Have you heard of the so-called “Mandela Effect?” It’s a strange trick of memory, where an event, image, or even a person is misremembered in a specific way. It’s named for Nelson Mandela, the anti-Apartheid campaigner and former president of South Africa, whose death in 2013 was met with confusion by some netizens – because they were *convinced* that he’d died years earlier!
This has led to a weird conspiracy theory of sorts. I’m not even sure if “conspiracy theory” is the right term – it’s basically complete nonsense! But some folks claim that the reason we experience these “Mandela Effects” is because of changes to the timeline. Somehow, parts of our souls, consciousnesses, or perhaps even our physical bodies have switched timelines – bringing with them memories of a world that never existed or is no longer accessible.
A portal to another timeline?
To be clear: I do not buy into this “timeline-hopping” idea, not one bit! To me, the principle of Occam’s razor applies: the least-complicated explanation is more likely to be correct. In this case, we’re talking about issues with memory and suggestiveness, amplified by social media channels which have promoted “Mandela Effect” content. Think about it like this: based on everything we know about how the world works, which of these two explanations is most likely: 1) Our consciousness, soul, or body slipped into a parallel universe where 99.9% of things are the same except for a few celebrities and brand logos, or 2) Our memories are faulty, and those faults have been amplified by social media?
To me, the obvious answer has always been number two!
But it’s spooky season – so I thought we could talk about the “Mandela Effect,” and I’ll even share a few of my own misremembrances that, some might say, are evidence that I’ve switched timelines!
Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
Perhaps it’s because I visited South Africa while Mandela was president in 1997, and subsequently lived there for a short time, but the original “Mandela Effect” was never one that tripped me up. I never met Mandela, of course, but I visited Robben Island, where he was imprisoned, and I’ve always had an interest in South Africa and its difficult history. I even wrote about the country for one of my classes when at university. So I never had that “but isn’t he already dead?” moment that so many “Mandela Effect” believers did.
Nor do I have any experience with another commonly-noted “Mandela Effect:” the Fruit of the Loom logo. Some folks swear up and down that this brand – which makes clothes – had a different logo, one with a cornucopia. I’ve had a few Fruit of the Loom products over the years, but I either never paid attention to the logo or I’ve never noticed it change!
Which version of the iconic logo do you remember?
But there are a few places where I feel like something *is* different. As I said, this is undoubtedly due to faults in my memory – my brain has never been an especially well-run institution, and when we’re talking about memories from, in some cases, close to forty years ago… things are gonna get muddled up! But, in the spirit of the Halloween season, I share these spooky “Mandela Effects” with you today.
My usual caveat applies: please don’t take this too seriously! This is not a claim of a conspiracy theory, nor is it me trying to start drama. I’m 100% certain that these misremembrances are just that: tricks of the mind. I’m sharing them in the spirit of Halloween, and for entertainment only.
With all of that out of the way, let’s talk about a few spooky “Mandela Effects!”
“Mandela Effect” #1: The song “Reflection” from Mulan.
Mulan about to sing her iconic song…
I can distinctly remember being annoyed that I had to take my little sister (and one of her friends) to see Mulan at the cinema when I was a teenager. But what I absolutely *cannot* remember is the song Reflection. I like Mulan and I generally enjoy its other songs: Honor to us All sets up the story, I’ll Make a Man Out of You is stirring, and A Girl Worth Fighting For has a charm of its own, too. But I would swear up and down that those were the only songs featured in the movie.
I’d say it was maybe three or four years ago that I first heard Reflection. And I’ve watched Mulan more than once over the years: I had the film on VHS and DVD, and of course I’ve been able to watch it via Disney+ in more recent times. So… where’d Reflection come from, then? Did I fall asleep and miss it that day in the cinema in October or November 1998? And did I step out to use the bathroom every single time I watched the film on video? Was there a special home video version that, for some reason, cut out what’s generally considered to be one of the film’s best songs? Or… is this evidence of switching timelines?!
“Mandela Effect” #2: Dates in sticky toffee pudding.
Yummy dates.
If you’re not British, bear with me, because this is probably quite specific! There’s a popular dessert here in the UK called sticky toffee pudding. It’s a dark sponge cake topped with a hot toffee sauce, often accompanied with ice cream or custard. But I would have sworn, in all of my memories of eating this dessert, that the sponge cake component was a plain dark sponge – not one made with dates.
I don’t dislike dates, though I don’t eat them regularly. But I must’ve had sticky toffee pudding dozens of times over the years, and I never once felt even the tiniest date flavour nor noticed pieces of dates. But recently, when I had sticky toffee pudding for the first time in years, I was surprised to detect the flavour and presence of dates. I wondered if I’d accidentally bought a new experimental variety, so I looked it up. But according to every source I can find – including in an old recipe book I inherited – dates have *always* been part of the recipe. How spooky is that?
“Mandela Effect” #3: What do the Chuckle Brothers say?
The original ChuckleVision intro.
Every British person who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s can remember the Chuckle Brothers. ChuckleVision debuted in 1987, and it was a slapstick comedy show for kids in which the titular Chuckle Brothers got into all kinds of mishaps. The Chuckle Brothers – Paul and Barry – had a famous catchphrase, and I must’ve heard them say it a hundred times or more. You know what it is, right? “To you, to me.”
The catchphrase was a big part of the show, repeated by the Chuckle Brothers whenever they carried something, moved something around, or needed to pass things to each other. But… the internet says it was always “to me, to you,” whereas I remember it the other way around. Did the Chuckle Brothers do it backwards in one episode that somehow got etched into my mind? Did my friends on the playground think I was being a goof by saying it the wrong way around? Or… are the Chuckle Brothers bound up in this universe-hopping conspiracy?
“Mandela Effect” #4: The slide in Tall Tall Mountain.
The slide is right behind this false wall… apparently.
I adore Super Mario 64, and I’ve played the game more times than I can remember. In fact, I played it just the other day. It’s a comfort title for me, and stepping back into Peach’s castle feels like going home. I’ve played every stage, every level, beaten Bowser, and returned to the game many times over the years. But one thing I genuinely cannot remember is the slide in the level Tall Tall Mountain.
There are other memorable slides in Mario 64. Cool Cool Mountain gives you the race against the big penguin. And who could forget the doubly-secret star in the Princess’s Secret Slide, which you only get if you make it to the bottom in less than 21 seconds? But a slide in Tall Tall Mountain? I’ve never heard of such a thing! It was only when I was watching a YouTube video about Mario 64 that I saw it for the first time, and I swear I thought the person was playing a modded version of the game, or something! But no, it’s real. There’s a slide in Tall Tall Mountain… or at least there is in *this* timeline.
“Mandela Effect” #5: The rings around Jupiter and Uranus.
Isn’t something missing?
Forget whether Pluto is technically “a planet” or not! When I was a kid, I can distinctly remember learning about the planets in school. Saturn was the one with the most elaborate rings, but Jupiter and Uranus also had their own ring systems which were smaller, but similar. Every illustration of Jupiter and Uranus that I can remember seeing from the ’80s and ’90s depicted these planets with rings.
While neither ring system has “disappeared,” it seems that the consensus nowadays is that the ring systems – which I remember being impressive, even if not quite as spectacular as Saturn’s – are little more than a bit of rock and dust, and they aren’t even visible on most photographs of either planet. Modern illustrations routinely show both planets as being ring-less, yet I remember their rings being much more prominent. Is this simply a case of newer facts coming to light and science moving on? Or is NASA trying to cover up a terrifying change in reality?
So that’s it!
Have we all travelled through a wormhole?
Five spooky “Mandela Effects” to mark the Halloween season.
As I said in the beginning, I don’t actually believe in these ideas of parallel universes, moving consciousnesses, and changing timelines. If such a thing were to happen, I’m pretty sure there’d be more of a difference than a Disney song or a video game level! It’s odd, isn’t it, that no one claiming to have switched timelines actually comes from a radically different timeline – like one where the Industrial Revolution never happened, where Christianity didn’t take off in the Roman Empire, or where technology is 250 years ahead of what we have today. All they notice are minor differences in corporate logos and the occasional “oh, I thought he’d died already” moment when a famous person passes away.
These are nothing more than tricks of the mind. And look at my examples: the most “recent” one is from 1998, when I was in my teens. The rest are all from childhood – a time when brains are still forming and memory isn’t perfect. Memories can also fade over time, and mingle with other bits of information we pick up over the years. Social media amplifies this, so what we see as “Mandela Effects” are, in my humble opinion, evidence of nothing beyond the inherent weaknesses of the human mind!
And on that delightful note… Happy Halloween, folks!
All titles discussed above are the copyright of their respective developer, publisher, broadcaster, and/or distributor. Some stock photos courtesy of Unsplash. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Spoiler Warning: Beware of spoilers for the films, games, and TV shows discussed below.
With Halloween rapidly approaching, I thought we could have a bit of fun by playing one of those “hypothetical question” games that you often see doing the rounds on social media. I’m going to choose one with a seasonally-appropriate horror theme, and try to go through a few possible answers, weighing up the pros and cons of each.
So what is this horror hypothetical, you rightly ask?
If you had to spend 72 hours (that’s three days) in one fictional universe from a horror property, which one would you choose? And, perhaps more pertinently: which horror franchise/universe presents the highest chance of survival?
Happy Halloween!
Let’s lay down some ground rules – because rules are always fun, right?
In this scenario, I’ll have to spend 72 hours in one fictional universe of choice – and it has to come from a recognised horror film, TV series, or video game. Scary episodes or levels of non-horror properties don’t count – so there’s no trying to wriggle out of it by picking something like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Empok Nor. We’re talking full-blown horror only!
Most stories take place in a larger fictional world – but it wouldn’t be *any* fun at all to pick, say, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and say that I’d avoid it by catching the first bus out of town, or to say that I’d survive in the Alien universe by just never going into outer space. So we’re assuming, for the purposes of the hypothetical, that I’m dropped in the middle of the danger zone. Running away is possible – but only using the equipment and technology that we’ve seen depicted on screen, *and* that I’m reasonably confident I’d be able to use. So… no hijacking a nuclear bomb or anything like that!
Argh!
I’m also going to assume that I’m in reasonably good health in these hypotheticals – which is categorically *not* the case in real life, unfortunately! But, again, it doesn’t seem like it’d be a lot of fun to have to take into account my limited mobility in every scenario. So, if you’ll indulge me, I’m going to assume I’m in better health than I actually am!
Finally, as I always like to say, everything we’re going to talk about is subjective, not objective. If you hate the horror franchises I’ve chosen, think I’ve totally messed up my survival, or just feel I’ve got the wrong end of the stick somehow… that’s okay! All of this is just a bit of Halloween-themed fun, at the end of the day. And since neither of us are ever going to be actually dropped into a horror franchise (well, fingers crossed), none of this really matters! It’s just for fun – and I share it with the interweb in that spirit.
I’ll talk a little bit about each scenario, then give it a survival chance at the end using a simple 1-10 scale, with one being the lowest chance of survival, and ten being the highest.
So with all of that out of the way, let’s get started.
Option #1: 28 Days Later
A zombie.
28 Days Later redefined the zombie genre, and it was genuinely one of the most terrifying depictions of zombies I’d ever seen. Fast “sprinters,” able to infect people with a single drop of blood, and blinded by rage… this is gonna be a tough one!
For the purposes of our 72-hour survival challenge, the best thing to do would be to shelter in place, using whatever resources are available in the immediate surroundings. Venturing outside, especially in a large city the size of London, seems like it would be immediately fatal, so as long as I have some kind of shelter and hopefully some water or something else to drink, I’d try to hunker down, keep quiet, and stay away from any windows!
Dying zombies.
That being said, we’ve seen how aggressive 28 Days Later’s zombies can be, and how a small flicker of light or a seemingly innocuous sound can attract an entire horde. Assuming we’re in London or a similarly-sized urban area, and all we have for defence is the contents of the average house… I don’t think this is going to end well, to be blunt about it. One loud snore, one step too close to a window, or one candle at night would be all it’d take to send the zombies crashing through the windows and doors.
I deliberately chose 28 Days Later ahead of something like The Walking Dead because of how much more intense and powerful its zombies appear. But that could be what screws us over! If we get lucky and the hordes pass us by, I think sheltering in place for 72 hours is plausible. But if we run out of water and have to venture out, if our base is compromised, or if we make one small mistake… that’s all it’d take.
Survival Chance: 3/10
Option #2: A Nightmare on Elm Street
Freddy Krueger.
Freddy Krueger has one major weakness: he can only hurt me in my dreams. If this was a “survive indefinitely” challenge, that would be a problem! But if I have to make it 72 hours… I reckon I could manage to stay awake. A combination of caffeine pills, energy drinks, and coffee should keep the spooky lil’ guy at bay!
But okay, that’s getting dangerously close to cheating territory, I suppose. There have been more Nightmare on Elm Street films and spin-offs than I thought, and it seems as if Krueger’s backstory and the source of his powers have changed since the original. But if we assume that Krueger is fuelled by his victims’ fear, as the first film depicted, then trying to stay calm will be the biggest obstacle. And all that caffeine we just chugged? That probably won’t help with keeping calm!
