All Hallows Eve Movie

You know, Halloween is pretty awesome. It's the only time of the year where you can get skull motifs at almost any store. Not to mention, candies go on sale and you get to be someone else. Also, it's the time of the year where horror movie characters gets the spotlight. So to honor that, I've put together a must watch psycho-thriller movie (with a horror-ish touch) list. For example, Usual Suspects is a great thriller movie, but it's not that scary. FYI, I don't care much for movies that makes you sit through 2 hours of random dude with chainsaw/sickle/other bladed weapons that would draw immediate attention if caught running around with, chasing after some not-so-bright people whose weapon of choice is nonstop annoying screaming. Yeah...I'll leave that for some other horror flick lists. One last thing, I think it goes without saying that movies on this list are probably all rated-R's. Kids, go watch Casper or Harry Potter.

1.  Silence of the Lambs

Sorry to be totally predictable and all, but this movie is that good. Won the Oscar, too. Speaking of which, since when did psycho-thrillers stop being on the Academy Awards fave list? I don't think I've seen one take home an Oscar recently.

2.  Hannibal

Being a Thomas Harris fan, it's inevitable for all four Hannibal Lecter movies to make this (somewhat biased) list. Did you know that the ending of the Hannibal-the-movie is completely different from Hannibal-the-book? Usually I get pretty disappointed when a plot is drastically changed, but the change in the movie was so well written that I actually liked both endings.  

3.  Seven

2 words: Total. Classic. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman are pretty awesome, but *bleep* does some fantastic job as a *bleep*.

4.  Shutter Island

Is the ending really what it seems? or is there more to that? For the ending to be that straightforward, there're serious plot holes, which means that there's more... High five to you if you can crack it.

5.  Hannibal Rising

Who wants to know how Hannibal became, well, the Hannibal we know? If your answer is yes, this is the movie to watch. Every villain you develop a love-hate feeling has a good character development. Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter just have that.

6.  Red Dragon

This movie probably has the least Hannibal Lecter appearance, but still a great thriller movie. I would say it's worth watching.

7.  Identity

A mixture of And Then There Were None and The Minds of Billy Milligan. I bet you won't guess who the mastermind is...

Sidenote -- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Tim Burton: check. Johnny Depp + Helena Bonham Carter: check. Sacha Baron Cohen as Italian barber singing with superthick Italian accent: check. Great art direction: check. Highly recommended for those who can stomach (mostly) Johnny Depp singing while splattering gallons of fake blood and can handle some serious black humor. If you're going to watch it, I hope meatpie isn't your favorite dish. ;)

Happy Halloween!

xx-N