Halloween is just around the corner, meaning lots of trick-or-treating, partying, and haunted houses. If you’re someone who celebrates by binging on tacky movies here’s a special list of ghoulishly good films to watch this season.
Easily one of the most iconic horror movies, John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) starts us off. This movie is a perfect way to slip into the holiday mood. Expect to be spooked by Michael Meyers, the masked killer following a young Jamie Lee Curti. The crisp fall setting and abundance of fake blood will leave you feeling oddly satisfied.
The natural follow-up to Halloween is the cult classic, Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). Wes Craven is the mastermind behind this movie that has inspired a generation of horror films. Even if you’ve never seen it, you might recognize the name of Freddy Krueger, the twisted killer that slips into his victim’s dreams and kills them in a nightmarish fashion.
For the squeamish and the kids at heart, it would be criminal to omit The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Despite the mass of Jack and Sally costumes you’ll see on the streets, Tim Burton’s iconic mix of Christmas and Halloween has not grown old. Delve into a cozy town where creatures eat, sleep, and breathe Halloween. Nightmare? More like fairytale!
What good would this list be without a Disney Channel Original Movie? With arguably the best special effects of any Disney movie, Don’t Look Under the Bed (1999) is all about a teenage girl who, with the help of her brother’s imaginary friend, fights the Boogeyman terrorizing her town. Thrills! Chills! Spooks! This movie truly has it all.
Clowns, whether horrid or happy, are often associated with Halloween. If you’re looking for a good clown movie, you might want to opt for the 1990 TV adaptation of Stephen King’s It. For those looking for more clowns, more antics, and more disturbing costumes, try the Chiodo Brothers’ Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988).
If you’re looking to get spooked in theaters this holiday season, you’ll find more than a handful of films. On Oct. 27, the eighth (and hopefully final) installment of the Saw franchise, Jigsaw hits theaters. A decade after his death, killer Jason Kramer is back to the grindstone, creating sadistic puzzles that his victims must solve in order to escape gruesome deaths.
For the honors student, on Friday, Oct. 13, Happy Death Day will hit the box offices. Although this movie sadly lacks Halloween spirit, its youthful cast may appeal to millennials. In this nightmarish flick, a college student must live her birthday over and over. Even worse than being stuck on campus for her birthday, she must relive her murder at the end of each day until she uncovers the identity of her killer.
Whether you’re looking to spend this holiday season cozied up with your laptop or at the movies with friends, you’re bound to find something tasteful on screen. For more spooky films, consider The Exorcist, Monster House, VHS, and Pet Semetary.
