Every holiday that comes around, there's a plethora of must-watch movies. Maybe every Fourth of July you watch 'Independence Day', or every St. Patrick's Day you watch 'Leprechaun'. It is the staple of the holiday. Incoming is Halloween, which is easily one of America's favorite holidays. So, in the spirit of things, here are 10 Horror Movies to watch this Halloween season. Whether it's new or a rewatch, these movies always put me in the mood for the scariest day of the year.
1. Thir13en Ghosts (2001)
I swear, this movie is slept on. This movie is about a family coming into a house as a result of a great-uncle dying.
The house holds major secrets - the ghosts literally residing in the basement! This movie will forever be one of my favorites, and if you haven't seen it yet, please do! It has the right amount of 'out-of-your-seat' horror that some movies lack. Here's the trailer:
2. Saw (franchise)
This franchise is the king of blood and guts and horror galore. With seven movies in the series and an eighth one on the way, Saw is a fast-paced, gut-wrenching movie that never ceases to surprise. If you want to be scared out of your wits, and witness some pretty horrifying events, I suggest this. What better way to get into the Halloween spirit? Relive the horror with a trailer to the new 'Jigsaw', coming late October:
3. Beetlejuice (1988)
A classic.
A horror-comedy classic. Okay, so Beetlejuice isn't exactly scary. But it's still perfect for the Halloween season. How dare those living people live in our house after we die? The nerve of some people! (Michael Keaton kills this role, by the way)
4. Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Oh, Wes Craven, may you rest in peace. Thank you for bringing the world one of the most iconic horror movie franchises in existence.
If you haven't watched Nancy and her friends battle the infamous Freddy Krueger, then you have truly been living under a rock. That rock needs a DVD player ASAP.
(This is the 1984 version. We don't speak about the 2010 version.)
5. Final Destination (2000)
This movie made me afraid of flying on airplanes. The sequel made me afraid of highways.
The third one made me afraid of roller coasters... Let's just say this franchise really plays with your fears of everyday places that aren't normally scary. But, the first one was the best, like with many movies. Who knew having powers like That's So Raven could bring chaos... Brush up on the movie that started it all:
6. The Final (2010)
A more recent movie on this list, 'The Final', like 'Thirteen Ghosts', is underrated. It's about a group of high school outcasts who take revenge on their popular opposites. It's what every stereotypical nerd would want - to give the popular kids a taste of their own medicine - but in the worst way. This is a good watch, and although it's not super relatable, it's definitely got that 'i hate school' vibe that a lot of people feel.
Watch the trailer here:
7. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2011)
Another more recent addition on the list. This movie is a bit more comedy than horror, although it does have a lot of horror components. It has just enough comedic relief to help the fact that everyone is dying left and right. I don't want to spoil it, but trust me when I say there is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to Tucker and Dale.
8. Scream (1996)
No, not the MTV show Scream - which is getting a third season this year - but the original Scream. The movie (along with others) that spawned a whole franchise of parody movies (Scary Movie, anyone?). Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, right? "What's your favorite scary movie?" is a line we all know by heart, and watching Drew Barrymore get slashed never gets old.
Sorry, Drew. Watch the original trailer:
9. IT (2017)
The newest movie on the list, 'It' is the horror movie of this generation. Having started from miniseries on TV to now being a full-fledged movie - and getting a second part in 2019 - it now has successfully scared two generations' worth of people. My mother is still creeped out at Tim Curry's original portrayal of Pennywise the Dancing Clown - I think Bill takes the cake. Watch the trailer and maybe find it in a theater near you:
10. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Yes, I know. This is not a horror movie in the slightest. No jumpscares, no blood, no gore. But it is a Halloween movie. And who hasn't seen this? It's cute, wholesome, and who can resist Charlie Brown?
The Peanuts clan in their Halloween costumes is enough for me to get into the spirit. If you're not a horror movie buff or none of these movies interest you, at least watch this 25-minute short. It'll put a smile on your face. Watch it here (someone was kind enough to put the entire short on Youtube):
Happy Halloween!
