1 week Ago By [email protected] (Sam Lawrie)
Halloween is the perfect time of year to grab the popcorn and watch a classic horror film on the big screen - if you’re brave enough. We’ve had a look at IMDb’s top-rated Halloween movies and picked five that are screening right here in Kent over the spooky season, from heart-stopping scares to fun family thrills..
. PSYCHO : Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 thriller may have been controversial when it was first released, but it’s now considered one of the director’s best-known works and a huge influence on the slasher genre. Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh, goes on the run after stealing money from her employer and disappears without a trace.
Her sister and boyfriend try to find her and end up at the Bates Motel, run by Norman Bates, a young man with an interest in taxidermy and a difficult relationship with his mother. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards and inspired the likes of Halloween and Scream. When : Thursday, October 31 at the Maidstone Museum at 6.
30pm. Book tickets here . THE SHINING : Whether it’s the twin girls who roam the hallways or the axe-wielding ‘Here’s Johnny!’ scene, The Shining has many iconic moments.
It stars Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall in a terrifying tale all about the perils of isolation and the importance of family. Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film, based on the novel by Stephen King, follows the Torrence family as they spend the winter at a haunted hotel. Jack Torrence, an aspiring writer and alcoholic, is driven to insanity at the hotel, leaving his wife Wendy and his psychic son, Danny, in danger.
When : Friday, October 25 at Westerham Hall, near Sevenoaks, at 8pm. Pay on the door. THE EXORCIST : When a 12-year-old girl is possessed by a demon, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to rid her daughter of the cursed entity.
The Exorcist was considered so gory when it was released in 1973 that some cinemas in the UK banned it from being shown but, over the years, it’s become a favourite with horror fans. Linda Blair plays the possessed Regan alongside with Tony Award-winner Ellen Burstyn and Academy Award nominee Jason Miller. When : Thursday, October 31 at the Gulbenkian Arts Centre in Canterbury at 7pm.
Book tickets here . THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS : Is it a Christmas film or a Halloween film? Fans of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas have been debating the best season to watch the blockbuster since it came out in 1993. The film follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, as he becomes disillusioned with this time of year and decides he wants to try his hand at being festive instead.
It’s a family film, unlike some of the others on this list, and one of the most influential animations of all time. When : Monday, October 28 and Thursday, October 31 at Betteshanger Country Park in Deal at 1pm. Book tickets here .
GHOSTBUSTERS : It’s not a scare-a-minute thriller, but Ghostbusters is frighteningly fun and a great Halloween hit that the whole family can enjoy. Join the ghost hunters (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson) on the streets of 1980s New York as they catch paranormal spooks with their proton packs. It’s fair to say that the original is the best, but Ivan Reitman’s film has spawned some popular sequels including Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, released earlier this year.
When : Saturday, November 2 at Betteshanger Country Park in Deal at 4pm. Book tickets here . Don’t forget to check out our October half-term guide for even more spooktacular Halloween ideas.
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