KRIS ZAHROBSKY'S TOP HALLOWEEN PICKS

Kris Zahrobsky is the founder and lead reviewer for HauntedHouseChicago.com

1. Halloween (1978) Without a doubt. The first horror movie that I ever loved. Beside the great story, setting, and unbelievable talent, this movie gave birth to Michael Myers. Arguably the greatest horror villain of all-time, he was more to me than just a slasher like Freddy or Jason; he was intelligent. Yes, he was able to get hit, burned, stabbed, and 500 other ways of being killed. Yes, he kept the relentless pursuit of his victims. But, he didn't do it like a Mack Truck. He was somewhat creative and seemed to plot, plan and use deception. Never have I been so proud to be from Illinois.
2. Night of the Living Dead (1968)"They're coming to get you, Barbara." What a great line! This is one of the best of zombie movies of all time. What really makes this film great is the feeling of hopelessness that is conveyed to the viewer. With this apocaly ptic approach, the film succeeds on so many levels. Not to mention, it definitely makes you think twice about buying that old farm house near the graveyard...
3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) This movie has everything a perfect horror movie should have... and then it adds that little disclaimer in the beginning that it was based on true e vents. Talk about crossing that dimension! And just think of that pig squeal and steel door slamming... and then add in those picturesque views of the skulls and corpse pieces. Absolutely horror at some of its greatest!
4. House of 1,000 Corpses (2003) / The Devil's Rejects (2005) I absolutely love Rob Zombie movies. These stand out to me for so many reasons: great settings, scenes and camera work, combined with perfectly casted actors for the amazing characters he has created. Sure, it may lots in common with a ton of other movies, but then again, what modern movies don't? The Firefly Family is easily in my top 3 horror movie villains of all time.
5. 28 Days Later (2002)Yes, it has so much in common with Night of the Living Dead/Dawn of the Dead. But for me, this movie is just so much more powerful. From the opening scenes of isolation in a lifeless urban center, to the relentless pursuit of mindless, flesh-hungry zombies, this movie is very much THE modern zombie flick. In a beautiful balance, it mixes biolog ical chemical warfare and countless corpses that just won't stay dead.
6. The Blair Witch Project (1999) This movie changed the game and set the standard for a ton of movies that followed. Even though the camera work is horrible and you often get violently ill with motion sickness, the suspense is unimaginable. (Not to mention, it does all of t his and you never even meet the movie's namesake!) Oh and then, there's that little disclaimer about it being real. Definitely makes you think twice about going camping...
7. The Ring (2002)"...7 Days..." What a disturbing phone call! What a disturbing video! Talk about some general disturbing images throughout this movie... it's freaky and it's great. It will make the hair stand on the back of your neck and your butt on the edge of the seat. From a monochrome ghost girl crawling out of the TV to the horse head and fly that won't sit still, this is a roller coaster of a suspense-mystery that delivers.
8. Saw (2004) What a mind f*ck! I love how this movie works its magic. Never before have I thoroughly enjoyed watching a flick filmed basically in one room. Plus, the fact that the setup isn't really all that crazy. We aren't dealing with a super-invincible baddy here. We're dealing with a crippled and hobbled man in a skeleton body who can barely breathe on his own. Oh, but I forgot to mention, he20happens to be a genius, has seemingly endless resources, and is the Thomas Edison of torture devices.
9. The Crow (1994) Besides being a great Halloween movie, this is just a great movie in general. A heartwarming story with a dark hero who fights for what's right and the woman he loves...even in death. Using a specialized color scheme, this movie comes across a s dark and haunting, with the tones of light and hope shining through Brandon Lee and Co. Vindication never felt (or looked) so good.
10. The Strangers (2008) (Ok, I have to admit. I was absolutely debating on this one. The movie just came out a few months ago and I wasn't just quite sure if it was in my top 10. I knew I liked it, but I had to really think about HOW much I liked it. Well, as you can plainly see, I decided to include it on my list.)
    Of all the horror movies out there, this one sets itself apart. While it employs many of the tactics others have used, it blends them smoothly and then adds in its own little spice. I think what really makes it scary is how realistic it could be... (Not to mention, it also was based off of true events.) No super villains, no invincible baddies, no resurrected meatsacks. Just real people in a real setting. While it can be slow and quiet at times, it is extremely powerful and effective.Of all the horror movies I have seen, this does everything it is supposed to: its makes me turn on the lights, check the closet, and make sure the door is locked.