Movie Review

31 Days of Halloween: Opera (1987)

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Happy Halloween! I hope you’re planning something spooky for this evening. Thanks to everyone who has been following along with my 31 Days of Halloween. For this final day, I wanted to discuss Opera, a film by Dario Argento and my favorite movie in the giallo tradition.

Opera Poster

IMDB’s Description: “A young opperata is stalked by a deranged fan bent on killing the people associated with her to claim her for himself.”

This year I discovered a new love of a very specific type of horror/thriller film: the giallo. These Italian-made horror flicks blend mystery elements with grisly horror, and I have just been devouring them. Opera has quickly become one of my favorites because of the interesting imagery and unique plot. There are some interesting allusions to The Phantom of the Opera, but don’t expect a grand love story here. Instead, we get to delve deep into the mind of a very twisted murderer trying to recapture something he never truly had.

Thanks again to everyone who followed this blog series! I hope this is a fun, memorable Halloween for you all!

Next up, I plan to return to book reviews for a while – and yes, there will definitely be an emphasis on Christmas books!

Movie Review

31 Days of Halloween: They Look Like People (2015)

Tiffany Renee Harmon

I love when horror movies make you question the reality of what you’re seeing. Unreliable main characters can be both frustrating and fascinating as you try to piece together what is going on internally and externally (and whether the two are one and the same). That’s why my penultimate pick for 31 Days of Halloween is They Look Like People.

They Look Like People Poster

IMDB’s Description: “Suspecting that people around him are turning into evil creatures, a troubled man questions whether to protect his only friend from an impending war, or from himself.”

This is a movie that I don’t want to say too much about, but I want to encourage everyone to watch it. It’s only about 80 minutes long, but it is fascinating. You’ll spend the whole movie trying to figure out if you should be as skeptical of the main character as the other characters seem to be or if he is the only one who truly understands what is going on. This is another horror movie with a fantastic ending and a surprising amount of emotion.

Movie Review

31 Days of Halloween: Witch-Hunt (2017)

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Day 29 of my 31 Days of Halloween goes to another independent horror film: Witch-Hunt. This is a really interesting movie structured around a game, and at times, the movie itself feels like a game. When something sinister seems to be happening, the characters have to decide if one of them is really a witch. As a viewer, you’ll be playing along from home.

Witch-Hunt Poster

IMDB’s Description: “When five young women gather to play a witch-themed board game, they begin to suspect one of them may actually be a witch.”

I love the interesting structure used in this film. With each round of the game, we learn more about one of the players/characters. This is one movie that, upon finishing, I immediately felt like I needed to watch it again. Sure enough, there were lots of clues and subtle references to what might be going on that I had missed the first time. This movie really isn’t scary, but it’s psychologically interesting. You’ll definitely be wondering if you’re just caught up in the hysteria of witches or if magic really is afoot.

Movie Review

31 Days of Halloween: Hell House LLC (2015)

Tiffany Renee Harmon

For Day 28 of 31 Days of Halloween, I have selected Hell House LLC, one of the best independent horror movies I have ever seen! This mockumentary-style found-footage film really stands out from others in this genre. It’s tense and creepy but judicious with its use of jump scares. The people who made this film definitely understand that sometimes subtle things a bit out of place are just as unsettling as something jumping out at you.

Hell House LLC Poster

IMDB’s Description: “Five years after an unexplained malfunction causes the death of 15 tour-goers and staff on the opening night of a Halloween haunted house tour, a documentary crew travels back to the scene of the tragedy to find out what really happened.”

I don’t know about you, but I love haunted house attractions. They give you a true adrenaline rush even though you know deep down that everything will be okay. But as I visit haunted houses/theme parks/rides/etc I always wonder how long it would take for someone to recognize a genuine emergency. This film takes that fear and cranks it up to the next level. This movie about a group of people who are creating a haunted house attraction only to find that the fear is a little too real is one of the best horror movies I’ve seen in a long time.

Movie Review

31 Days of Halloween: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Serial killers are a fascinating bunch, but one is more iconic than most of the others: Hannibal Lecter. That’s why The Silence of the Lambs is my Day 27 pick for 31 Days of Halloween.

The Silence of the Lambs Poster

IMDB’s Description: “A young FBI cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.”

Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a cannibalistic psychologist, is no typical adversary. He’s practically an antihero and one of the most fascinating characters in the horror genre. This film is part horror and part mystery. It’s a true thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s one of the longest movies to make my list, but it’s well worth the time to see Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jodi Foster in these iconic roles.

Movie Review

31 Days of Halloween: The Sixth Sense (1999)

Tiffany Renee Harmon

My Day 26 pick for 31 Days of Halloween is another ghost story: The Sixth Sense. This is the film that brought us the iconic line, “I see dead people.” There’s a lot of interesting psychology in this film, and it’s one of the best ghost stories out there.

The Sixth Sense Poster

IMDB’s Description: “A boy who communicates with spirits seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist.”

This is another movie that’s worth watching just for the interesting ending. Still, this is a great psychologically-driven horror movie. It’s a bit disorienting at times as you try to piece everything together. There’s definitely a reason that this one has risen to iconic status, and I don’t want to give too much away just in case you haven’t seen it yet! This is perfect for those looking for something spooky but not terribly scary for Halloween.

 

Movie Review

31 Days of Halloween: The Others (2001)

Tiffany Renee Harmon

My Day 25 pick for 31 Days of Halloween is a unique ghost story that would be great for those who don’t typically love horror: The Others. It’s creepy without being truly scary, and it has a fantastic ending!

The Others Poster

IMDB’s Description: “A woman who lives in a darkened old house with her two photosensitive children becomes convinced that her family home is haunted.”

This movie stars Nicole Kidman and is a fascinating ghost story. There’s so much about family and motherhood in this film, and Kidman does a great job at being the overbearing matriarch who still elicits sympathy. Like I mentioned earlier, this movie is worth watching just for the fantastic ending. It’s a really unique twist on the haunted house genre.