring a real humanity to their roles. Despite the sheer amount of dialogue, this movie is also a pure visual treat. There are plenty of moments of great visual storytelling especially in the flashback scene. Also the visuals in this movie recall some of the all-time great westerns and Pedro Almodóvar's fondness for the genre and the great filmmakers who worked in it are obvious just for some of the very cinematic shots in this movie. This film perfectly captures the wonderful visual beauty that can be achieved in a western setting, yet the visuals always feel in service to the story. 

This is a real cinematic treat and another great example of why Pedro Almodóvar is one of the best living filmmakers. 

 

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. 

Movie Review: Mummies (Momias)

 

Michael's Movie Grade: C+

An enjoyable animated family film from Spain.

This movie has quite a bit in its favor. The main characters are quite likable. Their personalities may not be complex, but we do get to quickly like and find these characters easy to relate to. Why we should like them is set up well from the beginning. For our main male character, we have what is mostly a slapstick comedy scene but one that ends with him giving his own groceries to a lady, after accidently destroying hers and not complaining one bit. This is a little moment, but on that sets up the character very well. We see that beneath his ego and how he outwardly seems to be looking out for number one, he truly has a good heart. With our female character, we quickly see how despite her rebelling against her father, she does really care about him. The villain may also not be complex, but he is the type of over the top cartoony villain that is simply fun to watch anyway. The story, while not original, moves by at a fast pace and the hour and a half is done before you know it. It also does its job and hits each of the notes it needs to. The comedy may not be laugh out loud hilarious but it worked quite well and made me smile quite a few times. Plus there were very few jokes that really fell flat. While this is definitely a lower budget animated movie, it looks quite nice. It may not be Disney or Dreamworks, but it is nice to look at. The songs are not especially memorable but they are pleasant to listen to and do a good job moving the story forward.

However this film is very similar to many other animated family movies and because of that it is one that you probably won't remember well a couple years from now. Also because of this familiarity, you can easily figure out how the story is going to end, while it is still being set up. Also as much as I liked the main characters, the supporting cast comes off as really bland and boring. 

This is not a great film or a new animated classic by any means but it does its job and provides you with a nice trip to the movies. 

Movie Review: Official Competition (Competencia oficial)

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A hilarious comedy from Spain. 

This movie is based off a simple but effective premise. An eccentric arthouse director (Penelope Cruz) decides to put two actors who would obviously have friction on the set in the same film, hoping to catch that friction in her movie. These two actors are a pretentious actor who views himself as a great artist and above common audiences who "don't understand" his art (Oscar Martínez), and an egotistical and very commercial movie star, who is most concerned with awards and living the movie star life (Antonio Banderas). Yet from this simple premise directors Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat (who also wrote this film with Gastón Duprat) create an incredibly smart and entertaining movie that also keeps us not knowing what will happen next. Of course, a comedy like this heavily depends on its stars. Luckily for us the three leads are at the top of their game here. They not only make these incredibly over the top characters somehow believable, but they are simply having so much fun making this film. I will say as much as I love both Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas, I have rarely seen them have this much fun before a movie camera. It is simply impossible not to get swept up into the sheer energy and fun in these performances and this guaranties that its audience will have a great time. It doesn't hurt of course that the script is incredibly funny. To do comedy as over the top as this film is always dangerous, because when it fails it can really fail. However this movie shows just how delightful over the top comedy can be when done right. I laughed out loud several times watching this film and so did the rest of the audience in the theater with me. The humor became especially daring towards the end when it took a very risky dark turn but one that worked very well. 

This is simply a great movie and extremely funny.   

Movie Review: Parallel Mothers (Madres paralelas)

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

Pedro Almodóvar is one of my favorite directors and Parallel Mothers is one of his best films. 

