The list is endless when it comes to our favorite Hallow’s Eve movies. We thought about the obscure, the unwatchable, and of course those spooky thrillers that are embalmed with absurdity. But the time came for us to sit down beneath the moonlight and fully realize our top 4 scary movies. So if you’re looking for something totally sinister to make your Samhain celebration more memorable, we’ve got you covered.
Fearless Vampire Killers (Polanski, 1967) is an absolute gem- Bumbling professor Abronsius and his clumsy apprentice Alfred are vampire hunters, who are summoned to put their skills to the test. One night they come across the innkeeper's daughter, Sarah (Sharon Tate), who is whisked away by Count Von Krolock (and his gay son Herbert), leaving the heartbroken & disgruntled Jewish townspeople no choice but to fight back or become vampires themselves. Oy! What a masterpiece.
Sharon's tragic fate, followed by Polanski’s awful disgrace does tend to weigh heavily on one's appreciation of this gorgeous film. We beg you still to indulge, as Fearless Vampire Killers is such a unique cinematic experience rich with that childlike wonder which is missing from the modern day horror genre.
I Lunghi Capelli Della Morte (The Long Hair of Death, 1964) is Antonio Margheriti’s eerie classic. Amidst a crumbling 15th century village, a woman is burned at the stake for her unspeakable witchy deeds. Although her lamenting older daughter knows the truth behind the execution - the lord's sexual desire for her mother. Barbara Steele’s performance is soul-stirring as usual, and the soundtrack is also quite bewitching. You can watch the full movie here.
Satanico Pandemonium (Gilberto Martínez Solares, 1975) is a sadistic Mexican nunsploitation piece that we’ve been obsessed with for decades. This forgotten cult classic puts the viewer under a spell. A young and admirable nun named Sister María (Cecilia Pezet) meets the devil in the forest and is tempted by visions of forbidden sexual fantasies, many which she puts to action. Although come prepared, as Satanico Pandemonium is tainted with plenty of blood and blasphemy!
And finally, we wanted to recommend LAMB —it’s a new horror film by Valdimar Jóhannsson. This piece is an emotional whirlwind, with an illuminated performance by Noomi Rapace + an equally as moving performance by Hilmir Snær Guðnason —from Baltasar Kormákur’s queer Icelandic dark comedy (circa 20 years back), 101 Reykjavík -which is a film we fucking absolutely adore + love to recommend, too.