And so, another year rounds out for this series. Netflix Dumpster Dive is three years old today, and it’s as surreal as ever to think about how long I’ve been doing this. Last year I set a bar for quantity in my anniversary post I’m not prepared to meet again, but this year, I have a plan that I think came along nicely. It’s been a good year, and I hope to see another one coming.

Halloween is the best time of the year, and what we need on this beautiful holiday is a set of movies to sit down and watch. Really, of all the events that happen on Halloween, the real parties are the ones of no more than eight people watching horror movies with popcorn or pizza. 

I wanted to give a consistent vibe today, so I picked four movies of consistent ideas, but each with its own style and merits. The finale will be a toss up between two movies, depending on your preference. We’re gonna start in the realm of comedy, and work our way into pure horror. Happy Halloween, and enjoy this year’s Halloween Triple Feature.

Part 1: Little Evil

This movie is about as close to straight comedy as it gets. In fact, the only thing that makes it a horror comedy is the subject matter, and a few spooky scenes. Regardless, Little Evil is a movie that defied my expectations– as did the next movie in our set. It’s not airtight in its laughs or logic, but it is, however, an astonishingly fun watch. 

I remember this movie showing up on Netflix one day, and it being somewhat of a buzz, but I feel like people forgot about it quickly. I certainly did. Watching it now, I wish I hadn’t. This movie is worth every second, and its flip on the trope of the Antichrist is a treat. It’s a perfect lead in to our Halloween night, and sets the stage for what’s to come.

(Rating: 7/10)

Part 2: The Babysitter

While we’re flipping tropes, let’s visit another movie I heard and forgot about. The Babysitter excited me when the trailer for it first appeared on Netflix. I thought it’d be a fun take on standard horror, but I got scared by the presence of a Viner in the trailer. Nothing against Viners, mind you, for all intents and purposes, I’m a blogger. But the movie offput me by this presence because I expected something… schlocky. 

What I got upon finally watching the movie was anything but. Cabin in the Woods is known for taking a standard set of horror tropes, with the cookie cutter group of victims, and satirizing these ideas beautifully. The Babysitter does something similar. In this movie, we take a cookie cutter horror group, and make them the killers. Typically, this group would do their spooky Satanic stuff and be killed for it, but instead, they’re the ones committing the crimes. 

Combine this cool flip on horror standards with shockingly solid humor, and you’ve got a great movie. I loved Little Evil, but to my shock, I liked The Babysitter even more. It’s a good blend of genuine horror and tension combined with comedy, and it perfectly bridges the gap in our movie night from funnies to fear. 

(Rating: 7.5/10)

Part 3: Eli/1st Summoning

What you choose for your finale comes down to taste. Pick Eli, and you’re going for a more straight horror experience, with themes that tie us back to the beginning of our movie night. Personally, this is the one I’d choose. However, if you’re looking for a different style, that has more humor and ties in with The Babysitter’s subject matter more, 1st Summoning is a dip into one of my loves: found footage. Either way, we’re in the late hours. It’s time for something a little more hardcore.

1st Summoning is a solid movie, but it does have its issues. It wants to be The Blair Witch Project. It isn’t. There’s some meta that I rolled my eyes at strewn in. But man, it’s pretty good. I got into it quickly, especially given we actually have a character who thinks things through. It’s nice to hear someone speaking logically in one of these movies, even if it’s futile. While this movie isn’t my personal pick for the finale, it’s still worth a watch, and would cap off your Halloween well. 

(Rating 5.5/10)

Eli is another trope flipper, but it’s far from a comedy. What sets this movie apart from most haunting flicks is evident upon viewing– no spoilers. While its ending isn’t what I would have liked, its overall plot and atmosphere are gripping. If you don’t choose it this Halloween, choose it another night. The next night, even. It’s great. I can’t say much more without spoiling. Just trust me, you won’t regret it.

(Rating 8/10)

Enjoy Halloween. It’s the best holiday of the year, and a time for fun. As I said, it’s been a good year, and I’m looking forward to another year of this series. 

Thank you for reading! If you want to be notified of when the next Netflix Dumpster Dive comes out, feel free to follow the site, and you can also follow me on Twitter. I published my new fantasy book in July of 2018, and it’d mean the world if you’d check it out, and if it’s not your cup of tea, share it with someone who might like it. Thanks again, and I hope to see you here next time.

-Vincent

© 2019 Vincent C. Russo. All Rights Reserved. This post is intended for review and constitutes fair use. These films and any images used belong to their respective owners.