Top 10 Halloween Movies To Watch!

Earlier today on FOX 40 LIVE, Movie Critic, Mike Mechanick gave his Top 10 Horror movies to watch on Halloween. While he lists several good movies, I just don't agree with his list. Only one movie is on both lists. First is Mike Mechanick's Top 10 Halloween Movies:

10-SCREAM-1996

9-BEETLEJUICE-1986

8-CARRIE-1976

7-SHAUN OF THE DEAD-2004

6-NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD-1968

5-CORPSE BRIDE-2005

4-THE SHINING-1980

3-EVIL DEAD 2-1987

2-THE EXORCIST-1973

1-HALLOWEEN-1978

As you can see, every movie on his list are great movies! Some are humorous, some are down right scary. Problem is, the oldest movie on the list is from 1968. (Night Of The Living Dead) Only 41 years old, nothing older. There are so many classics from decades ago that outshine the new crap. And they are in Black & White! The following is my Top 10 List. There are newer movies but no newer than 1985. Some are scary, there are a few that are gory but they are all classics!:

Floyd Perry's Top 10 Halloween Movies!

10-CAT PEOPLE-1942 (The Val Lewton classic is ten times better than the 1982 remake!)

9-THE EVIL DEAD-1982 (In my opinion, the original is better than the sequel. Less laughs and more scares!)

8-BLACK SABBATH-1963 (The Wurdalak segment from this Mario Bava classic gave me nightmares when I was a child)

7-THE REANIMATOR-1985 (Watch the Unrated Version available On DVD. Very Bloody and Very Scary!)

6-CURSE OF THE DEMON-1957 (The DVD contains both the U.S. edit as well as the longer British version. This movie scared me as a child. And that Demon in the movie! Awesome!)

5-PHANTASM-1979 (The tagline for this movie is "If This Movie Doesn't Scare You, You Are Already Dead!" Very good scary movie. Better than the sequels.)

4-THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN-1935 (I wish I could list all of the Universal Classics, But since I picked one, it is this one.)

3-THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE-1974 (The original rules! The first sequel is decent but the rest of the sequels as well as that Big Budget Remake and its sequel Suck Big Time!)

2-NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD-1968 (The first time I saw this was in 1974 on Bob Wilkins CREATURE FEATURES on KTVU Channel 2. Spooked me then, Spooks me now! Avoid all those Public Domain Eyesores as well as the 1998 expanded version and the colorized version and both remakes! The definitive versions are Elite Entertainment's Millenium Edition and the recent Weinstein Deluxe DVD!)

1-SUSPIRIA-1977 (Still scares me to this day. For the longest time, I always put Night Of The Living Dead as #1 until I saw Suspiria on Laserdisc about 15 years ago and now this is my personal favorite. It is available on DVD in its 2.35:1 OAR!)

Well that is my Top 10 list. There are so many others that I'd like to have added like DAWN OF THE DEAD-1978, FRANKENSTEIN-1931, THE BODY SNATCHER-1946, and RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD-1985 but then my list would become a Top 100 Halloween Movies To Watch and not Top 10. Whether you agree with Mike's list, My list or not, let me know what your Top 10 list is? You can post it in the comments section of this blog. Happy Halloween!

October 25, 1969 Schedule: THE MAZE 11:30PM

On this evening, BOB WILKINS showed a suspenseful classic from the director of INVADERS FROM MARS (1953), William Cameron Menzies. THE MAZE was also released the same year as Invaders. It stars Richard Carlson who was also in THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954) & THE VALLEY OF GWANGI (1969).

October 18, 1969 Schedule: Return Of A Stranger 11:30PM

On this evening, BOB WILKINS showed RETURN OF A STRANGER (1961), a crime thriller starring John Ireland. Not is much known of this movie. Not much info at IMDB.

October 11, 1969 Schedule: The 39 Steps 11:30PM

On this evening, BOB WILKINS showed a bad remake of a 1935 ALFRED HITCHCOCK classic. This 1959 movie stars KENNETH MORE.

CW 31 Is 35 Years Old!

KMAX-CW 31 Sacramento, CA is 35 years old today. It debuted as All Movie KMUV-TV 31. It's first movie that it showed was the original FRANKENSTEIN (1931).

October 4, 1969: DIE, MONSTER, DIE! 11:45PM

On this evening, BOB WILKINS showed the AIP Classic, DIE, MONSTER, DIE! (1965) which starred BORIS KARLOFF & NICK ADAMS and is based on H.P. LOVECRAFT's The Colour Out Of Space. It is available on DVD from MGM Home Entertainment.

September 27, 1969 Schedule: "Attack Of The Robots" 11:45PM

On This Evening, BOB WILKINS Showed The English Dubbed French Sci-Fi Movie Titled ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS (1966) aka CARTES SUR TABLE.

This Movie Stars EDDIE (Alphaville, RAID ON ENTEBBE, IT LIVES AGAIN) CONSTANTINE And Directed By The Infamous JESS (DR. ORLOFF'S MONSTER, EUGENIE, FACELESS) FRANCO.

September 20, 1969 Schedule: "Voyage To The End Of The Universe" 11:45PM

On This Evening, BOB WILKINS Showed A English Dubbed Sci-Fi Movie From Czechoslovakia Titled VOYAGE TO THE END OF THE UNIVERSE (1964) aka IKARIE XB1.