The basic storyline of this film sounds like it could feel a bit like a soap opera, but as you watch the movie it does not come off this way at all. The reason for this is the pure sincerity and honesty put into this movie. In other words, this movie feels completely real without a single moment that rings false. Much of the reason for this comes from the main character herself. In lesser hands this character would have simply gone through the same emotions any movie character would in the same situation with no more depth than that. However, this character deals with many conflicting emotions This is a fully fleshed out character who overcomes any melodramatic overtones of the plot and becomes a completely real person. Much of this is due not only to Almodóvar's excellent script but an incredible performance by Penélope Cruz (her 7th film with Almodóvar). Almodóvar has referred to Cruz as muse and two always bring out the absolute best in each other every time they work together. This could not be clearer than in this film as Cruz gives perhaps the finest performance of her career. This is not an easy role to play but she plays it too perfection, both capturing the broad moments and the subtle with seemingly effortless ease. Not that she is the only one in cast worth noting as the entire cast is perfect in their roles. Young Milena Smit (in only her second feature film) is incredible as Ana, a young woman who our main character meets at the hospital while pregnant, but who will come to play a much larger role in her life. Smit and Cruz share incredible chemistry with each other and really light up the screen whenever they share it. This is certainly an actress to pay attention to. Pedro Almodóvar's script is incredibly well handled. This is not a movie in which you can predict anything that is going to happen. Yet Almodóvar wisely avoids anything that would make it feel too melodramatic. Instead, everything that happens no matter how unlikely feels like the most natural thing in the world. There are times when you can almost forget you are watching a fictional movie but instead feel you are watching the lives of these two women. This is also one of Pedro Almodóvar's most political films. This too is handled masterfully. It never feels like the characters stop to sermonize to you but instead these political points are told in the most natural and unobtrusive way. They are also incredibly intelligent and will leave you with food for thought as you leave the theater. While they do deal with the political history of Spain, you don't have to be familiar with that history to be affected by the powerful message behind this movie because it speaks not only to specific political events but great human truths that are often ignored and those are universal and timeless. All of this leads to an ending image that is simply cinematic perfection. 

This may be my favorite movie of 2021 and it is certainly a must see for any other fans of one of Spain's finest directors. 

Movie Review: Pain and Glory (Dolor y gloria)

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

A deeply personal and moving film.

This movie is an extremely autobiographical one for director/writer Pedro Almodóvar. It is rare to find any film as deeply personal as this. That is why it is so powerful though. Every emotion is real and completely heartfelt. Though this is technically a work of fiction there is not one false note in the entire movie. At one point a character states that art is one of the few occupations in which pain does not hinder but rather enhances your work. If we are to except this as fact, this film certainly serves as perfect evidence. This film may be the director's finest work and it almost feels as if all his art was leading up to this one film.

The movie has a true Fellini-esque quality to it, yet it never feels as if it is imitating that great director. Like almost all great art it is inspired by other art but never directly copies it. The Fellini influence can be felt in the use of childhood flashbacks interconnecting with present day. We see more and more with each flashback how our main character's childhood effected the artist he would become. Each flashback also becomes more emotional poignant as the film goes on as we begin to understand why this device is being used and how the story would not be as effective were it not told like this. These scenes are mixed in perfectly with the modern day story and there is never a moment where it feels forced or pointless. This is a work of a seasoned filmmaker who has truly mastered his craft and always maintains complete control over his art.

The title Pain and Glory could not be more fitting. This film is truly about those two things and how glory, fame and success are unable to take away the pain. As our main character's glory fades the pain becomes all that is left for him. However this movie is far from being just a depressing dirge. This is not simply a movie about feeling pain, but also about learning to understand and deal with the pain you have. The message of this film is one of endurance and self-discovery. This is perfectly shown in an incredible ending, I will not give away here.

Pedro Almodóvar is not the only one responsible for this film being great. Antonio Banderas gives one of the finest performance of his career, and perhaps this is the culmination of all the great work he has done with this director. Alberto Iglesias' musical score and José Luis Alcaine's cinematography also deserve signaling out.

This movie represents cinematic art at its finest, and is definitely a must see for all film buffs.

-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