Here are some questions to get you thinking about the kinds of articles we’d like to see in Popshifter‘s Halloween/Horror issue:
What was the first scary movie you remember seeing? What about it scared you?
What was the least scary movie you remember seeing? Did you expect it to be scary?
Were you ever scared of scary movie previews on TV? When you finally saw the movies, did they or did they not live up to your fears?
Who is the most underrated horror movie villain? Who is the most underrated horror movie scream queen?
Did you ever watch Elvira, Joe Bob Briggs, or MST3K? Which of their movies did you think were genuinely creepy or scary? Why?
What is your favorite horror movie soundtrack or score?
What is your favorite type of horror movie: slasher, ghosts, demons/demonic possession, crazy people, monsters, aliens, zombies, vampires . . . ? Why?
Do you prefer newer horror films or those of the ’70s and ’80s? Or do you really like older movies from the ’30s through the ’60s?
What do you think of horror movie remakes? Are there any you think were particularly well-done?
What horror movies do you think are overrated?
What are your top five favorite Horror movies? What are the five scariest movies? What five horror movie scenes still haunt you and freak you out to this very day?
What was your most favorite Halloween costume? Most embarrassing? Most half-assed?
What was the most creative Halloween costume you ever saw? What was the creepiest?
Do you have any good, creepy trick or treating stories about “the scary house on the corner” from your neighborhood?
Did you ever have a real, old-fashioned Halloween party where you bobbed for apples? What was that like?
Did you like Haunted Houses as a kid? Did you ever host one yourself? What were the best/worst ones you went to and why?
What are your favorite scary books? Which ones disappointed you?
Do you think that movie adaptations of horror novels are usually well-done or not? What are some good ones. . . some bad ones?
Are there any horror comic series that you like? Do you prefer these over horror movies or books?
What are your favorite horror TV shows? What about miniseries?
What are your favorite urban legends? Has anyone ever told you one and swore that it was REALLY true (note: this must be verbal telling, not an email forward)?
Have you ever seen a UFO? Have you ever witnessed something truly creepy that you can’t explain? (no sarcastic answers like, “my roommate’s dirty laundry,” okay?)
What was the scariest nightmare you had, well, that you’d be willing to share?
Do you live for Halloween? Why? Do you decorate your house/yard? What are your favorite decorations? Do you make your own? Do you like Halloween-themed food (store-bought candy doesn’t count)?
Do you love and/or collect Halloween or horror movie memorabilia? What are the fave pieces in your collection?
Do you like Halloween music? What are your favorites? What do you think of the “Monster Mash”—ove it or hate it or grudgingly put up with it?
Make up your own questions and answers! What haven’t we covered above that deserves answering?