Fall is finally here, which means pumpkin patches, hay rides, colder weather, and of course, scary movies! With so many different scary movies to pick from, it can be difficult to decide on the perfect one to watch, so I’ve decided to narrow it down for you, and picked out my favorite 15 scary movies.
1. Sinister (2012)
If you’re looking to watch a movie that will have you covering your eyes the majority of the time, any of the Sinister movies will be perfect for you! These movies have lots of jump scares, and a mysterious back-story that you’ll be on the edge of your seat to find out.
2. House at the End of the Street (2012)
If you’re anything like me, you’ve completely forgotten that this movie even existed. House at the End of the Street is the perfectly underrated mix of scary and suspenseful. For the entire duration of the movie you’ll be wondering what the heck is going on with Max Thieriot’s character, and whether he’s good or bad. Oh, and did I mention Jennifer Lawrence plays a major role in it?
3. Orphan (2009)
This was one of my first favorites when I finally decided to stop being afraid of everything and found out that scary movies are actually amazing. This one isn’t terribly scary; it’s suspenseful and a little messed up though, and it definitely will make you rethink adopting a charming child.
4. Insidious (2010)
Insidious is another one of those movies where you’ll be plugging your ears and closing your eyes a lot of the time, but it also has comedic relief, which I always love, and some killer tunes (tip toe through the tulips, anyone?). This movie is different from other scary movies, which made me really enjoy it, and if you’re into crazy movies with a confusing other dimension, then you’ll enjoy Insidious too!
5. It (2017)
This new remake of the classic film has received mixed reviews. I personally don’t think it’s extremely scary, but it tells a great story, which is something I always love about any type of movie. Stephen King is a talented storywriter, and It showcased this talent. It has been a while since I’ve seen the original 1990 version of the movie, but I truly enjoyed this new version of It. It’s the perfect movie to prepare you for all of the clowns you’ll be seeing this Halloween. Just remember, if you see a red balloon, run fast!
6. Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Another classic scary movie to get you into the Halloween mood, Nightmare on Elm Street is old school scary with a twisted back-story. If the original movie is a little too outdated for you, there is also a 2010 version that is just as good. If you haven’t seen this story yet, get a bowl of popcorn ready and a blanket to cover your eyes with.
7. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Like Nightmare on Elm Street, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is also a classic film that has a good remade version, and both will keep you on the edge of your seat. Loosely based off of serial killer Ed Gein, these movies tell the story of a psychotic chainsaw-wielding murderer who likes to make clothes out of human skin. How fun!
8. The Ring (2002)
The Ring movies are perfectly creepy, suspenseful, and will keep you wondering the whole time about who Samara is and what happened to her. You’ll also wonder why people keep watching the freaking tape! Nothing good ever happens when you watch an old tape that you found in a cabin in the woods.
9. The Strangers (2008)
A romantic getaway ruined by three masked intruders? What more could you ask for? The Strangers is painfully realistic, as it’s based off of everyone’s worst nightmare, a variety of different home invasion incidents. Because this movie is very gory, it was hard for me to watch. But if you’re in the mood for a frightfully gruesome movie that will give you nightmares, this is the one for you!
10. Hush (2016)
Hush is another terrifying movie that involves a masked home invasion, but this time there’s a twist to the story; the invader is terrorizing a woman who is deaf. The whole movie you’ll be rooting for the main character and at the same time you’ll be wondering what you would do if you were in the same situation. If you’re ready to lose sleep then you’re ready to see this thriller.
11. The Uninvited (2009)
This psychological thriller has a twist in the plot that you won’t see coming. Two sisters grieving over the death of their mother are suspicious of their dad’s new girlfriend, who was their mother’s live-in nurse while she was sick. The Uninvited is both creepy and thrilling, with an unexpected ending.
12. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
10 Cloverfield Lane is a sequel to the 2006 film, Cloverfield, although you may not see the connection right away. A young woman gets into a car accident and wakes up in some random guy’s cellar. The man tells her that Earth is no longer inhabitable, and you’ll spend the entire duration of the movie going back and forth between believing him and thinking he’s a lunatic.
13. Don’t Breathe (2016)
Don’t Breathe had my heart racing the whole time I was watching it, and it will do the same for you. Three teens decide to break into a blind man’s house after learning that he is sitting on a lot of money, but they get trapped while they’re in, and spend the rest of the movie trying to escape from the mysterious man who clearly has killer hearing. To be fair though, they probably shouldn’t have broken into the house in the first place. Lesson learned!
14. Split (2016)
Split has quite the psychological twist, with a main character that has 23 different personalities. Some of his personalities are amusing, some are ordinary, but one un-seen 24th personality is outright terrifying to even the other 23 personalities. You’ll be eager to find out more about this unknown 24th personality and what it has in store for three young girls held prisoner in cells.
15. Halloween (1978)
Of course I can’t forget about this one, as it’s a famous Halloween movie (hence the title, Halloween). This movie tells the story of an average Halloween night; a teenage girl being stalked by a murderer who has escaped from a sanitarium. This movie has the traditional scary movie feel, with a murderer who you just can’t seem to get rid of.