Top 10 Horror Films You Need To Watch On Halloween: From An Avid Horror Viewer
By Ahmad El-Moussaoui
Maybe you have friends over and you need a good horror flick. Maybe you are too busy to do anything during the day so you need some entertainment for the night. Maybe you have a tradition where you watch a different horror film a year. Or maybe you just love horror movies. And yet, you have no idea where to look. Do not fret, as I have constructed the best top 10 list of horror movies for you.
10. The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Kicking off the list, we have the movie that introduced the greatest and most horrifying antagonist of all time: The Nun. The Conjuring is a part of the greatest 2010’s horror saga including films like Annabelle, The Nun and the rest of The Conjuring movies. However, I’m here to recommend the second film in the trilogy as it is the scariest one of them all. With phenomenal performances by established actors Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, a solid script, and unpredictable jump scares, The Conjuring 2 is one of the films where the sequel succeeds more than its predecessor.
9. Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Quarantine drastically changed the film industry as theatres closed down and streaming services dominated with their original movies. Horror was at an all-time low, until Netflix released a three-horror movie special every week for a month. Fear Street became the talk of July, reaching the top spot on the site for weeks and becoming the horror flick to watch for the summer. The Fear Street trilogy is one of the few lesbian teen horror movies out there, plus with star Sadie Sink, you have your six-hour-long bingeable film to watch with your snacks on the day of Halloween.
8. Smile (2022)
Don’t smile. RUN. Smile is the new IT horror flick of the year, grossing over 100 MILLION in the worldwide box office in under a month. You might’ve seen the heavy campaign set out for this film all around social media, or you heard your friends talking about it. Smile is a jump scare filled film that will make you bounce out of your seat - you might even want to see a therapist afterwards. Currently in theatres, it is the best movie to go watch with your friends, your loved one (you’ll want to hold your partner’s hand), or your family. I must tell you that if you choose to watch this movie, you will never see smiles the same way ever again…
7. The Quiet Place (2018)
Make a sound - have an agonising death. Getting John Krasinski to direct a horror film with the great Emily Blunt might’ve been the smartest, yet most unexpected, decision ever. The Quiet Place saw commercial and critical success - it did so well a sequel was made, and a prequel was announced recently. If you’re looking for an apocalyptic tearjerker, this is the right movie for you.
6. Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele has become a horror giant in Hollywood; he has released three critically acclaimed films such as US and recently NOPE. But the movie I want to recommend to all horror lovers is his very first big screen director lead creation: Get Out. This is no jump scare flick, rather you will finish the film utterly psychologically disoriented. Get Out became one of the few horror films to bag a win at the Oscars, a task that is hard to accomplish since grand award shows prefer drama over horror, winning Best Screenplay. Tackling heavy topics like racism in creative ways seems to be Peele’s golden mine. If you wish to spend your Halloween thinking critically about life and one’s privilege, then look further as Get Out will satisfy your analytical self.
5. IT (2017)
Of course we can’t have a top ten horror list without including the scariest clown in town. Every year, Pennywise and Georgie are top outfit picks to go trick-or-treating. Upon release, IT became the highest grossing horror film worldwide of all time, with approximately 700 MILLION dollars - and immediately became a classic. If you choose to watch this movie, you might never want to go near a sewer again.
4. Midsommar (2019)
Have you ever been asked to go on a stress-free retreat to a festival, but end up joining a violent pagan cult? Directed by the same creator of Hereditary, this A24 film horrifically portrays aspects of toxic relationships through psychological terror. Midsommar immediately became a cult classic among horror fans and launched Florence Pugh’s career in Hollywood.
3. Coraline (2009)
I know what you’re thinking, what’s a stop motion children's movie doing on a horror list? Trust me, when I watched this movie as an innocent ten year old, I was petrified. Now it’s become a yearly October watch. Coraline has horrific imagery with heavy topics that reaches all ages that is perfect for the spooky season. Stop motion animation is usually forgotten in discussions like these, so I’m here to open you to a whole new world of film; if you’d rather watch a recent animated film, Jordan Peele, Henry Selick and Netflix have recently dropped a horror film called Wendell & Wild featuring the first animated female black teenager!
2. Scream (1996)
Made to be a satirical film that mocks mainstream unrealistic horrors, Scream joined the great saga’s of horror classics, producing four sequels (one released this year). With an all-star cast, including Drew Barrymore who was one of the IT girls of Hollywood at the time, the movie exceeded all expectations all the while being extremely meta. Scream also created the most beloved final girl, Sydney Prescott, and most iconic costume - Ghostface. This is a classic, and one you’ll likely love.
1. Halloween (1978)
Finally, we have the greatest Halloween film to watch on the 31st - Halloween. Halloween majorly influenced all horror films that came after it. Not only was Michael Myers deemed the greatest horror antagonist, but the movie also created the “final girl” trope with the help of the award winning Jamie Lee Curtis. Halloween also introduced a new way of horrifying the audience and became the longest running franchise of all time with Halloween End’s release just this month. All the same, I should tell you to stray away from the new films; nothing competes with the original.
Honourable Mention: The Nightmare Before Christmas
A fun movie to watch to transition from the spooky season to the holiday season!
Well there you have it! The top 10 horror movies I think you should watch on October 31st. Get your treats and popcorn ready, and make sure your house is locked - you never know what might happen on Halloween.
I'm a coward, so I will watch exactly none of these recommendations! But I love that RL Stine is still relevant in 2022.