THE MONSTROUS QUESTION OF THE MONTH— OCTOBER 2010
(Questions Provided by Michael Arruda)

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION:

You know how movie stations load up on horror movies on Halloween night?  If you were in charge of one of these channels, and if it was up to you to choose a triple feature of horror films showing on Halloween night, which three movies would you choose and why?

RESPONSE # 5 (FINAL RESPONSE)—L.L. SOARES:

My first thought goes to George A. Romero’s classic first zombie trilogy, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968), DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) and DAY OF THE DEAD (1985). All exceptional films that together remain my all-time favorite trilogy. Even though zombies have reached a saturation point lately, these movies stand the test of time and are true classics. And they’re scary flicks!

Another possibility would be Dario Argento’s Three Mothers trilogy, which was recently completed with MOTHER OF TEARS. This would include SUSPIRIA (1977), which remains Argento’s masterpiece, the incredibly surreal INFERNO (1980) and MOTHER OF TEARS (2007), one of the most fun movies I’ve seen in a long time. I just think it would be cool to show all three movies together, to compare them and see how Argento’s style has changed over time.

But I think the triple feature I’d like to see most is based on a classic drive-in movie poster called ORGY OF THE LIVING DEAD. I never got to see the original movies when they were playing together, but it would be cool to recreate it for one night. This would include: REVENGE OF THE LIVING DEAD (which I think was really CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS from 1973), Mario Bava’s CURSE OF THE LIVING DEAD (1966, better known as KILL, BABY, KILL!) and FANGS OF THE LIVING DEAD (from 1969, with Anita Ekberg). I’ve even included the original movie poster above. This was a mix of zombie and vampire flicks from the late 60s and early 70s.

As an Honorable Mention, I have to mention THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974), only because it’s my all-time favorite horror film, and I’m surprised no one else mentioned it as perfect Halloween viewing.

—END—

~L.L. Soares, October 2010