As the day where the living meet the dead is rapidly approaching, it’s time to take time out from binge watching your favourite season on Netflix and focus on some more creepy content. Brighton Journal have curated an exclusive list of all the best Halloween movies, old, and new, some terrifying and some iconic, for your ultimate spooky night in.
1. Hocus Pocus (1993)
Kenny Ortega’s iconic comedy horror film is based on a mischievous trio of singing witches, (Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker). This Disney classic and cult scary film has put a spell on viewers for years, becoming everyone’s favourite Halloween film. If you haven’t seen it already, then watch it. If you’ve seen it hundreds of times, watch it again!
2. Paranormal Activity (2007)
This American supernatural horror film directed by Oren Peli smashed the box office when it was first released in 2007, and for good reason. Paranormal Activity has been rated as one of the most terrifying films of the decade, bringing painful moments of tensions and silence to the screen.
3. A Quiet Place (2018)
A chilling thriller based on sound-sensitive monsters that haunt wherever they hear noise. A family is forced to live in complete silence as they desperately try to avoid the apocalyptic terrors that seek to harm them. This film has a top score of 95% on film rating site Rotten Tomatoes!
4.The Conjuring (2013)
Not one for the feint hearted, The Conjuring is a horrifying supernatural film that follows paranormal investigations in prominent cases of hauntings at a farmhouse in Rhode Island. Expect unexplained deaths, possessed dolls and an exorcism. The worst part? It is all based on a true story.
5. The Silence of The Lambs (1991)
This 90’s psychological thriller still has the capacity to horrify viewers as Anthony Hopkins plays the cannibalistic serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. It is regularly cited as one of the “greatest and most influential films of all time”. Can you handle the horror?
6. Halloween (1978)
Nothing says horror quite like an American slasher film. This iconic movie tells the harrowing tale of serial killer Michael Myers who stalks and kills teenage babysitters on the night of Halloween. Perhaps not the best movie to watch if you’re asked to look after your younger siblings this October?
7. Black Swan (2010)
Natalie Portman stars as the leading lady in a production of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’ only to find herself too invested in the role. As her mental sanity starts to play tricks on her, this psychological thriller takes some horrifying turns as main character, Nina, battles with dissociative identity disorder between her black swan/white swan roles.
8. IT (2017)
Based on the thrilling novel by Stephen King, ‘It’ is set in the summer of 1989, where children are terrorised by a shape shifting monster who disguises itself as a child-killing clown.
9. The Cabin in The Woods (2012)
A chilling plot directed by Drew Goddard follows a group of college students who head to a remote forest cabin for an innocent vacation. Little do they know in a high-tech underground facility under the cabin, is a control room. The teens are forcefully intoxicated with mid-altering drugs, trapped by lethal force-fields and manipulated sexually. Zombies and werewolves also haunt the facility.
10. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Last but by no means least, Shaun of the Dead has made our horrifying list. This horror-comedy is the perfect watch for a spooky night in, as Simon Pegg stars as the man who hopes to win back his ex girlfriend – whilst also dealing with an entire community of the walking dead.
Featured photo: Daniel Briot
