If we’re being real, scary movies are a good idea all year round, but an especially exquisite choice during October. Foggy days, cozy nights and chilly weather all combine for the perfect ~spooky~ mood that we have to stan. So for the nights that you want to cuddle up with a movie that will make you jump, make you laugh and make you question the dark corner of your room, here’s our list of the top ten out there. Let’s get our screams on!
10. “The Sixth Sense” (M. Night Shyamalan, 1999)
Director M. Night Shyamalan (“The Village,” “Split”) might be known for his senseless and unconvincing plot twists, but this Bruce Willis staple is certainly an exception. “The Sixth Sense” follows a therapist trying to recuperate after he and his wife suffer a traumatic break-in at the hands of an ex-patient, and a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) seeking help for his supernatural abilities. This “I see dead people” classic goes easy on the thrills, so it’s a perfect watch for those in need of a spooky-not-scary movie night.
9. “It Chapter Two” (Andrés Muschietti, 2019)
In this follow-up to the 2017 “It” remake, The Losers Club (Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Isaiah Mustafa) reunites for a final showdown against the interdimensional evil clown Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård). While the film lacks the simplistic appeal of its predecessor, it’s a stand-out from the cast alone. Along with some truly terrifying visuals and a hilarious script, “It Chapter Two” deserves a place on this list for its message alone: evil exists, but it can be beaten.
8. “Rear Window” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954)
This pick might fall closer to mystery-thriller than horror, but James Stewart (“It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Vertigo”) delivers a rattling performance as a news photographer stuck in his apartment with a broken leg and nothing to do but watch his neighbors. Things take a dark turn when he believes he witnesses a murder in the apartment across from his own. Confined to his bed, he must solve the chilling case with only the help of his girlfriend, portrayed by Grace Kelly (“To Catch a Thief,” “High Society”) before his neighbor starts watching back.
7. “Scream” (Wes Craven, 1996)
Director Wes Craven (“A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “The Last House on the Left”) calls out his own scary movie tropes in this self-referential flick. The film centers on high schooler Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her friends as they’re stalked by a psycho killer a year after her mother’s murder. With a near-perfect cast, a meta script and cameos from Drew Barrymore, Henry “The Fonz” Winkler and Craven himself, this ‘90s-staple slasher flick is the 101 course on how to survive a horror movie.
6. “Insidious: Chapter 2” (James Wan, 2013)
The Lambert family (Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne) is back and more haunted than ever in a sequel to the hit 2010 original. The second in a four-part series, this installment is a direct answer to the questions left at the end of the first movie. Filled with easter eggs from the first chapter (only noticeable upon rewatching the original), this film turns the hero of before into the new villain as the rest of the cast races to figure out what has changed. There’s plenty of jump scares mixed within the tender moments as you root for a family you can’t help but want a happy ending for.
5. “The Woman in Black” (James Watkins, 2012)
In his first big screen role since the “Harry Potter” series, Daniel Radcliff stars as a grieving widower whose wife and child have died. In an aesthetically pleasing and foggy world where his blue eyes especially pop, he races to solve the mystery of what a ghostly woman in black’s appearance could mean. In a movie with almost no dialogue, every sound becomes that much more poignant and powerful. With plenty of jump scares and a muted color pallet, this is a movie that leaves a lingering impression.
4. “It” (Andrés Muschietti, 2017)
First rule of remakes: don’t mess with the original. Instead of pretending the 1990 miniseries never happened, director Andrés Muschietti pays homage to it in what was perhaps the best movie of 2017 — a year that also gave us “Lady Bird” and “Wonder Woman.” Following a group of bullied kids who must face off against a child-eating clown, Muschietti plays into the ‘80s nostalgia trend with this take on the 1100-page Stephen King novel. Full of jump scares and touching moments, “It” has already cemented itself as a new classic that both warms hearts and chills spines.
3. “Annabelle” (John R. Leonetti, 2014)
Following the trend of dolls becoming the theme of our nightmares, “Annabelle” tells the tale of a real life figurine that is believed to possess an evil spirit. This spin off from “The Conjuring” has gone on to produce both a prequel and a sequel revolving around the pigtailed doll. The film follows new parents Mia and John as they quickly realize there are satanic forces connected to the porcelain figure in their apartment. Amidst the horror, deaths and jump scares, the film has a satisfying ending that will leave viewers breathing a sigh of relief, as well as a desire to go visit the real life Annabelle.
2. “The Silence of the Lambs” (Jonathan Demme, 1991)
One of the few films to expertly navigate the overlap between crime, horror and psychological thriller, “The Silence of the Lambs” is and always will be a classic. The movie focuses on FBI student Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as she studies the cannibalistic Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in hopes of catching the skin-wearing serial killer, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). The film features a strong female protagonist whose character isn’t dependent upon her sex appeal — a rarity in the horror genre — and Academy-Award winning performances from Foster and Hopkins, as well as the awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
1. “The Conjuring” (James Wan, 2013)
The only director to make it onto our list twice, James Wan struck gold with this 2013 classic that started an iconic horror franchise. Based off of the lives of Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators, “The Conjuring” set the bar for future horror movies with its clean aesthetic and unparalleled audio mixing. Interestingly, the film was shot in chronological order, which potentially helped the actors in their stunning performances. The Warrens are called to investigate the ghostly activities happening at the Perron family home where birds are known to fly into windows, spirits have been seen and the family dog has been found dead in the backyard. Utilizing old-school scares and minimal special effects, the creepiness in this movie centers around what we are most afraid of: painful realities.