So apparently Halloween’s on the very near horizon. Days away, even– which means “scariest” lists are where it’s at. Top scary movies, scariest villains and scariest John Travolta performances. And while the offerings dig up solid recommendations for fun “haunted house scares”, how about a real one? One that skips the imaginary monsters, slamming doors or unexplained midnight hickies. The kind of plausible, real world stuff that leads to gulping bottles of Tums and sleeping in the corner on a bed of canned meat and ammo; the prospect of having easily accessible sources of food, law, heat and modern day comfort catastrophically dry up, with most people having no skill to fill in the gaps with any of it. You know, the economic and societal collapse of Western civilization.

If the prospect of stuff scares you (which it should- you’ve seen how people get when they think a crowd’s after the last discounted DVD player), enjoy the trailer for Collapse, the heavy weight contender for Scariest Film 2009. The film’s focal point, ex LAPD detective Michael Ruppert, certainly has his detractors. Labeled a conspiracy theorist and all around crazy man by some, he’s been marginalized on many levels. The film itself plays on anxiety fears brewing today and the trailer certainly ramps up the sensationalistic nature of some of Rupperts ideas. Still, semi-plausible conspiracy theories have a knack for kicking fear’s tires and lighting its fires, and with critical buzz for Collapse unanimously confirming an unnerving viewing experience, what better way to make Halloween’s traditionally scary stuff look inconsequential?

Collapse hits select cities and Video on Demand November 6.