Thinking about what you’re going to do this Halloween? The tradition of watching a horror movie is always a popular choice.

According to the Internet movie database, Horror movie remakes alone have grossed over $479 million. And with October drawing to a close, the money will keep pouring in with blood, guts, busty women and deranged psychopaths emerging on the screens.

September began to hint at fear with “Cabin Fever” and “Cold Creek Manor,” but now with Halloween right around the corner, the Sci-fi channel is starting its “Friday the 13th” marathon. In theaters, the three films out this Halloween weekend are “House of the Dead,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Scary Movie 3.” The 1979 Ridley Scott classic “Alien,” opens this Friday with a special director’s cut.

Removing “Alien” from this Halloween’s box office lineup, the selection of scary movies on screen pales in comparison to those of the past. Last year released “The Ring” but this year we only get to see “Scary Movie 3’s” parody of it. The originality is dead this Halloween. The only choices range from a cinematic adaptation of a video game to remake or to the final installment of a trilogy.

“Super Mario Brothers” and “Tomb Raider” didn’t work, so why should “House of the Dead?” This thriller is based too closely on the Sega video game. Director Uwe Boll actually incorporated clips from the game into fight scenes in the movie. Like most horror movies, “House of the Dead” has the trashy girls, not-so-human villain, a haunted house and Clint Howard (“Tango & Cash”) to boot. Even with most of the horror movie elements, this movie should be left inside the Sega in the basement. Now if they made a movie out of “Typing of the Dead,” that might be worth the price of addmission.

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” a remake of the 1974 original, opened with a cast boasting “7th Heaven’s” Jessical Biel, and gasp — it’s based on a true story. However, this claim of similarity to serial killer Ed Gein also worked for “Psycho” and “Silence of the Lambs.” Too bad that after three well-known movies were made about him, Leatherface, Norman Bates and Hannibal Lector are all household names — not Ed Gein. Still, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” relies too much on its famous name and can only fill the two-hour gap with blood and guts.

The only reason “Scary Movie 3” is even considered a movie for Halloween is the title. Unlike “House of the Dead” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Scary Movie 3” lacks the horror movie components of bad music and mass amounts of blood. Straying from the original scary movie spoof intent, the third installment pokes more fun at blockbusters than the first and second. Despite bad jokes and reviews, the $48 million gross of “Scary Movie 3” is likely to increase this Halloween.

So if it’s “double-D” boobs and high body counts, this Halloween will be a good one. But unfortunately, the quality of horror movies takes a nosedive this October. With the notable exception of “Alien” the “scary” movies in theaters this Halloween don’t pack much of a punch, you’re better off trick-or-treating at the video store, or checking out Scott’s masterpiece on the big screen.