Krueger and Nancy in one of the sequels.
I don’t think I’d be able to figure out all of the other stuff depicted in the sequels: things like purifying Freddy’s bones or staging a group hypnotherapy session in order to enter his world and take the fight to him! So my plan, to be honest, would really be to try to stay awake for as long as possible. 72 hours seems like a stretch – that’s three full days – but if the alternative is a violent and painful death… well, that’s a pretty good motivator.
If possible, I’d try to meet up with anyone else who might be one of Freddy’s targets. Perhaps by working together, we could develop a more solid strategy!
Survival Chance: 6/10
Option #3: The Last Of Us (Video game version)
Fighting a clicker.
In this scenario, we survived the main event (or we were born after it) and we’re now a couple of decades into the post-apocalypse, as depicted in the main part of the story. For a 72-hour survival challenge, I’m torn between seeking out a safe zone, like Boston, where the first game starts, or simply finding an abandoned property and taking shelter.
In either case, I don’t want to spend much time on the road or travelling, as that seems like the time for the mushroom-zombies to strike! Finding a truly safe space outside of one of the established settlements or safe zones seems like it would be challenging, but trying to enter one of these places would also have its drawbacks. Some guards seem especially trigger-happy, so one wrong move (or sarcastic quip) could lead to a premature demise!
We don’t want to run into any of these…
The video game version of The Last Of Us also showed how deadly fungal spores could be. Without proper protection, spores would quickly infect me and bring my run to an end – and I can’t rely on having access to a proper hazmat suit or gas mask! And knowing me, I’d struggle to get the damn things on in time even if I was lucky enough to have them. This side of things makes venturing anywhere pretty dangerous, not least derelict buildings which could hold clouds of cordyceps spores.
Perhaps the least-bad option would be to just… pitch a tent in a field somewhere and hope that you’re far enough away from the zombies to survive for three days? There are also scavengers and gangs to worry about, though. Being alone in this post-apocalyptic world wouldn’t be a lot of fun, that’s for sure.
Survival Chance: 4/10
Option #4: The Thing
The Thing.
In The Thing, you’re trapped at an isolated outpost, unable to tell your friends from the creature, and… I think it’s gonna be a bad time! Unlike in other scenarios, going off alone and trying to hunker down won’t work; the Antarctic base is relatively small, and the creature seems to have a pretty good method of navigating it. Leaving the base, even if well-equipped, means facing Antarctica in the dark in the middle of winter… so I’m not making it 72 hours that way!
If possible, I’d try to organise the survivors into one group, occupying a “safe” room with resources, like the cafeteria. Taking shifts, so at least two or three people are awake at a time, I’d try to keep the creature at bay for as long as possible. But I have no doubt that the shape-shifting abilities would be a waking nightmare; not feeling 100% confident in trusting anyone would take a toll.
Kill it with fire!
With nowhere to run, the best way to survive 72 hours in this world would seem to be by befriending everyone at the facility and trying to stick together in one group. That means if there’s something to attend to outside of our safe room, the whole group goes. No one uses the bathroom alone, sleeps alone, or does anything alone. For someone who struggles with human interaction… that might not be the most fun I’ve ever had! But, as above, the fear of a violent death is a pretty good way to keep me motivated!
With all that being said, facing off against an intelligent and efficient predator like this, one with such a perfect ability to mimic animals and people… I don’t think the odds are especially high!
Survival Chance: 2/10
Option #5: Alien
Hiding from a Xenomorph.
In space, no one can hear you scream… so let’s *try* not to have to scream! I think our survival chances in the world of Alien improve significantly if we’re on the ground – a colony or settlement – rather than aboard a spaceship or space station. But either way, the Xenomorph is coming for us, driven by little more than a desire to feed and breed.
If we have enough room, I’d try to put as much distance between us and the infection site as possible. We could try to commandeer a vehicle – like one of the ground transports seen in Aliens. Or, if trapped aboard a ship, sneakily trying to use an escape pod might be a viable option. Remember, we just have to survive for 72 hours – so getting as far away from the Xenomorph as possible should be top priority!
Alien: Isolation.
If escape isn’t an option, though, and we’re in a worst-case scenario aboard a cramped slow-moving spaceship, then I think – as the films and series have repeatedly shown – we’re pretty much screwed! If we catch the infection really early, and can kill the facehugger or infant Xenomorph, maybe things would look a lot brighter. But by the time we’ve passed the chest-burster stage and the little bugger has disappeared, our best bet is honestly to run to the escape pods.
I’ve recently been playing Alien: Isolation, and it’s genuinely one of the scariest games I’ve ever played – and perhaps second only to the original Alien film in terms of how terrifying the Xenomorph feels. Playing it was part of the inspiration behind this piece, as I honestly struggle to survive in the world of Alien – so it made me wonder which other horror properties might be equally as unforgiving!
Survival Chance: 2/10
Option #6: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Vamps!
Gosh, where do we start with this one? There’s a lot more to Buffy than just vampires – so you can expect to be contending with werewolves, witches, ancient demons, and many other supernatural baddies! Honestly, just holding your own against vampires for 72 hours would be a stretch, but if other entities also join the hunt? This could be a very short challenge!
The flip side to all of that is, unlike in every other scenario we’ve examined so far, there’s a gang of people dedicated to hunting down and stopping the vampires and other creatures of the night. We wouldn’t even need to meet or befriend Buffy, Giles, Willow, or anyone else – if supernatural shenanigans are going down in Sunnydale, they’re probably already on the case. It might be too late for us if we’re the first victim of a new monster, but what are the odds of that happening in the first 72 hours?
The Scooby Gang.
Okay, you’re right – I guess seeking shelter at The Magic Box might not be a terrible idea! If we could make it there in the daylight, and explain we’re in danger… all we gotta do is hang out with the gang and wait! But if there’s no slayer, no Magic Box, and just a plethora of vampires and monsters terrorising Sunnydale… I think we’re in a lot of trouble. Stay inside, lock the door, and maybe try to get some kind of really strong UV lamp!
Because Buffy ran for seven seasons, the show sank its teeth into all kinds of monsters, vampires, and ghouls. Sunnydale is a very dangerous place, it would seem. If Buffy and the gang are there and willing to help, this could be a cakewalk. But if we’re unlucky and Buffy’s gone on vacation, we might’ve accidentally stepped into one of the most dangerous, monster-infested settings out there!
Survival Chance: 4/10 (8/10 with Buffy and co., 2/10 without)
So that’s it… for now!
Halloween snacks!
I hope this has been a bit of Halloween-y fun! I actually really like this “hypothetical question” idea, and it’s one I’d love to revisit in the future – both in horror and non-horror contexts. I’m already brainstorming more questions and scenarios to write about, so if you enjoyed this idea… watch this space!
But I suppose we should pick one of the six options, shouldn’t we, as the answer to the hypothetical posed at the beginning?
I think I’m still leaning towards A Nightmare on Elm Street. I’m confident that I could go 72 hours without sleep, even if it was 1984 and there were no energy drinks or caffeine pills, and all I had was coffee. I know it’s a bit of a sneaky answer, but the objective was to survive 72 hours in a horror setting – not defeat every demon and monster that inhabits it!
I’m choosing A Nightmare On Elm Street for this hypothetical!
So that’s gonna be my pick. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was tempting, but I think it’s only really survivable if you’re able to team up with the Scooby Gang as soon as you arrive. If you get to nightfall in Sunnydale without support – and without a place to hide – you’re toast. So A Nightmare on Elm Street it is.
As I think I said last time, this year, October has turned out to be a stupidly busy month, so I haven’t had time to write all of the horror and Halloween articles and columns that I’d originally planned. Such is life, I suppose! Some will undoubtedly have to go on the back burner until next Halloween. By the way, is that the first time you’ve heard someone talk about Halloween 2026?
A spooky ghost!
As I said above, this piece was partly inspired by the video game Alien: Isolation, which I’ve been slowly working my way through. Trying to survive in that world is genuinely tense and terrifying, and it got me thinking about other horror settings and how long I might last! I think the basic ground rules made for a fun thought experiment, at any rate.
So if I don’t catch you again before the 31st, I hope you have a fun and appropriately spooky Halloween! If you missed it, I wrote up a list of five seasonally-appropriate TV shows that you might want to check out before Spooktober comes to an end – you can find that piece by clicking or tapping here. And if you want a more personal look back at some of my Halloween memories, I wrote about that a couple of years ago – you can find it by clicking or tapping here.
Happy Halloween, everyone!
All films, TV shows, and video games discussed above are the copyrights of their respective studio, broadcaster, distributor, developer, publisher, etc. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Spoiler Warning: Beware of minor spoilers for some of the entries on this list.
Happy Spooktober, friends!
To celebrate the arrival of the spookiest, scariest, most horrifying month of the year, I thought we could take a look at five horror-themed television shows that could be fun to watch as Halloween gets closer.
If you know me, you’ll know I’m not exactly a horror aficionado! I’m a big softie and a total scaredy-cat, so horror isn’t usually my genre of choice, whether we’re talking about TV shows, films, or video games. But every now and then, a horror title comes along that feels like a must-watch, or where some element of the production appeals to me.
The kind of Halloween costume I can get behind!
Horror is enjoying its time in the spotlight right now. When I was a kid, horror was very much a niche genre at the cinema – and there really weren’t very many television offerings. The only horror or horror-adjacent shows I can really remember from the late ’80s and early ’90s are things like The Addams Family and the Ghostbusters cartoon. When I was a teenager, the nerdy friendship groups I moved in definitely saw horror as somewhat of a rite of passage, so being able to boast about having seen a particularly scary film was definitely enough to score you some bragging rights (even if I watched from behind a pillow half of the time!)
But these days, horror is much more mainstream – and there have been some great television programmes with a horror theme, too. The genre is no longer exclusive to the cinema!
It’s about to get spooky…
As always, a couple of caveats. Firstly, it’s been a while since I watched some of these shows! I don’t regularly watch a ton of horror, and some of these programmes I’ve only seen once, during their original run. If that makes my take less valid to you… that’s fine. But I thought I should be up front about it. Secondly, everything we’re going to talk about is the entirely subjective, not objective, opinion of just one person. If you hate all of my picks, disagree with some of what I’ve got to say, or if I miss your favourite horror television show… that’s okay! There are plenty of horror TV shows out there, and a wide range of opinions on which ones are the best.
I’ve picked five horror or horror-adjacent television shows that I enjoyed and I’m happy to recommend. I’ve tried to avoid major narrative spoilers, but minor spoilers may still be present.
With all of that out of the way, let’s take a look at my selections!
TV Show #1: The Strain (2014)
Promo poster for The Strain.
There have been a lot of shows and movies set during or after a zombie apocalypse, but The Strain is the first series I can remember in which vampires, not zombies, were the main threat. I especially enjoyed the first season of The Strain, which slowly built up to the arrival of an ancient vampire in the United States, and the actions of a team from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as they attempted to piece together what was happening – and fight back.
David Bradley (of Game of Thrones and Harry Potter fame) puts in an especially entertaining performance as an elderly vampire hunter, conveying his knowledge of the outbreak to the rest of the characters. And as the vampire disease propagates, there are some genuinely shocking jump-scares, as well as plenty of gut-wrenching moments.
Yikes.
The Strain was based on a book by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, who also are credited with creating this television adaptation. Del Toro is a master of the horror genre, and his take on vampires – partially inspired by ancient European legends and folklore – really succeeds at making the blood-sucking creatures scary. After the likes of Twilight had done a lot to run vampires’ reputations into the ground, that’s no mean feat!
There are some tense moments, some very claustrophobic scenes set in safehouses, skyscrapers, and the tunnels beneath New York City, and a surprisingly emotional storyline, too, as the vampires try to stake their claim to the new world. If you missed The Strain during its original run, or you’re just looking for a different kind of monster after burning out on the same old zombies, I definitely think it’s worth a watch.
TV Show #2: Alien: Earth (2025)
In space, no one can hear you scream…
Alien: Earth premiered just this summer, and I reviewed it here on the website not too long ago. I really enjoyed Alien: Earth, which I think does a fantastic job of expanding the world of Ridley Scott’s Alien beyond just the Xenomorphs. After repeated appearances in multiple films and games, I was beginning to worry that the Xenomorphs were running out of steam. Adding new alien creatures to this world has given it a much-needed boost.
I won’t say too much lest I spoil anything, but one episode of the season in particular stands out to me as recapturing the magic of the original Alien (from 1979) in a way that none of the sequel films or spin-offs ever did. It was a slow burn, building up the tension masterfully, before reaching an explosive conclusion. The rest of the season was solid (well, mostly), but that one episode in particular really excelled.
Alien: Earth expanded the lore and mythos of the franchise.
I’m surprised that, at time of writing, a second season still hasn’t been officially greenlit. It’s my hope, though, that Alien: Earth has been the expansion that the franchise has been needing for a long time, successfully re-establishing the Xenomorph as a terrifying and dangerous threat while also adding new, equally frightening creatures to the world.
