There's Spooky Everywhere

For me, this Halloween was one of the slowest in recent memory. I spent this past Friday night celebrating my cousin's wedding, so my party energy store was pretty much all but depleted as soon as last night rolled around. Which I felt very ready to embrace. During my years at Bennington, Halloween was a big event. My house hosted the annual Halloween party, and spent weeks planning the theme and decorations. Last year I got off work at 11:30, raced to the bars, and woke up covered in glitter. Don't get me wrong, I love a good party, especially one that involves dressing up. However, this year I decided to tone things down a bit. Maybe chock things up to the time change, but I was feeling a bit more introverted. I bought myself some snacks, lit some candles, and spent the night with Marion Crane and Norman Bates. 

As I watched Psycho for roughly the thousandth time, I thought about the subtle role that darkness and the macabre have played in my life, starting from when I was very young. I find suspense and thriller movies (especially Hitchcock) comforting, and often watch them when I'm sick. Film Noir is my movie version of mac and cheese. I've also always loved graveyards, likely because the Vermont landscape is peppered with old and forgotten burial sites. Many of the gravestones are so old that small forested areas have grown around them. The last time my sister flew to Vermont from Los Angeles, the first thing she wanted to do was go to the graveyard near my parents' house. "Some places are just magical," she said.

And, because my father taught me that there is nothing better than a good creepy movie, here is a list of my favorite suspense and thriller movies to watch this time of year. I'm biased toward mid-century stuff, so if you have anything more recent to recommend I'd love to hear from you.

Strangers on a Train--d. Alfred Hitchcock--1951
Classic murder-swapping tale in which only one of the participants follows through on the deal. Robert Walker lurking in the shadows is absolutely terrifying.

Wait Until Dark--d. Terence Young--1967
A blind woman discovers she has accidentally come into the possession of a doll stuffed with heroin, and its rightful owners terrorize her. Based on the play on the same name by Frederick Knott. Audrey Hepburn's best performance, I think, and a bone-chilling delivery by Alan Arkin.

The Children's Hour--d. William Wyler--1961
Another Audrey Hepburn film, with an amazing performance by Shirley Maclaine. A properly disturbing film that combines bitter rumors, creepy kids, and nervous breakdowns. A social commentary on the impact that gossip and finger pointing can have.

Gaslight--d. George Cukor--1944
Ingrid Bergman is systematically driven crazy by her husband, who seems to be searching for something from her past. The foggy London period setting fits the story perfectly.

The Haunting--d. Robert Wise--1963
A scientist doing research on paranormal activity invites a group of people to an old mansion. Dreamy cinematography and chilling voiceovers by Julie Harris. Based on The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, a Bennington celebrity.

Carnival of Souls--d. Herk Harvey--1962
A favorite in my family, this B-movie classic tells the story of a woman who feels like she is becoming invisible to everyone around her. Filmed on a low budget so there are some laughable moments, but they only add to its charm. Some beautiful shots, and a REALLY creepy organ score by Gene Moore.

Arsenic and Old Lace--d. Frank Capra-- 1944
Not exactly a scary movie, but definitely a Halloween classic and one of my favorites, so I thought I would include it anyway. A newly married man, played by Cary Grant, discovers that his two old aunts have a disturbing secret. A hilarious screwball adventure ensues, putting Grant in his element.