You open your eyes to complete darkness enveloping your senses completely. What was that noise? You creep out of bed and squint around, trying to make out the contents of your room. Suddenly, there’s a tap on your shoulder, a swishing of a blade and, and, and… you wake up. It was only a dream, a result of one too many horror movies. If so, hopefully the movies were at least worth the nightmares, because these ones are!
Scream (1996) – Do you like scary movies? Well, I do, and this is my favorite one! Scream is the perfect choice for anybody looking for a classic horror movie. It represents everything a halloween slasher wants: from bloody murder scenes to characters who provide comic relief in tense moments. Scream’s atmosphere, October in the 90’s, provides a perfectly spooky halloween vibe. Unlike other slashers that felt repetitive and lacking in plot, Scream held my attention the entire time with full of life characters and interesting story. What tied the movie all together was the plot twist where the masked killer was revealed. It caught me off guard!
IT (2017) – Second place goes to IT (2017). IT isn’t always considered a Halloween movie since it takes place during the summer, but it’s at the top of my list because of how well written the movie is. With killer clown Pennywise’s unsettling new design, It (2017) is even better than the original 1990 movie, and if you get squeamish don’t worry, after the gory opening, the movie calms down. It features a group of middle schoolers, and has a fun, nostalgic feel while maintaining the creepy clown vibe. It’s perfect for curling up on the couch and munching on some candy.
Hocus Pocus (1993) – Hocus Pocus is not a horror movie, but that doesn’t make it any less halloween-y! It has everything a fall movie needs: witches, trick-or-treating, and a little bit of tension! And, anyone can watch it since it really isn’t scary. It’s a classic for a reason. If you’re looking for a Halloween movie to watch this year but don’t feel like closing your eyes the entire time, Hocus Pocus will do the trick.
Coraline (2009) and Paranorman (2012) – Again, moving away from horror movies, there are two that go hand in hand since they were made by the same studio. Coraline and Paranorman can both get a little tense at times, but nothing too extreme. Coraline is a beautifully done, unsettling stop motion film that immerses you in a cold, foggy world. The creepy doll in Coraline’s new house, and the uncanny “Other Mother” were just enough to make me nervous while watching the movie, but not so much that it scared me after turning it off. Paranorman actually takes place on Halloween in the very state of Massachusetts. It follows a boy who can speak to ghosts. Very Spooky! These two made it on my list mostly due to their stunningly impressive visuals and creative plots.
The Shining (1980) – If I was ranking horror movies in general, The Shining would be even higher on the list. However, I had to move it down because it doesn’t quite feel like a Halloween movie. Nonetheless, it is plenty scary, which is why it made it onto the list. Specifically, the identical twins really gave me the heeby jeebies. However, it felt a little bit more like a movie to watch on a cold dark winter night than on Halloween, because of its isolating nature, and I feel that Halloween movies should have more people and action involved. The movie focuses on a family alone in a hotel, with a slow descent into madness.
Halloween (1979) – I know, I know. Halloween really should be number one on the list. I mean look at the name! But, if I’m being honest, it really didn’t do it for me. The whole movie felt like it lacked a solid plot; it was just Micheal Myers walking around murdering people the whole time! That being said, it was the archetype for slasher movies to come such as Friday the 13th and Scream. I just wished it had been a little more interesting, because it didn’t scare me enough to keep my attention. There were barely any jump scares, and for a slasher, there was not enough blood or gore on screen. So if you are looking for a violent film, Halloween is not a good fit.
Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – Finally, the most controversial take on my list, Nightmare before Christmas. Most people consider this a Christmas movie, but I personally see it as both. Because of this, my sister and I usually watch the movie around Thanksgiving, but I wanted to throw it on here. The song at the start of the film “This is Halloween” always gets me in a Halloween mood. Additionally, it follows a skeleton protagonist the entire time, and if that isn’t Halloween, I don’t know what is. Lastly, I love how the movie ties Christmas and Halloween together, because if you watch it on Halloween night you can simultaneously celebrate Halloween, and start to get excited for the winter and Christmas season.
