Every holiday has its hallmarks. What would Thanksgiving be without the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or the Fourth of July without cookouts and fireworks? For Halloween, one of the many hallmarks of the holiday is horror films.
Horror films always make the Halloween season special, whether they’re new releases in theaters that everyone is talking about or older classics that are always worth revisiting. These are 10 spooky movies that will get you in the spirit of the season:
“The Autopsy of Jane Doe” (2016)
Rated R
This movie is one that feels as if it has been in the circulation of streaming services for decades at this point. Because of that, it is shocking that it has garnered so little attention. It certainly deserves more than it gets. “The Autopsy of Jane Doe” tells the story of father-and-son coroners (Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch) who conduct an autopsy on an unidentified woman and discover some dark secrets beneath the surface. This is a movie to see without any prior context, because the twists and turns throughout are what make it such a great watch, especially on a dark and rainy night.
Available to stream on Netflix, AMC+; Rent/Buy on YouTube or Amazon
“Beetlejuice” (1988)
Rated PG
Whether you’re a fan of this classic movie, a fan of the newly released legacy sequel, the Broadway musical adaptation, or new to “Beetlejuice” in its entirety; this 1988 film is overflowing with both narrative and visual originality. The film tells the story of a recently deceased young couple trying to cope with life after death. Many consider this to be at the top of Tim Burton’s filmography, and that argument is certainly valid. The utilization of Burton’s beloved German expressionist filmmaking techniques paired with a script that is jam-packed with ingenious jokes and gags makes for a unique and fun viewing experience. Throw in a phenomenal cast of great actors like Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Alec Baldwin, and Winona Ryder and the result is this all-time horror-comedy classic.
Available to stream on Max; Rent/Buy on YouTube or Amazon
“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)
Rated R
People love horror films that allow them to step into the shoes of the protagonist. It makes the terror feel real. How about watching a horror film where you can actually walk where the characters in the film walked? “The Blair Witch Project” was directed by Frederick native Eduardo Sanchez and takes place in the historic village of Burkittsville–about 18 miles from Frederick; where it was also shot. The film was revolutionary at the time of its release for its viral marketing campaign and for kickstarting the found footage sub-genre craze. It focuses on a group of film students; portrayed by Rei Hance, Joshua Leonard, and Michael Williams. Making a documentary on the infamous “Blair Witch” of Burkittsville that end up lost in the woods when the spooky story gets a little too real. The film is engaging both in terms of its unique style as well as its truly frightening story. For locals of Frederick, a viewing of “The Blair Witch Project” and a trip to Burkittsville could make for a very fun October day.
Available to stream on Peacock; Rent/Buy on YouTube or Amazon
“Candyman” (1992)
Rated R
Love ‘90’s horror? Love urban legends? “Candyman” is a phenomenal movie that satisfies both criteria and yet often flies under the radar in the discussion of horror classics. The movie explores the urban legend of “Candyman” (Tony Todd) through the story of a college professor (Virginia Madsen) that is writing a paper on the iconic tale who soon realizes her skepticism may have been ill-advised. “Candyman” is successful in bringing audiences both the scares they came for and also leaving them with powerful themes about race in our society that gives a deeper layer to the horror on the screen.
Available to stream on Peacock, AMC+; Rent/Buy on YouTube or Amazon
“Evil Dead 2” (1987)
Rated R
Another horror-comedy gem from the ‘80’s that many consider to be one of the greatest films of all time is Sam Raimi’s follow up to his successful cult film “The Evil Dead” (1981). For those who haven’t watched the original, no worries. While the number in the title might suggest a continuity in the series, “Evil Dead 2” is essentially a remake. Both films tell the story of a young man (Bruce Campbell) battling evil spirits in an old cabin in the woods. The big difference between the two is the second movie cranks everything to the max. The slapstick humor, the creepy practical effects, the over-the-top gore, the breakneck pace of the wild, bloody adventure… it’s a viewing experience like no other.
Available to stream on AMC+, Pluto TV; Rent/Buy on YouTube or Amazon
“Near Dark” (1987)
Rated R
Speaking of cult favorites, “Near Dark” is another movie that has developed a following over the nearly 40 years since its release. The film explores the life of vampires in a gritty, realistic way within dusty, southwestern America. It tells the story of a farm boy (Adrian Pasdar) who is bitten by a beautiful vampire (Jenny Wright) and is compelled to join her group of traveling vampires, led by Severen (Bill Paxton). It’s an interesting genre mashup of horror and gritty western, and really gives life to the vampire subgenre outside of lavish castles and velvet-lined coffins. It’s realistic to what life would be like as a vampire in America, and that is what makes the movie stand out as one of the best horror films ever made. Not necessarily a traditional monster movie, but definitely one that deserves a watch.
Purchase DVD on Amazon
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
Rated PG
Looking for an October movie for all ages? This stop motion animated musical is an absolutely phenomenal film for the spooky season, as well as the Christmas season as suggested by the title. It follows Jack Skellington (voiced by Christopher Sarandon) the leader of Halloweentown who desires more and finds it when he stumbles upon Christmasland. This movie is an absolute classic, and is one that has become a staple of both holidays, especially Halloween. It’s a perfect watch for those who love musicals as well as those who are just looking for a spooky movie on the milder side of the spectrum.
Available to stream on Disney+; Rent/Buy on YouTube or Amazon
“Scream” (1996)
Rated R
It doesn’t get much more iconic than the original “Scream.” It defined a decade of horror movies, and continues to influence horror filmmakers of today. For those who are unfamiliar, “Scream” tells the story of Sidney (played by Neve Campbell) and her friends who are hunted down by the “Ghostface” killer that has become an iconic symbol of Halloween since the movie’s release. While following the slasher movie formula, “Scream” was groundbreaking for its meta element of having horror movie-aware characters that know the tropes of the type of movie that they themselves are in. Whether it’s a first or 31st viewing, it’s always a staple film of October.
Available to stream on Max; Rent/Buy on YouTube or Amazon
“Talk to Me” (2022)
Rated R
Horror films tend to gain popularity as time passes, but despite being as recent as two years old, “Talk to Me” is a film that has had some significant attention and praise since its release. In the movie, Mia (Sophie Wilde) has a supernatural experience with her friends when they get possessed while playing a party game, and things only escalate from there. “Talk to Me” utilizes some fantastic spooky visuals and effects to make the possessions all the more impactful, and conjures some edge-of-your-seat tension in the process. “Talk to Me” is one of the scariest movies in recent years, and is a great October viewing option.
Rent/Buy on YouTube or Amazon
“Trick ‘r Treat” (2007)
Rated R
When it comes to Halloween-centric movies, look no further. “Trick ‘r Treat” is the ultimate Halloween movie. It utilizes just about every aspect of the holiday, featuring pumpkin carving, Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating, monsters, and more. “Trick ‘r Treat” is an anthology film and tells several different stories about spooky events across a small town on Halloween night. It utilizes a comic book style to blend the stories together, similar to “Creepshow” (1982). The stories are all clever and have creative twists that make them each satisfying. It’s a movie that wraps up the Halloween experience into a tight 100 minute runtime, perfect for your Halloween viewing pleasure.
Available to stream on Max; Rent/Buy on YouTube or Amazon
