by: Karen Joy Pangantihon
Hello Cinephiles,
I am sitting in a neighborhood coffeeshop in Harlem on the Sunday after the observed American holiday that is Thanksgiving. Once again the year is coming to a close and we are all overwhelmed with the feeling of confusions, shock, surprise, loneliness, sentimentality- “I can’t believe we’re already in November” “Where did the year go?”
I share in this collective existentialism, and would truly feel I would be remiss if as a Cinephile, fall lover, spooky girl, October baby did not celebrate nor honor Halloween, and it’s annual invitation for one to throw themselves into the deep, dark vortex the massive cannon of the beloved film genre that is HORROR.
Make no mistake fellow cinephiles, I made it a point to watch at least one horror film (or tv show) a day for the month of October. I am grateful for the opportunity that includes the health, time, availability, ability, resources to do so, and I recorded my list which is an amalgamation of movies and shows made available via streaming platforms, movie theaters, and renting.
I, like so many others, felt the month go by sooner than my one of favorite film franchises fired their leading actress for expressing their support and political viewpoints on social media (Breaks my heart, and my broken heart goes out to those who are wrongfully losing work/livelihood due to standing up for what they believe in). Because of how quickly the month went by and felt like I was being forced to go into Hallmark movie mode, and movies where Vanessa Hudgens plays 3 different women in royalty and gets to have romantic scenes and kisses with multiple men. Understand- I LOVE THESE MOVIES. I just wasn’t ready to end spooky season. Which was I was so excited for Eli Roth’s THANKSGIVING with starring Patrick Dempsey.
THIS MOVIE ATE AND HAD ZERO LEFTOVERS. Five Turkeys out of five. A gory slasher and just an all around fun time in a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
This movie was perfect for the in between time of that falls sandwiched in the middle of Halloween and the end of year Winter holidays.
So grateful for the movie that on actual Thanksgiving, I had a PATRICK DEMPSEY marathon. This consisted of CAN’T BUY ME LOVE (1987), BRIDGET JONES BABY (2016), and ENCHANTED (2007). Can’t wait to include THANKSGIVING (2023) to curation next year.
Below is my list of movies and tv shows watched for spooky season 2023.
Halloween Ends (2022)
The Black Phone (2021)
Blade (1998)
The Exorcist (1973)
Devil (2010)
Friday the 13th, Part 2 (1981)
Spiral (2021)
Saw X (2023)
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Saw II (2005)
I see you (2019)
The Haunted Mansion (2023)
Freddy Vs. Jason (2003)
Clue (1983)
Aliens (1986)
Smile (2022)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Scream V (2021)
Men (2023)
Scream 6 (2023)
The Lost Boys (1987)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Elvira (1988)
Infinity Pool (2023)
Suspiria (1977)
Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)
Killer Clowns from Outer Space (1988)
You’re Next (2013)
Scream (1996)
Scream 2(1997)
Scream 3 (2000)
Ghostbusters (1984)
Thanksgiving (2023)
TV SHOWS
-Goosebumps (Disney)
-Interview with the Vampire (MAX)
-Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)
