As the leaves turn crimson and the moon casts a pale glow upon the world, Halloween beckons us to embrace the thrill of the unknown and the terror that lies in wait. It is the season when the boundaries between the living and the dead blur, and the realm of nightmares melds with reality. What better way to celebrate this spine-tingling occasion than by immersing ourselves in the macabre wonders of the silver screen?
From haunted houses to zombie outbreaks, from grotesque monsters to the hand reaching from the darkness, these movies have left an indelible mark on the genre — and just a little bit of pee in our trousers.
Join us on this hair-raising journey as we traverse the dark alleys of cinema history, from the heart-stopping and claustrophobic halls of commercial space tug Nostromo in Alien, to the dense and foreboding woods of The Witch, to the middle of the ocean, where nothing but a dinky wooden lobster boat separates you and the jagged, gaping maw of a gargantuan and murderous great white shark in Jaws.
Whether it's jump scares or a subtle and creeping psychological eeriness, gorgeous cinematography with sweeping vistas or a shaky camcorder zoomed in on a wide-eyed and blubbering face as it asks us "What was that!?" these are the perfect films to curl up with this Halloween season.
So turn down the lights, grab a friend (we recommend someone slower than you in case you need to run) and a big bucket of popcorn — and then spill that popcorn all over the place as these phenomenal horror movies scare the bejesus out of you.
Jaws (1975)
Universal
You'll never look at a large body of water the same again. Set in the fictional Amity Island, the film follows police chief Martin Brody's pursuit of a monstrous great white shark terrorizing the waters. With its iconic score and suspenseful storytelling, Jaws remains a timeless classic.
28 Days Later (2002)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
How did director Danny Boyle manage to reanimate the tired zombie genre? He made those buggers fast. Instead of the ambling and moaning living dead who mosey toward their meal with the urgency of a shopper perusing the brains section at Whole Foods, these zombies broke into a screaming, flailing sprint.
Midsommar (2019)
A24
It's truly an achievement for a horror film to scare you while taking place in a bright and sunny meadow, and that's exactly what Ari Aster has done with Midsommar. A gutting performance from Florence Pugh (that wail of hers was more unsettling than even the goriest scenes) anchors a film that'll have you seeing things in hills and clouds for weeks after the credits roll.
Hereditary (2018)
A24
There's a case to be made for Ari Aster being the most terrifying director working today. And he had every horror buff's attention with the cinematic nightmare that is Hereditary. He's also got a knack for finding terrific leads, and Toni Collette's agonizing screams will shake you to the core as a sinister fate befalls our poor protagonists.
The Witch (2015)
A24
It's hard to recall that less than a decade ago, A24 had yet to become the it studio — one of the few studios that draws audiences from its name alone. And Anya Taylor-Joy — also an unknown when The Witch hit theaters — helped propel both film and studio to their prestigious statuses with her stellar breakout performance.
The Fly (1986)
Getty Images
When a woefully ambitious scientist played by Jeff Goldblum builds a teleportation device, a fly sneaks into the chamber and fuses to his DNA. He begins to undergo Kafka's Metamorphosis, which seriously complicates things with his girlfriend. It's tough to swat a fly — especially when you love it so.
The Thing (1982)
Getty Images
Skip the 2011 remake and go for John Carpenter's heinous practical effects in the 1982 original. Carpenter proved he could rustle up plenty of scares on a shoestring budget with 1978's Halloween — and he's perfected the art of making a lot with a little in this $15 million sci-fi horror that will freak you out more than even the slickest CGI.
Aliens (1979)
20th Century Studios
That dinner scene. You know the one. If you had the rare treat of being oblivious to what was about to happen when you first watched the film, then you were undoubtedly as shocked as the cast members, who weren't told what would happen either. Director Ridley Scott kept it a gruesome little secret so he could capture their genuine reactions.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Sunset Boulevard
Things get hairy when a duo of American tourists come face-to-snout with a werewolf in the English countryside. Praised for its groundbreaking special effects and unique blend of humor and horror, the movie remains a cult favorite.
