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.

Sundance Channel takes a stab at horror

Who says art films have to be about people drinking wine and smoking cigarettes? This weekend, the Sundance Channel is taking a step into horror with a block of films especially for Halloween.

The fright night kicks off with Philip Chidel’s Subject Two. In this creepy tale, a scientist (Dean Stapleton) creates a formula for resurrection. And the tests involve the repeated murder of his unhappy student volunteer.

Then things get creepy with Korean filmmaker Woo-cheol Lee's Cello. In this "atmospheric horror film," a cellist named Mi-ju (Hyeon-a Seong) attempts to begin a new life after a car wreck. When a student threatens her, Mi-ju experiences flashbacks of the traumatic crash and begins to suspect that supernatural forces are threatening her as well.

The night closes with David Moreau and Xavier Palu’s Them. No, this isn't the classic 1950s film about giant ants. In this tense thriller, a couple goes through a terrifying night in a rented house in a Romanian forest. The story is supposedly based on true events and told in near real time.

The schedule is as follows:
(Just after midnight on 10/31. Technically, Sunday morning.) All times are Eastern.

• 12:30 a.m.: Subject Two
• 2:05 a.m.: Cello
• 3:45 a.m.: Them

For trailers and more information, visit Scare Tactics, the Sundance Channel's digital shorts mini site. In addition to seeing previews for the three films that will be playing this weekend, you can also watch clips from Sundance Channel’s favorite scary movies.

Final House of the Devil poster revealed!

In anticipation of the coming theatrical release of the '80s throwback horror film House of the Devil, DreadCentral has a look at the final poster (in a series of six). This one is so awesome, I just had to share it.

For those who haven't heard of House of the Devil, is directed by Ti West, is a satanic thriller set in the 1980s. The film stars Jocelin Donahue, Greta Gerwig, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov, AJ Bowen, and Dee Wallace-Stone.

Here's the official synopsis from the film's Web site:

Sam is a pretty college sophomore so desperate to earn some cash for a deposit on an apartment that she accepts a babysitting job even after she finds out there is no baby. Mr. and Mrs. Ulman are the older couple who lure Sam out to their creeky Victorian mansion deep in the woods, just in time for a total lunar eclipse. Megan is Sam's best friend, who gives her a ride out to the house, and reluctantly leaves her there despite suspecting that something is amiss. Victor at first seems like just a creepy guy lurking around the house, but quickly makes it clear that Sam will end this night in a bloody fight for her life....

House of the Devil is a Magnolia Pictures release that will debut in limited release on Oct. 30. If you're not in one of the selected cities, don't worry. House of the Devil is being offered on VOD all during the month of October, including Amazon.com The House of the Devil (Pre-Theatrical Rental).

And it will also premiere on HDNet Movies Oct. 28. See HDNet Movies for showtimes.

Review: Paranormal Activity

If you've seen the trailer for Paranormal Activity, you know that this is supposed to be the horror movie of the year. I love ghost stories. I really do. So, when I saw previews for the new Paramount feature Paranormal Activity I knew I had to see it in a theater. 

But in this instance, the marketing and Internet buzz didn't live up to the hype. Find out what went wrong with Paranormal Activity and why it made me think of Snakes on a Plane.

Read the full review of Paranormal Activity.