This is an update from last year’s blog with a few additions and more details.
In the past, I’ve done Hollywood & Vine presentations covering movies about wine so now I’d like to do one on Horror Movies and Spirits. Now, right off the bat let me say no decent sommelier would suggest you watch Saws II with a Montrachet white Burgundy. Deep, deep clash of styles.
Although The Silence of the Lambs (1991) with a nice Chianti is appropriate, may I suggest a Chianti Reserva? A Reserva has smoother tannins so less chance of choking on something.
Phantom of the Opera (1925): With Lon Chaney, in the catacombs under the opera house I’d go with dusty old red Bordeaux. If it’s Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version make that a northern Rhône Syrah and watch out for that chandelier.
Young Frankenstein (1974): Mel Brooks’ masterpiece cries out for a good German or Alsace Riesling, followed by a TBA with some sponge cake as Inspector Kemp offers. TBA stands for Trockenbeerenauslese so now you know why the acronym is used.
The Exorcist (1973): A bottle of Pepto Bismo and a bib, before your head also begins to spin. No green wine held over from St. Pats, please.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974): I’d go with a Red Blend with this one and hold the hamburger.
Tower of London: (1939) Lurid tale involving the Duke of Clarence’s demise. Vincent Price, a wine connoisseur was perfect in the role. You must see this with a glass of Malmsey. However, don’t get your head caught in a butt – of wine that is. (A butt is 126 gallons of primo Madeira.) No way was the duke drowned in a butt. What, and contaminate all that wine? Once again Shakespeare got it all wrong..
Halloween (1978): Made Jamie Lee Curtis a scream queen and reactivated Michael Myers countless times. The sequels are more relentless than Michael. How about Fulton’s Harvest Pumpkin Pie Liqueur?
Night of the Living Dead (1968): You’re going to need Jim Beam Jacob’s Ghost to get thru this one. Imagine seeing this when it was first released without fanfare, in Salem, Mass, on Halloween. Me and my friends were not prepared for this one. The six of us left that movie theatre so close together you would have thought we were one person with twelve legs.
Alien (1979): Before the chest-busting scene; a Pinot Noir with a Feta-laced Lamburger would be nice. Afterward, a straight Dewar’s Scotch will be needed.
Black Sunday (1960): Barbara Steele, the second actress dubbed a scream queen, really had all of us screaming in her dual role of the witch Princess Asa and Katia her descendent. This was Mario Bava’s greatest film. He also did the B&W cinematography which was mesmerizing.
I’d suggest Witching Hour Deep Red Blend Reserve. It’ll take off some of the chill.
King Kong: (1933): Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Fay was the first scream queen and her scream was piercing. Special effects by Willis O’Brien. The story was remade in 1976 with Jessica Lange and in 2005 with Naomi Watts. Also as King Kong Lives with Linda Hamilton in 1986 and Kong: Skull Island with Samuel L Jackson in 2017. I’m sure in that one he wished he could have said, “AK-47, the very best there is. When you absolutely, positively got to kill every mother – you know what – in the room, accept no substitutes.” Pulp Fiction Any red wine from Graves, er, that’s a subregion of Bordeaux, but they sometimes do have a touch or earth on the palate.
Jaws (1975): I’m thinking a nice Muscadet & Mahi Mahi in butter, lemon garlic sauce. Ah, you can almost smell the salty air! Muscadet sur lie is infused with the gray Atlantic waters.
Psycho (1960): A Sauvignon Blanc to go with the Bernard Herrmann shrieking violins. Yup, Bernard scored this for an all-string orchestra to keep everyone on edge. This is also the safest wine to shower with. Did you see Janet Leigh drinking one? I rest my case.
Psycho (1998): A remake in color does make the shower scene a bit more nauseating, but a good cast is really wasted here as no one can replace Anthony Perkins. A Meomi Pinot Noir and dark chocolate.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968): Ira Levin’s classic tale, oft copied, but not with the sinister Dakota building as background. A classic gin martini with Bombay Sapphire and Noilly Prat Vermouth is what I’d go for.
An American Werewolf in London (1981): The early pub scene just before sauntering on the moor I’d chase with Guinness Stout. You’ll need it for what happens next.
The Wicker Man (1973): An undiscovered gem. Once the wicker man is set ablaze it’s barbeque time and a Paso Robles Zinfandel for me. Before then Britt Ekland’s suggestive dance needs a sparkler.
The Birds (1973): Yes I’m a big Hitchcock fan and this one is a dozy. I definitely want pheasant under glass; make that heavy under glass, and a Montrachet Burgundy, or maybe a Santenay.
Ghostbusters (1984): Well finally a movie I can have those Mallomars with and washed down with Bailey’s Irish Cream.
Drag Me To Hell (2009) From director Sam Raimi of Evil Dead fame, Here I’d suggest wine-to-go or something that is flame-retardant.
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Many contend this follow-up to Frankenstein was better than the original and created a whole new hair style . . . not. I’m toasting the bride with a Cosmopolitan even though this is a far cry from Sex and the City.
Zombie Strippers (2008): Jenna Jameson, Robert Englund This is definitely intended as horror comedy. Jenna is amazing once she becomes one of the undead. Actually she was pretty good before as well. I don’t think you’ll be happy with a red wine unless you like gut-munching scenes. Maybe a straight shot of iced vodka.
Have a favorite horror movie waiting for the right wine? Send me the movie title at Jim@jim-hammond.com and I’ll provide a couple of choices.
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