Being set on Earth gave Alien: Earth a new frontier to explore. We got to learn a lot about the corporate dystopia that governs this vision of the future, as well as some rather timely commentary on artificial intelligence, too. Definitely not one to miss if you were a fan of the original Alien.
The first season of The Terror is fantastic – as I’ve noted more than once here on the website. But Season 2 tends to get overlooked, which I think is a bit of a shame. Season 2 goes for much more of a supernatural “ghost story” angle, and there are a few jump-scares that genuinely caught me off-guard and are still burned into my memory six years later! There’s still the same mystery tone as in the first season, but jumping across to a whole new cast of characters gives it a completely different setup.
Season 2 of The Terror takes place during the Second World War, and focuses mainly on Japanese-Americans in an internment camp. George Takei, of Star Trek fame, plays a supporting role – and he had actually been interned as a young man in the 1940s. The setting isn’t just a backdrop, though – it’s integral to a story which takes Japanese folklore as a starting point to tell a genuinely unsettling and frightening tale.
George Takei in The Terror Season 2.
As the mystery at the heart of the story unravels, we get to learn more about the haunting and why it’s affecting the main characters. The war also comes into play in a big way, informing character decisions and motivations, as well as providing a setting that most of the cast are unable to escape from. Although the show’s first season was outstanding, and Season 2 arguably doesn’t quite reach that same high bar, I still found it entertaining and frightening.
A third season of The Terror has belatedly been greenlit. I expected to see it in 2025, but we’re already in October – prime spooky season – and there’s been no word on a release yet. Still, one to keep an eye on. Who knows, maybe it’ll be something to watch next Halloween!
TV Show #4: The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
Bruce Greenwood in The Fall of the House of Usher.
This miniseries is a modern-day (and fairly loose) adaptation of the gothic horror stories of Edgar Allan Poe. I found it to be genuinely riveting stuff, and a creative way to weave together a selection of unconnected stories into a single, cohesive narrative. Creator Mike Flanagan did an excellent job of bringing together many of Poe’s best-known works, while giving them a modern twist.
There are a few jump-scares, but what shook me the most with The Fall of the House of Usher were some of the show’s more brutal moments. Some of these weren’t hidden from us as the audience; there was a slow build-up to an inevitably gory or gruesome death or maiming, and that tension was really well-conveyed by the show. There were also some spectacular performances from Bruce Greenwood, Carla Gugino, and an unexpectedly dark and villainous role for Mark Hamill, too.
That’s gonna leave a mark…
In my review a couple of years ago, I described The Fall of the House of Usher as akin to “Succession meets Final Destination;” effectively a slasher film taking aim at the children of a wealthy and successful business mogul. Edgar Allan Poe was a master of building up tension, and if there’s one thing I can say about The Fall of the House of Usher, it would be that it really succeeds at translating that feeling to the small screen.
With Netflix’s money behind it, The Fall of the House of Usher looks fantastic. Its storyline bounces around, encompassing different moments in the main characters’ lives, with each episode building to a grisly conclusion – and another shocking revelation, too. It’s dark, gothic, and tense – perfect for this time of year!
When I first sat down to watch Fortitude, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. I genuinely thought it was gonna be another crime/murder mystery type of show – but it goes in a completely different direction, despite having an opening act very similar to other crime dramas that were on TV in the mid-2010s. As the story unfolded, though, it went in much more of a thriller and then horror direction, with the end of the first season really leaning into body horror and creepiness in a big way.
Fortitude stands out for its Arctic setting, which is loosely based on the Norwegian island of Svalbard. Just a normal murder mystery in that setting would’ve been something different (and a ton of fun, probably), but Fortitude managed to have twists and turns in store to keep me on my toes throughout its run.
Two police officers.
It’s hard to say too much more about the story without giving away something important, so I’ll just say that Fortitude surprised me in the best way possible. I really didn’t expect the series to go the way it did – but that can be part of the fun, right? It’s not full of jump-scares, so if that’s what you’re on the lookout for, be aware that Fortitude is more mysterious and slow-going. As it builds up, though, it tells a genuinely fascinating – and occasionally gruesome – tale.
I liked the frozen setting, and there were some fantastic performances from big-name stars like Stanley Tucci, Michael Gambon, and Dennis Quaid. If you missed this one when it was new – which was, to my great shock, now a decade ago already – I really hope you’ll give it a try.
We’ve taken a look at five spooky television shows to kick off the spookiest, scariest month of the year! I hope this has been a bit of fun, and that maybe I’ve chosen one or two that you might’ve overlooked when they were new, or just hadn’t considered for your Halloween binge-watching!
Earlier in 2025, I reviewed the horror film 28 Years Later – click or tap here to check out my thoughts on that. And between now and Halloween, I have a couple of other ideas for some seasonally-appropriate content. So please check back throughout Spooktober… I’m sure I’ll have plenty more to say!
Until then… don’t have nightmares!
All of the television shows discussed above are the copyright of their respective broadcasters, studios, etc. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Spoiler Warning: Minor spoilers may be present for some of the titles on this list.
Happy Spooktober!
It’s officially the spookiest, scariest, most horrifying month of the year, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to watch some horror films! Horror is not my favourite genre most of the time, but when October rolls around I’m happy to dip my toes in the dark waters of the scary side of cinema.
There have been some exceptional horror films made over the years, and the genre is currently in vogue. Some of the biggest films of the last decade have been in the horror genre; titles like Stephen King’s It, A Quiet Place, and The Conjuring all come to mind. These blockbusters broke out of the horror niche to attract huge audiences – and that’s great!
Pennywise the clown from Stephen King’s It.
When I was a kid, I moved in nerdy friendship groups where watching horror films was almost a rite of passage. Being able to brag that you’d watched a particularly scary film at the cinema (or rented it on VHS from the shop) was a big deal – though I’m sure most of us were just putting on a brave face in those days! As mentioned, though, I’m not the world’s biggest horror fan these days, and when I do choose something spooky for Halloween, it tends to be a lighter, more kid-friendly title! I guess I’m just a big old scaredy-cat.
So to mark the arrival of Spooky Season, let’s pick five horror films that I think are worth watching. I’ve had fun with all of these films over the years, and I recommend each of them.
Ready to go trick-or-treating?
As always, my usual caveats apply: this is by no means an exhaustive list! There are literally thousands of horror films out there, and I’m only picking a few on this occasion. And all of this is simply the subjective opinion of one person – a person who isn’t a big horror fan! So if I pick a film you loathe or skip a film you think should be included… that’s okay! There’s plenty of room for differences of opinion when talking about cinema.
With all of that out of the way, let’s jump into the spookiest list I’ve ever put together!
Film #1: Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror 1922
Let’s step back in time to the earliest days of cinema and watch a bona fide classic! I watched Nosferatu for the very first time this year, and while silent films are usually not my thing at all… I have to say that I found a surprisingly coherent film. The story behind Nosferatu is almost as compelling as the film itself: it was produced in Germany just after the end of the First World War, and ended up being sued by the estate of author Bram Stoker as a shameless rip-off of his Dracula novel. The film’s producers lost the case and were ordered to destroy all copies and prints of Nosferatu – but thankfully some survived!
You know the classic vampire story by now: Count Orlok (no, his name isn’t Nosferatu!) lives in a castle in Transylvania, feeding on the blood of innocent humans. He moves to Germany to continue his reign of terror, after enlisting a man to buy a house for him there. But can he be stopped in time? One of the all-time classics of cinema, and a film that did more than most to establish the foundations of the horror genre, Nosferatu is worth a watch for any horror fan. With the film being out of copyright, you can find high-quality copies online with ease.
Film #2: The Hole 2001
This film really creeped me out when I first watched it! The Hole recounts the story of a group of teenagers who become trapped in an underground bunker having sneaked inside to throw a party. As the situation becomes increasingly desperate, some of them are killed in pretty gruesome ways. The film documents the descent into madness of its main characters, and touches on some pretty dark themes along the way.
The Hole was an early project for Keira Knightley, who later went on to star in films like Pirates of the Caribbean and 2005’s Pride & Prejudice. Thora Birch takes the lead role, and The Hole tells a really disturbing tale of teenage love gone horribly wrong. There are twists and turns along the way, and I was on the edge of my seat most of the time.
Film #3: Annihilation 2018
Annihilation seems to be overlooked, but it’s a surprisingly strong sci-fi/horror title that’s well worth your time. There are some genuinely shocking “mutated” animals, and moments of body horror as the mysterious Shimmer begins to affect the humans sent to find out what’s happening inside it. There are relatively few out-and-out jump-scares, which is something I appreciated, but there are plenty of moments in the film that linger long after the credits have rolled.
There’s some technobabble about how the alien Shimmer is distorting the DNA of the plants and creatures within its boundary, and the scientific focus of the expedition is something relatively uncommon in the horror field. Alex Garland, who directed Annihilation, also directed 2024’s Civil War – a review of which you can find by clicking or tapping here, if you’re interested.
Film #4: Pan’s Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno) 2006
I think there are enough disturbing and scary moments in Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth to earn it a place on a list like this one! It’s actually been a while since I watched it, but some scenes and moments are still etched in my mind eighteen years later. Young Ofelia is tasked with completing three trials to prove her worth as the reincarnation of a princess from a fairy-tale realm.
Some of the puppets and prosthetics created for Pan’s Labyrinth are truly outstanding – and grotesque. And the film’s twin storylines set in the dark underworld and Francoist Spain are both deeply engaging. The young performer who took on the incredibly challenging role of Ofelia really excelled, and del Toro’s direction is fantastic as well. A disturbing film in many ways… and well worth a watch.
Film #5: Hotel Transylvania 2012
Despite its themes of death and horror, Halloween is still a holiday for the little ones! So I’ve chosen to include a kid-friendly entry on the list, and this year it’s the turn of Hotel Transylvania. The original film was a blast, as an unexpected human guest shows up at Dracula’s hotel – which is supposed to be a refuge for monsters, vampires, ghouls, and other horror movie staples.
What ensues is a classic comedy with a romantic sub-plot, one set against the backdrop of a haunted hotel/castle populated by Dracula and his clan. There’s a ton of fun to be had here, especially at Halloween, and Adam Sandler puts in what might just be my favourite performance of his as this version of Count Dracula. Hotel Transylvania has since been spun into a franchise – because of course it has – but for me, the first film is still the best of the bunch.
Bonus TV Series: The Terror Season 1 (2018)
In addition to the films listed above, I thought it could be fun to highlight one of my favourite horror TV shows of the last few years. The Terror takes Franklin’s lost expedition to the Arctic as its starting point, and weaves a tale of explorers trapped on the ice while being hunted by a soul-eating monster. The crew of the expedition grow increasingly desperate as they’re snowbound and trapped in ice, leading to a desperate bid to reach civilisation.
The monster in The Terror is largely unseen (in the style of films like Jaws), and I think it works incredibly well. There are excellent performances from Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies, and Adam Nagaitis, among others, and the world of The Terror’s first season really grabbed me and pulled me into the world of the mid-19th Century. At time of writing, a third season of this anthology series has just been greenlit, so maybe we’ll watch that together next Halloween. Is that the first time you’ve seen someone mention Halloween 2025?
So that’s it!
Happy Spooktober!
We’ve picked five spooky films – and one bonus spooky TV programme – to watch this October.
I hope this has been a bit of fun. I like to branch out and explore some horror films at this time of year – even though I wouldn’t usually devote much time to the genre. There are a couple of films and series on the horizon that I’d like to take a look at this month, too, and I have a couple of other Halloweeny ideas that may (or may not) make their way onto the website before the 31st. So I hope you’ll stay tuned here on Trekking with Dead-nnis… if you dare!
All that’s left is for me to wish you a happy and spooky October. This really is my favourite time of year!
All films and TV shows discussed above are the copyright of their respective studio, broadcaster, distributor, or company. Some stock images courtesy of Unsplash and Pixabay. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Spoiler Warning: Spoilers are present for each of the episodes on the list below.
Happy Halloween!
To celebrate the spookiest day of the year, I thought it could be a bit of fun to choose five Star Trek episodes that have a “horror” theme or vibe. The Star Trek franchise has dabbled in many genres across its fifty-seven-year history, and there are a handful of episodes that definitely have horror overtones. Though the Star Trek franchise is never quite on par with a dedicated horror film or TV show, there are still some decidedly creepy, spooky, or downright frightening stories – as well as scenes and sequences across many more episodes.
This time, I’ve pulled out five episodes that I think could make for entertaining Halloween viewing! The episodes come from five different shows across Star Trek’s history, and while they’re all very different, the overall trend here is one of horror. So if (like me) you’re a bit of a scaredy-cat… maybe you shouldn’t watch them!
Are you ready to cower in fear?
As always, a couple of caveats. This list is just for fun, and I share it in a light-hearted manner. I’m not saying that these episodes are somehow “objectively” the best horror-themed stories in the history of Star Trek – nor even that all of them are among the best that the franchise has to offer. This is all just the opinion of one Star Trek fan, shared in the spirit of Halloween.
