Horror through Netflix: Sleepy Hollow

"The dominant spirit, however, that haunts this enchanted region, and seems to be commander-in-chief of all the powers of the air, is the apparition of a figure on horseback, without a head."

- Washington Irving, "Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

The first time I saw "Sleepy Hollow" was in high school...during my freshman computer class. Why? Because it was the week of Halloween, during which, we had a lazy substitute teacher. (Well, who was I to complain?)

I remember being terrified as we watched this classic, ghostly tale, so I was slightly disappointed to find myself more amused than scared when watching "Sleepy Hollow" last night. This is not to say that I do not enjoy this movie. It is still an intriguing, dark, and spooky tale. Terrifying? No. But perhaps that's just because scary/horror films have evolved since this movie was made, resulting in our higher threshold of feeling scared.

Director Tim Burton brings Washington Irving's chilling Gothic tale, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," to life in this 1999 screen adaption. After several mysterious murders in the town of Sleepy Hollow, New York detective Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to the town to investigate the deaths. The victims? Beheaded, and their heads taken by the culprit, who the locals of Sleepy Hollow believe to be the ghost of the legendary Headless Horseman.

Also starring Christina Ricci as Crane's love interest, Katrina van Tassel, and Christopher Walken as the Headless Horseman, "Sleepy Hollow" is not only a tale of murder, mystery, and the Headless Horseman but is also a tale of the scandal and corruption of the townspeople of Sleepy Hollow - a tale that Crane begins to unravel through his investigation.

Depp's ability to take on a wide range of roles never ceases to amaze me, and his role as Ichabod Crane is no exception. He brilliantly takes on this intelligent crime investigator with a weak stomach and a tendency to faint whenever he witnesses the Headless Horseman in action. And Christopher Walken is terrifying as the Headless Horseman (you know, during his back story...when he had a head) despite the lack of lines (the most we get out of the Headless Horseman is some yelling and few grunts.)

While not as scary as it probably was back in 1999 (unless you're easily frightened), the dark, foggy, Gothic atmosphere and the sometimes humorous, murder-mystery dinner theater feel of the film makes "Sleepy Hollow" a perfect Halloween night movie.

Horror through Netflix: The Others

A few years ago, I gave into my sister's insistance on watching "The Others" and fell in love with it. Seriously, I went through a phase where I watched it constantly. After watching it last night, for the first time in years, I have no idea how I watched it all the time. It's quite depressing. But it still managed to be suspenseful (and make me jump a bit) despite seeing it over a dozen times.

"The Others" (2001), written and directed by Alejandro Amenabar, is an eerie suspense thriller that will raise the hair on the back of your neck. The entire film, which is set in 1945 just after WWII ends, takes place in the large, old house of devoutly religious Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman), who keeps the house almost completely dark because her two children, Anne and Nicholas, have a rare disease that makes them sensitive to light. Sunlight rarely finds its way into the house, but something else has.

After punishing Anne for continuing to scare her younger brother with stories of the "intruders" she's seen in the house, Grace becomes convinced that there really is a presence after witnessing strange events herself and fights to protect her children from the mysterious intruders.

"The Others" is a suspenseful film that's perfect for watching late at night, in the dark, if you're looking for a bone-chilling, goosebump inducing scare. While a bit sad, yes, it's an intriguing movie that will manipulate you as well as keep you in the dark (no pun intended). It's definitely one of those movies you'll want to watch again, not just because of its brilliant story, but because you'll want to catch what you missed before.

"The Others" is frightening enough to be considered a "Halloween night" movie, but carries enough depth in its story to watch any time.

Scare hint: Keep the volume on your television way up (you might have to anyway because the movie is pretty quiet most of the time.) It makes all the difference. Trust me.