Daily staff rate Halloween picks

Daily staff report

When it comes to Halloween movies, Americans' choices can fall anywhere along a large scale of films that range from slightly spooky to terribly terrifying.

Now only mere days from All Hallows' Eve, the newsroom staff at the Daily decided to reminisce, in an email survey, about favorite seasonal films.

Which movies made their lists?

"The first 'Halloween,' of course. And someone has to say, 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.'" -- Kevin Olmstead, design editor

"Like most people who enjoyed 'Silence of the Lambs,' I found Hannibal Lector to be an unforgettable movie villain. Rest of the movie was also well-crafted with many vividly rendered scenes, especially the climax in Buffalo Bill's house.

"'Halloween' shows how you can make a good, scary movie by concentrating on the details of telling a good story and skipping all the bloated special effects and sensationalized violence.

"'Psycho.' I first saw it as a teenager sitting alone downstairs in a darkened house. I was watching the shower scene when I saw a pair of green eyes staring at me from the kitchen. I jumped out of my seat before realizing it was our cat." -- Joe Beck, news reporter

"'Sleepy Hollow' (for mom and dad); 'The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad' (Disney, for all of us) and we just watched 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.'" -- Jeff Nations, sports editor

"My husband and I watch 'Sleepy Hollow' every year, and I've always loved 'Poltergeist.' A recent (unlikely) tradition, though, is watching 'Meet Me in St. Louis.' Its Halloween scene is just as long as its Christmas scene, and it's inspired me to seek out new recipes each year for a good Halloween cake. -- Josette Keelor, community engagement editor

"I'll have to say the 'Friday the 13th' films." -- Brad Fauber, sports reporter

"I definitely make it a point to see the 'Paranormal Activity' movies each year. I'm not so into the horror flicks, so a good suspenseful, creepy movie is all I need to get into the Halloween spirit." -- Kim Walter, news reporter

But scary movies aren't for everyone:

"I hate Freddie movies. I also hate the old movie 'It's Alive.'" -- Linda Ash, editor-in-chief

"I don't really have a favorite Halloween movie. Always hated the Peanuts stuff, and not a fan of the 'Friday the 13th,' 'Nightmare on Elm Street,' Halloween stuff." -- Sally Voth, news reporter