🖤 The Purr Purr Press Halloween Movie Series

Week 2: The Director's Wall

Welcome back to the The Purr Purr Press Movie Series 👻! I hope you enjoyed last week’s Be Kind, Rewind, and Scream. I’m sending you all the frights and screams from our little studio — now grab some popcorn and a tasty beverage because it’s time to celebrate the filmmakers who’ve filled our screens (and nightmares) with magic magic✨.

There are so many directors to choose from, and narrowing this list down was tough. These are the ones I couldn’t resist putting on my wall — the storytellers who bring their own flair, fear, and fun to the screen.

🎬 Joe Dante — The ’Burbs (1989) Tubi

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Let’s start our list off with a little laugh — and who better than Joe Dante? I grew up watching his movies, and The ’Burbs was definitely a family favorite in my house. It’s not your typical horror flick, but it nails that dark-comedy sweet spot: suspenseful enough to keep you guessing, funny enough to make you forget you were ever tense in the first place.

You’ve got a cul-de-sac full of quirky neighbors, some suspicious new arrivals, and a whole lot of hilarious paranoia. The zoom-ins, the one-liners, the slapstick timing — it’s pure fun from start to finish. And here’s a fun fact: does that dog look familiar? The pup, 🐶 Queenie, also played Precious in The Silence of the Lambs! So we might just be seeing this little cutie again later in our Halloween movie series.

( 📝 Side note: I might have to make a little Joe Dante favorites list soon. Stay tuned!)

👻 John Carpenter — The Thing (1982) Peacock

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Now we step into the cold — and not the kind a blanket can fix. The Thing is one of those movies where you’re laughing one minute and accusing your best friend of being an alien 👽 the next. It’s slow-burn chaos with just enough humor to make you wonder if you’re losing it too.The practical effects? Unreal. You just don’t see stuff like that anymore, and maybe that’s what makes it scarier. Every weird, slimy transformation feels more alive than anything a computer could dream up.

It brings back that old-school horror nostalgia — like An American Werewolf in London or Videodrome 📼 — when everything felt handmade and a little too real. And at the center of it all is the coolest man alive: Kurt Russell. (Let’s be honest, ♥️ Jack Burton can do no wrong.) That hat alone deserves its own movie.

It’s slow, thrilling, and full of mistrust — the perfect movie for when you want a little chill with your chills. So grab something warm to drink, get cozy, and remember: in The Thing, no one can be trusted… except maybe Kurt and his hat.

💄 Dario Argento — Suspiria (1977) Tubi

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We’re talking Suspiria the 1977 film, baby — the OG fever dream. This movie summoned me one night when I wandered into the horror section at Vulcan Video in Austin, Texas (RIP — Rewind in peace 🕊️). And let’s just say, things get weird fast — secret passages, strange whispers, and something creepy lurking in plain sight.

It’s part horror ballet, part acid trip, and somehow still manages to look gorgeous while you’re screaming. Witchy chaos dipped in neon colors and blood. It’s the kind of movie that makes you want to redecorate your living room and then immediately sage it. A lot of scary movies go dark and gritty, but this one bursts with color and life. The wallpaper patterns, the way the rooms twist and stretch, the ornate little details — it all adds this surreal flair I haven’t seen in too many other films. It’s beautiful, but in that spooky, something’s-definitely-wrong-here kind of way.

And seriously — what is up with that scary little boy and that outfit? That kid is absolutely auditioning to haunt my dreams. Anyway…

Goblin’s score ties everything together — haunting, loud, and completely unhinged. Normally, I’m the type to turn the volume up, but this one? Yeah… I had to turn it down a little. It’s that eerie.

Argento paints beautiful nightmares, and honestly? I wouldn’t have my Director’s Wall without him.

📺 Tobe Hooper — Poltergeist (1982) HBO

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They’re heeere!

If you grew up in the ’80s or ’90s, you probably watched Poltergeist at least once — and maybe checked under your bed more than once to make sure that damn clown 🤡 wasn’t hiding there. (Still not over that scene.)

It starts off all laughs and snuggles, a cozy suburban dream — until the 📺 TV starts acting weird. Back then it was static and white noise… now it’s just Netflix asking if you’re still watching. (Scarier, honestly.) Before long, we’re playing musical chairs with ghosts, Robbie’s getting snatched by a tree, and some poor guy’s peeling his face off in the bathroom mirror. Those practical effects? 💋Chef’s kiss.

And of course — how could we forget Zelda Rubinstein 🔮, the iconic psychic who later played the palm reader in Teen Witch 💫. When she declares, “This house is clean,” you almost believe her.

It’s also such a time capsule — the Star Wars sheets, the Snoopy toy on a leash, the Alien poster on the wall. Every detail screams early ’80s perfection. The build-up is what makes it great — just when you think it’s over, another scare sneaks in. It’s pure Halloween comfort, and it never gets old.

So yeah… maybe turn off the TV before bed tonight. Just to be safe. 👀

🕰️ Mike Flanagan — The Haunting of Hill House (2018) Netflix

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Okay, I know this one isn’t technically a movie, but hear me out. Mike Flanagan deserves a spot on this wall for The Haunting of Hill House alone. This was the first thing I ever saw from him, and I was pleasantly scared — like, heart-racing-but-still-having-fun scared.

The stories of each character pulled me in completely — and that plot twist… so good. He’s officially scared the socks off me more than once, and honestly, he’s earned his place 🏆 on this chick’s wall award. So if you’re in the mood to binge something spooky this season, this is your sign to revisit Hill House — maybe keep the lights on… and a blanket handy for emotional support.

Oh, and keep your eyes peeled — there are ghosts hiding in the background. You’ll start spotting them when you least expect it. (You’re welcome.)

🎃 Until Next Week’s Show

And that’s our Director’s Wall for this week’s The Purr Purr Press Movie Series! I could’ve added so many more — trust me, the list was long — but we’ve still got more weeks left in the month and plenty of scares (and laughs) ahead. Whether you’re into monster mayhem, psychological dread, or that warm, cozy Halloween nostalgia, I hope you found a new favorite (or an old classic) to add to your watchlist.

Next week, we’re flipping the tape and diving into The B-Side Collection 👻— a lineup of movies that might not have been blockbusters, but still have my whole heart. These are the ones that lived on late-night TV, at the back of the rental store, or in that one friend’s mysterious VHS collection. They’re weird, wonderful, and worth every minute.

Now grab your snacks, turn off the lights (or don’t — I won’t judge), and enjoy some cinematic chills. Until next week — stay spooky, stay cozy, and keep the popcorn coming. 🍿💀🐾