October is a busy time for most university students, myself included! I haven’t had as much time as I would have liked to binge scary movies. However, there is still time to make up for it. This is a list of some of my personal favourite scary/Halloween-themed films to watch. The good news is most of these movies are part of franchises or larger cinematic worlds. So, if you have more time on your hands, be sure to check out those other films too!
1. Corpse Bride
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is one of my childhood favourites. This movie is an absolute classic, right up there with The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s a tale about love and healing, told in Tim Burton’s signature spooky fashion. I revisit this movie every Halloween and, if you’re looking for a wholesome Halloween feature, I certainly think you should too!
2. The Haunting of Hill House
I know this one is a T.V. show, but it deserves a place on this list. If you’re looking for something truly scary, The Haunting of Hill House is a relatively newer project of Mike Flanagan’s, and it’s guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Based on Shirley Jackson’s famous novel, the story follows the estranged Crain family. As adults, the Crain siblings must return to their childhood home and face the ghosts of Hill House one more time. The jump scares, lore and drama are done spectacularly; I felt like I was right there at Hill House with the rest of the characters. Plus, once you’re finished with this show, you can move on to The Haunting of Bly Manor, an equally chilling story by the same creators.
3. The Witch
Robert Eggers is one of the best directors of our time and The Witch is a prime example of his talent. Although this movie isn’t for everyone, it’s a personal favourite of mine. The movie follows a 1600s family in New England, who begin to suspect that they are being cursed by a witch. Slowly, the family begins to turn on one another, never sure of whom to trust. This film is highly cinematic, with a mood that is certain to send chills down your spine. The Witch may not throw jump scares at you left and right, but it will have you convinced that true evil is out there, lurking in the shadows…
4. Practical Magic
Practical Magic is another great movie that serves as a perfect blend of scary and dramatic. This movie follows two girls born into a family of witches, cursed by a rival family centuries ago. However, once the Owens sisters start practicing witchcraft themselves, they end up encountering an evil spirit that refuses to leave them alone. This is a much darker film than I expected it to be, but the themes and conflicts between the characters are still as relevant as they were when the movie was released. I would certainly recommend this to anyone looking for a “witchy” Halloween flick!
5. Scream
Another horror classic, Scream, is a perfect balance of scary, gory and funny. The franchise consists of six movies (with a seventh on the way) and each one manages to up the ante. These movies are genius because they are the perfect parodies, brilliantly mocking horror genre stereotypes. At the same time, Scream manages to reinvent the genre and introduce a new type of slasher film. So, if you haven’t seen the Scream franchise, now is the perfect time to start!
6. Hereditary
Last, but most certainly not least, is Hereditary. This movie earned impeccable critic reviews and for very good reason, Like The Witch, this movie is a psychological horror. It may not scare you outright, but it will have you questioning everything you just watched. The story follows a family struggling through the perils of grief as they slowly descend into utter chaos. Every time I watch this movie, I feel just one emotion: dread. Clearly, I enjoy watching movies that cause me intense anxiety, so if you feel that way too, Hereditary is just the film for you!