For those looking for their Halloween chills in animated form, there's a new compilation from First Run Features titled Cartoon Noir. An anthology of six shorts, this international collection isn't necessarily scary, but is a twisted group of films that recall Warner Bros.' finest (and darkest) moments.

The British entry, Abductees, relies on the true tales of five people who claim to have been snatched by aliens from another planet. Filmmaker Paul Vester takes their sketches and descriptions of their kidnappers as an initial point of animation. Club of the Discarded is the inspired Czech tale of the standoff between two families of mannequins, one older and more traditional, the other cooler and more hip. The film functions on an aesthetic level and as a telling commentary on changes in the Czech Republic as well.

My final Halloween note: Rosemary's Baby has been rereleased to video and, equally noteworthy, to DVD. This edition includes never-before-seen interviews with director Roman Polanski about his creation of the film, undoubtedly one of the creepiest Satan-impregnated-me-and-I'm-not-quite-sure-what-to-do-about-it movies ever made. The film is worthwhile simply to see its loopy cast, including Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes and Ruth Gordon (who would win an Oscar for her role).

--Matthew Hays