The Honeycut: Top five movies to watch this Halloween

If you haven’t checked the calendar in a while, Halloween is this weekend. As a horror author and a co-host of a horror movie podcast, it is a busy season for me. Most days, I only have time to watch horror movies for the Midnight Terrors Podcast. However, around this time of year, I like to fit in some extra screen time. So, here are five horror movies that always put me in the Halloween spirit.

‘House of 1,000 Corpses’

For the longest time, I’d always forget this movie took place on Halloween, even though that is a major part of the plot. A group of travelers wind up spending the night with a psychotic hillbilly family, and absolute mayhem ensues. The guy from “The Office” gets turned into a merman, cops get ruthlessly executed, and it all culminates in some psychedelic supernatural chaos. Rob Zombie has a twisted mind, and it is on full display in his debut film, “House of 1,000 Corpses.”

‘Land of the Dead’

Believe it or not, there aren’t too many zombie movies that take place around Halloween. I did some quick research, and the original “Night of the Living Dead” takes place on October 1, so it’s close.

While that one is a classic, “Land of the Dead” is my favorite zombie movie, and what is Halloween without a zombie or two? It’s never specified when “Land of the Dead” takes place, but everyone is wearing jackets, it looks cold, and there’s a bunch of fog. Therefore, I’m saying it takes place in the fall.

On top of that, I like how this film gives us a look into the world after the initial undead outbreak. Society has begun to rebuild itself. The rich lock themselves away in a skyscraper, while the have-nots live in the surrounding slums. We follow a team of scavengers who go out into the post-apocalyptic wasteland to gather supplies for the city. Of course, things go wrong, and the zombies eventually break into the city and begin eating everyone. 10/10. Add this one to your list.

‘Late Night with the Devil’

What happens when a late-night talk show host brings a possessed girl onto his show for a ratings boost? Nothing good. What’d you expect?

From the TV show setting to the wildness when everything goes awry, this is just an excellent horror movie. I always enjoy seeing horror films in media settings, like TV or radio stations, and this one does it best. Plus, it all takes place on… Halloween.

Rob Zombie’s ‘Halloween’ and ‘Halloween II’

We bring it full circle. We started with a Rob Zombie movie and we’re ending with two. I never really think of myself as a die-hard Rob Zombie fan. His music is decent, and I saw him perform live once, which was a blast. But I guess he would have to be one of my favorite modern horror directors.

While the original “Halloween” was a smarter slasher, leaving much of the violence to your imagination, Zombie ramps everything up and brings plenty of blood, vulgarity, and nudity to the franchise. He really drags it down into the gutter, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

For years, Michael Myers looked like a normal guy. He could be anyone. Not here. Tyler Mane plays Michael in these. He is a jacked giant and takes the character to a new level of brutality.

I especially like how psychological “Halloween II” gets. Not only that, but most of it also takes place before Halloween. The shots of decorated Haddonfield, as well as Michael wandering about the autumn countryside in the days leading up to the holiday, always get me in the spirit. I make sure to watch these two films every year.

Whatever your favorite movies are, throw them on and enjoy. From R. Jacob Honeybrook and TBM Horror, happy Halloween!