runners up

IDS TRICK-OR-TREAT. For anyone older than 12, free candy is, unfortunately, a specter of the past. But that doesn’t mean Halloween craziness is off limits for the aged.

Every year, horror movies scare reasonable, thinking adults into acting like hyperactive kids again.

And that’s great.

Next weekend, you’ll get a free pass to forget the office, ditch the classroom, screw politics (only for one night, so don’t get apathetic) and scream for your mommy again.

You hold the primer in your hands. First, a few disclaimers:

“The Ring” isn’t on this list, but look for the Japanese version in Dan Webster’s “Top Seven Scary Movies That You’ve Likely Never Seen.” It’s way scarier than its American counterpart.

If you’re a “Psycho” fan, well, watch that some other time. Hitchcock transcends Halloween.

And if you’re more of a Freddy, Jason or Michael Myers follower, just tune in to cable TV on Oct. 30 and 31. They’ll probably be there waiting.

But if you want to see the movies that the major networks steer away from, here you go.

Grab a few of your closest friends (make sure you really know them) and a bunch of munchies, and double-lock the door.

It’s cult-classic horror movie time.

Top 7

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)

Scary … as … hell. Those three words carry plenty of weight when coming from a Gen-Xer raised on gory movies and cable TV. Add sick, twisted, bloody and brilliant to the mix and you’ll get director Tobe Hooper’s 1974 masterpiece of terror. When the movie was released, it was falsely touted as being a true story. While that may have been a marketing ploy, legend has it that Hooper was inspired by Ed Gein – a real-life cannibal and necrophiliac who wore a mask made from the skin of his victims. From the claustrophobic opening grave-

robbing scene to the chainsaw-

swinging antihero shot of Bubba “Leatherface” Sawyer Jr. at the movie’s close, this flick makes the rest of the slasher genre look plain silly. Make sure you don’t eat anything substantial before, during or after watching this movie. Popcorn is OK, but red licorice may be pushing it. As a side-note, New Line reportedly has announced that a prequel to this classic is in the works for 2006. (DVD, VHS; 1:23; rated R)

The “Evil Dead” series (1981, 1987, 1993)

If you want to turn your Halloween party into an event, rent director Sam Raimi’s breakthrough film and both sequels (“Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn” and “Army of Darkness”). From the opening scene in “Evil Dead” – when Ash (Bruce Campbell) and his friends roll up to that legendary cabin in the woods – to the hilarious final scene in “Army of Darkness” – when Ash dukes it out with the hellspawn in

a department store (“Shop smart, shop S-Mart”) – everyone’s treated to a brutal, bloody, hilarious ride. Using overacting to his advantage, Campbell and his notorious chin helped what might have ended up

a single brilliantly directed yet run-of-the-mill demonic possession flick spin into three pieces of cinematic gold. Two dismembered limbs up. (DVD, VHS; 1:25/1:25/ 1:21; rated NC-17/R/R for violence, horror)

“The Exorcist” (1973)

Ouija boards ain’t nothin’ to mess with. They really work. At least that’s what legions of kids and adults end up believing after watching this eternally creepy film directed by William Friedkin. Linda Blair – she of the ever-flexible neck and foul mouth – seemingly channels the devil as the possessed 12-year-old Regan Teresa MacNeil, while the Revs. Lankaster Merrin (Max von Sydow) and Damien Karras (Jason Miller) battle Satan for the girl’s immortal soul. As much an important piece of cinema as it is a fantastic fright film, “The Exorcist” will either blow your mind or turn it to mush. The “Texas Chainsaw” food rule also applies for many scenes in this movie. (DVD, VHS; 1:22; rated R for strong language, disturbing images)

“The Shining” (1980)

It’s no secret that the late Stanley Kubrick was one of few movie directors to shoot a “perfect movie.” That may be why actors always complained about his perfectionist nature. But actor complaints won’t matter once you pop this movie in the player. Jack Nicholson is such a perfect psychopath, he steals the show from the evil, haunted hotel that’s meant to be the centerpiece of the film. Like most of Kubrick’s movies, this one is for people who appreciate the art of the perfectly framed shot; it can seem a little slow at times. But there is one thing everyone will learn from “The Shining” – for God’s sake, play. Play, play, play. (DVD, VHS; 2:26; rated R)

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Night of the Living Dead” (1968)

George A. Romero’s classic low-budget, black-and-white horror flick inspired sequels (“Dawn of the Dead,” “Day of the Dead”), imitators (see www.undead

films.com), modernizations (“28 Days Later”), “South Park” episodes and even “Shaun of the Dead.” The characters in “Living Dead” spend nearly the entire movie cooped up in a house- cum-fortress, fending off zombies. It’s a great study of the way human personalities interact under extreme pressure, and though it seems at times more like an epidemic film than horror, the ending alone is worth a spot on the list. Fried chicken, or any type of meat off the bone, is not recommended to accompany this movie. (DVD, VHS; 1:36; rated R)

“Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)

Ever wake up pregnant with no memory of the night before? That’s what happens to the beautiful Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) when she moves to a New York apartment with her aspiring actor husband, Guy (John Cassavetes), in this Roman Polanski-directed movie based on Ira Levin’s novel about – well, you’ll have to find out. Let’s just say it’s an uber-creepy, uncomfortable tale about the danger of too much ambition. (DVD, VHS; 2:16; rated R)

“Near Dark” (1987)

Bill Paxton can be a cheeseball. Just look at his roles in “Twister” or “Titanic.” But in the role as psychotic outlaw vampire Severen in this intricate, Kathryn Bigelow-

directed vampire love tale, he just plain kicks ass. There’s not a lot of scare here. Bigelow doesn’t really want to make people afraid of vampires; she’s just telling a story about them. But there’s plenty of gore, the Tangerine Dream soundtrack is great (yeah, I know) and it’s hard to find a better looking pair of vampires than cowboy Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar) and the enchanting, pixie-cut Mae (Jenny Wright). Maybe Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in “Interview with the Vampire” can compete, but “Interview” doesn’t have the modern cool, the psycho Paxton or the scar-faced Lance Henriksen you’ll find in “Near Dark.” (DVD, VHS; 1:35; rated R)