September 13, 1969 Schedule: "It Came From Outer Space" 11:45PM

On This Evening, BOB WILKINS showed the 3D Classic In Glorious 2D: IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953).

Also Available On DVD In Glorious 2D!!

September 6, 1969 Schedule: "The Vampire's Coffin" 11:30PM

On This Evening, BOB WILKINS showed the English Dubbed Mexican Horror Movie, THE VAMPIRE'S COFFIN (1958) aka EL ATAUD DEL VAMPIRO.

August 30, 1969 Schedule: "Operation Top Secret" 11:30PM

On This Evening, BOB WILKINS Showed A English Dubbed French Espionage Movie Called OPERATION TOP SECRET aka LA VALSE DU GORILLE (1959).

August 23, 1969 Schedule: "Espionage In Lisbon" 11:30PM

Well, after a few months of double features, BOB WILKINS is back to a single feature as well as an episode of SECRET AGENT. This evening, Bob showed a Spanish Produced Action Adventure titled ESPIONAGE IN LISBON aka MISION LISBON (1965) instead of the usual Horror/Sci-Fi Movie. However this movie did star BRETT HALSEY who appeared in RETURN OF THE FLY.

August 16, 1969 Schedule: "The Final War" & "Invasion Of The Neptune Men" 12:30AM

On this evening, BOB WILKINS showed a Japanese Sci-Fi Double Feature, THE FINAL WAR (1960) aka "Dai-Sanji Sekai Taisen : Yonju-Ichi Jikan No Kyofu" & INVASION OF THE NEPTUNE MEN (1961) aka "Uchu Kaisoku-Sen".

The Latter Starred SONNY CHIBA who starred in THE STREET FIGHTER (1974) and had a part in Quentin Tarentino's KILL BILL movies.

August 9, 1969 Schedule: "The Hand" & "The Mad Executioners" Midnight

On this evening, BOB WILKINS showed THE HAND (1960) & THE MAD EXECUTIONERS. The latter is a German Krimi based on a EDGAR WALLACE novel.

But a real life horror was happening in Southern California on this day 40 years ago. It was the SHARON TATE murders caused by the CHARLIE MANSON FAMILY. Very Sad.

August 2, 1969 Schedule: "She Demons" & "Giant From The Unknown" 11:30PM

On this evening, BOB WILKINS showed a Double Feature of SHE DEMONS & GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN. The latter starred BUDDY BAER as the Giant Killer Spanish Conquistador.

Buddy is the brother of famed boxer, MAX BAER and uncle of actor MAX BAER, JR who played Jethro in THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES tv series. Buddy Baer was born JACOB HENRY BAER on JUNE 11, 1915 and he passed away on JULY 18, 1986. Buddy was over 6'6 and was a character actor and was also in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK with ABBOTT & COSTELLO, SNOW WHITE AND THE THREE STOOGES as well as TV Series like ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN and GUNSMOKE. Later Buddy owned a Furniture Store in SACRAMENTO, CA as well as being a Movie Host on KMUV-TV Channel 31 (Now KMAX-TV). Buddy is buried in EAST LAWN SIERRA HILLS MEMORIAL PARK in Sacramento.

July 26, 1968 Schedule: "Creation Of The Humanoids" & "Attack Of The Mushroom People" 11:30PM

On this evening, BOB WILKINS showed the Double Feature of CREATION OF THE HUMANOIDS & Bob's Signature Movie: ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE. During Bob's KCRA tenure, Bob Showed AOTMP twice, On SEPTEMBER 10, 1966 and on JULY 26, 1969.

July 19, 1969: "Planets Against Us" & "Slaughter Of The Vampires" 12:15AM

On the evening before the Famed APOLLO 11 Moon Landing, BOB WILKINS showed a Double Feature of PLANETS AGAINST US & SLAUGHTER OF THE VAMPIRES.

July 12, 1969 Schedule: "Castle Of The Living Dead" & "Horror Castle" 11:30PM

Another night of a CHRISTOPHER LEE Double Feature: CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD (1964) & HORROR CASTLE (1963)

Both Are Available On DVD, The Former As THE VIRGIN OF NUREMBERG On The SHRIEK SHOW Label While The Latter Is Available On DVD-R From SINISTER CINEMA.

July 5, 1969 Schedule: "Terror Of The Tongs" & "Terror In The Crypt" 11:30PM

On the day after the Fourth Of July, BOB WILKINS showed a CHRISTOPHER LEE DOUBLE FEATURE of THE TERROR OF THE TONGS and TERROR IN THE CRYPT

Both of these films are available on DVD. The Former On A Fine DVD Box Set From SONY called ICONS OF ADVENTURE:HAMMER FILMS while the Later Is Available From RETROMEDIA.

June 28, 1969 Schedule: "Mask Of The Gorilla" and "Konga" 11:30PM

On this evening, BOB WILKINS showed 2 Ape Films, One Lesser Known French Film and a more Well Known One. The first movie was THE MASK OF THE GORILLA (1958) aka LE GORILLE VOUS SALVE BIEN. Can't find any info whatsoever on this film. Don't know if this was ever released on Video or DVD?

The other film shown was KONGA (1961) which was written by HERMAN COHEN and starred MICHAEL GOUGH. It was released by AIP and is available readily on DVD from MGM HOME ENTERTAINMENT.