I don’t have any other major rules or criteria for this list – other than the episodes had to be horror-themed, spooky, or frightening! I wouldn’t say any of them are the scariest things I’ve ever seen; this is still Star Trek, after all! But echoes of the horror genre are present throughout.
With all of that out of the way, let’s jump into the list!
Episode #1: Empok Nor Deep Space Nine Season 5
Approaching Empok Nor in a Runabout.
I adore DS9′s fifth season. It has so many incredibly strong episodes, and Empok Nor is definitely one of them. There’s a genuine fear factor to the presentation of Garak – a character who has already been established, by this point in the series’ run, as being mysterious and even dangerous. Seeing him go “rogue,” and using some of his skills from his time in the Obsidian Order against our Starfleet heroes is truly disturbing.
The interplay between Garak and O’Brien, conducted largely by communicator once the episode gets going, is also fantastic! It reminds me in more ways than one of the film Die Hard, but with a decidedly darker edge. The board game analogy that Garak repeatedly brings up also adds to the unsettling presentation of his character, showcasing his descent into “madness.”
Garak.
For a Star Trek episode, Empok Nor is also surprisingly violent, with the deaths of several redshirts (or the aftermaths, at least) being shown in graphic detail. There wasn’t much blood or viscera shown – this was pre-watershed television in the ’90s, after all – but when compared with what other Star Trek stories were doing around the same time, the death and mutilation shown in Empok Nor is positively graphic!
The episode manages to ramp up the tension and fear as it progresses, and uses the familiar Deep Space Nine sets and stages in a unique way. Changes in lighting coupled with a distinct lack of DS9′s regular background characters populating the station creates a truly creepy backdrop that heightens the episode’s frightening elements. It has wonderful performances from Andrew Robinson, Colm Meaney, and the late great Aron Eisenberg in particular. All in all, an outstanding start to our list!
Episode #2: Terminal Provocations Lower Decks Season 1
Creating an AI? What could possibly go wrong?
This episode, from Lower Decks’ first season, is on the list for one reason: Badgey! Badgey is a truly disturbing villain, and a reflection of contemporary fears of artificial intelligence gone wrong. An unsettling combination of Microsoft Office’s “Clippy” and renegade AI villains like the Terminator, Badgey really succeeds at unnerving me!
The other side of Terminal Provocations sees Boimler and Mariner team up with a friend of theirs to try to undo a mistake – a mistake that soon evolves into another monster to defeat. This computer-core monster is less frightening than Badgey, but it’s still worth noting that it has a couple of creepy moments of its own.
Here’s Badgey!
“Trapped on the holodeck” is a Star Trek trope going back to the introduction of the setting in The Next Generation, and there have been several episodes that have managed to evoke a sense of danger from that premise. But Terminal Provocations is arguably the first where this concept has been spun out to be something truly frightening, and the first to use the “broken holodeck” idea to lean into a horror story.
As Badgey pursues Rutherford and Tendi across a variety of environments, we get to see the villainous construct in several different – and increasingly dangerous – situations. The tension on this side of the story builds to a surprisingly emotional climax – one that seems to be in the vein of the likes of Frankenstein. Click or tap here to see my review of the episode, written shortly after its original broadcast in 2020.
Episode #3: Starship Mine The Next Generation Season 6
The Enterprise-D undergoing a baryon sweep.
Less out-and-out terrifying than creepy and unsettling, Starship Mine sees Picard trapped aboard a deserted Enterprise-D – while a gang of wannabe terrorists try to steal a dangerous explosive material. As above with Empok Nor, seeing the usually-populated ship abandoned and deluminated is enough to set the stage in a most unnerving way.
The baryon sweep which begins to slowly work its way through the Enterprise-D is a frightening concept, too, and the stakes involved are communicated well. By the time Picard is face-to-face with the deadly phenomenon, we’ve already seen first-hand what it can do to people, and we can see just how deadly it is. Knowing the layout of the Enterprise-D, with Ten-Forward being the forwardmost part of the ship, is a good bit of information to have, too, as it really hammers home that Picard and the villainous Kelsey have literally nowhere left to run.
Picard is trapped aboard the Enterprise-D.
Playing a game of cat-and-mouse with hostile terrorists aboard the Enterprise-D is surprisingly fun, and Starship Mine put Picard at the centre of the action – which is a narrative space he didn’t always get to occupy. Picard is a very different kind of captain than Kirk had been, so to see him in this kind of spy/action hero role is something different, too.
I also felt that Picard’s actions at the climax of the episode show a ruthlessness that we seldom get to see; a dark, cunning, and utterly cold presentation of the character that’s disturbing in its own right. Maybe Starship Mine isn’t the scariest episode in the franchise – but it’s unsettling in its own way.
Episode #4: All Those Who Wander Strange New Worlds Season 1
A gory scene…
Across a truly spectacular first season, Strange New Worlds dipped its toes in a variety of different genres. All Those Who Wander is the show’s take on horror – and it absolutely nailed it. All Those Who Wander might be the out-and-out scariest episode on this list – and perhaps even the most overtly frightening that the Star Trek franchise has ever attempted.
The DNA of films like Predator and Alien is present throughout, and All Those Who Wander takes a familiar setting, characters, and even an alien race that we thought we knew and catapults them into a desperate fight for survival against an adversary who feels every inch the predator.
La’an and the away team prepare to do battle.
Setting the story aboard a crashed starship on a desolate, icebound planet was a masterstroke, and the hallways of the USS Peregrine feel incredibly claustrophobic as the away team is quite literally being hunted by an apex predator. The Gorn feel like a perfect fit for this role, too, and both the episode and Strange New Worlds as a whole manage to expand our knowledge of the race without treading on the toes of established canon too much. Gorn eggs being parasitic was a particularly masterful stroke of writing – one that loaded the story of All Those Who Wander for a last-second detonation.
There have to be stakes in horror; as the audience, we need to feel that our characters are genuinely in danger, not safe from all turmoil and threats thanks to heavy plot armour. Part of that means that killing off major, named characters – not just nameless redshirts – has to be on the table. And throughout All Those Who Wander, our heroes genuinely seem to be in danger.
Episode #5: The Haunting of Deck Twelve Voyager Season 6
Who’s ready for a ghost story?
We’ve already talked about this episode here on the website – I covered it in-depth for Halloween a couple of years ago. But it’s such a unique and fun spooky story that I think it’s worth including on a list like this one! Click or tap here, by the way, if you’re interested in a more in-depth look at the episode and its spookiness.
What I love about The Haunting of Deck Twelve is its “ghost stories around the campfire” framework. Neelix, a character so often used as comic relief, makes for such an interesting narrator – and there’s a sense, as the episode progresses, that we can’t entirely rely on his recollection of the events. This just adds to the tension, for me, and makes the frame narrative work so incredibly well.
Neelix investigates…
Halloween is a holiday for the little ones, despite its horror theme and frightening elements. And The Haunting of Deck Twelve brings Voyager’s full complement of Borg kids into the story in a relatable and understandable way. The way the frame narrative and flashbacks come together is great, and the episode is stronger than it would have been without Neelix and the kids to set the stage.
There are several jumpscares in this episode, as the USS Voyager encounters a brand-new form of life and begins to suffer malfunctions. Seen through the eyes of the kids listening to Neelix’s tale, these moments are elevated. At points, it genuinely feels like we’re right there around the “campfire” with Neelix and the Borg children.
So that’s it!
Armus.
I hope this was a bit of fun. There are other examples of the Star Trek franchise trying out a scary or horror-inspired story, but these are five of my personal favourites. All are great episodes in their own right, too!
As I said a few weeks ago, I’ve been feeling kind of burned out on Star Trek. I’m still not sure that I’m in the right frame of mind to jump headfirst back into Star Trek and start writing reviews and such… and maybe that’s the scariest thing you’ll read this Halloween! Just kidding… but franchise fatigue and burnout are issues that the Star Trek franchise is currently dealing with.
Whatever you’re doing this year, whether you’re heading out to a party or preparing a selection of goodies for trick-or-treaters… I hope you have a fantastic Halloween! As for me… well, I’ve got the builders in. So I’ll be dealing with that! Happy Halloween!
Most Star Trek films and TV shows can be streamed on Paramount+ in countries and territories where the service is available, and can also be purchased on DVD and/or Blu-ray. The Star Trek franchise – including all TV series and episodes listed above – is the copyright of Paramount Global. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Autumn is my favourite time of year. I love the sense of slowly-building anticipation as the holiday season approaches, and October is really the first part of an extended holiday season that will run all the way through to New Year. As I was erecting my modest array of Halloween decorations (and window shopping for more on Amazon), it got me thinking about Halloween celebrations in years gone by.
I’ve always felt that it’s a bit of a shame that Halloween is when it is. Here in the UK, we have Bonfire Night on the 5th of November – known to some of you, no doubt, thanks to the film adaptation of V for Vendetta! Because Halloween and Bonfire Night are so close together, one often eclipses the other, and I just think that’s a little sad. In recent years I’ve felt that Bonfire Night is rather living in Halloween’s shadow, and that Halloween is the more popular event – especially for the little ones. If there was just a couple of weeks between them instead of a mere five days, spreading things out a little, that would be better. But I suppose we can’t just reschedule an historical event to suit modern times!
Memories of Bonfire Night and Halloween are intertwined…
When I was a kid, the “Americanised” version of Halloween was just beginning to establish itself here in the UK. I don’t think I ever went trick-or-treating, but I can remember several Halloween discos and events that were organised by a kids’ club that I attended in those days. It was great fun – and a chance for me to indulge in some of the sweets and treats that my strict parents didn’t allow in the house.
As an aside, I have to confess that I’m a tad confused about the timing of modern Halloween’s arrival in the UK. My parents, who both grew up in London in the late ’40s and ’50s, seem to have competing recollections of the holiday. I know there’s always been some kind of traditional event around that time of year, but as to when modern events like costume parties and trick-or-treat made it to the UK, I really can’t be sure.
A preschool class celebrates Halloween in the United States, c. 1939.
My father insisted that Halloween only became “a thing” when my sister and I were growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, and claimed never to have done anything to celebrate it before then. But my mother can distinctly remember my grandfather painstakingly carving a jack-o-lantern for her out of a turnip when she was five or six years old. In the post-war period, we didn’t have crops like pumpkins here in the UK – or at least not in large quantities. I’ve always wondered what a turnip jack-o-lantern might’ve looked like!
So even within my own family there are two competing ideas about when Halloween started to take off over here! But speaking for myself, Halloween as a holiday has existed in more or less its present form since I was a small child. I can’t remember a year without some kind of Halloween celebration, in fact. And I really do have fond memories of Halloween as a child – some of which, I fear, have rather blended in with other autumnal memories!
Let’s talk about Halloween!
One of my earliest memories is actually of Bonfire Night. I can remember being perhaps three or four years old, sitting on a hay bale in a field, watching the fire. It’s one of those strangely vivid memories where I can recall the precise texture of the straw underneath me, feel the cold wind blowing through, and even taste the spongey gingerbread cake that I was holding in my hand. I associate all of those things with this time of year, and that memory is an especially cherished one. There was laughter from other kids ringing in my ears, the smell of diesel fuel that someone had used as a fire starter, and the faces of friendly neighbours and locals who are, sadly, long gone now.
Despite its themes of horror, ghosts, monsters, and the like, Halloween has always felt to me like a kids’ holiday. Getting dressed up and eating sweets are definitely things that the little ones appreciate! But those incredibly positive memories of Halloween parties as a kid is definitely part of why I feel that way. I can’t remember all of my Halloween costumes, but I distinctly remember one plastic skeleton mask that I must’ve had when I was seven or eight years old. That thing was made of the most horrible, brittle plastic – and the edges of the mask were sharp enough to cut through diamond! But wearing the mask and going to a Halloween disco at the local kids’ club was great fun, and seeing everyone else’s masks and costumes was part of that.
Kids in their Halloween costumes.
Another big part of Halloween for me is the food. I know what you’re thinking: surprise surprise, the fat person wants to talk about food! But it’s true: Halloween doesn’t seem like a big food holiday in the same way as Christmas or Thanksgiving, but for me the food is no less important. Those early childhood memories of Halloween all include different foods – especially sweet treats. My parents didn’t allow my sister and I to have many sweet things at home, and what they could afford was usually only the cheapest value range versions. At the kids’ club I mentioned I’d always have a few pennies (literally, just a few) to spend on penny sweets, and I took full advantage as often as I could! But at Halloween, I remember there being a buffet of snack foods that, to my young eyes, must’ve looked like an absolute feast of all the things I would never get at home!
What I remember most, though, and what I love so much about Halloween food, is how the theme of the holiday carries through. Everything is made to look or feel like something else – sausages decorated to look like bloody fingers, marshmallows with little eyes and teeth so they resemble skulls, and even bottles of pop dyed vibrant shades of green, blue, black, and other unnatural colours to look like poison or witches’ potions! Food could also be incorporated into games and challenges, like the traditional game of apple-bobbing that we used to play. There are some phenomenally creative ideas out there to make even the simplest snack fit with the Halloween theme. And I’m absolutely in love with all of them!
