Halloween is upon us and it’s time for costumes, candy and, of course, scary movies. While it’s fun to watch horror movies all year, nothing beats cozying up with a bag of Halloween candy or carving pumpkins while watching a spooky movie. Here are 10 of the best scary movies to get your scream on this Halloween night.
Sleepy Hollow (1999):
Nothing pairs better with Halloween than a Tim Burton creation, and his 1999 live-action gothic horror romance is a perfect movie to get in the spooky spirits. “Sleepy Hollow” is a more mellow horror, making it especially perfect for viewers who get scared easily.
Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci are the main leads in the movie, which follows the legend of the Headless Horseman. Following the deaths of numerous townspeople in Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane (Depp) is called to investigate. What unfolds is a tale of a violent spirit, forbidden love and plenty of gorgeous gothic scenery.
The Exorcist (1973):
It’s only fitting to watch one of the most famous and classic horror movies on Halloween, and it doesn’t get more classic than “The Exorcist.” It’s also a member of the unofficial cursed movies club, with a production plagued with death and a fire.
“The Exorcist” follows a famous actress named Chris MacNeil and her daughter Regan, who is suddenly possessed by a malevolent demon. Catholic priests are called in for a gruesome battle for Regan’s soul against a demon that is more powerful than they thought.
The Witch (2015):
When Robert Eggers’ take on New England folklore dropped in 2015, it became an instant modern classic. “The Witch” is one of the darker, more horrifying stories and deals with imagery and topics that are not for the faint of heart.
Anya Taylor-Joy made her film debut as Thomasin, a daughter in a family struggling to survive in 1630s New England. However, their lives begin to be shredded apart when they become the target of a witch living in the woods by their home.
Psycho (1960):
Before Tim Burton, Wes Craven and Jordan Peele, the horror movie industry was ruled by Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock’s movies revolutionized horror and Hollywood simultaneously. One of his most famous films, “Psycho,” was based off of killer Ed Gein, and is regarded as one of the best movies of all time.
“Psycho” opens with Marion Crane, a secretary who steals money from her employer and goes on the run. When she checks into the Bates Motel, she encounters an unsettling young man and the mother who controls him behind the scenes.
It (2017):
The newest adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name made history by becoming the highest grossing horror film of all time. It’s also rumored to have been the inspiration behind those creepy clown sightings all over the country in 2016.
“It” tells the story of a group of kids living in Derry, Maine, a fictional small town plagued with darkness and abuse. Following the disappearance of a young boy named Georgie Denbrough, the kids are brought together to fight a shape-shifting monster that primarily takes the appearance of a clown named Pennywise.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975):
Few horror movies have made such a widespread cultural impact as the comedy horror musical “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” It’s a fun and unique take on the horror genre and was the theatrical film debut of the legendary Tim Curry.
When the recently engaged Brad and Janet are left stranded following car problems, they seek refuge in the home of a rather bizarre Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Curry). The couple find themselves wrapped up in a whirlwind of sex, music and drag.
Terrifier (2016):
Another edition to the long list of movies that increase the public’s fear of clowns is the highly underrated “Terrifier.” Immensely gruesome and violent, “Terrifier” will have even the most hardcore horror fanatics looking away.
When Tara Heyes goes out on the town on Halloween night, she never expects the horrors she will face when she encounters the sadistic Art the Clown.
The Conjuring (2013):
When the blockbuster introduction to “The Conjuring” universe made its debut, it unlocked a new generation of horror lovers. While it packs in all of the common tropes, with creepy dolls and haunted houses, “The Conjuring” manages to still feel original and is a classic horror movie.
Allegedly based on true stories from the archives of famed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, “The Conjuring” tells the story of the Perron family. After moving into an old home with a dark past, the family are faced with the presence of a horrifying spirit that seeks to kill.
Scream (1996):
“Do you like scary movies?” With this iconic film line, “Scream” cemented itself as a classic horror movie, and as a favorite for generations to come. So it only makes sense to celebrate Halloween with this star-studded thriller from Wes Craven himself.
With actors including Courteney Cox, Skeet Ulrich and Drew Barrymore, “Scream” was bound to be a success. After the murder of her mother the year before, Sidney (Neve Campbell) and her friends are hunted by a vicious killer using horror movies as a fatal game.
Halloween (1978):
No Halloween scary movie list would be complete without the horror movie by the same name. A slasher classic with the iconic Michael Myers, plenty of classic tropes (a masked killer, the final girl and a mad doctor), and Jamie Lee Curtis as the heroine is the perfect way to spend the spookiest night of the year. Furthermore, the newest addition to the franchise, “Halloween Kills,” just dropped in theaters.
“Halloween” takes place in the cursed town of Haddonfield, Illinois, where the memory of Michael Myers’ senseless slaying of his sister remains. Fifteen years after this murder, Myers escapes from a mental hospital and begins a night of terror back in his hometown.
MOVE writer Kylie Mesmer came on the Maneater Digest podcast to talk about her experience writing this article and went into a bit further depth about her thought process selecting these movies. Give it a listen!
Edited by Elise Mulligan | emulligan@themaneater.com