Season favorites-from “Idle Hands” to “Psycho”

Credit: DKS Editors

Credit: DKS Editors

We first thought 13 would be ideal, but we figured you didn’t need any more bad luck. To get an idea of what you’re getting into, each film is broken down into four ratings. The one you’ll want to pay particular attention to is “level of concentration needed,” so you can adequately determine how many or few friends to invite over. Note: These are not ranked in terms of overall film quality, but rather their relativeness to the holiday.

All ratings are out of five.

14.”Planet Terror”(2007) – It might be the weaker half of directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s shock double feature, “Grindhouse,” but with zombies and hilarious amounts of blood and laugh-out-loud gore, what more could you ask for this time of year?

Suspense: *

Blood: *****

Laughs: *****

Level of Concentration needed:*

13.“Stir of Echoes”(1999) – Following “The Sixth Sense,” a slew of sinister, spirit movies haunted theaters. This one, minus the lame, sappy ending, is more intense than the aforementioned M. Night Shyamalan film. And you’ll never hear the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” the same way ever again.

Suspense: ****

Blood: **

Laughs: *

Level of Concentration needed: ***

12.“Evil Dead Trilogy”(1981, 1987, 1992) – Before “Spider-Man,” director Sam Raimi helmed the influential series starring Bruce Campbell as Ash, the boomstick-wielding, time traveling retail employee. Just remember: Shop smart. Shop S-Mart.

Suspense: **

Blood: **

Laughs: ****

Level of Concentration needed: *

11. “Shaun of the Dead”(2004) – Finally, satire and wits live in harmony. This British zombie film isn’t just a “romantic comedy with zombies” (as the poster advertises); it’s the “Young Frankenstein” of the 21st Century. Mel Brooks would be proud.

Suspense: **

Blood: ****

Laughs: *****

Level of Concentration needed: **

10.“Young Frankenstein”(1974) – The best movie on this list in terms of filmmaking, it sets the standard for all parodies. At times funny, at times endearing and always addictive (Gene Wilder’s and Peter Boyle’s take of “Puttin’ On the Ritz” will be in your head for days), there’s nothing Abby Normal about it.

Suspense: **

Blood: *

Laughs: *****

Level of Concentration needed: ****

9. “A Tale of Two Sisters”(2003) – Who says horror and art can’t coexist? Quite possibly the most beautiful and vibrant horror film, this South Korean, Hitchcockian endeavor builds and builds until you almost can’t take it. Don’t expect non-stop “gotcha” moments.

Suspense: *****

Blood: **

Laughs: *

Level of Concentration needed: *****

8. “Idle Hands”(1999) – Admit it, guys: This was the first of many times you were smitten by Jessica Alba. And then there’s that Halloween party costume. OK, but seriously, there’s more to this wacky, unrestrained bloodfest about a lazy stoner who loses control of his unmotivated hand.

Suspense: **

Blood: ***

Laughs: ***

Level of Concentration needed: *

7. “Sleepy Hollow”(1999) – Halloween just wouldn’t be Halloween without the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. Thankfully, Tim Burton’s gothic nightmare does it justice. Christopher Walken as the pre-headless terror is also a nice treat.

Suspense: ***

Blood: ***

Laughs: **

Level of Concentration needed: **

6. “Donnie Darko”(2001) – It’s not really a “horror” film, but Richard Kelly’s directorial debut about time travel and predestination fits right into autumn, taking place in October and delivering creepy undertones with the giant bunny rabbit, Frank. Maybe a good compromise, Halloween date movie?

Suspense: ***

Blood: *

Laughs: ***

Level of Concentration needed: *****

5. “The Grudge” / “Ju-on”(2004, 2000) – One of the rare cases where the remake and the original rival each other. In terms of sheer terror, the Japanese version edges out its American counterpart, but either one will feature unnatural crawling descents down stairs and of course, “croakkkk.”

Suspense: ****

Blood: **

Laughs: *

Level of Concentration needed: ***

4. “The Blair Witch Project”(1999) – Starting to see a pattern here? 1999 was a pretty good year for the genre, but this was the one everyone was talking about. Was it real or just a movie? If you don’t know by now, don’t discuss it with anyone. Rent it and see for yourself. Though subtle in style, it contains some of the most unsettling, haunting images ever produced.

Suspense: ****

Blood: *

Laughs: *

Level of Concentration needed: *****

3. “The Ring”(2002) – If you really buy into the concept, one scene involving a closet door will instill in you the respect and fear this movie deserves. Don’t worry. You won’t know when it’s coming. And, if that one little blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shot does the trick, you should be well on your way to digging your nails into the closest thing and/or person. Unlike “Stir of Echoes” (#13), this doesn’t crap out on the ending.

Suspense: *****

Blood: *

Laughs: *

Level of Concentration needed: *****

2. “Psycho”(1960) – Director Alfred Hitchcock always said he considered this to be a comedy, saying he didn’t know how else people could view it. By then, the Master of Suspense had shot numerous color films. But imagine the now-famous “shower scene,” accompanied by Bernard Herrmann’s screeching score, in bright shades of color.

Suspense: ***

Blood: **

Laughs: *

Level of Concentration needed: **

1. “Scream / Scream 2”(1996, 1997) – The first one did for slasher films what “The Sixth Sense” did for ghost movies. Twelve years later, the first two of the series still hold up as some of the most fun and entertaining horror flicks. Violent, yes, but there’s a certain loveable quality about the characters that makes you want to break open a bag of popcorn and invite a bunch of people over. Just hope one of them isn’t a homicidal maniac.

Suspense: ***

Blood: ****

Laughs: ***

Level of Concentration needed: *