What are some good ghost stories and movies for Halloween?

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The discussion centers around a shared enthusiasm for Halloween and classic ghost stories, particularly the 1963 film "The Haunting," which is praised for its psychological horror and effective use of sound over graphic imagery. Participants express disappointment in the current lack of quality ghost and monster movies on television, lamenting the prevalence of gore in modern horror films compared to the subtlety of older classics. Several other films are mentioned, including "The Exorcist," "Poltergeist," and various Alfred Hitchcock works, with a consensus that true horror lies in psychological tension rather than explicit violence. The conversation also touches on the nostalgia of watching horror films with family and the desire for more classic films to be aired on TV. Overall, the thread highlights a preference for psychological horror and a critique of contemporary horror trends.
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I love Halloween. It's the first fun holiday of the season. I have always loved ghost stories. The absolute best ghost movie ever made was the original "The Haunting" 1963 with Claire Bloom and Julie Harris. This was a truly psychologically scary masterpiece. It has NOTHING to do with that piece of crap remake 1999 remake.

The genius of The Haunting lies in the restraint of Wise and screenwriter Nelson Gidding, who elicit almost all of the film's mounting terror from the psychology of its characters--particularly Eleanor, whose grip on sanity grows increasingly tenuous. The presence of lurking spirits relies heavily on the power of suggestion (likewise the cautious handling of Theodora's attraction to Eleanor) and the film's use of sound is more terrifying than anything Wise could have shown with his camera. Like Jack Clayton's 1961 chiller, The Innocents, The Haunting knows the value of planting the seeds of terror in the mind, as opposed to letting them blossom graphically on the screen. What you don't see is infinitely more frightening than what you do, and with nary a severed head or bloody corpse in sight, The Haunting is guaranteed to chill you to the bone. --Jeff Shannon

Get this movie! You will not regret it. Read the reviews, I totally agree.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009NHB6/?tag=pfamazon01-20

On another note...

I am disappointed in the lack of decent ghost and monster movies on tv this month. :frown:

Anyway, if you are interested, for fun, in ghost stories, share them here.

Here a fun place to get you started.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/5-real-haunted-houses.htm
 
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What about The Exorcist? The 1960's or '70's original version. That is one SCARY movie. I don't usually get scared, but that one scared the living daylights outta me.
 
My all time favorite was Poltergeist, I also enjoyed The Exorcist and The Fog. Horror movies are the one thing I have in common with my mom and my grandma, every Saturday until I moved out my grandma would come over and the three of us would have a marathon. Only two movies succeeded in scaring me, Jaws which I never got to the end of, and Silence of The Lambs which I own and have watched countless times. My mom and I were recently discussing the lacking number of horror this month. We are subscribed the the Scream channel and its not even playing anything very good.
 
Those are good, and yes, the Exorcist was visually frightening. But I'm talking about a classic psychological ghost story that scares you by NOT showing you. There is no gore, you don't see anything, but you sense it. IT'S JUST REALLY GOOD. My old VHS tape is broken, I need to order the DVD.

Why don't they show these classics on tv anymore?
 
because they would have to cancel a couple of infomercials to show it.
 
Evo said:
Those are good, and yes, the Exorcist was visually frightening. But I'm talking about a classic psychological ghost story that scares you by NOT showing you. There is no gore, you don't see anything, but you sense it. IT'S JUST REALLY GOOD. My old VHS tape is broken, I need to order the DVD.

Why don't they show these classics on tv anymore?

You should get the scream channel, its all about showing the classics. I haven't been impressed with a lot of the later horror films, I don't like the blood and slashing type of thing
 
fileen said:
You should get the scream channel, its all about showing the classics. I haven't been impressed with a lot of the later horror films, I don't like the blood and slashing type of thing
I get free cable where I live, so I'd probably have to buy some expensive package to get it, if it's even offered. :frown: fileen, you sound like my kind of person. :approve:

What size shoe do you wear?
 
I love horror movies! Especially old one's, like 1960's or earlier.

