It’s Halloween! Here’s our top three favourite horror flicks and the lagers that pair nicely...
Halloween, like many other holidays, kind of loses its magic the older you get. For all of us here, it’s no longer socially acceptable to go knocking on our neighbours’ doors requesting sweet treats and there’s probably little need to dress up to make ourselves look scary (Let’s face it, we’ve all lost our way slightly over the past year and a half). But that doesn’t mean the eeriest day of the calendar year should be abandoned altogether, just because we’re getting on. Oh no, no, no. Instead, those of us zoomers, millennials and every other generation of people that came before can just sit back in front of the TV, turn off the lights (mainly to dissuade the trick or treaters) and enjoy a programme of top-notch scary movies with a beer or two in hand.
With this in mind, we thought we’d share a small selection of our favourite ‘go-to’ horror cult classics and the Manchester Union Lagers which perfectly compliment them.
Planning a movie marathon all on your lonesome this Halloween (you brave soul, you)? You’re going to need something strong. Or maybe your entertaining, hosting your own slasher appreciation evening with your film buff friends? We’ve got just the beer for the occasion!
Continue reading below to discover our top three hair-raising features and drink along with us this Halloween.
The Shining (1980)
Jack Nicholson stars in what has to be one of the most disturbing and best-shot horror films of all time, Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel - The Shining.
A visual lesson in why prolonged periods of isolation in a haunted, empty and remote guest house are bad for you. The story follows writer Jack Torrance (played by Nicholson), his wife Wendy and possessed youngster, Danny, during their stay at the Overlook Hotel. As Jack struggles with writers’ block and the wild winter weather sets in, things begin to unravel and thoughts turn homicidal.
Featuring one of the most iconic horror film scenes, the axe through the bathroom door, voted the scariest ever, and those famous lines - ‘Here’s Johnny!’
We recommend you pair this film with our new Helles Lager, ‘Scenes’, for obvious reasons.
Midsommar (2019)
Most contemporary horror film releases fail to meet the high standards that have been set before them, as far as we’re concerned. They just don’t cut the mustard. If you’re into jump scares and found footage films, you’re spoilt for choice, but psychological masterpieces rarely seem to surface.
And then, every now and then out of the blue, a motion picture of substance materialises and blows your mind to smithereens. For us, that film is Midsommar.
This modern masterpiece details the journey of a couple who travel to Sweden to visit their friend’s idyllic rural hometown, whilst its fabled Midsummer Festival is in full swing. Little do they know they’re at the mercy of a fanatical pagan cult. A truly eye-popping and hallucinatory watch with a soundtrack that will have you on the edge from start to finish.
This one requires something a little bit stronger. Try our 6% Bock, a dark malty and boozy lager with hints of liquorice and raisin. That should do the trick.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Now, we know we’ve slated found footage films previously here but hear us out... The Blair Witch Project is basically the forefather of the genre we know today, although this a heated topic of discussion amongst critics and film historians. It is hands-down the best found footage film there is out there. Fact. We’ve seen it numerous times and it just doesn’t get any easier to watch.
The film tells the tale of three film students who travel to a small town to create a documentary feature on the legend of a supposed local murderer named The Blair Witch. Heading into the woods where the murders took place, the group become lost and disorientated, and believe a presence is watching their every move.
(Fun Fact - The footage created for this film was apparently so realistic that when it was released, viewers sent cards of sympathy to the lead actresses mother believing that her daughter was actually dead or missing.)
Experience suspense like you never have before. A white knuckle ride of a horror flick.
For this particular film, we’d go with our Manchester Union Alt Beer. A hoppy German lager with a slight toffee flavour and a refreshing finish. Much alike this excellent feature film.
Happy Halloween everyone!
All beers are available on our shop