With Halloween just two days away we thought we would share with you a list that our staff has compiled of the best film to get you in the spooky Halloween spirit!
A few times The Blair Witch Project (1999) came up in our discussions however, we ultimately decided not to include it - Kids in the 90s didn't have TikTok to fulfill their dreams of seeing "influencers" so they instead turned to the big screen to gaze in awe as "influencers" travel into the woods with a shaky-cam.
1. Scream (1996)
After a series of mysterious deaths befalls their small town, an offbeat group of friends led by Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) becomes the target of a masked killer. As the body count rises, Sidney and her friends turn to the "rules" of horror films to help navigate the real-life terror they're living in.
"Wes Craven has always been one of my favorite horror directors. When Scream came out it blew my mind (and it was a game-changer for the horror genre)! Even on repeat viewings my joy of watching it never wanes! The sequels are amazing to watch as well. Just stay clear of Scream 3" - Nathan Rose
"The best forms of parody are borne of a love of the original." - Stephen Compall
2. The Thing (1982)
A remote Antarctic science station is under siege from within, as an alien force is uncovered but hidden within certain members of the Team. Paranoia runs deep, as the dwindling group runs out of time, will they discover who is The Thing, before it gets to them first?
"I love the thing because of its nihilistic bent, there is no hope for any of the survivors whether they beat the creature or not. It's just a group of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The isolation, paranoia, and even moments of dark humor, are simply played to perfection. The Thing is a perfect, "monster-in-the-house" horror film, with visceral practical effects. You cannot Escape! It's the kind of movie you want to watch again, and again." - Leonard Buccellato
"Even after numerous rewatches, this film still keeps me on the edge of my seat. The special effects are a bit grotesque, but the best in the industry for its time period." - Nathan Rose
"What I love about "The Thing" is the scary nature of the film's paranoia and conflict that grows and grows as the isolated group of scientists learns that they can no longer trust each other and that any one of them could be the deadly Alien. Also, it stars Kurt Russell in a kick-ass role" -- Alyn Darnay
3. Halloween (1978)
It was a cold Halloween night in 1963 when six-year-old Michael Audrey Myers brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister, Judith Margaret Myers. Fifteen years later he escapes from prison... He returns to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he follows three young women. Seventeen-year-old Laurie Strode is a quiet bookworm, preferring babysitting over parties. Her friends, Annie and Lynda, are busy thinking about the fun of Halloween night. Little do they know, Michael Myers has come home to kill. Their only hope is Dr. Loomis, Michael's childhood psychiatrist and town sheriff Leigh Brackett, who happens to be Annie's father. The duo search the streets, but the bogeyman is close to his prize for the night: Laurie!
"It's a warm cozy horror movie. Loved it when it first came out and I saw it as a kid. It's the extraordinary simplicity of it all (starting with the title of course!)" - Judith Rayer
"Halloween is the film that began the franchise, gave us Michael Myers, launched Jamie Lee Curtis career, and features an iconic soundtrack." - Joe Vore
4. Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Halloweentown's beloved Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington is attempting to take over the Christmas holiday. Against the advice of Sally a lonely rag doll who has feelings for him, Jack enlists three mischievous trick-or-treaters - Lock, Shock, and Barrel - to help him kidnap Santa Claus. Jack eventually realizes his mistake but has to contend with the evil Oogie Boogie before he can make things right and restore the Christmas holiday.
"Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love the characters and the idea that what is pleasing to some is not to others and the animation is so well done." - Allison Rose
"Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas is my childhood and all-time favorite Halloween movie. I look forward to it every Halloween season, there's nothing like it. It's the perfect Halloween movie for all, and a classic!" - Victoria Hanson
5. Beetlejuice (1988)
What's a couple of stay-at-home ghosts to do when their beloved home is taken over by trendy yuppies? They call on Beetlejuice, the afterlife's freelance bio-exorcist to scare off the family. Beetlejuice is the ghost with the most who flings one-liners, spins into grotesque forms, gobbles insects, and who just can't leave the ladies (living or dead) alone.