It's a shame hollywood today has confused "scary" with "gory". Watching someone's head get smashed by a makeshift iron-maiden is not scary. Scary is your entire world falling apart before your eyes as you fail to make sense of anything. It's your sanity going through the window.

Has anyone ever read the House of Usher? That's scary. "Saw" is not.
 
Evo said:
I get free cable where I live, so I'd probably have to buy some expensive package to get it, if it's even offered. :frown: fileen, you sound like my kind of person. :approve:

What size shoe do you wear?

Haha 9 or 10, I love a nice new pair of heels I recently bought a lovely blue pair
 
  • #10
I absolutely love Silence of the Lambs. Its one of the coolest movies ever made. What about the Village? Have you guys seen it?
 
  • #11
What Lies Beneath, Saw 1, The Ring, The Shining, 28 Days Later(My personal favorite), Hellraiser, Mothman Prophecies, Salem's Lot, Nightmare on Elm Street, Amityville Horror(original), Blair Witch Project...are all must sees if you are into scary movies..I'm an avid watcher and fan of horror movies...
 
  • #12
chaoseverlasting said:
I absolutely love Silence of the Lambs. Its one of the coolest movies ever made. What about the Village? Have you guys seen it?

I found the village a little disappointing. I was waiting for monsters and I got people in costumes. No doubt it was creepy, but I would much preferred some sort of terrifying monster or demon or something...
 
  • #13
I like the original House on the Haunted Hill with Vincent Price - partly for nostalgic reasons. It was the movie shown on the first episode of Ghoulardi (actually Goulardi's Shock Theater). If you grew up in the Cleveland broadcasting area, you couldn't forget him. He's the reason white socks are called Parmas.
 
  • #14
You recommended "The Haunting" in some other horror movie thread I think, and I rented it and enjoyed it very much.

I agree about the psychological part as well, about the whole effect the haunted house, or the story of the haunted house, had on its vistors, the unfortunate outcome, but also the whole genius of the story of a professor et al. staying in such a house.

Good film.
 
  • #16
OrbitalPower said:
You recommended "The Haunting" in some other horror movie thread I think, and I rented it and enjoyed it very much.

I agree about the psychological part as well, about the whole effect the haunted house, or the story of the haunted house, had on its vistors, the unfortunate outcome, but also the whole genius of the story of a professor et al. staying in such a house.

Good film.
It's rated one of the top Haunted House films of all time. It's a true classic. Glad you enjoyed it.
 
  • #17
john16O said:
, The Ring, .

Really?. My daughter and I watched that a while back and we both thought that it was over-hyped and not all that scary.
 
  • #18
fileen said:
I also enjoyed The Exorcist

Another one that I didn't find as scary as it was hyped to be. Now Poltergeist, I enjoyed (though some of that may be because it was the first movie my wife and I saw while we were dating:wink:)
 
  • #19
Janus said:
Another one that I didn't find as scary as it was hyped to be. Now Poltergeist, I enjoyed (though some of that may be because it was the first movie my wife and I saw while we were dating:wink:)
Janus, have you watched the 1963 "The Haunting'? It's not your normal fare. It's eerie, haunting, you don't see anything, no gore, it's psychological. Scared me when I first saw it when I was around 11, still scares me. It's an auditory scary film. The banging on the walls...best scene ever.
 
  • #20
The Japanese original of the ring was something I loved. I've never seen the remake but I doubt it has the originals ambiance.
 
  • #21
Evo said:
Janus, have you watched the 1963 "The Haunting'? It's not your normal fare. It's eerie, haunting, you don't see anything, no gore, it's psychological. Scared me when I first saw it when I was around 11, still scares me. It's an auditory scary film. The banging on the walls...best scene ever.

I haven't ever gotten around to watch it, though I have heard good things about it form others, including my wife.

On another note, have you ever read Henry Kuttner's The Graveyard Rats? It's a classic.
 
  • #22
fileen said:
I found the village a little disappointing. I was waiting for monsters and I got people in costumes. No doubt it was creepy, but I would much preferred some sort of terrifying monster or demon or something...

Yeah, the ending was a bummer. Really anti climatic. What about some alfred hitchcock movies
 

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