Look at these adorable Halloween cupcakes!
This might’ve been Halloween 1997 or 1998 – I genuinely can’t remember which. But as a teenager I came up with what remains to this day my best-ever Halloween costume. I got a mask at a party shop in a big shopping centre of newly-elected Prime Minister Tony Blair, and with an ill-fitting suit borrowed from my uncle, dressed up as the PM for a Halloween party that a friend of mine was hosting! That was great fun, and as we were all older by then, alcohol was definitely part of the equation! I can remember my friend racing around, desperately trying to give people coffee to sober them up.
Looking back now, with Blair being such a universally despised figure (at least among folks of my generation), making a costume of him seems fitting in a bitter sort of way! After all, isn’t the theme of many Halloween stories that the real monsters are us humans? I can’t think of many figures from the past thirty years more monstrous than Blair the War Criminal. I can’t believe that I voted for him at my first ever general election!
I think we’ve drifted off-topic somehow.
Turns out this poster was right after all…
Ah yes, Halloween! That’s what we were talking about.
On another occasion a couple of years later, I was taking part in an exchange programme while at university. I got to spend my first Halloween in the United States, seeing first-hand how the Americans really go all-out for the event. I was shocked when I went to the local shopping mall and saw a dedicated Halloween store selling all kinds of costumes, decorations, and more… in August! Apparently these pop-up Halloween stores are an annual thing, and they begin to appear in late summer to get ready for the spooky season. I’d never seen anything like it – and in the days before social media and YouTube, seeing an all-American Halloween in person was truly something special.
The university I was visiting had several big Halloween parties and events, and I even had my first encounter with trick-or-treaters that year! Several groups of students visited the off-campus house that I was renting, and a group of younger kids did, too. By the end of the night I’d ran out of treats to hand out! Ever since, I’ve made sure to keep my pantry well-stocked ahead of Halloween.
A Halloween party.
Also in the United States I had the pleasure of spending time at Disney World in the run-up to Halloween. I was able to take a break and visit Disney with a friend, and we got to see all of the decorations and special events that the Disney folks put on for the celebration. It was great fun, and I have a particularly fond memory of riding the Haunted Mansion attraction after dark, surrounded by all of the Halloween theming at the park.
Any Halloween fan should try – time and finances permitting – to visit one of the Disney parks for Halloween. I know the parks are stupidly expensive these days, but if you’re going anyway, picking a time of year like Halloween – when there’s something extra going on – is well worth it. I think there was some kind of after-hours Halloween event that I attended that year, too… but I’m not sure if they still do that in this post-lockdown era.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit one of the Disney parks around Halloween, I thoroughly recommend it!
These days, Halloween tends to be a quieter affair! My days of discos and parties are long gone, and after digging the decorations out of storage and making sure I’m well-stocked in the event of a trick-or-treater incursion, I tend to spend Halloween itself with a lightly spooky film or TV special. As a kind of homage to those earlier Halloween nights, I’ll often prepare a modest buffet of finger food and snacks, too. It might not be the same as a big party – but it suits me just fine!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this stumble down memory lane. I don’t have another creative outlet, and I thought writing up some of my memories and nostalgic recollections of Halloweens gone by would be a bit of fun. Hopefully it was interesting, at any rate.
Horror and jump-scares aren’t usually “my thing,” and my Halloween tastes tend to veer more towards the kid-friendly than the outright terrifying. But that’s the nice thing about Halloween, in a way: it can be whatever you want to make of it. If you want to go all out, rent the scariest film ever made, and watch it with the lights out – go for it! But if, like me, you’d rather curl up with some snacks and something a bit less frightening, that option is open too. I love Halloween.
Some photos used above courtesy of Unsplash. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Spoiler Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead for the titles on this list.
Happy Spooktober!
To celebrate the arrival of the spookiest, scariest, most terrifying month of the year, I thought it could be fun to pick out five films from the horror genre to take a look at!
When I was a kid, the nerdy friendship groups that I moved in seemed to see horror films as a kind of rite of passage – and being able to boast about having seen a particularly frightening one would score you major bragging rights! In those days we were limited to what was on sale on Betamax and VHS, as well as the meagre horror selection at the local video rental place. How times change, eh?
I’ll have to talk more about this on another occasion, but I have some very pleasant memories of Halloween as a youngster. When I was growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, the “Americanised” version of Halloween was just starting to take root here in the UK, and a local kids’ club that I attended threw a kind of Halloween-themed disco at that time of year. I remember it being great fun, getting dressed up in a silly costume and wearing a mask made either of horrible sharp plastic that would scratch your face when it cracked or a paper one that would tear and get soggy! I’m sure I’m over-romanticising those memories, but even as someone who isn’t a big fan of horror and scary things, Halloween has always had a positive association for me.
The kind of Halloween discos I remember as a kid had snacks like this!
So yes, you read that right: I’m not the world’s biggest fan of horror. In fact, at any other time of year I’d almost never choose a horror title for movie night at home! I scare easily, and jump-scares in particular almost always manage to get me – even when I know they’re coming! I’ve heard folks talk about the adrenaline rush that horror films give them being a major factor in why they like them, but that’s just not my jam! I’m more of a “cowering behind the sofa with my eyes shut” type of horror viewer!
That being said, I’ve watched a lot of horror films over the years, and there have been some great ones. Even if I wouldn’t necessarily watch them eleven months out of the year… well, it’s Spooktober!
So let’s jump into the list and take a look at the films I’ve chosen this year.
Film #1: Dog Soldiers (2002)
A British cult classic!
I have fond memories of watching Dog Soldiers with a friend who was absolutely obsessed with the film! He bought it on video as soon as it was available and insisted I watch it right away. While I wasn’t as taken with it as he was, I found its premise interesting and its execution surprisingly solid. The film follows a squad of British soldiers who come under attack by werewolves!
Of all the classic monsters that made their way from folklore to popular culture, werewolves feel under-represented! Compared with vampires, zombies, witches, or even mummies, there are relatively few films in which werewolves are the main focus, and perhaps that’s part of why Dog Soldiers stands out; it’s something a little different in a genre that often returns to the same places.
There are some moments of absolutely gut-wrenching gore that hold up well, but on returning to the film twenty years later, I’m not so sure that all of the practical special effects – particularly those used for the werewolves themselves – have stood the test of time.
Film #2: Jaws (1975)
On the hunt for a monster…
Jaws is an absolute classic; a groundbreaking work of cinema that should be on everyone’s must-see list! It’s also a masterclass in how to build tension, with the monstrous shark being scarcely glimpsed for much of the film’s two-hour runtime. Jaws is also a surprisingly relatable human story – of people who ignore warnings and prioritise money and politicking over safety. Some things never change, eh?
Jaws also did a lot to unfairly demonise sharks, the great white in particular. Sharks are nowhere near as deadly as the film suggests, and many species actually need our protection to keep them safe from over-fishing and habitat destruction. One of Jaws’ most unfortunate legacies is the way in which many people came to fear and hate sharks.
I’ve heard some younger folks call Jaws “tame,” and I guess it might be by today’s standards. But it’s a transformative, groundbreaking film – and one I firmly believe everyone should watch at least once!
Film #3: 1408 (2007)
Something’s not right at this hotel…
Based on a Stephen King story, 1408 is about a haunted hotel room. It’s a bit of a twist on the typical “haunted house” concept, but where 1408 really shines is in the characterisation of its protagonist. Actor John Cusack really gives a great performance here, bringing the character to life in a relatable and understandable way.
I didn’t realise this until doing a bit of research, but 1408 actually has several different endings – so if you have the film on DVD or Blu-ray you might be able to have a completely different experience of its final act. Deleted scenes aren’t uncommon, of course, but 1408 actually has very different endings depending on whether you watch the director’s cut or the original theatrical version. As a rule of thumb: always go for the director’s cut of any film!
For me, 1408 hits the kind of supernatural horror that I find most frightening – but it does it remarkably well.
Film #4: Phineas and Ferb: Night of the Living Pharmacists (2014)
They’re horrible!
There’s got to be room for one kid-friendly entry on any Halloween list, and this time I’m picking the Phineas and Ferb special episode Night of the Living Pharmacists. The extended episode is a fun, gentle parody of zombie films like Night of the Living Dead, and even features legendary director George A. Romero in a cameo role.
I love Phineas and Ferb, and the show has several other Halloween-themed episodes that are well worth checking out. Night of the Living Pharmacists is silly in places – but that’s part of the fun. The story shakes up the typical formula of the show by pairing up the titular kids with antagonist Dr Doofenshmirtz as one of his experiments gets out of control.
Halloween is, at the end of the day, a holiday for the little ones. Night of the Living Pharmacists is spooky and atmospheric – perfect for any Halloween party or sleepover!
Film #5: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
An iconic portrayal.
This adaptation of Thomas Harris’ novel has become a modern classic. There are relatively few out-and-out “scary” moments in The Silence of the Lambs, as the film doesn’t rely on jump-scares and the like. But there’s a real sense of horror in the air as junior FBI agent Clarice Starling races against time to catch a serial killer.
The Silence of the Lambs features Anthony Hopkins’ iconic portrayal of Dr Hannibal Lecter, one of the most infamous villains in modern cinematic history. Lecter is so cold, calculated, and ruthless that he has a totally unique fear factor; he’s a single human being, not a demon or monster, and yet he’s capable of such gratuitous acts of violence. Hiding under a polite facade, pulling the strings, Dr Lecter has rightly become one of the big screen’s most terrifying serial killers.
Though The Silence of the Lambs is arguably as much thriller as horror, I still think it’s worth including here.
So that’s it!
Looks like fun…
We’ve picked out five spooky films to start Spooktober and the spooky season with a bang! I hope this has been a bit of fun at least, and maybe that you’ve got some inspiration for what to watch as Halloween gets closer.
Although I’m much more a fan of Christmas than Halloween, I unapologetically love this time of year. Autumn is almost certainly my favourite season, and as Halloween approaches I love seeing the wonderful and creative decorations, crafts, and costumes that people make to celebrate the spooky season! Some people really go all-out to make Halloween a massive celebration, and even though I’m not the biggest fan of horror or of being frightened, I’m absolutely there for the holiday!
There may be more spookiness to come before the 31st, so stay tuned here on Trekking with Dennis. If you dare…
All titles listed above are the copyright of their respective studio, broadcaster, distributor, and/or corporation. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Spoiler Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead for the titles on this list.
With Halloween fast approaching, it seems like a good time to once again dabble in the spookier side of cinema! Horror has never been my favourite genre, but at this time of year I’m not averse to the occasional spooky film.
This short list is a follow-up to a similar list I wrote last Halloween, so if you’d like to see five more horror films that I recommend, you can do so by clicking or tapping here.
It’s about to get spooky!
Horror as a genre can be incredibly varied. From jump-scares to the psychological terror of something unseen, and with such diversity of monsters, ghouls, and creepy critters, there are a lot of different titles that put their own spin on the horror concept. Whether you’re looking for serial killers, vampires, zombies, or demons, chances are you can find an excellent horror film that successfully brings them to screen!
I confess that I’m particularly sensitive to jump-scares, and now that I don’t feel the same kind of pressure to join in with horror titles as I did in my younger years (when watching horror films was almost a rite of passage!) I tend to favour films that don’t go for that style. Despite that, I hope you’ll find a varied mix of titles on this list!
Number 1: The Birds (1963)
Those birds are up to something…
Alfred Hitchcock is still considered one of the greatest directors of the horror and thriller genres, and for good reason. His pioneering style put viewers right at the centre of his stories, and every shot and every sequence was meticulously planned and crafted to maximise suspense and fear. The Birds is one of Hitchcock’s later films, coming toward the end of his career and following on from the likes of Vertigo and, of course, Psycho.
As a kid, I can remember being terrified by The Birds. The slow, tense build-up that Hitchcock’s films are known for is on full display in the title, with every scene and sequence gradually ramping up the threat to a terrifying climax. But more than that, the sheer randomness of birds as the “villain” of the piece is genuinely unsettling.
Birds are generally harmless. The worst a bird might do is steal your chips at the beach, but The Birds asks a question no one ever thought to ask before: what if they were working together to a menacing and aggressive end? It’s this premise – taking something harmless that we generally pay little attention to and making it scary – that makes the film succeed.
Number 2: Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow.
Johnny Depp stars in this adaptation of the famous Washington Irving story, and the film brings the Headless Horseman to life in genuinely frightening fashion! The story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman is an old one, dating back to the early 1800s, and Washington Irving is considered one of the first great American authors.
Unlike the earlier Disney adaptation, Sleepy Hollow takes a distinctly adult horror tone. Director Tim Burton makes a number of changes to the source material, making the film an unpredictable ride even for those familiar with the original short story. Johnny Depp puts in a wonderful dramatic performance as Ichabod, too.
There’s something inherently frightening about the undead, and the first time the Headless Horseman is seen on screen manages to capture that feeling pitch-perfectly. Johnny Depp manages to perfectly convey Ichabod’s fear as well, ramping up the tension and making Sleepy Hollow a truly scary and spooky watch!