"Beetlejuice may be one of Michael Keaton's best characters. The movie combines scares with comedy and a great musical number!" - Allison Rose
"I like to watch Beetlejuice around Halloween time because Tim Button films have that macabre vibe to them. It's a great, fun, smart, film with some great performances. Beetlejuice is one of the films that gets me in the Halloween spirit." -- Maureen Buccellato
6. Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Nancy Thompson is suffering from violent nightmares about a badly burned man wearing a glove made of knives. She quickly learns that this man - child molester Freddy Krueger - is also terrorizing the dreams of her friends. As they begin to die one by one in their sleep, Nancy learns, that years prior, the parents of Elm Street burned Krueger alive - and now Freddy is back to claim their children's lives as revenge!
"One of my first real horror films from my childhood. Mixing fantasy and horror, Freddy is the perfect monster to haunt you in your dreams and reality as well!" - Nathan Rose
"Who hasn't had a nightmare or bad dream that was so horrific and felt so real, and you couldn't wake only to come face-to-face with the boogeyman?" - Jill Winans
7. Child's Play (1988)
When serial killer Charles Lee Ray is mortally wounded in a police shoot-out, he uses a voodoo spell to transfer his soul into Chucky, a Good Guys doll. Andy receives the doll as a birthday gift, and Chucky soon resumes his killing spree. However, Charles doesn't want to be trapped in the body of a doll forever. His only escape would be to transfer into the first human he revealed his true identity to... which places Andy in mortal danger.
"Based on the true tale of "Robert the Doll", Chucky is one of those characters, like Freddy, scary and fun at the same time with biting sarcasm. I love the first three films, after that, not so much" - Nathan Rose
"In my eyes, Childs Play is pure cheese, but it's fun cheese for Halloween. But what makes this even better is a fun performance from Brad Dourif, and it has a fun finale!" - Austin Putnam
8. The Exorcist (1973)
The Exorcist is still considered one of the scariest movies ever made. Wes Craven named William Friedkin and The Exorcist one of his five favorite movies.
"There's a lot of horror films that have scared me, but there are only a few that have traumatized me. If you want pure horror and something that'll make you want to sleep with the lights, this is the way to go." - Austin Putnam
"I'm much more a fan of the supernatural and the things you can't see or explain rather than slasher films. If you can't see it, how do you stop it? As a Catholic and having some knowledge about the history of exorcisms, it makes this film all the more frightening." -Jill Winans
9. Ghostbusters (1984)
A trio of university parasychologists lose their research grant and decide to open their own business, "Ghostbusters," and almost at once are summoned to investigate the strange happenings in a Central Park West apartment. What they discover is that all Manhattan is being besieged by otherworldly demons.
"Ghostbusters isn't very scary so it is safe for somewhat younger audiences. It has a lighthearted feel, some good jokes, and a catchy theme song. Besides, who doesn't love a giant stay puff marshmallow man!!!" - Allison Rose
"Ghostbusters is a ride with spooky elements that you can't go wrong with and it's a perfect movie if you want something to watch for the whole family." - Austin Putnam
10. In The Mouth of Madness (1995)
Imagine a novel so overwhelmingly hypnotic, so tremendously horrifying that it paralyzes its audience with fear and turns even its most sensible readers insane. When the author disappears, an insurance investigator hired to find the writer discovers far more than he could ever imagine in this spellbinding thriller.
"The way that the film transitions seamlessly from thriller to horror, and the main character from viewer avatar to an agent of chaos, make In The Mouth of Madness interesting from beginning to end." - Stephen Compell
"One of my first John Carpenter films to watch. When I saw this in the theater I was blown away how they weaved fantasy and reality so well." - Nathan Rose
Honorable mentions include Scream 2 (1997), Trick ‘r Treat (2009), The Corpse Bride (2005), Ready or Not (2019), Hocus Pocus (1993), and The Rite (2011).
We hope everyone has a GREAT Halloween and remember whatever you watch this holiday is all about fun and magic!
