3D Halloween movies: Some tricks, some treats

You've been telling everyone you bought that 3D TV set because the nature programs look more lifelike, and the children will really benefit from the greater engagement during science shows, but we know your secret: You really can't wait until the kids—and maybe your squeamish spouse—are asleep so you can creep downstairs and watch less substantial fare with over-the-top 3D effects. That's OK—we do it, too.

And with Halloween barely 10 days away, you now have the perfect excuse to throw some horror movies into the mix. Unfortunately, our search for 3D Halloween movies didn't turn up many classic horror movies that have been reworked to play with the 3D technology used by newer 3D TVs and Blu-ray players, rather than the old anaglyph movies that came with red-cyan cardboard glasses.

Still, we did find several newer 3D horror titles that have been released on 3D Blu-ray discs, though you'll need a very strong stomach to get through a few of them. Just remember that most of these movies contain egregious, graphic content—primarily violence, but also some nudity—that makes them unacceptable for all children and many teens. As a result, some parents as well as ghosts may be saying "boo" this holiday.

Fright Night 3D, rated R
A remake of the classic 1985 cult comedy-horror film, Fright Night 3D follows the exploits of a newly cool teen, Charlie, who discovers his new neighbor is a vampire who's more bite than bark. When no one believes him, Charlie enlists the help of a Las Vegas magician/vampire hunter. In the remake, Colin Farrell plays the vampire, and "Dr. Who's" David Tennant is the vampire hunter, a role originally played by Roddy McDowall. Though the remake lacks some of the charm of the original, it still combines classic horror thrills with a sense of humor.

The 3D effects are used somewhat sparingly, and generally to good effect, such as the scene where burning ashes float in front of the camera. Did they need to remake this film? Probably not, but it's still a lot of fun.

Nightmare Before Christmas 3D, rated PG
What would happen if the person in charge of Halloween took over Christmas? That's the premise behind this painstakingly crafted stop-animation marvel from director Tim Burton. In the story, the lead character, Halloweentown's Pumpkin King Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon, the vampire in the original Fright Night) grows bored with the same old tricks and treats, and after stumbling across Christmastown, decides to kidnap Santa and take over that holiday.

Nightmare wasn't originally made in 3D, but the conversion was very well done. And while there aren't many of the in-your-face 3D effects you see in lots of other films, the more subtle approach adds depth and texture to the magical characters and landscapes. This is the only film in our list that's rated PG, suitable for viewing by some kids.

The Final Destination 3D, rated R
If you can accept the premise—if it's your time, you can't escape death, even when it appears you have—then you can sit back and enjoy this over-the-top thrill ride of a movie. You know what you're in for from the opening credits, where objects fall toward the screen before crashing through glass. My guess is that if you checked the film's budget, fake blood and body parts made up a lot of the expenses, and they hurtle straight at you.

Not surprisingly, many of the 3D effects were (I think) intentionally cheesy, with objects regularly bouncing, jabbing, shooting, or poking out straight into the camera. While there's no shortage of graphic violence, there's also an exaggerated, tongue-in-cheek comedic aspect to some of it that's absent from some of the other more disturbing movies in this list. (Yes, Saw 3D, we're talking about you.).

Piranha 3D, rated R
Famously targeted by director James Cameron as what should not be done with 3D, Piranha 3D thankfully doesn't ask to be taken seriously. Aptly described by one reviewer (Entertainment Weekly's Owen Glieberman) as "Jaws Gone Wild" thanks to combination of gratuitous gore and nudity, the so-called plot follows a videographer as he attempts to film an explicit video at a beach. Of course, this happens just as an underground volcano frees a trapped horde of flesh-hungry piranhas that treat the beachgoers like an all-you-can-eat buffet.

This movie is a throwback to earlier theatrical 3D movies in which the plot is really just an excuse for 3D gore and mayhem. It's campy, crass, crude, infantile, at times funny, and certainly outrageous. Surprisingly, it attracted some name talent, including Academy Award nominee (for Leaving Las Vegas) Elisabeth Shue as the town sheriff, and Jerry O'Connell as the filmmaker. Not surprisingly, the ending—"You mean these were only the babies?"—sets up the sequel, the aptly named Piranha 3DD, which introduces the piranhas to a waterpark.

Priest 3D, unrated
Boasting a big-screen budget and cast (Paul Bettany in the lead) and hot-ticket movie subject matter—vampires— the graphic-novel-based Priest 3D follows a ninja-like Warrior Priest who must rescue his niece before the vampires turn her. But he's got some company on his quest, including a martially skilled Warrior Priestess.

Not surprising given the concept and the Steampunk-like post-apocalyptic aesthetics, there are a lot of special effects and CGI vampires, but not a lot of eye-popping 3D. While it added depth in many scenes, this movie was converted to 3D after the fact, and it shows. And the overall darkness of many of the scenes, combined with the dimmer picture you get when wearing 3D glasses, detracted from the experience.

Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D, rated R
Although Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D is the fourth film in the horror-action Resident Evil series, it's the first to be released in 3D. The film follows Alice (Milla Jovovitch) as she searches for survivors in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles now populated by flesh-eating zombies. Given its move to 3D, it's perhaps not a shock that the videogame's original survival-horror angle shifted into more of an action-adventure horror premise.

The effectiveness of the 3D is all over the map. There are some scenes—such as the landscapes, tunnels and elevator shafts—that use the technology to evince convincing depths. But there are so many shots of things flying right at your face that the 3D starts to get tedious. There's also an overuse of slow-motion bullets, which was both better executed and more novel when it debuted in The Matrix.

A Haunting in Salem 3D, not rated
Shot natively in 3D, "A Haunting in Salem" is a horror film that uses the Salem witch trials of 1692 as its basic premise: A new sheriff movies into town and his family inherits an old curse, proving once again that you shouldn't really build a house on top of witches' graves. Unfortunately, the movie peaks early with some very frightening scenes—you'll literally jump when the first witch appears onscreen—but then sort of loses steam; the miscast main character doesn't help.

The 3D thankfully isn't gimmicky—though that may disappoint some viewers—and it's most effective at conveying the creepiness of the house where most of the action is located. There are also some interesting previews and special features, also shot in 3D. The moral of the story: If you're offered a rent-free house in Salem, Massachusetts, it might not turn out to be such a great deal.

Saw 3D: The Final Chapter, rated R
If you've stuck with the Saw franchise this long, nothing I'm going to say will dissuade you from seeing this, the final and bloodiest, most disturbing installment. (According to some reports, the theatrical release had to be re-cut six time to get the MPAA to relinquish its NC-17 Rating.) As far as the 3D, several of the movie's "wow" moments will provide a satisfactory answer to the question, "What would it be like to be hit by bloody flying body parts?"

That said, the 3D effects are often well done, if you can get past the torture and killing. In fact, with its focus less on suspense and more on outright torture than previous iterations, this movie is really all about the death "traps" set by the film's villain. The 3D is particularly effective during a first-person point-of-view shot that makes you feel like you're in a trap rather than watching someone else deal with it. This type of horror movie has no appeal for me personally, but given the success of the franchise, I may be in the minority. If so, you'll enjoy the Blu-ray's "52 Ways to Die" featurette, which revisits the traps from all the Saw movies.

—James K. Willcox