Number 3: The Omen (1976)
Gregory Peck as Robert Thorn in The Omen.
The Omen is an outstanding example of how to build up fear and tension without resorting to too many jump-scares or a lot of gore! It’s also a deeply disturbing film because of the implications of shadowy cults and conspiracies – and that’s before we even get to the birth of the literal anti-Christ!
When I first watched The Omen I was left unsettled for days afterwards. There’s a specific scene that I won’t spoil for you, but the build-up to a particularly shocking reveal in an Italian graveyard – and the implications it had for the film’s protagonist – left me stunned and disturbed! That particular memory is still vivid for me now, decades later.
As a film about demons, Satan, and the anti-Christ, The Omen was designed to be shocking and unsettling, especially to folks with any kind of religious convictions. And it succeeded beyond its wildest ambitions, becoming an absolute classic of the horror genre and spawning a franchise that still gets periodic updates and instalments today. Oh, and if you’re looking for a Star Trek connection, the film’s lead, Gregory Peck, was the grandfather of Ethan Peck – star of Discovery Season 2 and soon to be appearing in Strange New Worlds!
Number 4: 28 Days Later (2002)
The infected are coming!
With 28 Days Later, director Danny Boyle reinvigorated the zombie genre in a new and truly terrifying way! Prior to the film’s 2002 release, most zombies in cinema followed a pattern first popularised by George A. Romero in Night of the Living Dead – slow, shuffling, mindless creatures that were scary en masse but could be outrun by anyone fit enough. 28 Days Later introduced us to the infected – humans who were still alive but infected with a virus that turned them into killing machines… killing machines that could sprint!
Seeing the zombie horde running after the film’s protagonists was a new and incredibly shocking experience in 2002. Though a number of titles have used this more aggressive style of zombie in the years since, for me the portrayal in 28 Days Later remains one of the best and most frightening.
Technically not a “zombie” film as the infected aren’t undead, 28 Days Later nevertheless has a post-apocalyptic feel that is present in a lot of zombie fiction. Anyone who’s seen The Walking Dead (or read the original comic books) should note an eerie similarity in the way 28 Days Later opens… and remember that the film was released before the first issue of the comics!
Number 5: The Shining (1980)
Here’s… a classic horror film!
The Shining is an adaptation of a Stephen King novel, and as such it’s an unpredictable and very disturbing ride. Stanley Kubrick directed one of his last films, and adapted the book in truly inspired style. Some of the best-known moments in The Shining, including the famous line referenced above, weren’t present in the original book, and the film adaptation is arguably a rare example of a film surpassing its source material.
The film features some truly outstanding special effects. The “blood flood” scene has gone on to become iconic, and was shot in miniaturised form using detailed scale models. The practical special effects give the film a unique charm that today’s CGI can’t match, and in some cases the use of incredibly realistic practical effects ramps up the fear factor.
Jack Nicholson gave the world one of cinema’s most iconic scenes. But The Shining is so much more than that, and his character’s slow descent into madness is what makes the film so tense, exciting, and frightening.
So that’s it! Five horror films to get you into the Halloween spirit.
Don’t have nightmares…
Remember to check out last year’s list for five more horror titles you might enjoy – you can find it by clicking or tapping here. And if you’re interested to see my review of last year’s television adaptation of another Stephen King work, The Stand, you can find that by clicking or tapping here.
I tried to put together a collection of films with different themes, styles, and subjects! Horror is an incredibly varied genre, and just in the five films above we have the natural world turned against us, an undead horseman, Satanism, technically-not-zombies, and finally a film with ghosts and a mad man. And we’ve barely scratched the surface!
Halloween is almost upon us, so stay tuned over the next few days – I have a couple more spooky ideas before the main event rolls around!
All titles included on the list above are the copyright of their respective studio, distributor, production company, broadcaster, etc. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Spoiler Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Picard, and for other iterations of the Star Trek franchise.
Happy Halloween! With the scariest day of the year upon us, I thought it could be fun to delve into Star Trek’s spooky side for a change! The Haunting of Deck Twelve was the penultimate episode of Voyager’s sixth season, and premiered in the United States on the 17th of May 2000. It’s framed as a campfire ghost story, with Neelix recounting the supposedly-true story of spooky goings-on aboard the ship to the Borg children: Icheb, Mezoti, Azan, and Rebi. Naomi Wildman, the USS Voyager’s other child, is conspicuously absent.
When it was announced earlier this month that Kate Mulgrew will reprise her role as Captain Janeway in the upcoming animated series Star Trek: Prodigy, I wanted to write up a Voyager episode here on the website. Despite being up and running for almost a year now I haven’t done so, though I did pick out ten great episodes from the series. Voyager is, to many fans, a less-favoured series than The Next Generation or Deep Space Nine, and can sometimes feel like an also-ran among Star Trek’s canon. However, I definitely feel that the show got a lot of things right, had some excellent characters, and told some unique and interesting stories. Many of Voyager’s alien races were different from what we’d seen before (due to the Delta Quadrant setting) and have yet to be revisited in any detail.
The episode’s title card.
Voyager is certainly a series I enjoy. I find ranking the different Star Trek shows very difficult, because each one really brings something different to the table. Voyager is comparable in many ways to The Original Series and The Next Generation in that it’s set aboard a moving starship and the crew routinely conduct missions of exploration. However, its overarching story of the ship being stranded a long way from home makes it something different. Not every aspect of Voyager was perfect – the “one ship, two crews” storyline never really took off, and in later seasons especially, I found Seven of Nine to be a pretty boring, flat character – but as a series it tried to do some different things and succeeded in telling some excellent stories.
Is The Haunting of Deck Twelve one of them? Well, that’s an interesting question!
The episode begins with a beautiful shot of the ship in flight. The usual inspiring musical score immediately sours, however, and we get a horror-style minor chord sting as the camera fades in to Neelix in an empty mess hall. Neelix walks around looking concerned – an expression that can’t be easy to convey under such heavy prosthetic makeup – and nervously straightens a chair before turning out the lights. He’s then startled by Seven of Nine as he turns to leave, and tells her he’s feeling jumpy “after what happened last time.” A suitably mysterious line!
A nervous Neelix prepares to leave the mess hall.
Seven explains that main power will soon be shut down, interrupting the Borg children’s regeneration (remember that Borg don’t “sleep,” but rather regenerate in alcoves) and she wants Neelix to keep them company. This is the setup for the frame narrative that much of the rest of the episode would use.
On the bridge we get a comparatively rare example of a starship powering down its engines and using inertia to continue moving. In Star Trek, ships at warp don’t seem able to do this (presumably for reasons related to subspace) but there’s no reason why a ship traveling at sublight speeds shouldn’t be able to fire its engines and then coast! Yet for some reason it isn’t mentioned very often. As Voyager drifts toward a nebula, Tom Paris and Harry Kim comment on its spooky appearance; the nebula is depicted in shades of brown, orange, purple, and blueish-grey, but I wouldn’t have said it looks any more frightening than any of the other nebulae the ship has visited. Perhaps the officers’ overactive imaginations (which Tuvok is happy to point out) stem from the fact that they know what’s coming. As the audience, we still don’t!
The nebula on Voyager’s viewscreen.
Harry confirms that the ship is ready – and we soon see what for. Main power is deactivated ship-wide; the bridge goes dark, a corridor soon follows, and the Doctor deactivates himself in sickbay. The shot of two background crew members in the hallway was particularly well put together. Filmed from a low angle, the lights in the hallway went out in sequence, and the pair of officers then activated their wrist-mounted torches. Seven of Nine’s astrometrics lab goes dark too, save for a single computer panel on the wall. Seven was oftentimes a rule-breaker, and on first viewing I wondered if she had unilaterally decided her work was too important to stop!
In the cargo bay, Neelix greets the Borg children as they’re shocked awake by the shutting down of their Borg alcoves. And it was my first time seeing Icheb since his reappearance in the episode Stardust City Rag from Star Trek: Picard Season 1 earlier in the year. In main engineering, Torres and the crew shut down the warp core, presumably completing the process of turning off everything aboard the ship, which is now illuminated only by wrist-mounted torches and lanterns. Spooky stuff.
B’Elanna Torres and her team switch off the warp core.
There are many things we can consider iconic within Star Trek, and for my money the warp core is absolutely one of them. The concept of the warp core as an upright glowing column first appeared in Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979 and has carried through the franchise in some form ever since, even reappearing in Lower Decks and Short Treks. Though the way this vital piece of technology functions has always been deliberately ambiguous, its design and aesthetic are emblematic of Star Trek, and when you see a warp core you know you’re aboard a Federation starship.
Back on the bridge, Harry confirms every deck is without power. Janeway signals Seven of Nine with the cryptic message “we’re ready.” And after a neat shot of the unpowered ship coasting into the nebula – which suddenly appears a much brighter shade of purple than it had on the viewscreen – the opening titles roll.
Is this the same nebula we saw a minute ago?
Voyager followed on from Deep Space Nine in having a slower-tempo, softer theme. The themes for The Original Series and The Next Generation were upbeat, representing the excitement of adventure and exploration. Voyager’s stands in contrast to that, but is nevertheless a beautiful piece of music in its own right. The title sequence itself is a representation of the long journey the ship and crew will take; no one scene lingers, and Voyager moves past different planets and nebulae before going to warp.
When the action resumes we’re back in the cargo bay with Neelix and the kids. Icheb immediately demands to know about the loss of main power, and seems dissatisfied with Neelix’s explanation. Neelix tries to distract the kids with various campfire supplies, but they aren’t buying it. The way this scene was set up and shot was clever; there’s only one light source (a lantern) which serves as the “campfire” analogue, leaving the rest of the cargo bay in darkness. There’s just enough light to illuminate Neelix and the kids, but that’s all.
Neelix in the cargo bay.
Icheb insists that Neelix be more forthright about what’s happening, and Mezoti asks if what’s going on is related to deck 12, which she has heard is haunted. It’s clear that, with part of the deck under lockdown and inaccessible without a high security clearance, something is going on!
After very little persuasion, Neelix relents and agrees to tell the kids about what’s happening and how it connects to deck 12. In a way, this is just as cathartic for him as it is for them, as he’s nervous about Voyager’s mission to the nebula. And I think we get a showcase in how great a character Neelix can be in episodes like this. Though the “one ship, two crews” concept never really worked in Voyager, as the Maquis had been wholly assimilated into the Starfleet crew even as early as the first season, Neelix always stood apart. At times he would bend the rules because he isn’t from a Starfleet background, and here, with the kids, he’s quite happy to go against what he was asked to do and tell them a story about what’s going on.
Sitting around the “campfire.”
We get a “Borg take things too literally” joke when Neelix tells the kids that the story isn’t suitable for “the faint of heart,” which was funny. Contrary to what some folks wanted to tell you in the run-up to the release of Star Trek: Lower Decks earlier in the year, the franchise has always had these moments of humour. And this one was on point – even if the “Borg takes things too literally” joke was generally overdone on Voyager thanks to Seven of Nine!
As the children insist Neelix tell them everything, he gives them a final warning that it’s a spooky story! It all began with a routine deuterium-collecting mission to a nebula several months ago… and thus begins the bulk of the episode, told in flashbacks with occasional narration from Neelix, who seems more than happy at the chance to tell a story!
Neelix and Tuvok in a flashback.
Neelix tells Tuvok that he’s concerned about “crew morale,” despite Tuvok noting that the crew in the mess hall seem perfectly fine. Neelix wants to know how long the ship will be in the nebula – so he can reassure everyone else, of course. Tuvok, very perceptively, realises that it’s Neelix who’s on edge, and his suspicions are confirmed when Neelix seems to snap at him in the middle of the mess hall. Clearly the stress of the nebula has been getting to him.
It will take days before the deuterium collection work is finished, though, and all Tuvok can suggest is that Neelix put up some curtains. A truly helpful and empathetic response from Voyager’s resident Vulcan! Neelix seems happy with this, however, and dashes off to find some material with which to make curtains.
Tuvok speaks with Neelix in the mess hall.
Meanwhile on the bridge, the turbulence is getting worse. Harry suggests to the captain a technobabble explanation for why the nebula is “destabilising,” and then we get a jump-cut back to Neelix and the kids in the cargo bay. Icheb accuses Neelix of misleading them on the specifics, noting that “bussard collectors do not emit nadeon emissions.” Neelix tells him that the specifics aren’t important to the story – and we have another part of the setup, the “unreliable narrator.”
Using this term might be a bit of a stretch, but it’s important for the remainder of the story. Neelix’s recollections are imperfect, and while the main thrust of the episode’s narrative is ultimately revealed to be true, it’s not unfair to think that Neelix has embellished certain other elements for the sake of storytelling! I liked the way this was set up, and for a story with a frame narrative like this one, it works really well.
Neelix’s recollection of what Harry Kim said was not accurate – according to Icheb, at least.
Neelix wasn’t on the bridge during this moment, so how could he have known everything that was said? Again, this is something we’ll keep in mind during any scene where Neelix isn’t physically present! As Neelix prepares to hand out a plate of snacks to the kids in the cargo bay, we jump back to the action on the bridge.
