Thread: Greatest Halloween? Horror Influence of all time

Tweet

I know that this question could get very sticky, very fast but here it go's.

Who or what do you think is the single most influential source in the world of horror and Halloween? Your answer can come from anywhere in the mediums of film, lterature, music, television, art, celebrity, culture or any sub-genre.

It can be a single movie or song, type of music, person or persons, poem or style of writing. Anything.

Think long and hard about it and if you can give a reason for your answer.

Marc V.

For me, I would say regrettably the pumpkin is the biggest influence of Halloween. Pumpkins are okay, but they can be too cutesy at times. Jack-O-Lantern, Pumpkin Pie, the orange color, their time in the season they grow

I guess though to me there are 3 types of things you could categorize this into. What is the biggest influence in the cutesy side of Halloween, what is the biggest influence in the horror side of Halloween, and what is the Horror movie that got people into Horror Movies? For the horror side of Halloween, I would say the skeleton. Why? It's because a skeleton is part of a human body, and you have so many dead things during Halloween like cemeteries, zombies, and what not coming back to life, and a skeleton people see as dead, but yet alive in a weird way.

However, for horror movies, for me it has been Leprechaun that got me into the other Horror movies, but in today's day and age, I think it would be something like Freddy or Jason, and than people move onto other Horror movies after they watched them.

Originally Posted by Halloweenfan

For me, I would say regrettably the pumpkin is the biggest influence of Halloween. Pumpkins are okay, but they can be too cutesy at times. Jack-O-Lantern, Pumpkin Pie, the orange color, their time in the season they grow

I guess though to me there are 3 types of things you could categorize this into. What is the biggest influence in the cutesy side of Halloween, what is the biggest influence in the horror side of Halloween, and what is the Horror movie that got people into Horror Movies? For the horror side of Halloween, I would say the skeleton. Why? It's because a skeleton is part of a human body, and you have so many dead things during Halloween like cemeteries, zombies, and what not coming back to life, and a skeleton people see as dead, but yet alive in a weird way.

However, for horror movies, for me it has been Leprechaun that got me into the other Horror movies, but in today's day and age, I think it would be something like Freddy or Jason, and than people move onto other Horror movies after they watched them.

Great answer and reasons why HALLOWEENFAN.....Pay attention folks, this is they way to answer the question

Does this count as a grade?

Originally Posted by Laurie S.

Does this count as a grade?

Yes. This WILL be on the test.

Good question!
The answers could range from popular culture references, like from our childhood memories, to more primal forces that might be hard to name.
I believe that both come into play.
For me, it's the event in and of itself. Maybe I would be like most people and not very into halloween if it weren't for my experiences as a child. If my dad didn't make it a yearly ritual to design and carve the jacks, then turn off the lights and look at them in their glowing glory, and of course to take me trick or treating every year.
I wouldn't say my dad is the biggest source of halloween, but the fact that someone lived it and included me in the spirit of it is what I think influenced me.
Can't wait to read others responses!

The pumpkin/jack-o-latern is hands down the iconic symbol of Halloween. Regarding a particular person or being, I would have to say witches and ghosts were the orginal torch-bearers of Halloween, which opened the door for skeletons, monsters, and other ghouls and goblins.

I think the most influential Halloween movie is the one that bears its name, "HALLOWEEN." Michael Myers is easily one of the most recognisable horror legends along with the other greats of the 70's & 80's like Jason, Freddy, Pinhead, and Leatherface.

But as a kid, there is no greater event than dressing up in a costume and going trick-or-treating. The whole idea of free candy for an entire night is truly awesome.

I thought I would type this down first before reading anyone's post.

Elvria was the Halloween Queen. I grew up with waiting for her around Halloween time on TV.

Vampires and Frankenstein to me were the biggest MONSTERS of all time. Although I cannot and do not discount other monsters that does it jobs in the scaring or entertaining us.

I do have to admit like in the songs area to me will always be Monster's Mash, Ghost Busters, and my ALL TIME FAVORTIE "THRILLER"

I perfer vampire books. They are my most favorite thing to read and I do enjoy other monsters theme types books too, may it be love story or scary story to tell in the dark. Now I am going to go back and read everyone else's saying =]

As far as iconic symbols of Halloween go, I believe that Jack O'Lanterns and Witches are the ones that stand out in my mind. It goes back to the roots of Halloween, when the Pagans were, I guess, believed to be "witches" because of their worshiping of many gods, and their "logo" or symbol being the Pentegram. Jack O'Lanterns, while I don't have an explanation for, is to Halloween, What Santa Clause is to Christmas. Its just, what comes to mind when You think of Halloween.

As far as poetry goes, Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" reminds me of Halloween. I don't know why, but that piece just gives me some sort of Chill, that is similar to that I get when I think of Halloween.

For Films, The Fog is my Halloween Film. The Fog itself, the lighting, the atmosphere, it just stands out to me, as Halloween Elements. Besides The Fog, the obvious Halloween is an influence. I love the way "The Shape" moves, and breathes in his mask, it just creeps me completely out. I think my favorite Halloween film, however, besides The Fog, is Candyman. The Score, Candyman himself, and the great story is something that scares me the most.

Just my two cents

Originally Posted by Pinhead

The pumpkin/jack-o-latern is hands down the iconic symbol of Halloween. Regarding a particular person or being, I would have to say witches and ghosts were the orginal torch-bearers of Halloween, which opened the door for skeletons, monsters, and other ghouls and goblins.

I think the most influential Halloween movie is the one that bears its name, "HALLOWEEN." Michael Myers is easily one of the most recognisable horror legends along with the other greats of the 70's & 80's like Jason, Freddy, Pinhead, and Leatherface.

But as a kid, there is no greater event than dressing up in a costume and going trick-or-treating. The whole idea of free candy for an entire night is truly awesome.

Carpenter's HALLOWEEN is a masterpiece! It's more halloweeny than most horror films.