Judging from the recent influx of Exorcist rip-offs, it seems that America is afraid of the devil again. So what better time than now for Movieline's Halloween 25 to take a look at film's featuring Satan and the occult? Today's edition includes moon-worshiping zombies, Clint Howard wielding a giant sword, real-life human oddities and more! Say a prayer, cross yourself and chime in if I missed your favorite.
· Messiah of Evil AKA Dead People (1973)
A young woman goes to visit her father in a coastal town after receiving a disturbing letter, only to find that he's vanished... and also that the entire town has turned into a zombie cult that worships the moon. That last bit really isn't a spoiler because the story to this one really doesn't matter. It doesn't even really make sense. But visually and viscerally, Willard Huyck's film is one of the most stylish, atmospheric and surreal horror movies this side of Suspiria. Nightmares are almost guaranteed, even if you don't know what the hell is going on.
· Race with the Devil (1975)
While on vacation with their wives, Warren Oates and Peter Fonda witness a cult sacrifice. Once the cult realizes, the couples find themselves trying to escape a murderous group of devil worshipers in their RV. Honestly, if a road movie with Oates and Fonda squaring off against a Satanic cult didn't pique your interest, I don't know what to do for you. The movie is every bit as much fun as it sounds, although the ending is a bit abrupt. But if that leaves you wanting more, I beg you, please watch the hilarious, inscrutable, totally insane interview with Peter Fonda on the DVD. Then you're set for the night.
· The Sentinel (1977)
A disturbed model moves into a beautiful Brooklyn Heights apartment and discovers that the only other inhabitant of the building is a blinded priest. So wait: Who were all of those strange people down the hall who had her over for a party the other night? And what's with all the ominous satanic omens? The story eventually takes on epic and slightly convoluted proportions, but getting there is a creepy, nerve-racking journey not recommended for lone late night viewing. Upon release, the film came under fire because director Michael Winner used actual deformed human beings to stage the terrifying finale.
· Evilspeak (1981)
Hooo boy. So in Eric Weston's early-'80s techno-Satanic-revenge thriller, Clint Howard plays a bullied military student who stumbles across a computer that has been possessed by the soul of of some Satanist who was executed in the middle ages. The computer promises Howard the powers of black magic in exchange for the blood of his classmates. I'll admit that despite this amazing set up, a lot of the film plays like a Carrie rip-off with Howard in Sissy Spacek's role -- although one scene where a naked woman gets attacked in the shower by wild boars is the stuff of legend. But the film really kicks into gear during the last half-hour, which involves Howard flying around with a giant sword, chopping off the heads of the bullies who wronged him. Words can't begin to do this sequence justice. You must see it for yourself.
· House of the Devil (2009)
Ti West's slow-burn throwback to the Satanic panic of the '80s is a masterpiece of mood and tension, which... Well, let's not spoil the finale. Shy and strapped for cash, Samantha shows up for a babysitting job, only to find out from the eerie family that there isn't actually a baby. Instead, she's just supposed to stay at the house for a few hours and make sure nothing goes wrong with their mother, who is resting upstairs. You can probably guess from the title that there's more to the story, but what really gets under your skin about this film is how expertly West evokes abandonment and fear of the unknown during the build-up. The result is a film that taps into audiences' deeper subconscious fears rather than relying on twists, gore or "gotcha!" moments for scares. It received a number of accolades when it opened last year -- if you haven't seen it yet, get to it!