Happy Halloween: A Guide to Choosing the Perfect Horror Movie!!

There's nothing better than snuggling up in bed on Halloween night and watching a great flick. That's what I'm planning on doing tonight - I just got "The Shining" on Blu-Ray from Netflix, and needless to say, I am very giddy.

But Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece isn't for everyone; so how do you decide which movie to rent? I want to break down horror movies into simple categories, maybe this will help you decide what's right for you:

*Hauntings*
Examples: "The Amityville Horror," "The Others," "Poltergeist"
These are always a hit. It's scary to imagine your home being invaded by unfriendly spirits. Most of the time, the characters end up going insane and killing their families.
USE CAUTION IF: You live in a large home and the person you're watching with has a record of scaring the crap out of you when watching such movies.

*Creature Features*
Examples: "Alien," "Jaws," "The Hills Have Eyes"
Probably not as scary as you'd think, since off the bat you know that these things don't exist. But they will give you a good fright.
USE CAUTION IF: You believe in things such as chupacabras and Bigfoot.

*Blood and Gore*
Examples: "Saw," "The Devil's Rejects," "Dead Alive"
What would Halloween be without a little bloodshed? Ok, tons of bloodshed. Brain matter, intestines, severed limbs...it all reminds you how terribly delicate the human body is.
USE CAUTION IF: You are squeamish and you just downed a plate of nachos.

*Intruders*
Examples: "The Strangers," "Last House On The Left," "Funny Games"
For me, these are the movies that haunt my dreams. Nobody ever wants to imagine a home invasion, and these movies remind you to get that home security system you've been needing - and a shotgun.
USE CAUTION IF: You've watched too many episodes of "Cold Case Files."

*Satanic Cults*
Examples: "Rosemary's Baby," "The Omen," "The Exorcist"
What can be scarier than the Prince of Darkness and his followers using you as a sacrifice? Or impregnating you with his son? These movies certainly leave an impression on you, although they probably won't give you nightmares.
USE CAUTION IF: You have a strong aversion to all things Lucifer.

*Documentary-Style*
Examples: "Paranormal Activity," "Blair Witch Project," "Quarantine"
Thanks to the invention of the hand-held camera, being an amateur filmmaker is easier than ever. These movies scare you with real-time documentation of some pretty horrible events. Infrared and night-vision help to creep you out even more.
USE CAUTION IF: You are susceptible to motion sickness.

*Horror-Comedies*
Examples: "Shaun of the Dead," "Ghostbusters," "Young Frankenstein"
If you want to skip the scary all-together, your best bet is to choose one of these. They're kid friendly and easy to deal with.