It can be felt in the air. The cool breeze and the sweet smell of pumpkin spice. Kids running up and down the streets, door to door. Ghosts and ghouls rising from their slumber. That’s right, after a whole year of waiting, Halloween is finally upon us again. Whether you like to spend your night out partying or inside snuggled under a blanket, this list of movies will get you in the spirit of the season.
Two State High students offer their perspectives on the Halloween season. Senior Jacob Marshall shared his thoughts.
“I just like watching horror movies. Not because like, the horror part, but because it just feels like something you have to do around Halloween,” Marshall said.
On the opposing side, senior Peter Corby shared his thoughts.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever even watched a horror movie before. It’s just not really my kind of thing,” Corby said.
That being said, let’s get right into the list.
“Friday the 13th”
An all-time classic from the mind of Victor Miller, “Friday the 13th” is a necessity to watch. Renowned for being one of the founding fathers of modern slasher films, it’s still enjoyable even if it’s not Friday or the 13th.
“Nightmare Before Christmas”
Some people might argue that Tim Burton’s classic “Nightmare Before Christmas” is more of a Christmas movie than a Halloween movie, but we don’t listen to those kinds of people. A movie that many have loved since childhood, and watch non-stop, it’s a must-watch for any Halloween season.
“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”
This movie, while using mostly practical effects, still managed to make viewers feel genuinely uncomfortable. The blend of real-life props, costumes, and animatronics, makes the movie feel and look incredibly real.
“Get Out”
Written and directed in part by Jordan Peele, this movie offers a nice tonal shift from the more brutal side of horror to the psychological side. It still has some violence, but it is a nice break from the more gruesome side of horror.
“Hereditary”
Jump cut all the way back to the opposite side of the spectrum, Hereditary is disturbingly scary, psychological, and occult. It utilizes body horror and disturbing imagery to keep the audience’s attention while still maintaining the feeling of suspense.
“House of 1000 Corpses”
A movie straight from the mind of Rob Zombie, “House of 1000 Corpses” is an interesting movie, to say the least. The idea for the film was conceived by Zombie while he was designing a haunted house for Universal Studios Hollywood. Over the years it’s attained a cult following and grossed around 16 million dollars worldwide.
“Halloween”
An obligatory choice for the final movie on this list, Halloween is an all-time favorite and classic slasher movie. One of the main reasons people keep coming back to Halloween is the element of mystery—why does he kill, why is he evil, why does he wear a mask that looks like William Shatner? Viewers are content to watch the movie, ask no questions, and just enjoy the horror.
This list is far from comprehensive. There are about 100 more movies that could be on here, and 1000 more honorable mentions. But this list should be enough to satiate your horror hunger—at least for Halloween night.
