Friday Frights: Spooky Underrated Movies

Since Halloween approaches, I thought I’d do some posts this October for the Spooky Season. First up is a list of lesser known spooky movies that have a good Halloween vibe without getting too scary.

My Top Ten Spooky Underrated Films

1. Frailty: This one is a dark psychological serial killer/crime film with a very interesting twist. You are either going to love it or hate it. Starring Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey and Powers Boothe
2. Stir of Echoes: A top-notch, creepy psychological horror ghost story starring Kevin Bacon. A real gem.
3. The Crow: This is the original movie starring the late Brandon Lee. A dark tragic tale, with a strong gothic vibe and one of my favourites to watch around Halloween.
4. The Others: A solid gothic-style post-WWII ghost story starring Nicole Kidman. If you liked the tense creepiness of the Sixth Sense, you should like this one.
5. The Frighteners: Directed by Peter Jackson and starring Michael J. Fox, this one is a horror comedy, but has some nice jump scares, with the tension ramping up at the end. A terrific movie.
6. Bubba Ho-Tep: A dark horror comedy starring Bruce Campbell (which is enough reason to watch in my opinion) that mixes Elvis Presley with undead mummies. A fantastic movie.
7. The Crazies (2010 remake): I haven’t watched the original Romero version, but I enjoyed the remake starring Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell. Residents of a small town deal with a strange zombie outbreak and just try to get out alive.
8. Crimson Peak: If you like gothic horror this movie is for you. Very stylish, very creepy, very gothic, and enjoyable. One or two jump scares and lovely tension keeps you engaged. Directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain.
9. Sweeney Todd: If you are in the mood for a horror musical this one is a nice atmospheric, Victorian creep show.
10. The Corpse Bride: An animated Tim Burton film, this is a slightly creepy and enjoyable film full of great visuals and terrific music. Great if you’re in the mood for a lighter Halloween watch.