Timely thrills for the season

Horror Films

Warner Home Video, $20 each

Just in time for All Hallow’s Eve are several chillers, including Roman Polanski’s comedic “The Fearless Vampire Killers” and Tom Hanks’ first film, “He Knows You’re Alone.”

“The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me but Your Teeth Are in My Neck” (1967)

Critics have always seemed to love Polanski’s monster comedy. The Polish director and veteran Irish actor Jack MacGowran play two nebbish vampire hunters who must save the beautiful daughter (Sharon Tate) of an innkeeper from the fangs of a Dracula-esque bloodsucker. But despite its reputation, “Fearless Vampire Killers” seems strained and silly.

Perhaps the best reason to watch it is for Tate. “Fearless” is one of the few films she made before she and her unborn son -- by husband Polanski -- were murdered by the Manson family.

“It’s Alive!” (1974)

Larry Cohen (“Cellular,” “Phone Booth”) wrote and directed this low-budget, delicious thriller about a mutant baby with very sharp teeth who goes on a killing spree as soon as he pops out of the womb. Cohen wisely decided to slowly reveal the killer baby over the course of the film, thus intensifying the horror. Sharon Farrell and John P. Ryan play the baby’s parents, who are ostracized by the community. “It’s Alive!” also features an evocative score from the legendary Bernard Herrmann.

“He Knows You’re Alone” (1980)

The only reason this threadbare slasher flick is included in the collection is because the film marks the movie debut of Tom Hanks, who wasn’t even a member of the Screen Actors Guild when he auditioned. The curly-haired Hanks, all of 23, stands out in this movie because he is the only actor who manages to give a real performance. Of course, you have to wade through 15 chapter stops before he briefly appears in this tale about a serial killer who murders young women just before their weddings.

“The Hunger” (1983)

Tony Scott, who directed this year’s box office hit “Man on Fire,” made his feature directing debut with this beautifully shot, costumed and designed vampire thriller. But as drama, it’s bloodless and silly. Adapted from the Whitley Strieber novel, “The Hunger” revolves around two rich, beautiful vampires (Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie) who live in New York and feast off young, hip Manhattanites. When Bowie’s vampire begins to age rapidly, Deneuve realizes his days are numbered and finds a new partner in the form of Susan Sarandon, a doctor who just happens to deal with aging. The film caused a lot of controversy 21 years ago because of the lesbian love scenes between Sarandon and Deneuve. Look for a young Willem Dafoe in a brief scene as a thug.