Top 10 Halloween movies to get you in the spooky spirit
We’re deep into Halloween season as the holiday itself is a week away! Movies are a central part of this spooky time of year, with countless Americans watching thrilling and terrifying horror movies. Whether you’re a solo film enthusiast who wants to watch something scary to keep you entertained, or crowded around a TV with friends on a late October night, this list will give you plenty of great picks.
10. Friday the 13th (1980)
“Friday the 13th” is one of the most important slasher films ever made. It set up one of the biggest franchises in horror and had a massive impact on the genre during the 1980s. Countless copycat slasher movies with high-school and college-aged characters released in the years to come, and “Friday the 13th” directly inspired them.
9. The Thing (1982)
“The Thing” is a gem in sci-fi horror. The movie is full of captivating, grotesque visual effects which still shock viewers today. With excellent cinematography and a remote setting in Antarctica which creates a paranoid environment, “The Thing” will keep you on the edge of your seat for its entire runtime.
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
One of Jodie Foster’s best performances is in “The Silence of the Lambs” as Clarice Starling, a young FBI trainee who interacts with serial killer Hannibal Lecter. If you’ve never seen this movie before, dive right into it blind and you’ll see exactly why it won the Big Five Academy Awards.
7. Hereditary (2018)
“Hereditary” is one of the most terrifying and tense horror movies of all time. Ari Aster set the benchmark for modern horror with this film, and few movies have been able to live up to that standard. “Hereditary” may be the best horror movie of the 2010s, and most horror fans would agree that it deserves a spot on this list.
6. Psycho (1960)
Even if you’ve never seen “Psycho,” you’ve almost definitely seen the shower scene from the film or a direct reference to it. “Psycho” is one of the most iconic horror movies ever made, and has one of the greatest horror movie performances ever with Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. This classic film also delivers some incredible twists which are bound to shock you.
5. Alien (1979)
“Alien” is the gold standard for sci-fi horror. The dark set design and visuals create such an anxious atmosphere. The antagonistic alien of the movie, the xenomorph, is beyond frightening in the setting of an isolated spaceship. Watching “Alien” is a great way to be terrified this Halloween season.
4. The Exorcist (1973)
“The Exorcist” is undoubtedly one of the most disturbing films of the 20th century. There would not be nearly as many horror movies with occult themes or possession if not for “The Exorcist.” It is clearly one of the most influential films ever made, and has horrifying scenes throughout.
3. Halloween (1978)
“Halloween” has an instantly recognizable piano score and is potentially John Carpenter’s best work. This movie defined the slasher genre, and like any great slasher film, is full of suspense and slow build-up that culminates into shocking brutality.
2. The Shining (1980)
With some of the best performances in film history from Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, “The Shining” is not only a top 3 horror movie ever made, but one of the best films of all time. This is one of many masterpieces by Stanley Kubrick, and it absolutely deserves to be this high up on the list. It’s engaging, funny, disturbing, and a must-watch this time of year.
1. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is the quintessential horror film. From front to back, the camera direction is exceptional and the sound design creates grand intensity and suspense in every action scene. This is an absolute 10 out of 10 horror movie, and it has one of the most legendary endings in cinema history.
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