Scary movies top favorite Halloween activities

It should come as no surprise that when it comes to the quintessential Halloween experience, people prefer watching a scary movie more than any other activity. (It should come as even less of a surprise that this "finding" was the result of a poll sponsored by Redbox.)

The 2009 Redbox "Halloween Thrillers" survey was conducted nationwide and included more than 600 Redbox customers.

According to the poll, 64% of Americans plan to watch a horror movie this Halloween. Watching a scary movie was the number one activity chosen by 23% of those responding, beating out trick-or-treating (17%) and costume parties (17%).

Among the surveys other findings:

• 60% of respondents said they prefer to watch scary movies at home rather than at a theater
• The Exorcist was voted the scariest movie of all time with 19% of the vote.
• Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs was voted most memorable villain overall (21%), but the younger audience (18-34) skewed toward Michael Meyers from Halloween and Freddy Krueger from Nightmare on Elm Street (tied with 22%)
• Creepiest kid in horror? Damien from The Omen (23%)
• Most memorable scary movie quote? "Here's Johnny!" from The Shining (33%)

As for me, my wife and I have been trying to catch up on the horror movies that we've missed in theaters over the past few years. We're pretty dedicated, but we miss a few that are either in limited release or just pass us by. This month has been horror month at our house, with the high point being the recently released Trick 'r Treat from Warner Home Video.

Written and directed by Michael Dougherty, Trick 'r Treat is an exciting romp through four interconnecting tales of horror on Halloween night. I haven't been this surprised by a movie in a long time. It was genuinely fun and frightening in a Halloween sort of way. This film will be a perennial favorite for many Halloween nights to come.