A minor inconsistency, perhaps, as Janeway contacts Torres to tell her they’re going to stop the “dilithium” collection – not deuterium, which is what everyone else had been talking about – but this could simply be another of Neelix’s misremembrances. Before the ship can successfully leave the nebula, however, it’s struck by some kind of electrical discharge! The kids pipe up, asking if this was the ghost.
Voyager is zapped!
On the bridge, the crew report minor damage and some power outages, but nothing serious and no injuries. Voyager resumes its course having harvested as much dilithium/deuterium as it could, and everyone seems to think that they got away with it. However, as Neelix explains, the ship had picked up a “mysterious stowaway.” At the same time, we see a CGI rendition of the ship leaving the nebula, complete with a glowing ball of lightning that slips through the hull – just like a ghost would!
The late 1990s and early 2000s weren’t a great time for CGI. However, on the small screen it looks a lot better – or at least less bad – than it does in some big-screen productions made around the same time. I’m looking at you, Star Wars prequels. Star Trek had been experimenting with CGI since The Next Generation was on the air, and while I’d absolutely love nothing more than for Voyager to be properly remastered, which would include redoing almost all of these CGI effects, I have to admit that it doesn’t look too bad here.
The stowaway.
The kids ask a bunch of questions about the stowaway, and Neelix confirms that it was a space-dwelling creature. However, they keep trying to press him to tell what exactly the life-form was, but when offered the choice between debating what the creature was and resuming the story, the kids ultimately choose – after exchanging glances – to continue with the story. Thank goodness, I want to know how it ends!
After leaving the nebula, Voyager begins to suffer some unusual malfunctions. Chakotay reports to Captain Janeway some of the damage done by the “zap” as the ship escaped the nebula, including the loss of artificial gravity on one deck. That would’ve been fun to see! We so rarely see a loss of gravity on Star Trek – due, of course, to the practical difficulties in filming such a sequence. The artificial gravity systems aboard a starship are invariably the last things to fail even when every other system is compromised, so for it to have been damaged here is, I would argue, a major issue.
Chakotay in the captain’s ready-room.
As Chakotay explains his findings, the captain’s replicator malfunctions, and I just love Janeway’s nonchalant response as she tells Chakotay he can “add replicators to [his] list.” Even when annoyed she manages to be in control, and I have no doubt she’ll make a great captain in the upcoming series Star Trek: Prodigy.
As Janeway speaks to the ship, Chakotay tells her that he used to have similar chats with his Maquis vessel – something I think we saw him do in Caretaker, the series premiere. Either way, it was a fun acknowledgement of Chakotay’s Maquis past. Chakotay didn’t get many scenes, let alone stories of his own, during the latter part of Voyager’s run, so it was nice to see him here alongside Captain Janeway. Though he lost his Maquis side pretty quickly as the show got going, he found a role as Janeway’s older and more seasoned advisor, as well as her moral compass. Those roles suited him. Looking out the ready-room window Janeway spots a meteorite cluster – and thinks it’s the same one Voyager has already been past. Is the ship now flying in circles?
Chakotay and Janeway spot the meteorites.
Not to nitpick, but technically a “meteorite” is something that falls to Earth, not something in space! On the bridge, Tom Paris insists the ship hasn’t been traveling backwards or in circles, yet the presence of the meteors suggests otherwise. Tuvok runs a (very fast) diagnostic that reveals a problem – Voyager is heading back the way it came.
As the captain orders an all-stop, Paris begins to launch into a speech about how the ship relies too much on sensors and technology. Before he can say too much, however, the warp engines activate by themselves and can’t be shut down. The malfunctions suddenly get a lot worse. The communications system goes down. The computer, when asked to locate B’Elanna, lists the locations of every officer aboard the ship, and Chakotay’s turbolift to engineering takes him to the mess hall instead.
Tom Paris at his post – just before the warp engines malfunction.
As Chakotay steps back into the turbolift and, once again, asks it to go to engineering, we get a rare look inside the turbolift shaft. As Neelix explains in a voiceover that the turbolift was falling, we see a neat CGI sequence of the turbolift itself, including the inside of the turboshaft, complete with horizontal tubes. This is a rarity, and for us nerds, a bit of a treat to catch a glimpse of the inner mechanisms of one of the franchise’s staple technologies.
Chakotay’s turbolift inside the turboshaft.
Another jump-cut back to the cargo bay sees Neelix teasing the kids by pausing his story, offering them snacks. Mezoti informs him that “snacks are irrelevant!” and insists he continue the story. I loved this line, it was very “Borg,” but also a typical reaction from a little girl who wants her story. Not to mention that it was funny.
Here I think we see the frame narrative working well. The story of the malfunctions is interesting, as is the idea of a nebula-dwelling life-form, but Neelix and the kids give the episode a kind of light-hearted brevity that stands in contrast to the serious goings-on, yet somehow works really well.
“Snacks are irrelevant!”
The frame narrative also allows The Haunting of Deck Twelve to still tell us as the audience about some dramatic events – like Chakotay being pinned to the ceiling of the turbolift as it fell – but without having to go to the expense of filming them! Chakotay storms into engineering, but B’Elanna says she’s pinpointed the problem and is on her way to fix it.
Crewman Celes – who appeared in Good Shepherd a few episodes previously – makes a welcome return. One thing Voyager lacked was a Deep Space Nine-style secondary cast, yet its “lost in space” narrative would have allowed for that. Some background officers like Vorik, Chell, and Carey got to make repeated appearances, but none had a major impact on the story in the same way as Deep Space Nine’s secondary characters did.
Crewman Celes with Seven of Nine.
Seven of Nine accuses Crewman Celes of causing a power failure, despite her having only just opened a panel. It was clear, despite Seven’s rush to judgement, that this was connected to the ongoing malfunctions aboard the ship. Seven of Nine presses a few buttons on the exposed panel, and the lights in the hallway begin to flicker.
Chakotay and B’Elanna have arrived at their destination – some damaged gel-packs. Voyager uses “bio-neural circuitry” in its systems, something that was set up way back in Season 1. These systems are supposedly faster and more reliable, but more difficult to replace. The aesthetic used for the gel-packs – which are a neon blue colour – was pretty neat, and I think still holds up today as a fun and suitably futuristic piece of technology.
The gel-packs.
The problem has “jumped” from one set of gel-packs to another, this time near Seven of Nine’s cargo bay 2. With no communications, Neelix explains in voiceover, B’Elanna and Chakotay couldn’t contact her to warn her something was going on! As the camera focuses in on Seven, who is working at her console in the cargo bay, the mysterious stowaway appears to materialise behind her…
Seven of Nine and the nebula life-form.
The Borg kids are shocked and alarmed – this was happening in this very cargo bay! Mezoti once again insists on Neelix telling the rest of the story, and shuts down Icheb when he tries to interrupt! The life-form jumped into the Borg alcoves near to Seven of Nine, and then released a strange gas into the cargo bay; gas that looked a lot like the nebulae we’ve seen!
Unable to escape the cargo bay – as forcefields have been set up outside the main doorway – Seven is trapped and begins to choke on the gas. The lantern in the cargo bay suddenly goes out, just as the kids are beginning to get excited and anxious about the story and what happened to Seven of Nine. Neelix is able to fix it easily – I wonder if he did that on purpose!
Seven of Nine chokes on the gas.
Chakotay and B’Elanna arrive just in the nick of time, and after phasering the forcefield control panel manage to get Seven of Nine to sickbay. Malfunctions increase across the ship, including in the mess hall where Neelix is cooking and Harry Kim is having a meal.
Kim – despite being just an ensign – orders everyone to report to their stations. The lights continue to flicker, and Neelix nervously asks if he can tag along with Harry. However, Kim reminds him that the mess hall is his post before departing, leaving a nervous Neelix alone in the mess hall – as the lights go out.
Neelix and Harry.
Neelix says to the kids that Voyager was “dead in space,” though gravity and life-support still seem to be working! The bridge is overheating, and we got a cute moment with Paris and Tuvok as the latter explains the Vulcans don’t sweat unless the temperature reaches a staggering 350°K – about 77°C or 170°F.
Following the earlier scene with Chakotay in the ready-room, Captain Janeway once again tries talking to the ship. This time, she offers to make a deal, a maintenance overhaul in exchange for no more malfunctions! I like this side to her character; it took a serious story but gave it another light-hearted aspect that I think worked well in conjunction with Neelix’s frame narrative.
Janeway tries to bargain with Voyager.
Her bargaining seems to have worked – helm control has been restored! But as soon as Paris steps up to the console to plot a course he’s zapped by an energy discharge – leaving him with some nasty-looking burns. As Janeway and another bridge officer try to help Paris, the bridge is suddenly deprived of oxygen and they must all evacuate. The practical makeup effects for Paris’ burns were gruesome – and come as quite a shock.
Paris is brought to sickbay – where it seems that injuries are becoming a problem across the ship. The Doctor immediately diagnoses Paris as the victim of an EM surge, similar to the electrical discharge that struck Seven of Nine when she was trapped with the nebula gas. Standing around Tom’s bio-bed, Seven, Chakotay, B’Elanna, the Doctor, and Captain Janeway come to a typical Star Trek realisation – there’s an alien intelligence at work.
The group in sickbay.
The alien is trying to use Voyager’s systems to make an environment for itself – just like the nebula. And it’s attacking anyone who tries to interfere or undo its work, as all of the crew it’s hit have been doing precisely that. I called this a “typical Star Trek revelation” because it’s not uncommon in the franchise when something unusual or unexplained happens for the reason to ultimately be “life, Jim, but not as we know it!” That line, by the way, was used in the song Star Trekkin’.
The Doctor suddenly goes off-line (though no one seemed to move when Janeway ordered his programme to be transferred to the mobile emitter) and power fails in sickbay. In voiceover, Neelix explains how power was failing across the ship, deck by deck. In a dark hallway, lit only by the intermittent red alert/emergency lights, Harry Kim gets a scare – and so do we! It turns out he’s just bumped into Crewman Celes, and neither of them know what’s happening. This sequence was very atmospheric, with the intermittent red lights and Harry’s wrist-mounted torch being the only sources of illumination. It felt very eerie, and meant that when Celes appears, it’s hard not to jump even if you know what’s coming!
Harry in the dark hallway.
Celes starts rambling about Borg and Hirogen and the ship being under attack, and Harry tries his best to calm her down. The two set off for engineering, where Kim assumes the captain will have set up a command post due to the environmental failure on the bridge.
Neelix, meanwhile, has been stuck at his post in the mess hall. He’s lit a fire under one of the pans which provides some additional light alongside his torch, and we hear the doors hiss open. This music across the episode has been fantastic, horror-inspired and very atmospheric. Here it reaches another high, adding tension to an already-tense moment as Neelix looks around the deserted mess hall.
The Haunting of Deck Twelve uses light in imaginative ways to build tension.
As Neelix exits the mess hall, with no one answering his calls, he sees the source of the noise: a malfunctioning door opens and closes repeatedly at the end of a hallway. This shot was another that builds up that sense of fear; Neelix is all alone, and I think many ghost stories have some kind of door opening or closing of its own volition, meaning the episode plays off that trope. It was very spooky indeed!
When Tuvok wordlessly appears behind Neelix as he investigates the door, all of the tension from the mess hall through the hallway scene boils over, and we get the second of two jumpy moments! Tuvok has come to the mess hall to evacuate Neelix, and is wearing some kind of portable oxygen mask. Neelix admits to the kids that he was very frightened as he and Tuvok must crawl through the jeffries’ tubes and descend eight decks to make it to the captain’s command post.
Tuvok in his mask.
In a break from the flashbacks, Neelix gives the kids a lesson in fear. Icheb tells him he shouldn’t be afraid, but Neelix retorts that fear can be good thing – keeping people safe. For kids especially, I think this is a very important message. Not only because it shows that it really is okay to be scared and that everybody gets scared sometimes, but that there’s nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about with showing fear. Fear, as Neelix rightly says, can be useful, and it’s an important emotion. The Borg kids need to know this as they rediscover their emotions, but many of Star Trek’s younger viewers would do well to remember this too!
After Mezoti elaborates on her first experience with being afraid, Neelix gets back to the story. Aside from Collective, the episode which introduced us to the Borg kids, I’d argue that The Haunting of Deck Twelve is one of the most important for their development, particularly as they wrangle with the feelings and emotions they have after being disconnected from the Borg collective. This is precisely for the reasons we discussed – learning to show and handle emotions is vital. In the flashback, Neelix tells the kids that he was stuck with only Tuvok for company.
Tuvok and Neelix on their journey.
Neelix attempts to make small-talk, but Tuvok isn’t having it. While crawling through the tubes, Neelix begins to tell a story-within-a-story: that of a Talaxian ship that similarly underwent a systems failure, leading to the crew drawing lots to see who would survive. Mezoti and Icheb pipe up, wondering what the bodies of the dead Talaxians looked like, and whether they resorted to cannibalism, before Neelix resumes his story. This moment definitely felt like “ghost stories around the campfire” in the way the episode was going for!
