Are you not a big fan of the horror genre? Hate jump scares? There's plenty of people in the same boat, but just about everyone has a friend who's a horror buff. Movie night can cause friction between people with such opposing tastes. These five films split the difference so Movie Night doesn't leave anyone feeling left behind. These are the perfect recommendations for date night with a Rob Zombie fan or a Halloween Spook-tacular with friends.
1. Army of Darkness (1992)
If you've never seen the third installment of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series, you should add it to your list near the top. Calling this just a horror movie isn't doing it justice. The story is told by Ash Williams, a Sporting Goods manager at his local S-Mart who, upon finding the fabled Necronomicon, is hurled hundreds of years into the medieval past. To get back to the present, he must fight his way to the book and retrieve it.
There's so much to love about this film: from its comedic timing to its over-the-top fight scenes to the insane mixed-media armies of the undead. There's a brilliant mix of stop-film, puppetry, and costumes to make the hordes of monsters come to life. This flick will make pretty much everyone happy on movie night and can usually be found on major streaming services this time of year.
2. Fido (2006)
Some consider this the sister film to Shaun of the Dead. It has moments of violence and stress, but mostly it's a comical coming-of-age romp set in an alternate history 1950s where radioactive zombies are considered an everyday nuisance like raccoons in the garbage.
A corporation has implemented a system of servitude for those unlucky enough to find themselves reanimated: a control collar that keeps zombies docile and helpful. Timmy Robinson's father is desperate to keep up with the Jones' and splurges on an undead servant for his own home. Timmy and the Zombie, who he dubs Fido, become fast friends. The film follows the two as events unfold which change the town—and perhaps the world—forever.
3. The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)
A family struggles to balance their needs when their eldest son is diagnosed with Leukemia. Driving hours and hours to and from the only hospital which provides the experimental treatment he needs brings both mother and son to the breaking point. The mother decides to look into rental units and stumbles upon a cute house for a low, low price. This house also has a sealed door in the basement with an intact 1920s morgue behind it.
The motivations of the characters are human and realistic, and the handful of jump scares are surprisingly mild and only add to the spooky, ghost story aesthetic instead of triggering fight-or-flight. Beyond the fantastic horror elements, the plight of the eldest son brings up some very deep exploration into death and the liminal nature of dying. Though many critics have disparaged it, the ending is surprising and fulfilling. This is not your typical horror film, and that's exactly what makes it so good.
Read our review here
4. Re-Animator (1985)
A perfect example of 80s "so bad it's good" cinema. If you liked Robocop, you'll probably enjoy Re-Animator. This flick is loosely based on a serial of the same name by H.P. Lovecraft. By "loosely based" I mean some character names and Herbert's obsession with beating death: So very loose.
For most of the film, the gross bits are poorly produced and typically medical. While it takes time to ramp up to its extremes, the last dozen or so minutes of Re-Animator pack in some gore, violence, and nudity. That being said, this film is extremely mild horror-wise until that point.
Excellent B-Movie overacting and cheap sets to die for. One scene at the beginning will have the audience rolling with laughter as the actors combat something small and powerful with a shovel and a bit too much difficulty.
Read our review here
5. Dreamcatcher (2003)
Based on a Stephen King novel, this movie is a journey through time, space, memory, and friendship. Four lifelong friends gather at a cabin in the woods for an annual hunting trip. Beers are had, stories are swapped, childhoods are remembered. Then things start getting weird.
There are some intense moments and gore throughout the movie, but if you could make it through The Sixth Sense you should be able to handle this.
Like many other lesser-known Stephen King adaptations, Dreamcatcher is hard to tack down genre-wise. There are heavy sci-fi horror elements, but also military, disaster, psychic, coming-of-age, drama, and survival ones as well. If you can, try and find a DVD with the original ending included. The final scene in the released version feels extremely tacked on because it is.
Read our review here