Since you fellow horror hunks will see this list post-Halloween, happy HALLOWEEN! I saved the gore for last to end with a bang. So, let’s get into it!
Candyman (1992)
Adapted from Clive Barker’s “Books of Blood†and “The Forbiddenâ€, “Candyman†is a true classic. Horror icon, Tony Todd, portrays Daniel Robitaille, who was a painter for the rich white folks. He and a white woman fell in love. When her father finds out, a mob from the town mutilated and tortured him with bees. Thus, the Curse of Candyman is born after his death.
The plot follows Helen Lyle, a student who stumbled upon the legend. Curious, she explores it for her thesis paper, only to get caught in a down-spiral. Candyman haunts her, slaughtering people in her path, enticing her to be his victim.
There’s two sequels, “Candyman: Farewell to The Flesh” (1995), and “Candyman: Day of the Dead” (1999), which were retconned by the reboot-sequel “Candyman” (2018). Fans did not like these two sequels, I think because of how Candyman was painted to punish black folks and made a white woman somehow the hero. The latest “Candyman” had substantial potential, but could’ve been better. I do recommend watching it still considering it was better than the other sequels.
You can find “Candyman†on the following platforms: Apple TV ($3.99+), Vudu ($3.99+), Amazon Prime Video (premium subscription), and Google Play Movies & TV ($3.99+).
Saw (2004)
Typically coined as “torture porn,” the film features a killer who tests people’s will to live by putting them in gruesome traps, or games.Â
Adam Stanheight (Leigh Whannell) and Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) are trapped in a bathroom, chained to pipes on the opposite side of one another. Dr. Gordon’s objective to live is to kill Adam within six hours. Adam is simply collateral damage, but the film has several revelations. The plot twist is also mind-blowing, and one of my favorite plot twists EVER.
There are seven sequels; “Saw II” (2005), “Saw III†(2006), “Saw IV†(2007), “Saw V†(2008), “Saw VI†(2009), “Saw VII†(2010), “Jigsaw†(2017), and one standalone, “Spiral: From the Boom of Saw†(2021).Â
Not everyone likes the films as they progress, believing the franchise gets worse , but I have a knack for the franchise as a whole. Therefore, I believe they’re worth bingeing!
You can find “Saw†on the following platforms: Sling TV (premium subscription), Starz (subscription), Amazon Prime Video (premium subscription), Philo (premium subscription), YouTube ($3.99+), Apple TV ($3.99+), Vudu ($3.99+), and Hulu (premium subscription).
Hatchet (2006)
I prefer the second film, but for backstory purposes, I suggest watching the first. “Hatchet†takes place in New Orleans where we learn the legend of Victor Crowley. The franchise for the next two sequels will branch out to focus on Marybeth Dunstan, but in this film, we focus on two random irrelevant dudes who meet Dunstan on a swamp tour.
The tour goes horribly wrong, and their eventual run-in with Crowley will be extremely bloody and gorey. That’s the film’s signature: overexaggerated kills and blood.Â
This film features several horror icons: Crowley is portrayed by Kane Hodder. In the second and third film, Dunstan is played by Danielle Harris. Two other featured horror icons are Tony Todd and Robert Englund! The franchise is essentially a balance of lore, comedy, and blood galore.Â
What I like about its comedy is that it does not overshadow the horror-ness. The fourth film though is much more comedy, and while it was an unnecessary film, it was enjoyable.
I urge you to watch this franchise!
You can find “Hatchet†on the following platforms: Vudu (free), Amazon Prime Video (subscription), YouTube ($1.99+), Google Play Movies & TV ($1.99+) Apple TV ($3.99+), and Tubi (free).
Overall, I hope you enjoyed this list as well as the other lists over the course of 2021’s spooky month. Hopefully your Halloween was also terror-riffic! If you haven’t read my other lists, check them out here: Raw Horrors, Refreshing Terror, and Surreal Horror.Â
With that said, I hope my insight has enlightened you and I’d love to talk about things horror and more! If you’d like to see more of my content or would like to contact me, you can find me on Instagram or Twitter. You may also email me at jrnw99@gmail.com if you prefer.
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