Fright Night Podium

Fall is fully here with crunchy leaves, skeletons in yards and trick-or-treating. In October — the best month of the year — we all volunteer for a little fear. Outside this magical month, I avoid anything scary; I can get frightened all on my own, thank you very much.

During one night in Taiwan, a friend quoted “Resident Evil” while we rode an old elevator down to the faculty parking garage: “We’re all going to die down here.” Returning alone, I was convinced that the Umbrella Corp. was scanning my biometrics. If I failed to calm my racing heart, they would unleash hell. As you can see, I must carefully control my consumption of scary stuff.

My sister, Amber, loves horror. Every October, we queue up trailers and note which films we want to see. My sis screens contenders, and we rank items by my excitement and her thoughtful verdicts. Good movies that aren’t scary can wait until November. With that, here are some standouts that I thought I’d share with the NDSU community.

Bring a Friend: “Hokum” on Hulu

A novelist travels to an Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes and hears about a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. I’d check out immediately and stay at a different place, which explains why I never write horror plots. Amber describes tension, jump scares and dry humor, despite a slower pace. I predict spending my time begging the characters not to do something stupid.

Bring Two Friends: “Hereditary” on Hulu

After a grandmother dies, her family uncovers troubling secrets about their family’s past. The trailer, with talented Toni Collette, earned high marks from me. Amber felt bored and sad while watching. However, the story kept her curious until the scares arrived in the third act. My curiosity superseded her caution. If emotional horror and unanswered questions appeal to you, her objections might be a reason to watch, as they are for me.

Bring the Whole Team: “Heretic” on Hulu

Two missionaries arrive to discuss religion and become trapped in a man’s home. The trailer had me hooked and ready to start watching right then and there! Amber describes “Heretic” as “lots of thinking that keeps you interested,” sustained tension and few jump scares. She’s less convinced by the philosophy and ending, though it still tops my list. I’ll have my head under a blanket for this one. With my whole team there, we can discuss the film when we switch on the lights.

Bring a Friend: “The Black Phone” on Netflix

A boy kidnapped by the Grabber hears from his captor’s dead victims through a disconnected phone while his sister’s psychic visions inform the police. Amber calls this a good old-fashioned psycho killer with supernatural elements thrown in for funsies. She liked the growing suspense and rooted for the characters. She wasn’t scared often, but she is certain that I will be. Her tolerance and mine are clearly operating on different settings.

Bring Two Friends: “The Boogeyman” on Netflix

Two grieving sisters face a supernatural threat stalking their home. Amber loved the suspense and quality scares, calling it the “best one all night.” After her movie marathon, we’re excited to watch it together. She thought darkness concealed weak special effects, but I doubt I’ll care about filmmaking craftsmanship while trying to convince myself there’s nothing behind me.

Bring the Whole Team: “Under the Shadow”

In wartime Iran, a mother protecting her daughter from real-world danger suspects a supernatural threat is also at work. Amber and I both love international thrills because the scares feel less overused. Her prediction for movie night: “You will be scared. And that’s always fun.” This takes our top place. I get the film I’m most excited about, and she gets to watch my reactions.

My friends and family love fright nights because they come to watch me, not the movie. I’m excited for popcorn and quality time with my favorite people, but I warn you: choose your film and your company carefully. Apparently, some of us provide bonus entertainment.