5 best new horror films on DVD and Blu-ray for Halloween night
Scary movie night at home has been a tradition in my family for generations. I remember a Halloween in middle school, when my Uncle Cecil decided I was old enough to watch cinema's single scariest film: The Exorcist. It was traumatic, and I still have dreams about twisty-headed little girls.
Still, it's fun to scare yourself silly in October, and arranging a scary movie night at home is now easier then ever, with endless options on DVD and Blu-ray. Some recommendations for this year's festivities:
The Babadook: Special Edition ($17)
Generally considered the year's best horror film so far, Australian indie import The Babadook takes the boogeyman story to new depths of psychological terror. A dedication to old-fashioned suspense strategies separates the film from your standard jump-scare scary movie. The Babadook: Special Edition Blu-ray package adds deleted scenes, cast and crew interviews and the bonus short film Monster.
($15)
Delightfully inventive and seriously scary, It Follows chronicles the strange story of a kind of paranormal STD -- a lethal curse passed on by sexual encounters. This one is most definitely Not For Kids, but adults will find plenty of squirm-inducing scenarios that build to a satisfying scary movie experience. Available on DVD and Blu-ray, the home theater edition includes a roundtable critical commentary with horror film experts.
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($28)
Worthwhile largely for its nostalgic value, this remake of the 1982 classic isn't particularly scary, but it's a decent option for family scary movie night with older kids. Parents should enjoy watching the new takes on the original film's iconic elements -- the extra-dimensional portal, the creepy psychic, that menacing clown doll. Recently released on DVD and Blu-ray, the home video release also includes an Extended Cut edition that features a longer version of the theatrical release, along with an alternate ending.
Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th
($38)
Serious movie nerds looking for an educational scary movie evening might want to consider Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th. Based on the critically-acclaimed book, this documentary explores the origins and history of one of the longest-running genre franchises in all of movie-making. It's a crash course in the history of the American slasher film, with tons of interviews, archival footage, film clips and outtakes. Available on DVD or Blu-ray.
($15)
A cool and underrated little twist on the Frankenstein story, The Lazarus Effect follows the fate of a small group of medical researchers who create a serum for bringing the dead back to life. Mark Duplass and Olivia Wilde headline the cast, and the movie is much smarter than its strictly required to be as a horror film. At a brisk 82 minutes of running time, The Lazarus Effect plays out as a modest but tightly-scripted horror movie, with effective scares, creepy visuals and cat-and-mouse tension in the increasingly lethal laboratory. The DVD version includes a short making-of feature; Blu-ray adds additional behind-the-scenes material plus deleted and extended scenes.
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