Two months into the school year and the more than 1,200 students across St. Petersburg High
School are balancing homework, extracurriculars, jobs, and – at least in October – Halloween.
Hearing the word “Halloween” may conjure memories of going from house to house in different
neighborhoods to collect candy while wearing a costume.
Or it may trigger memories of spending time with friends playing games.
Just remember to never say “I’ll be right back” or walk into a basement alone.
Or maybe planning a night in for a horror movie marathon is more appealing, challenging friends
to decide just who is the best horror movie franchise villain – Jigsaw, Freddy Krueger, or
Ghostface — or trying to decide if “Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Christmas movie – as it
states in the title – or a Halloween movie set in Halloweentown.
Maybe the nine (or ten, depending on point of view) films in the “Saw” franchise, they’re
convincing enough to show that for once, Jigsaw finally won’t get away with it. Or that all
somebody has to do to survive a slasher film is not answer the door, answer the phone, or take
a shower.
Deciding which of the “Halloween” film timelines to hold sacred can be tricky. Whether the
original series established with the first sequel in 1981 is more meaningful, or Rob Zombie’s
remake(s) in 2007 and 2009 has better impact, both mostly follow the same killer (Michael
Myers) and final girl, Laurie Strode. But someone some Halloween certainly will.
In September, the Palmetto & Pine asked a cross-section of students to name their favorite
scary movie – just like Ghostface does from the other end of a phone call in the “Scream”
franchise.
IB Freshman Shay Calkins’ favorite scary movie is the 2018 film “Hereditary”, written and
directed by Ari Aster. The movie follows a grieving family tormented by something supernatural.
Calkins likes how the film “messes with [a viewer’s] mind” and its “psychological concept.”
Inkar Omarbek, another freshman, says “Coraline” is her favorite scary movie – although she
likes it for its message more than anything else.
“People often want something they don’t have,” said Omarbek, “but at the end, Coraline realizes
that she loves her parents, and even though they may not be perfect, they are the best parents
for her.”

Vivienne Nguyen, a sophomore in the IB program, likes the “suspense and thrill” of the 2016 film
“Don’t Breathe,” while IB senior Soren Singleton casts his vote for “Eraserhead.”
“It’s very surrealist,” said Singleton. “It makes you uncomfortable, as if your skin is going to fall
off.”
Sophomore Valerie Mai argues that the Halloween/Christmas film “The Nightmare Before
Christmas”, is her favorite, drawn by its stop-motion animation and special effects.
Junior Shyann Fly said that her favorite scary movie is the 2013 remake of the film “Evil Dead.”
Directed by Fede Alvarez, Fly’s favorite focuses on five people in a remote cabin who face a
demon they accidentally read into life.
Why does Fly like it? Because of its twists, turns, and jump scares.
Junior Natalia Gaudino prefers the classic (and perennial scary favorite) “A Nightmare on Elm
Street.”
“It’s actually scary,” said Gaudino. “Freddy [Kruger] has personality and is ruthless. The sequels
are also good too.”
Senior Vincent Arsenault cops to liking to watch “The Thing” every Halloween.
“I know it’s a cliche answer but John Carpenter is my favorite personal director. The film is pretty
much the outline for sci-fi horror. I personally love the characters, they are all understandable
people. Many horror films throw any common sense out the window, but in this one, the
characters – for the most part – make rational decisions,” Arsenault said. “[It] is one of the
greatest pieces of horror I have watched…and genuinely a fantastic film.”
No consensus this Halloween at St. Petersburg High for scariest movie, but options to keep
people watching for days.
For those who don’t like Halloween or scary movies, then at least there’s day-after-Halloween
candy sales. Buying discounted candy – nothing tricky or scary about that, right?