A horror fan can only consume the same mind-numbing franchise films every October before it becomes a dangerous habit. As a society, we have allowed solely Freddy, Jason, Jigsaw and Ghostface to plague our televisions for far too long. Allow me, as a film studies major and self-proclaimed cinephile, to suggest a few lesser-known movies to satisfy your festive urge to rewatch “A Nightmare on Elm Street” ad nauseam, regardless of your sensitivity to the genre.

For fans of the classic slasher . . .

My favorite horror film fun fact comes from the nihilistic masterpiece: George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead.”

When a zombie apocalypse breaks out in Pennsylvania, a ragtag group finds themselves boarded up in an abandoned farmhouse fighting to survive — from both the flesh eating ghouls and each other.

Premiering at a matinee showing on Oct. 1, 1968, the MPAA rating system (G, PG, R, etc.) wasn’t set to go into effect until the following month. Prior to the guidelines, all films had to be appropriate for all audiences. “Night of the Living Dead,” however, managed to slip through the cracks, allowing children to wander into the film and witness the most gore anyone had seen at the time for the first month of its showings.

If you enjoy Jones’ performance in “Night of the Living Dead,” check out his lesser known erotic vampire film “Ganja & Hess.” 

For those that prefer a comedic horror . . .

Originally set to be titled “The Molten Meteor” until production decided on a goofier name, “The Blob” (1958) is a self-aware classic.

The legendary Steve McQueen plays a teenager by the same name, despite being obviously in his late 20s. He and his ‘best girl’ Jane, played by Aneta Corsaut, must save his town from a gelatinous monster from another planet before it consumes it entirely. 

The film begins with a ‘50s bopping theme song, setting the silly tone for the next 82 minutes: “Beware of the blob, it creeps and leaps and glides and slides across the floor…” 

Utterly ridiculous and the perfect ‘creature feature,’ “The Blob” is perfectly enjoyable — even today.

To fast forward a few decades, I’d like to recommend the epitome of a so-bad-it’s-good film: “Spree.” The film stars Joe Keery as Kurt Kunkle, a rideshare driver that will do anything to become a viral influencer — even kill. 

“Spree” is the kind of movie you would watch to help you calm down after viewing an actually scary movie. It’s remarkably witty, expertly written and a must-watch.

For those that prefer their films to be psychologically scary . . .

As a huge fan of director Yorgos Lanthimos, I seem to always come back to his 2017 recreation of the Greek tragedy “Iphigenia in Aulis:” “The Killing of a Sacred Deer.” The film stars the two best things to ever come out of Ireland, Barry Keoghan and Colin Farrell. It’s unsettling, nightmarish and horrific.

A film with one of the best soundtracks ever curated is “Donnie Darko” (2001) starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Featuring songs by Echo & The Bunnymen, Tears for Fears, Duran Duran and Joy Division, director Richard Kelly will simultaneously make you question your reality and get you humming “Head Over Heels.” 

After Darko (Gyllenhaal) narrowly escapes death, he sees visions of a man in a bunny costume — yes, seriously — who tells him the world will soon be coming to an end. This film makes fun of itself while also taking the film’s concepts and world building very seriously. I make a point to watch “Donnie Darko” every October.

“Bones and All” has earned a coveted spot in my top four films of all time on Letterboxd; it’s a beautifully shot horror-romance directed by the brilliant Luca Guadagnino. I won’t say any more, as I want everyone to share the same experience I did for their first watch: knowing nearly nothing. 

After the screening, I drove home in complete silence; the radio unworthy of drowning out my constant thoughts of what I had just seen. “Bones and All” is a perfect film, and while not the first film you’d think of to watch on Halloween, it’s an incredibly deserving watch.

Darren Aronofsky has never directed a film that didn’t make me want to throw up due to pure discomfort; “Mother!” is no exception. While Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem star, neither of their characters are given names — nor are the rest of the cast.

“Mother!” is chock full of religious symbolism, the title directly referring to the Virgin Mary (or Lawrence’s character). The film acts out many biblical stories, both literally and metaphorically: Cain and Abel, plagues, Noah and the Flood, the birth of Jesus Christ and the apocalypse. Imagine the cruelty of The Old Testament, yet flooded — pun intended — with paranoid, jarring filmmaking.

For the sci-fi lovers . . .

When I watched “The Thing” (1982) back at home from college last December, I fully intended to fall asleep to it. However, I was so stunned by the appallingly disgusting practical effects that sleep became the farthest thing from my mind. 

The film follows a research team in Antarctica being hunted by a parasitic alien that assumes the appearance of its victims. Directed by John Carpenter, who later went on to do the iconic “Halloween,” this smaller-budget science fiction horror is a classic for the season.

To end off my recommendations, I’ll mention a film that was released just months ago: “It’s What’s Inside.” Currently on Netflix, the ensemble cast is full of fresh faces — save for Brittany O’Grady, who I loved in “The White Lotus” — brings a new energy to horror I haven’t felt with other new releases. 

At a pre-wedding party, one guest brings the most interesting of party favors that begins to tear the group apart. It’s “Bodies Bodies Bodies” meets “Clue” — the perfect movie for a night with your own eclectic ensemble cast of friends.

This film is an out-of-body experience — pun intended, again — but you’ll just have to watch it to see exactly what I mean.

October presents the perfect atmosphere to explore one of the most expansive genres with the greatest potential. This month, attempt to stray away from “Scream VI,” “Terrifier 3” and “Alien: Romulus” and watch something new and original for a change. 

Edited by Alyssa Royston | [email protected]

Copyedited by Hannah Taylor and Ava Mohrer | [email protected]

Edited by Emilia Hansen | [email protected]

Edited by Emily Skidmore | [email protected]