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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Berkeley chapter.

As the end of October quickly approaches, the season of spook is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by getting terrified to your wits end? With the temperatures around Berkeley dropping for autumn, there is no better feeling than grabbing some friends, getting cozy, and logging into Netflix for a horror movie marathon.  Whether you’re a horror buff with a love of gore or you prefer watching horror films with a pillow over your face, this list will definitely have something for you!

  • The Babadook: This one’s for those folks that hate blood and violence and everything in between. There is no intense gore, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be terrified. This chilling tale of a single mother and her son’s inability to escape the mysterious “Mister Babadook” will mess with your mind (in a good way) and ultimately scare the pants off you.

Two jack-o-lanterns
Beth Teutschmann

  • It Follows: In a modern film that takes horror to the bedroom, you will never look at being sexiled the same again. After a sexual encounter, one young woman starts getting followed by a supernatural killer, and the worst part is, there is no way to stop it. If you choose to watch, this hair-raising chase will never disappoint.

  • The Invitation: The Invitation is often overlooked because of its smaller budget and limited release, but it definitely brings chills. Despite a gradual build-up, when a couple’s ordinary dinner party takes a sinister turn, the thrill level gets cranked up to the max.

  • Saw: Do you want to play a game? With the Saw franchise still expanding today, it’s refreshing to go back to the movie that started it all. Jigsaw, the serial killer who combines death and “playtime,” is full of satisfying violence and bloody visuals.  This film, with its appalling storyline and intense carnage, is not for the weak of stomach. However, it offers psychological thrills and an exciting plot.

Vintage-looking regal movie theater
Photo by Aditya Vyas on Unsplash

  • Train To Busan: This flick isn’t your average zombie movie. Yes, it has the gore, guts, and blood, but it also has an exciting plot and touching story that will keep you engaged throughout the entire film. Taking place in South Korea, the film centers on a father and daughter duo stuck on a train with a seemingly endless supply of violent and terrifying zombies. Their thrilling fight to stay alive will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last second.

  • Jaws: This classic horror film will make you never want to swim in the ocean again. EVER. This eerie thriller well-crafted storytelling will leave you glued to your computer screen or TV. It offers compelling terror in a plot about a giant killer shark terrorizing the people of a small town, but it is a lighter movie in terms of bloody gore, so it is one of the milder films on the list!

  • Little Evil: Okay, so this isn’t technically 100% horror, BUT this netflix-original is a scary comedy that will leave you giggling and screaming . . . at the same time. Adam Scott stars in this flick about a father and his “satanic” step-son. With cheesy one-liners and thrilling action, it is a satisfying mixture of action, terror, and fun. This one is for all off my scaredy-cats!

After three years at Cal, Brianna Brann graduated UC Berkeley in 2020 with a double major in Economics and Media Studies! She is originally from Santa Clarita in Southern California, but she loves the weather, nature, and people in the Bay Area. In addition to her unmatched passion for film and television, she also enjoys visiting the beach, playing with her dog, and hiking outdoors!
Melody A. Chang

UC Berkeley '19

As a senior undergraduate, I seek out all opportunities that expand my horizons, with the aim of developing professionally and deepening my vision of how I can positively impact the world around me. While most of my career aims revolve around healthcare and medicine, I enjoy producing content that is informative, engaging, and motivating.  In the past few years, I have immersed myself in the health field through working at a private surgical clinic, refining my skills as a research assistant in both wet-lab and clinical settings, shadowing surgeons in a hospital abroad, serving different communities with health-oriented nonprofits, and currently, exploring the pharmaceutical industry through an internship in clinical operations.  Career goals aside, I place my whole mind and soul in everything that I pursue whether that be interacting with patients in hospice, consistently improving in fitness PR’s, tutoring children in piano, or engaging my creativity through the arts. Given all the individuals that I have yet to learn from and all the opportunities that I have yet to encounter in this journey, I recognize that I have much room and capacity for growth. Her Campus is a platform that challenges me to consistently engage with my community and to simultaneously cultivate self-expression.