The leaves are changing colors, the weather is chillier, the air smells like Pumpkin Spice Lattes and the vibes have gotten spookier. After several agonizing months, we’ve finally reached October and I’m guessing, like most people, you are ready to celebrate with costumes, pumpkins, ghosts and of course — horror movies. In the midst of a global pandemic, Halloween will definitely be different this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the spooky holiday with your family or friends by having movie nights! And since I’m here, the only thing you have to do is pop the popcorn, go to Netflix and let me pick the perfect horror movie for you.
- If You’re Into Psychological Thrillers That Will Keep You Up At Night — “The Autopsy of Jane Doe”
-
When a father and a son, a team of coroners at their family owned morgue, have to do an autopsy on a mysterious Jane Doe, the entire night is filled with supernatural and bizarre events. From flickering lights, strange shadows lurking around the corner and the creepy song that sends shivers down your spine, The Autopsy of Jane Doe won’t disappoint any of you horror loving fans out there. And if you’re like me, you’ll be trying to cover your eyes with the blanket almost the entire time. Not built like the stereotypical horror movies people love, The Autopsy of Jane Doe isn’t filled with useless jump scares or meaningless horrific figures. If you’re into movies that lure you in and deceive you with their slight horror tactics in the beginning, yet keep you awake all night once they’re done, then this is the movie for you.
(A heads up, if you’re anything like me, this movie might lead you into a downward spiral of “Ending Explained” videos and furiously searching for a possible sequel because this movie is just that good.)
- If You’re Into Love Stories That Take Sinister Turns — “The House At The End of The Street”
-
If the name Jennifer Lawrence isn’t enough to get you to watch this movie, then I think we need to talk some things out. I mean the movie has many great qualities, but come on, Jennifer Lawrence. However, if you happen to not be obsessed with Ms. Katniss Everdeen (my queen, my savior, my hero), it’s okay (I mean, can we talk though?) because The House at The End of The Street is a must-watch all on its own. A new girl moves into a house and no, her house is not haunted. But the house next to her? Well, that’s for you to find out. If you’re into cute boy next door movies, then you’ll be happy for like half of the movie. But if you’re into cute boy next door movies who might not be as cute as we thought (life), then this is just your cup of tea. Grab a blanket, some friends, hear Jennifer Lawrence sing for three minutes and then get ready to start screaming at the screen. It’s a ride.
- If You Want to Rethink The Aesthetic Of Living in a House in the Woods Alone — “Hush”
-
If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy horror movies, but LOVES thrillers, then watch this. Every person that I’ve met who has said they don’t like horror movies has made an exception with this one. It’s just that amazing. And it’s a perfect balance. A game of cat and mouse occurs when a serial killer tries to break into the house and kill the woman living there. Oh, does that seem pretty basic to you? Well, I must’ve forgotten the part where she’s deaf and living alone. In the woods. With no one else around her for miles. Besides, if you’re sick of seeing idiotic people who make dumb decisions like splitting from the group or walking up an evil spirit because it seemed “fun,” then get ready to meet one the smartest main characters I’ve ever seen in a horror movie.
Seriously. I would die if I were in her shoes.
- If You Want to Go to Sleep Happy — “Before I Wake”
-
There are very few horror movies that send me to bed with a smile on my face and this happens to be one of them. First seen by my family and friends on a whim because we couldn’t find anything on Netflix (we all know the feeling right?), this horror movie was surprisingly good. And happy. If you’re one who likes being scared in the moment, but would rather forget about the lurking shadows and deadly spirits when you go to bed, Before I Wake is the movie for you. This movie is about a family who adopts a boy whose dreams come true, but the couple quickly realizes that what they thought was a magical gift was actually a deadly curse. Perfect for those horror junkies who like to jump in their seats and cover their faces behind pillows even though they’re the ones who kept pushing for the horror movie to begin with (ahem…me) and for those who just want to go to bed without worrying about the fictional monsters that could kill them (ahem…also me), Before I Wake is the movie to go.
- If You’re Bored of Monsters and Ghosts and Witches — “Anaconda” (the movie, not Nicki Minaj)
-
If you don’t want to develop a massive fear of snakes like me, then skip this one. But if you’re stronger than I am and are bored of the ghosts doing the killing and the torture, then this classic movie is the one for you. The movie focuses on Jennifer Lopez (we love our Jennifer’s), a filmmaker, who travels down the Amazon river with a crew to film a specific tribe. When they meet a lone traveler who offers to help them, their once peaceful journey takes a drastic turn. Not only are they having to deal with an untrustworthy man with his own agenda, but a deadly creature who’s decided that the crew is its prey. If the star studded cast doesn’t appeal to you — Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Ice Cube, and more — then maybe the suspense, the thrill and the action will. Anaconda proves that ghosts aren’t the only creatures we need to be afraid of, so choose this movie on Netflix and let yourself be thankful that there isn’t a 16 foot snake slithering its way through Pittsburgh.
- If You Want to Add Some Flavor To Your Movies and Go International — “Veronica”
-
Based on a true story, Veronica is a movie about a girl who tries to speak to her late father through an ouija board (I know — stupid), but instead of contacting her father, Veronica accidentally brings evil spirits into the world. If you’re a horror movie fan that loves ghosts, jump scares and creepy figures haunting the hallways, Veronica is the movie for you. Considered one of the scariest movies on Netflix, Veronica is one of those movies that will make you want to keep one eye open at all times. Although the main character makes some questionable decisions, Veronica is definitely one of those movies that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering if it’ll be a happy ending.
If you want to scare yourself even more, reading through the experiences of the girl that the movie is based on is highly recommended — but after the movie. We don’t want you spoiling the ending.
However, since the movie is told in Spanish and unless you’re fluent, hiding behind the covers won’t be beneficial to you. So if you think you can stomach a movie filled with horrific demons and terrifying faces without looking away, then grab some popcorn, get some drinks and get ready to be spooked.
- If You’re Bored of Movies and Want to Watch a Show — “The Haunting of Hill House”
-
Yes, I know. It’s not a movie, but if you’re bored of movies and want to binge watch something that could take up the entire night and still scare you enough to delay going to bed then The Haunting of Hill House is the show for you. A show that builds up its intensity, deceiving you into thinking it’s not actually that scary until you go to bed and realize that you might not make it through the night, The Haunting of Hill House knows exactly how to scare its audience. With an intricate plot line that jumps back in forth in the past and the present and creating characters so intriguing that you can’t help but be emotionally invested in their lives, The Haunting of Hill House knows what it’s doing. This is a show that I cannot recommend enough, and whether you’re a fan of horror or not, The Haunting of Hill House is a must watch for everyone.
- If You Live in Pittsburgh — “The Silence of the Lambs”
-
It would be a sin if I didn’t add this movie to our list. At this point everyone in Pittsburgh has heard about this movie and if you live here and haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and go on Netflix, dim the lights and watch it. Besides being a requirement for Pittsburgh natives and students to watch this movie, The Silence of the Lambs is a classic for a reason. A psychological thriller about a serial killer who eats people and a student training for the FBI, The Silence of the Lambs is a disturbing movie filled with twists and turns. But be aware, there are some gruesome scenes that almost had me turn away and close my eyes, so I don’t recommend this for children. Or any of the movies mentioned above. So if you’re a fan of a sinister cat and mouse chase and plot twists, this oscar winning movie is the one for you.
And for all my Criminal Minds lovers out there, this is a movie that you’ll definitely get behind.
Whichever movie you pick, you can’t go wrong with any of the choices above. So get ready to scream, get spooked and to have an amazing Halloween.