The Definitive Horror Movies for Halloween
The original poster for Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film Psycho starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. Credit: jdxyw via Flickr
Once the leaves begin to fall and the air chills: it's October and more importantly it is the Halloween season. Leading up to Halloween, it is essential to have a good lineup of horror movies. There are thousands of horror movies, so it can be daunting to pick out an excellent one (especially considering it is a genre that is oversaturated with a plethora of bad films). Here is a selection of some of the best horror films, divided among subgenres from classics that need to be seen by any casual viewer to must-watches for horror fans.
Slasher
“Halloween,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” and “Psycho.” Are these the most obvious picks? Yes, but they’re the best for a reason. Although these aren’t the typical gore fests that make up most of this subgenre, the reason they’re so iconic is the filmmaking on display. If you want a true classic of horror with sharp twists, inventive filmmaking and arguably the most important film of the genre: watch “Psycho.” “Texas Chainsaw” is for those who want a relentless, loud and intense 83 minutes in the haze of the southern heat and slaughterhouses. Lastly, “Halloween” is undoubtedly the best film to watch on the holiday. With John Carpenter’s iconic score, Micheal Myers stalks the cold streets of Haddonfield in this defining film for slashers.
Psychological
This subgenre is focused on the mind, focusing on paranoia, fear and ultimately unsettling or even disturbing the viewer. The quintessential suggestion for this subgenre is Stanley Kubrick’s
“The Shining.” Snowed in the Overlook Hotel, the Torrance family’s psychic begins to break down as the old horrors of the hotel come alive. “The Shining” will unquestionably leave an impact, with its terrifying imagery of REDRUM drawn in lipstick, an elevator draining blood and Jack Nicholson plunging an ax into a bathroom door.
“The Lighthouse” follows two lighthouse keepers off the coast of New England in the 1890s, masterfully performed by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, who must battle each other and the elements as a storm engulfs their rock. Full of thematic resonance, mythology and unending tension, “The Lighthouse” is unequivocally the best-shot horror movie of the 21st century complimented by one of the richest atmospheres put to screen. 1997’s “Cure,” directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, is the most underrated film on this list and demands to be seen by all horror movie buffs. The film follows a Tokyo detective investigating a series of unexplained murders with the perpetrators always found nearby with no recollection of their crime. “Cure” is unnerving and truly gets under your skin, fueled by its precise editing, droning sound and terrifying performances it hypnotizes you and doesn’t let you go.
Supernatural
Another film directed by Kurosawa is “Pulse,” once again set in Tokyo it follows the increasing activity of ghosts brought on by the newfound reliance on technology. “Pulse” does offer horrifying scenes but is more focused on themes relating to loneliness and disconnection. Japan has many other classic supernatural films but 1964’s “Kwaidan” is the premier of the subgenre, a 3-hour horror anthology epic spanning 4 separate stories. Inspired by folklore from ghostly samurai to haunting snow spirits, it features gorgeous production design and cinematography that portrays an authentic history of Japanese ghost stories. Heading to Spain there is “The Devil’s Backbone,” directed by Guillermo del Toro. Taking place during the Spanish Civil War, a remote orphanage in the desert is haunted by the ghost of a boy while dealing with the enclosing war around them. Del Toro’s style is formed within this film as it showcases his signature themes of anti-fascism, violence and innocence.
Monster
In space no one can hear you scream. “Alien” dawns truly one of the most memorable taglines but it earns it. Set in a lurching space vessel, a crew must fight to survive among a terrifying threat: the Xenomorph. With its revolutionary effects and amazing designs by H.R. Giger, “Alien” is a dark, claustrophobic and intense work of science fiction horror. Another great and underrated, recommendation for monster horror is “The Mist,” the second adaptation of Stephen King on this list after “The Shining.” As a thick cloud of mist pours into a small Maine town, a family and dozens of others get stuck in a supermarket. They soon learn that outside of the market is a terrifying array of monsters trying to break in, but the people inside become just as dangerous. Showing off skin-crawling creatures of all shapes and sizes, “The Mist” is infamous for having a knockout ending, that is one of the most brutal, uncompromising and audacious put to screen.
Lastly, there cannot be a horror movie list without “The Thing,” flawlessly directed by John Carpenter and sporting the greatest creature effects put to screen. It's nasty, nihilistic and endlessly engaging. Following an Antarctic research team who discovers a shape-shifting alien, the team must battle paranoia and slowly decreasing numbers as the creature becomes an increasing threat. “The Thing” is constantly mentioned when talking about the best horror movies and special effects, which it indisputably earns. “The Thing” is one of the best films ever made and demands a viewing for horror newcomers or just an additional rewatch from horror fans.