Neelix and Tuvok encounter a jeffries’ tube slowly filling with nebula gas and can’t progress any further. Tuvok opens a panel and plans to vent the gas – but we know that anyone doing so has been attacked! There is an alternate route, but Tuvok says it will take hours to reach engineering that way. I was still nervous for Tuvok as Neelix jumps the story to engineering…
Tuvok attempts to use environmental controls to vent the gas.
In main engineering, Harry expresses regret at leaving Neelix in the mess hall. The nebula life-form has gotten into the main computer, and is now unable to be contained. However, the life-form uses the communications network to contact the captain. She responds to its attempts to communicate, assuming the life-form has learned how to use the systems to communicate.
Using the ship’s computer, the life-form summons the captain to astrometrics, and it’s worth taking a moment to remember Majel Barret-Roddenberry, who was the voice of Starfleet’s computers from The Original Series all the way through The Next Generation era and even up to 2009’s Star Trek. She was the wife of Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek’s creator, and has almost certainly appeared – in voiceover form – in more Star Trek episodes than anyone else. Here, as the life-form attempts to communicate, it’s her voice it uses.
Janeway decides to go to astrometrics.
Despite Chakotay’s concern about a trap, Janeway proceeds to astrometrics. There isn’t much of a choice, as the alternative appears to be letting the life-form take over the ship. Back in the jeffries’ tube, Tuvok works on the panel while attempting to calm Neelix down. We get a flashback-within-a-flashback, as Neelix remembers with fondness his birthday party.
However, the memory turns sour as Neelix imagines himself attacked by the nebula gas! This was another well-executed deception, taking what should have been a safe moment for Neelix, and for us as the audience, and turning it into something scary. I loved the visual before that moment as Neelix sat down with the crew all around him. He clearly has great fondness for all of them – and they for him.
Neelix’s birthday dinner.
Tuvok jumps as Neelix yells out, and the kids ask what happened. In astrometrics, the life-form points Janeway to the nebula and restores helm control. Seven of Nine objects, thinking it may be a precursor to an invasion. However, Janeway believes the life-form just wants to return to its home and agrees. The malfunctions are not as random as they appeared; all were designed to push Voyager back to the nebula.
Janeway can empathise strongly with the desire to return home – after all, that’s what she and the crew are doing too. Perhaps with that in mind she agrees to return the ship to the nebula. It allows her access to the bridge as Neelix tells us in voiceover that the relationship between them was “fragile.”
Captain Janeway makes a breakthrough in communicating with the life-form.
Upon returning to the nebula, however, there’s a problem: there is no longer a nebula! Whatever happened to destabilise it earlier has caused it to dissipate entirely, leading to the life-form throwing a major tantrum! It tries to turn off life support and tells the crew to abandon ship, but luckily Captain Janeway is able to talk it down.
This is classic Janeway – she’s an explorer and a scientist, but also a diplomat. When the life-form threatens her crew, she steps up and shows her diplomatic abilities, saving the ship and crew. This is the climax of the storyline, as Janeway must act to save the ship, and it shows why she’s such an amazing captain.
Janeway on the bridge trying to talk to the life-form.
Neelix explains to the kids that this was Voyager’s only chance, but it doesn’t go well at first. The life-form refuses to communicate or unlock any more systems, and Janeway appears to be out of options.
Back in the tube, Tuvok is – perhaps predictably – shocked by a discharge from the panel he was working on. Neelix describes this as one of his worst fears. Again we see great makeup work to represent Tuvok’s grisly plasma/EM burns. Neelix uses the story of the Talaxian ship from earlier as a bad example, saying that he won’t leave the injured Tuvok to his fate despite nebula gases pouring into the tube. Tuvok attempts to order Neelix, but in an uncharacteristic moment of bravery, Neelix disobeys and lifts Tuvok to his feet. Neelix can certainly be a scaredy-cat, and at times Voyager derived humour from that. But here he, like the captain, steps up and does what’s needed. Fear may be important, as we discussed earlier, but so is overcoming it.
Neelix carries Tuvok away from the nebula gas.
The two share the single oxygen mask as they make their way through the gas. Why Tuvok didn’t bring a second mask with him on his mission to retrieve Neelix is, well… unknown. But it makes the story more exciting, so perhaps it’s best not to nitpick!
Janeway is making her way back through the deserted ship, continuing to reason with the life-form. She tells the life-form to run a diagnostic, confirming that systems will fail aboard the ship. This means that the life-form cannot survive aboard Voyager without the crew, and it’s this revelation which turns the tide.
Janeway continues to negotiate.
Neelix and Tuvok reach main engineering just as the captain has given the order to abandon ship. The crew race to the escape pods, though B’Elanna’s warning that the pods may not be able to be ejected felt ominous. The reply that “we’ll push them out if we have to” feels unhelpful here too, and little more than hyperbole!
Chakotay is the second-to-last to reach a shuttlebay/escape pod, but before Capain Janeway can join him the door is sealed. The life-form seems to think it can keep the captain as its slave to maintain the ship’s systems, but she refuses, telling the life-form that they will die together. The life-form, however, was bluffing, and realising it cannot survive aboard Voyager without the crew, relents. Kate Mulgrew’s performance as the pained and asphyxiating captain was riveting, and I couldn’t look away from the horrifying scene.
Janeway suffocates in the nebula gas.
As Neelix explains, the creature’s bluff had been called. The crew were able to return and all systems were restored. However, one section of deck 12 was set aside for the creature to live, and the captain pledged to return it to a suitable nebula as soon as the ship detected one. Mezoti turns to Icheb to gloat; she told him there was a monster on deck 12!
It was no monster, of course, just a lost creature that wanted to return home. Moments later, main power is restored and the lights are back on. As the kids head back to their alcoves, Neelix says he made the whole thing up, and had this been the end it would have been a disappointment on par with “it was all just a dream.” Icheb in particular seems content to believe Neelix made it up, and the kids step back into their alcoves and begin regenerating.
The kids get into their alcoves.
However, this wasn’t the end of the episode! In the final scenes, Neelix returns to the bridge. The whole trip to the nebula took three hours, and he reassures the captain that the kids weren’t frightened. He told them a story, he says, to pass the time.
Neelix then asks if everything is alright. Harry activates the viewscreen, showing the nebula from the beginning of the episode. It now seems to crackle with lightning or some kind of electrical energy – the life-form is home. Neelix says he hopes it “lives happily ever after” in its new nebula.
Neelix delivers the final line of the episode.
So there we go. Star Trek: Voyager’s campfire ghost story! The life-form, despite Neelix’s claim at the end, was indeed real. But how much of his story was, and how much did he embellish or exaggerate for the sake of making it engrossing for the kids? I suppose we’ll never know, but I choose to believe that it was largely accurate.
It was a truly fun piece of television, something different from Star Trek’s usual output while, at the same time, being very familiar. The “it wants to communicate” trope is something we see a lot, particularly in older Star Trek shows, and it’s a trademark of the franchise at this point! But the manner in which The Haunting of Deck Twelve uses this familiar theme makes it stand out. We could have just had the story from the flashbacks, but instead it was chosen to use Neelix and the kids around their “campfire” as a frame, and I really think that worked. It made the episode something different from Star Trek’s past offerings, and I like that.
The campfire frame narrative made The Haunting of Deck Twelve something different.
So I hope this was a bit of fun for Halloween! Whatever you’re doing today or tonight, I hope you have a great time and some spooky fun. I will be writing up this week’s episode of Discovery, so don’t worry. But I didn’t want to let Halloween pass unmarked, and The Haunting of Deck Twelve ticked a lot of boxes for being a fun Star Trek story to re-watch at this time of year.
Star Trek: Voyager is available to stream now on CBS All Access in the United States, and on Netflix in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The series is also available on DVD. The Star Trek franchise – including Star Trek: Voyager – is the copyright of ViacomCBS. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Spoiler Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead for the titles on this list.
Horror has never been my favourite genre for a number of reasons. But at this time of year, with Halloween imminent, I don’t mind dabbling in the occasional spooky film or two. There’s been a resurgence of the genre since about the turn of the millennium, and many recent titles have enjoyed big budgets and great visual effects. Gone are the days when horror was a total niche or a spin-off from fantasy and science fiction, and today titles such as It, Bird Box, and the Saw series are positively mainstream.
When I was at school and university, in the nerdy circles I moved in watching horror films was something of a rite of passage! Kids would compete to show how unperturbed they were at jump-scares and gory violence, and the topic of conversation was often “which scary film have you seen lately?” I joined in, of course, for fear of being labelled a “sissy” or a “wuss” for not participating! Nowadays, though, I seldom choose a horror title if I’m looking for something to watch. I readily admit that jump-scares almost always succeed at catching me off-guard, and while gruesomeness, violence, and gore really aren’t terribly offputting, jump-scares can be for me.
The usual caveat applies – the list is in no particular order, nor am I saying that these are the “all-time top five” horror films; instead these are five examples of horror titles that I think are pretty entertaining – in my subjective opinion!
Number 1: Drag Me To Hell (2009)
Not a blockbuster by any means, Drag Me To Hell is nevertheless a well-made film with an interesting premise and some great performances. Directed by Sam Raimi (of Spider-Man fame) it centres around a gypsy’s curse, and a woman who must find a way to escape the spell before she is – quite literally – dragged into hell by demons.
The desperation on the face of lead actress Alison Lohman as she realises what’s happening to her is pitch-perfect acting, and the film is packed with gruesome imagery and some genuinely frightening jump-scares. It’s also perhaps the “most Halloween-y” film on this list, as it deals with the supernatural, demons, and curses.
As the tale of an ordinary person forced into an unsettling and terrifying supernatural world, Drag Me To Hell manages to have a relatable protagonist, someone the audience can root for throughout her ordeal. In a genre overflowing with zombies and vampires, the curse is also something different, which I think makes Drag Me To Hell stand out.
Number 2: The Fly (1986)
David Cronenberg is considered the king of body-horror, and 1986’s The Fly shows why! Starring Jeff Goldblum in one of his most iconic roles, the film sees a scientist create a teleportation machine, only for things to go wrong when he accidentally teleports with a fly – causing their DNA to merge.
The monstrous mutations that Goldblum’s character suffers are truly grotesque, even by today’s standards, and the practical special effects still hold up more than thirty years later. His transformation into the titular fly is horrifying – but at the same time impossible to look away from! The Fly is a disturbing, weird watch, but truly one of the most interesting works of the genre.
Number 3: Alien (1979)
Though many people consider 1986’s Aliens to be superior, for my money you can’t beat the claustrophobic monster-horror feel of the first entry in the Alien saga. The film has rightly become a classic of both the horror and science-fiction genres, with sequels, spin-offs, and video game adaptations still being produced over forty years later. That’s a testament to the quality of Alien.
What makes this film great is that protagonist Ripley (played, of course, by Sigourney Weaver in what remains her best-known role) is facing down a single creature. Future films would show veritable armies of xenomorphs, but here there’s just one. That emphasises how deadly these creatures can be – as well as showing a much darker side to science-fiction than we see in many titles. Ripley is also at her best here, portrayed as much more human before her transformation in subsequent films to an invincible “badass.”
Alien also warns of the dangers of mega-corporations and of single-minded artificial intelligence in ways that other sci-fi titles are only now beginning to pick up on. And, of course, the film contains one of the most iconic scenes in the history of cinema. You know the one I mean! And if you don’t, well… you better watch Alien A.S.A.P!
Number 4: Let The Right One In/Låt den rätte komma in (2008)
This Swedish-language film was one of the most novel and interesting takes on the vampire genre that I’ve ever seen. It’s also a film which focuses primarily on two kids, making for some incredibly uncomfortable and unnerving sequences. I don’t watch a lot of foreign-language cinema, and precisely for that reason Let The Right One In feels even more otherworldly and eerie.
A few years after its 2008 release the film’s reputation led to a Hollywood remake. However, I would recommend watching the original version, as it feels more authentic and interesting.
Unlike some of the titles on this list, Let The Right One In has a slower pace, but that doesn’t make it any less tense – in fact, I’d argue it makes the tension even greater!
Number 5: Train to Busan/부산행 (2016)
The second foreign-language film on this list is a South Korean title. It wasn’t the plan to put two non-English films here, but the horror genre seems especially well-served outside of Hollywood! There are many Asian horror films that are considered among the best in the genre, and Train to Busan must surely be one of them.
I wouldn’t call it a unique or even especially different look at the zombie genre, especially in the aftermath of titles like 28 Days Later – which itself is worth a watch! But Train to Busan takes that premise and uses it expertly, with the titular train being both a sanctuary and an obstacle to the protagonists’ survival.
So that’s it. A few horror films to get you in a Halloween mood! I think we got a good mix of vampires, aliens, demons, mutants, and zombies to make for an interesting selection, though there are of course many more takes on the horror genre out there.
With only a couple of days to go, the big question is this: can I finish my playthrough of the Nintendo Switch game Luigi’s Mansion 3 in time for Halloween?! It’s not looking likely, is it?
All titles listed above are the copyright of their respective company, studio, and/or distributor. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Trekking with Dennis 