It’s Halloween, and you’re all set up for movie night! But what are you going to watch? Horror and Halloween are broad categories, so it can be hard to figure out what you’re in the mood for. Don’t waste the whole night scrolling blankly through Netflix or Amazon Prime — let this guide narrow your search.
- Classic horror.
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Do you love practical effects, blood-curdling screams and going back to basics with horror?
Check out: Psycho, Frankenstein, Night of the Living Dead, Dracula, and Creature from the Black Lagoon.
- 80s slasher flicks.
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You don’t need to be brave to watch these ones. Frightening jump scares are few, and the plots are predictable, but these movies promise a satisfying ending, excellent 80s fashion, and plenty of cheesy moments to break the tension.
If this sounds good to you, check out: Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th.
- Halloween hijinks.
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You’re here for a good time, not a “hiding from ghosts” time. You want something comforting and feel good that pairs perfectly with handfuls of Halloween candy.
If this sounds good to you, check out: The Addams Family, Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, Coraline, Nightmare Before Christmas and Casper.
- Slow burn horror thrillers.
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Rising tension and general unease leading to a climactic and disturbing end?
If this sounds good to you, check out: Rosemary’s Baby, The Shining, The Invitation, Get Out and The Witch.
- Supernatural thrills.
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Do you want haunted houses, lots of jumpscares and to be so frightened you can’t sleep (because now you’re worried your house is built on an old cemetery?)
Check out: Insidious, The Conjuring 1+2, The Exorcist, Poltergeist, Child’s Play, The Blair Witch Project and The Ring.
- Visceral, nauseating, “I can’t look” horror.
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If you have a strong stomach and find the best horror movies to be the grossest, bloodiest ones, you should check out: The Thing, Green Room, Saw, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Alien.
- Feminist horror.
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If films that deal with coming of age, the trauma inherent in being a girl, and supernatural women, you’ve got to check out: Carrie, Teeth, Jennifer’s Body, Ginger Snaps and A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.
- Horror comedy.
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If you like a bit of blood and gore, but you also like a good night’s sleep, you should check out: Happy Death Day, What We Do in the Shadows, Shaun of the Dead, Scary Movie and Zombieland.
- Modern horror.
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If aesthetic is as important to you as a good story, and you like a movie with polish, check out: Us, Hereditary, The Babadook and It Follows.
Choose wisely, get your snacks, turn the lights off (well… maybe leave one on. Some of these are pretty scary), and settle in for a cozy Halloween night.