Ringu (1998)
Toho Co.
The American adaptation of Ringu, The Ring, made substantial waves in America, but that's mostly because of the imagery and concept it ripped straight from the superior Japanese original: the grainy footage of a girl in a nightgown climbing out of a well, hair covering her face, before clambering out of the television. Shivers.
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Paramount Pictures
This horror film directed by Roman Polanski revolves around Rosemary, a pregnant woman who becomes increasingly paranoid about the sinister intentions of her neighbors regarding her unborn child. With exceptional performances and a haunting atmosphere, the film remains a timeless classic in the horror genre.
Get Out (2017)
Universal Pictures
Directed by Jordan Peele, this thought-provoking horror-thriller explores racial tensions in modern America. The story follows Chris, an African-American man who visits his white girlfriend's family, only to uncover a disturbing secret. With its sharp social commentary and suspenseful storytelling, Get Out received critical acclaim and became a cultural phenomenon.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Artisan Entertainment
The first of the found-footage horror films. Helmed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, The Blair Witch Project revolutionized the horror genre. The movie follows a group of student filmmakers who venture into the Black Hills Forest to investigate the legend of the Blair Witch, resulting in an eerie cinematic experience so immersive, rumors the footage was real began to surface.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Buena Vista Pictures
The gripping tale of a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. The M. Night Shyamalan film follows the emotional journey of the boy and a child psychologist as they confront their fears and unravel a shocking revelation. It boasts arguably the most iconic and clever twist-ending in horror film history.
Don't Look Now (1973)
Paramount
Set amidst the labyrinthine canals and crumbling architecture of Venice, the film revolves around John and Laura Baxter, a married couple still reeling from the tragic loss of their young daughter. As they navigate the depths of their grief, the couple encounters two mysterious sisters, one of whom claims to have psychic abilities. Her eerie visions fuel the already palpable sense of foreboding, leading to a series of unexplainable and unnerving events.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
United Artists
A seminal work in the zombie genre and a bold social commentary. Set in a world overrun by the undead, the movie centers on a group of survivors seeking refuge in a shopping mall, battling both zombies and their own inner demons. The film offers a satirical critique of consumerism as the survivors find temporary comfort amidst the materialistic excess of the mall, symbolizing the relentless pursuit of material possessions in modern society.
Psycho (1960)
Getty Images
From pioneering Alfred Hitchcock, the father of the thriller film, Psycho follows Marion Crane, who steals money and seeks refuge at the eerie Bates Motel, owned by the mysterious Norman Bates. The shocking plot twist and the infamous shower scene have become iconic moments in cinema history.
Halloween (1978)
Compass International Pictures
This John Carpenter film is a landmark in the horror genre that introduced the slasher formula and gave birth to an iconic villain, Michael Myers. The film follows Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), who becomes the target of a relentless and seemingly unstoppable masked killer on Halloween night.
The Shining (1980)
Warner Bros
Based on Stephen King's novel, this Stanley Kubrick film follows Jack Torrance, a struggling writer who becomes the winter caretaker of the haunted Overlook Hotel. As the hotel's malevolent presence consumes him, Jack's family must confront the horrors that lurk within.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Bryanston Distributing Company
The movie follows a group of friends who encounter a family of cannibalistic killers, led by the iconic Leatherface. The use of handheld cameras and frenetic editing intensifies the sense of chaos and terror as we explore themes of violence, madness, and the deterioration of the American dream.
The Exorcist (1973)
Warner Bros.
The film follows a young girl, Regan, who becomes possessed by a malevolent entity, prompting her desperate mother to seek help from two priests to perform an exorcism. Faith, doubt, and the battle between good and evil are at the forefront of this landmark masterpiece, which featured controversial content and explicit imagery that sparked debates about the boundaries of horror storytelling and the effect of such cinema on audiences.
READ MORE: The 27 Best Classic Halloween Movies that Stand the Test of Time
