Six flix picks for October: Decades o' thrillers
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Actor David Naughton on the set of "An American Werewolf in London." Photo: Universal Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
Hope you enjoyed hating my recently suggested turkeys. Now for something completely different.
🍿 The big (motion) picture: I think these are overlooked as good movies — at least nowadays.
- Many were big in their time. They might be a bit slow, a tad campy or have giant plot holes. Some have been remade.
- Still, viewed in historical context, I think these thrillers helped shape their genres and are worthy of your time. One per decade since the '60s:
"Rosemary's Baby" (1968) — Mousy Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) can't discern fact from fantasy as well-to-do neighbors dote on her pregnancy. (On Hulu)
"When a Stranger Calls" (1979) — Babysitting Jill Johnson (Carol Kane) gets obscene phone calls, then the movie makes a hard turn. (On Apple TV)
"American Werewolf in London" (1981) — Backpacking through Britain, a couple of pals were seeing dead people long before M. Night Shyamalan's characters. Also, it's part comedy. (On Tubi)
"Jacob's Ladder" (1990) — Workaday mailman Jacob (Tim Robbins) slowly walks into the surreality of his post-Vietnam War life. (On Prime)
"Let the Right One In" (2008) — This is Swedish with subtitles, but worth it because it's the most innovative retelling of vampire lore I've ever seen. (On Prime)
"Coherence" (2013) — A dinner party gets super weird when a comet passes overhead and things may never be the same. (On Prime)
📫 Let me know what you think, just hit reply.
The bottom line: Enjoy!