#31DaysofSamhain Movie List

‘Tis the season as they say, and as part of my #31daysofsamhain instagram challenge I asked people to posts photos of their favorite films for this time of year. I thought it only fair that I share with you some of my own. This list contains some of the weird, wild, and wonderful films for the season. As most of my regular readers know I went to film school at NYU for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees, and I thought I’d put some of those skills to use here for you now. Some of these films you can find on Netflix (If you want to take a break from watching Luke Cage,) and some will require a bit of searching, but I promise it’s worth it. The are witches and wizards, vampires old and black, ancestors, voodoo stuff, a couple of musicals, and some scary stuff too. So here we go, in no particular order my #31daysofsamhain movie list.

1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)- This classic film continued the world’s love affair with zombies. It was George A. Romero’s original masterpiece. Zombies don’t really have anything to do with real Vodoo. However, what makes this movie especially relevant today is it’s message about racial oppression. It’s hero is a strong black man who rises up against a world gone mad. It’s tagline was “If it doesn’t scare you, you’re already dead!”
2. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)- There are many versions of this classic tale, but this is one of my favorites. It’s shows you Gary Oldman as Dracula, at his best and at his worst.
3. Rosemary’s Baby (1968) – Set in the Dakota amidst dark gargoyles and tannis root, this film is a legend.

   

   Directed by film legend Roman Polanski it tells a dark story of Satanism and horror. Bonus- Ruth Gordon as weird and wonderful as she always is.

4. Gothic (1986) – Ken Russell’s masterpiece origin story about that fateful night with Mary Shelley, Byron, and others where the monstrous creation of Frankenstein was truly born. This is one of my favorite films of all time. Brilliantly acted by Natasha Richardson, Gabriel Byrne and others this touches at the true birth of darkness.
5. Lair of the White Worm (1988)- This film comes from a short story by Bram Stoker, the creator of Dracula. Snakes and ancient Celtic legend take center stage in yet another wonderful treasure directed by Ken Russell. Bonus – A young Peter Capaldi, now better known as the latest face of Dr. Who.
6. Fall of the Louse of Usher (2002)- Another of Ken Russell’s masterpieces, this film is required viewing at my house. A modern day retelling of the Edgar Allen Poe tale, here we find Roderick Usher as a rock star committed to an asylum. Starring Russell himself and his lovely and talented wife Lisi Tribble, it features one of my favorite film lines of all time, uttered over a drunken psychic “The medium is possessed by spirits.” https://youtu.be/xV4SUd2EdeQ
7. House of Usher (1960) – The anniversary of Vincent Price’s death is on October 25. I can think of no better way of honoring this King of the macabre than by watching his films. He is probably best known for his portrayl of Roderick Usher in the House of Usher. This is a must see classic.
8. House of Wax (1953) – This was the first 3D feature produced in Hollywood. It starts Vincent Price and tells a gruesome story of murder and revenge.
9. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)- A number of the films on this list feature Susan Saradon, but to some of us she will always be Janet, dammit. This is the cult film performance gold standard. Many of us literally cut our teeth ( i fell off the stage and actually chipped a tooth) jumping to the left, and stepping to the right. When I posted the announcement about #31daysofsamhain someone responded with a clip of the time warp. I could not have considered anything more appropriate. Here’s a clip of the legendary 8th street show where I used to frequent, featured in the film Fame. 
10. The Holy Mountain (1973) – To many, myself included, Alejandro Jodorowsky will always be the master. For him cinema is magick, and to watch his films is to see true sacred grace. The Holy Mountain, La Montana Sagrada, is the master’s journey through tarot and enlightenment. It is both humorous and powerful, seriously worth watching if only for the scene where the frogs and the lizards reenact the conquest of the “new world.”
11. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)- This film was recently remade by Guillermo DelToro but I will always favor the original. How can you not love a film with insanity, mystery, and little men coming out of the fireplace?
12. Nosferatu (1922)- The world’s first vamipre movie this is shrouded in both mystery and curse. As weird and

    

    wild as this film is, it also has an occult connection. Director Enrico Dieckmann and production designer Albin Grau were both known occultists. Blogger Kevin Dixon writes in his post The Vampire Nosferatu: the Torquay Connections ” Grau inserted occult messages and symbols into ‘Nosferatu’. One example was the contract delivered by Count Orlok which was filled with hermetic and alchemical symbols…. In 1925 Grau participated in the Weida Conference, an international meeting of occult leaders. Inevitably, Torquay resident Aleister Crowley also attended, lending his unique divisive anarchy to proceedings – Grau sided with Aleister.”

13. Young Frankenstein (1974)- In my traditions sometimes the face of death can be funny. So I thought it fitting to include a comedy classic on this list. Gene Wilder is the grandson of the original creator, a Dr. Frank-En-Steen who tries to put aside his true nature but ends up making/becoming a monster in the end. Best Scene – Puttin On The Ritz dance number with Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle.
14. Don’t Look Now (1973)- From a story by Daphne Du Maurier, this Nicholas Roeg classic features beautiful locales, rumors of real sex scenes, psychosis and psychics. If you haven’t seen it yet, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
15. Poltergeist (1982)- This film belongs on this list even if it’s only because it serves as a cautionary tale not to build on a sacred burial ground. It features the classic line ” They’re here.”
16. Angel Heart (1987) – For years this was cinema’s voodoo face. People would sit in workshops and ask if Voodoo in New Orleans was like in this film. No, not really, but this film does feature a good story, and a cautionary tale about making deals with the devil. * Available on Netflix

This is a long list, and I don’t want to short change anyone, so please read the rest in my next blog post.

And if you have enjoyed what you read here please remember to share,share, share ! And put your favorite Samhain films in the comments below and tag them #31daysofsamhain on instagram too !