Horror movies to see this month

It’s that time of the year again. The time when ghosts and goblins come out of hiding and we have fun scaring ourselves silly. It’s October, and in a few weeks, we’ll be celebrating Halloween. So what better way is there to get in the Halloween mood than watching a few scary movies? This month, we have three new flicks: “Sinister,” “Paranormal Activity 4” and “Silent Hill: Revelation 3D.”

“Sinister,” which is set to be released Oct. 12, tells the tale of an author of non-fiction crime novels who stumbles upon a series of videotapes that depict grisly murders. As he struggles to decipher the tapes, he realizes that they may be about more than just simple murders and that his whole family may now be in danger. 

Pre-release critics have given the film mostly positive reviews, scoring 76 percent on “Rotten Tomatoes.” This supernatural horror flick is likely to make even the most seasoned horror movie veterans squirm in their seats at the violent and disturbing imagery.

Next is “Paranormal Activity 4,” the next (and presumed to be final) installment in the popular Paranormal Activity series. Before reading this preview, note that it may contain some spoilers. I’ve done my best to keep any out, but there’s only so much I can do.

The story begins when Katie and Hunter, missing for five years since the conclusion of “P.A.” and “P.A. 2,” move in next door to a young girl named Alice and her family. Frightening events then begin to occur. Although this is the fourth film in the series, it is the first true sequel. Ever since the first film, we’ve only been given two prequels in the form of “P.A. 2,” and “P.A. 3.” Now we’re getting a real follow up to the first film, which will hopefully clear up some of the mysteries that have been building since the ending of the first film. Will we finally find out the goals of the demon, or the Witch Coven from the third movie? You’ll have to watch to find out. I’m as excited as you are.

Finally is “Silent Hill: Revelation 3D.” This spooky flick is a sequel to 2006’s “Silent Hill,” which in turn was based on the popular video-game series of the same name. Viewers will get to witness the story of Heather Mason, who, upon turning 18, discovers that she is not who she thought she was and that evil demons, cultists, and other various monsters are all out to get her in the mysterious dimension that lies within the town of Silent Hill. Although the original received mainly negative reviews, “Revelation” features a new director/writer who seems to be distancing the film from the original with a new cast and story. 

Movies based on video games tend to have trouble doing justice to the source material, so fans of the series may want to avoid this installment. However, for those unfamiliar with the game, the film may provide a fresh enough experience to make the trip to the movies worthwhile

So there you have it, children of the night. Go gather your friends or brave the trip to the movies alone. Nightmares await those brave enough to travel to the strange realms that these movies have created.