Even if horror movies aren't typically your thing, the genre has evolved enough over the years that you can probably find a scary movie that suits your liking. Here are five movies that make great Halloween-time viewing:
Halloween
Duh. As you can tell by the movie’s title, John Carpenter’s 1978 classic is synonymous with Halloween. If you’re in the mood for a slasher, Halloween is the way to go. While Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street are also great, Halloween’s theme music is enough to tip the scales in its favour. Also, the movie helped set the standard for an absurd string of sequels where the killer inexplicably can’t be killed. It’s a good time.
The Witch
A lot of people hate this movie. The common criticisms are that it’s pretentious, boring, and hard to understand. And while some of those are valid points, The Witch is still one of the most original horror movies to be released this decade. Director Robert Eggers expertly builds tension with creepy lingering shots of the woods and an unsettling soundtrack reminiscent of The Shining. If you can handle the period-accurate dialogue, this eerie New England folktale is worth a watch.
Shaun of the Dead
If you’re in the mood for something a little more fun, why not watch what’s probably the greatest horror comedy of all time. The first entry in Edgar Wright’s Cornetto Trilogy is a hilarious romp that combines witty humour, a good story, and gore that would make Greg Nicotero proud. Along with Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead is probably your best bet if you’re looking for an unconventional zombie movie.
Fright Night (2011)
This remake of the eighties classic is a bit of a forgotten gem. While it wasn’t a box office smash, the movie is still one of the more entertaining horror movies in recent memory. Anton Yelchin plays Charley, a teen who is forced to go to war against his new neighbor Jerry, who just happens to be a vampire. For me, the standout in this movie is David Tennant’s turn as over-the-top vampire slayer Peter Vincent. If you like Twilight jokes and want to see the Tenth Doctor in ridiculous leather pants, this is the movie for you.
The Others
So far we’ve checked serial killers, witches, zombies, and vampires off the list, so it’s time for a good old fashioned ghost story. The Others relies less on cheap jump scares than it does on creepy imagery and tension. Director Alejandro Amenábar establishes the mood of the film from the start, and slowly builds to one of my favourite endings in movie history. The Others was the first scary movie I watched as a kid, and is still my favourite.
What are your favourite movies to watch on Halloween? Let us know in the comments.