People lead busy lives. Because of this it can be difficult to keep up with the constant barrage of new horror films being released, especially in the DTV and VOD markets where the film quality can be a little sketchy. If you work during the day, you probably come home to a bunch of chores to do around the house and don’t always have time to sit down and pay attention to what’s on TV (I come home to cook and/or write, with the occasional video game session thrown in for good measure). It’s nice to have a go-to horror movie that you know is good that you can just have on in the background while you get your work done. Maybe you’ve seen a certain movie so many times that you could play it in your head from memory. Maybe there’s a movie so atmospheric that you like the way it makes your house feel when it’s on. Or maybe there’s just a movie that you have fond memories of. My question to you is: which horror movies do you like to have on in the background? Leave a comment below or Tweet me with your go-to background horror movie and why you love it so much and I may include it on my next “Readers’ Choice” post!*
*I get that many answers will skew towards films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Suspiria, Friday the 13th and other classics like that, and that’s alright! But I also want to see some unconventional answers. As a measure of good faith, I’ve listed off five of my go-to horror movies that I like to just put on in the background. Some may be obvious choices. Others…not so much.
Halloween (1978)
You know those movies that you’ve seen so many times that you can actually play it back in your mind? Halloween is one of those movies for me. John Carpenter’s pivotal slasher movie is one of the first classic horror films I ever saw (thanks Dad) and because of that it has stuck with me ever since. You just can’t go wrong putting Halloween in your Blu-Ray player!
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Did I just lose any of you? I know, I know, I Know What You Did Last Summer is a sub-par slasher that represents Kevin Williamson ripping off his own film: Scream. You know what? I don’t care. It’s nowhere near as terrible as some people say it is. I will confess that I usually start the film on Chapter 10, when Helen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is in the cop car, but that’s still a good 40 minutes of movie left to have on in the background!
Scream 2
You may have read my recent piece on 1997 horror. You also may have read some of my other articles showing my complete and total adoration for Wes Craven’t slasher sequel. This is no coincidence. I could watch Scream 2 any day of the week. It’s just one of those movies for me. Interestingly enough, it was actually my least favorite of the original trilogy when I watched them all for the first time (I was 14. Sue me). As the years went by I slowly started to recognize the absolute genius of Scream 2. I’ve memorized musical cues, dialogue and even camera angles. It’s just one of those films for me.
Deep Blue Sea
Aquatic horror is sort of my thing, and while the obvious choice here would be Jaws (which I love, don’t get me wrong), the winner for me is Deep Blue Sea (with Jaws 2 being a close second simply because it’s an aquatic horror film merged with a slasher film and that is A-OK in my book). Renny Harlin’s dumb-but-fun film is about killer sharks with enlarged brains that have become much smarter than the dim-witted human characters. How can you not enjoy that?! Trevor Rabin’s score is nothing to scoff at either.
Sorority Row
Sorority Row is a total blast and I will tear into anyone who says otherwise. Or just direct them to my defense of the film from a couple of years ago. Playing like a combination of Scream and Mean Girls, it is filled to the brim with fun kills and bitchy quips from its quintet of lead actresses. Sorority Row is endlessly quotable and doesn’t demand a lot of attention, making it a perfect horror movie to have on in the background.
So there you have it. Should I feel embarrassed? I don’t think so, but maybe you feel different. I promise I love good horror! But when it comes to background noise only a few movies will do. Plus, I’m a child of the 90s. This lineup fits me perfectly.
What are some horror films that you like to just put on in the background when you aren’t able to fully pay attention to the TV? What is your “comfort movie,” if you will? Leave a comment below or Tweet me with your go-to background horror movie and why you love it so much and I may include it on my next “Readers’ Choice” post!
