Looking for something good to watch, listen to or read this pre-Halloween weekend? Look no further. Team Windows Central's weekly media recommendations should be just what you seek.
This week, our writers and editors are into the film that literally created the slasher-flick genre, a comedic TV show with some great Halloween themes, and a book about a handsome young postal worker whose hobby happens to be murder.
If you don't find what you're looking for here, we have more where those came from. Just hit the link below.
More media recommendations from Windows Central
Movies
Recommended by Cale Hunt, staff writer
I watched Ari Aster's last film, Hereditary, following all the buzz around it, but it was kind of a letdown. I'm giving Aster another try with Midsommar, which some friends assure me is better than the former horror movie. A classic setup involves some Americans visiting a foreign country for a festival, in this case one that occurs only every 90 years.That's a lot of time to plan, but it also seems to be run by occultists so the food is probably going to suck. People keep getting dosed with psilocybin as well, and no safe space to come down would be awful. I doubt site services will be the scariest part of this movie, though, and I do look forward to checking it out.
Recommended by Rich Edmonds, staff reviewer
You've probably seen the infamous shower scene from Psycho, but the movie as a whole deserves a viewing. It's a masterpiece from Alfred Hitchcock, paving the way to modern horror as we know and enjoy today. Released in 1960, Psycho misleads the audience with each character movement and camera shot, throwing in subtle cue hints you'll miss.Starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, and Vera Miles, Psycho tells the story of Marion Crane, an office worker who steals money from her employer and goes on the run. After a tiring journey, Marion stops at Bates Motel, managed by a young Norman who's controlled by his mother and terror ensues.
Recommended by Jez Corden, gaming editor
Christian Bale is a tremendous actor, known for really throwing himself into his roles. Few of his movies exemplify this like The Machinist, which is a harrowing and disturbing drama that will leave a lasting impression.Bale plays Trevor Reznik, a factory machinist that has extreme chronic insomnia, claiming he hasn't slept normally in an entire year. His day to day existence is one of confused dream states, which get all the more perplexing when threatening post-it notes begin randomly showing up in his apartment. Trevor's paranoia begins leading him down a dark path.The Machinist is excellent, and while nowhere near a full-blown horror movie, it's a paranoia-inducing flick that'll leave you on the edge of your seat.
TV
Recommended by Sean Endicott, news writer
Every Halloween, I sit down and watch the Community Halloween episodes. The zombie apocalypse episode from season 2 was one of the first genre parodies of the season. It has climactic, yet hilarious scenes, including a zombie battle set to an Abba soundtrack. It kicked off an incredible run of mocks, parodies, and spoof episodes throughout the show. In one Halloween episode, the Greendale 7 has to determine which one of them is a murderer, and in another, the group is set inside Pierce's haunted home. I could easily recommend watching Community every week, but it's must-watch content for Halloween.
Music
Recommended by Richard Devine, Reviews Editor
What better music for Halloween than some Cradle of Filth. Terrifyingly loud, dark metal that's sure to fill any unsuspecting listener with fear. Besides being dark enough for the spookiest time of the year, Midian was actually one of my favorite albums during my moody teenage years, and Cradle of Filth isn't just shouting, though there's a lot of that.These dark tunes actually have some pretty killer melodies underneath, and you might surprise yourself by how much you like this sound!
Books
Recommended by Al Sacco, managing editor
This book is the story of a handsome young, seemingly-harmless drifter who settles down for a bit in a sleepy Massachusetts town, where he finds a mindless gig as a postal worker. All is good, and he's settling in nicely … until the urge returns. Unfortunately, this man's urge isn't for fast food or a late night out. It's for good old fashioned murder.The novel is truly creepy in the way it handles the main character's approach to killing and his seemingly indiscriminate choice of victims. His murder method of choice, a tainted flask of booze is also memorable. Oh, and the book was made into a movie starring Owen Wilson in the late '90s, so if reading isn't your thing, it's available on screen too — though not nearly as creepy.
