5 Weeks of Halloween Week 5 Required Watch: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

"Sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters."

You should have seen THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, in one form or another, at least a dozen  times by now, but if you haven't, we're sure its playing somewhere at least through the weekend. Bending genres and genders to a punk rock musical in ways that will twist your sensibilities, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is a Halloween staple. It also introduced us to the man who would become an icon as our favorite wise cracking evil clown. We can't forget Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon in their break out roles or Meat Loaf. Of course, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW also provided us with one of the most important and quintessential dance tracks for our Halloween parties.

There's still a few days left in the week if you haven't gotten your dose of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW yet this year.

5 Weeks of Halloween Week 4 Required Watch: Hocus Pocus (1993)

"After moving to Salem, Mass., Max and his friends accidentally free a coven of evil witches who used to live in the house. Now, with the help of a magical cat, the kids must steal the witches' book of spells to stop them from becoming immortal."

It's extremely important to hook your children on horror as early as possible and believe it or not Disney was once acutely ware of this. Thus ole Walt gave us Fantasia, Snow White, and a slew of iconic villains to tempt our kids to the darkside. To further establish the witch as an important element of Halloween (which of course they have always been) the Disney machine went to Salem and resurrected three hilarious crones to help us celebrate the holiday. Brilliantly caste Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker steal the show with the obligatory song and dance routine while still keeping both adults and children involved.

HOCUS POCUS is usually available on half your TV stations during this time period so instead of avoiding it because you hate commercials just mix a drink and enjoy.

5 Weeks of Halloween Week 3 Required Watch: Trick 'r Treat (2008)

"Interwoven stories demonstrate that some traditions are best not forgotten as the residents of a small town face real ghosts and goblins on Halloween.

As you can tell we really do love a good anthology. A good anthology, by definition, would have multiple stories that seem to not be related but maintain a common thread through an over-arching theme and an iconic character that brings them all together in the end. TRICK 'R TREAT introduces us to the now iconic Sam, a mysterious child trick-or-treater wearing shabby orange footie pajamas with a burlap sack over his head. He is the personification (perhaps "monsterfication") of Halloween (aka Samhain) that makes an appearance in each of the stories whenever a character breaks Halloween traditions. He's cure and deadly, and likely one of the youngest members of the horror icons list. TRICK 'R TREAT also has a list of iconic actors like Dylan Baker, Anna Paquin and Brian Cox. You can never go wrong with faces you recognize.

TRICK 'R TREAT is a tradition you shouldn't be breaking, so be sure to watch it soon before Sam shows up at your doorstep to correct your belligerence.

5 Weeks of Halloween Week 1 Required Watch: Tales of Halloween (2015)

"Ten short stories revolve around ghosts, ghouls, monsters, the devil, aliens, and axe murderers who terrorize a suburb on Halloween night."

We at the Creepercast love ourselves an anthology. Maybe its becasue of years of growing up with Tales from the Crypt and Twilight Zone, but a good anthology is hard to turn down. Especially those coming from established horror story tellers. TALES OF HALLOWEEN is directed by Neil Marshall, Darren Lynn Bousman, Axelle Carolyn, Lucky McKee, Andrew Kasch, Paul Solet, John Skipp, Adam Gierasch, Jace Anderson, Mike Mendez, Ryan Schifrin, and Dave Parker and most are written by same. The film stars a slew of icons from Adrienne Barbeau's soothing narrative DJ voice to the ever brilliant and devilish Barry Bostwick. What makes TALES OF HALLOWEEN stand far above the usual anthology is the clever way in which every short ties together into an over-arching tale that weaves all participants together. There is no iconic egos here as all writers and directors had to work together to pull this off, including the cameo from John Landis.

TALES OF HALLOWEEN is an oft time funny and entertaining homage to classic horror so be sure to add it to your required viewing this Halloween season.