Of all the seasons, fall is one of my favorites. I love the cool snap in the air, pumpkin spice anything, and Halloween. From spooky decorations to deciding what costume to wear, Halloween is arguably one of my favorite holidays. When I was younger, my family tradition has always been early evening Trick or Treating followed by late evening scary movie time. The older I’ve gotten, the more scary our movie choices have become. I’ve compiled a list of my all-time favorite Halloween-themed movies that everyone can enjoy. Whether you can’t handle thrillers or love them, you’re sure to find something you can watch.
Hocus Pocus- This cult classic probably shows up on every Halloween movie list. Appropriate for all ages, this fantasy comedy features three 17th-century witches resurrected on Halloween night to exact a little revenge. Although the intended audience likely isn’t high schoolers, it is still a perfect option if you want to go to bed without nightmares but still want the Halloween feel.
Coraline- I remember watching this movie with my sibling almost every day for a solid month. Based on a novel by Neil Gaiman, this is the story of a young girl living in a dark fantasy world. Although animated, the movie conjures up all the whimsy of a child’s imagination with vivid detail. Get lost in Coraline’s world and prepare for the ride of your life. It’s funny, scary, and action-packed.
Goosebumps- My brother and I still watch this movie to this day. Released in 2015, it stars Jack Black as author R.L. Stine. This movie adaptation of R.L. Stine’s horror children’s book series leaps off the screen. Stines’ ghoulish book characters come to life, intent on wreaking havoc on a quaint Northeastern town. With a few jump scares, the movie is engaging and fun. Just a little fright, perfect for anyone.
Original Carrie– Another cult classic, I probably watched this movie when I was a little too young. Initially released in 1976 and based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, this movie has stood the test of time. The original rendition is, in my opinion, better than the 2013 remake. It tells the story of high school senior Carrie White, aptly nicknamed “Creepy Carrie” by her fellow classmates. Raised by a religious fanatic single mother, Carrie is a loner who discovers that she has the power of mental telepathy. The movie is everything a scary movie should be: a strange lead character, eerie musical score, mean tormentors, and a spectacularly combustible ending.
Insidious- I watched this movie for the first time, literally covered in blankets like a burrito, watching through clenched eyes. This movie is, for lack of a better word, scary. Any movie that involves a big house, unexplained noises, a comatose child, and a demonic presence sets the stage well for fright. The premise of the movie is a tad complicated but is part of the BLUMHOUSE-produced cadre of excellent scary movies. The plot is engaging and thankfully punctuated by a few lighthearted moments to give the viewer a little relief from the darkness. Ending on a cliffhanger, the movie begets several sequels. The original, however, is my favorite.
Hush- Another Blumhouse-produced thriller, Hush is a decidedly quiet movie with a big impact. The lead character Maddie, is deaf and mute and living alone in a cabin in the woods. Her sensory and geographic isolation is an eerie backdrop for a classic stalker movie. The villain is a crossbow-wielding maniac intent on getting inside her sanctuary and hurting her. Maddie however uses her deafness as a tool to turn the tables and take the upper hand. This movie lets us “hear” from both Maddie’s and the stalker’s perspective. It is frightful but ultimately triumphant.
Halloween- This is definitely the Goliath of the entire Halloween-themed movie genre. The original (and best) was released in 1978 on a shoestring budget. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie, the movie focuses on the stalking of Laurie by madman Michael Myers. In his pursuit, Michael Myers is the ultimate villain possessing superhuman strength, his face concealed by a hockey mask. He is a silent, brooding presence, the cause of more jump scares than seem humanly possible. Remarkably, the gore in this movie is minimal but the psychological thrills are more than enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. In fact, I find this movie more scary than the many sequels that follow. The mind, it seems, can scare you more than an endless loop of bloody killings. This movie is a must during the Halloween season. You’ll definitely sleep with your blinds closed and doors locked after watching it.
And there you have it, 7 great options for you and your friends to watch this season. Whether you prefer the tamer or terrifying ones, these films will surely have you in the Halloween spirit.
