The days are getting shorter. The air at night is chillier, sharper. Conversations with friends circle the theme of Halloween costumes. Whether you want to get into horror, are trying to set up a Halloween-themed watch party with your friends or just trying to decide which scary movies to rewatch this fall, here are some horror recommendations ranging from cozy to gory to bless your spooky season.
1. Scream (1996)
The quintessential slasher, the original Scream has a healthy amount of gore but is never gratuitous like many slashers, and its 90s lighting and set design is nothing if not cozy. Scream follows a high school girl who is targeted by a horror movie-obsessed masked serial killer. Its clever dialogue and genuine empathy for its characters make it perfect for horror novices who are on the squeamish side, while its meta references to other horror movies and the genre as a whole make it entertaining for longtime horror fans. Basically, if you’re trying to have a Halloween movie night, you can’t go wrong with Scream. Plus, Scream boasts a large cast of interesting, well-written characters, including, arguably, the most iconic final girl in the slasher genre.
2. The Craft (1996)Â
The Craft follows a coven of teenage witches at a Catholic high school as they use their powers to get back at their classmates and the adults in their lives. This movie especially excels in two areas: Fairuza Balk’s bewitching performance as coven leader Nancy Downs and its gorgeous visual identity. The girls’ changing styles track their development throughout the movie and make this a must-watch for anyone looking for some fall outfit inspiration.
3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Freddy Krueger is darkly funny as a demonic entity who stalks the nightmares of Elm Street’s teenagers in A Nightmare on Elm Street. It’s on the gorier side, especially compared to some of the other movies on this list, featuring some of the most creative kills in the slasher genre.Â
4. The Black Phone (2021)
If the last couple picks were too cozy for you, The Black Phone offers a terrifying Ethan Hawke as the Grabber, a child abductor and serial killer who kidnaps a young boy. Once he’s in the Grabber’s dirty basement, the boy starts hearing the voices of his past victims through the titular, disconnected black rotary phone. The Black Phone is on the lighter side in terms of gore, with a few select jumpscares scattered throughout, but it’s chock-full of suspenseful scenes and amazing performances from both Hawke and the child actors.Â
5. Crimson Peak (2015)
Crimson Peak is a sumptuous feast for the eyes with its depiction of ghosts and the historical costumes worn by its characters. Following a young woman who moves into her husband’s ancestral home, the titular Crimson Peak, the film is a classic Gothic romance. This is by far the most atmospheric film on this list, and perfect for fans of Gothic literature, whether it’s classics like Wuthering Heights and modern lit like Mexican Gothic.
Happy spooky season!