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3. The Conjuring
@benellerguitars on Instagram4. Annabelle: Creation
Not to be confused with the original Annabelle which I did not find scary! If you watch, make sure it is Annabelle: Creation.
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Because let's be honest, how many of these scary, gory, jump-out-of-your-seat fright fest features are actually GOOD movies???
Sure they may be spooky, but sometimes they just suck as actual movies. That's why here I've compiled a list of movies that will not only give you the heebie-jeebies but will also leave you writing a good review on Rotten Tomatoes.
WARNING: Some of the gifs found below are pretty freaky, so be prepared.
1. The Conjuring
"The Conjuring" is quickly becoming a classic of the horror movie drama, and it's not very hard to see why. This movie has it all, an intricate plot, properly explained backstories, quality character development, and spooky scares that will not only make you jump out of your seat but having you avoiding cellars for a long time afterward.
2. The Shining
This movie scares your brain as well as your body, with its suspenseful recounting of insanity that is too creepy for any movie fan to look away. It's been established as a classic for a reason.
3. It
While many people hold that they did not find "It" as scary as other horror movies, there is no denying that Pennywise is creepier than most horror movie villains.
That's because what really did shock audiences in this recent Stephen King installment was not how freaky Pennywise was or how terrifying a concept the film was founded upon, but just how good the movie itself was.
It was entertaining, funny, suspenseful, and an all-around creepy thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, while also laughing your head off at some of these kids' crazy antics.
4. Silence of the Lambs
There is a line between scary and just generally unsettling, and "Silence of the Lambs" lives on that line. One part horror movie, one part crime thriller, this feature not only enthralls viewers with its creepy premise and spectacular characters but also with its high quality of drama that keeps the plot rolling in a way that will satisfy any good movie fan.
5. The Ring
Similar to "The Conjuring", "The Ring" fuses an intricate plotline with entertaining characters to take viewers on a journey that will prevent anyone from answering the phone for a good, shall we say, "7 days..."
6. Babadook
Speaking of creepy horror movie villains, "Babadook" is a storybook monster is the stuff of nightmares. This idea is just so eerie that the implications of the Babadook's story linger in your mind, long after the credits roll.
7. A Quiet Place
Now this movie isn't necessarily scary in the way many horror movies are, with the paranormal or blood and gore, but instead introduces an all too relevant concept with a focus on suspense and tension throughout. "A Quiet Place" will have you gripping the edge of your seat, and never again will you take silence for granted.
8. The Omen
I think it's become fairly obvious that throughout history, one thing has fascinated both skeptics and believers alike, and that is religion.
With a concept that contains as much uncertainty as this one does, there are definitely many fears associated with it.
"The Omen" capitalizes on these rigid religious fears of the 70s by making a terrifying, yet captivating tale that resonates with us differently than the plethora of slasher movies that are common today.
9. The Exorcist
Just like the movie above, "The Exorcist" speaks to the deep, intrinsic fears we all feel as to the stipulations of religion by telling the story of a terrifying demon who possesses a young girl.
10. The Sixth Sense
Everyone has their own opinion on whether "The Sixth Sense" can be considered a true horror movie or just a suspenseful thriller, but either way, there is no denying that this is a terrific movie. It deals with mental illness and trauma in such a unique, and rather scary, way, making it a must-have for any exceptional movie collection.
So grab some popcorn and maybe some leftover Halloween candy, and get to the spooks! I'm sure nothing will go wrong...
1. "Halloween" (1978)
You can't properly celebrate Halloween without watching this iconic classic. On Halloween night, a psychopath named Michael Myers escapes from the insane asylum he's been living in for the past 15 years and goes on a killing spree in his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois. The thing that makes this film so eerie and terrifying is that the killer has no proper motive, which throws rationality out the window and suggests that nightmares can come true without warning and for no reason at all.
2. "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984)
Another classic slasher film, A Nightmare On Elm Street terrorizes its viewers by blurring the lines of reality. Nancy Thompson is an average high school student with a dark family history. When Nancy was little, her parents burned alive Freddie Krueger, a child rapist wrecking havoc in their town. Now, Freddie's ghost is terrorizing Nancy in her sleep and slowly killing her classmates. A Nightmare On Elm Street is more of a psychological thriller than a jump-scare flick, but it still invokes plenty of fear with the simply haunting tagline "Don't fall asleep."
3. "The Conjuring" (2013)
Based on the true accounts of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring broke new grounds in the paranormal activity genre of horror films. When the Perrons move into a beautiful country farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island, they believe that the move is the fresh start their family of seven needs. It isn't until strange happenings start occurring, like the clocks stopping at 3:07 every night or the smell of rotten meat that occasionally fills the house, that the Perrons realize something sinister has moved in with them. The movie also includes real photographs of the Warrens and the Perrons to remind the audience that an incident like this has really happened and could happen to anyone.
4. "Scream" (1996)
If you're into crime mysteries and suspenseful thrillers, then Scream is a must on your watch list. This Whodunit? slasher film opens with the death of high school student Casey Becker and her boyfriend Steve and leaves the audience on the edge of their seat for the rest of the movie trying to figure out who the killer is. The film purposely misleads the viewer with lots of twists, turns, and foreshadowing, making the guessing game all the more difficult and exciting.
5. "The Blair Witch Project" (1999)
Three film students looking for clues of a murderer in the middle of the woods - what could go wrong? Alongside its dark storyline, creepy setting, and eerie ambiguity, The Blair Witch Project is popularly known because it was one of the first movies to be filmed entirely from a first-person P.O.V. This style of film teases the viewer by blending the realms of reality and fiction, which makes this movie very hauntingly disorienting.
6. "IT" (2017)
A remake based on Stephen King's classic novel by the same name, IT encapsulates true terror by recognizing the fact that fear is personal. In the small town of Derry, Maine, seven kids find themselves in a living nightmare when an ancient, shape-shifting evil emerges from the sewers and preys on the group of friends. The remastered version of IT is much more frightening because it combines both psychological terrors as well as horrifying special effects. It's recommended that you watch this one with the lights on.
7. "Hush" (2016)
Surprisingly an underrated horror film, Hush tells the story of a deaf author who is targeted by a killer in her isolated cabin. The lack of hearing in the protagonist makes the element of a killer that much scarier because it adds the element of dramatic irony - the viewer is able to perceive knowledge about the killer that the main character does not. This leaves the audience constantly shouting things like "Don't open that door!" while watching through their fingers.
8. "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991)
One of the most iconic movies in film history, this psychological thriller questions the boundaries of morality and gets under your skin with its cringey content. Clarice Starling, a top student at the FBI training academy, is assigned her first case - interview Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is living behind bars for cannibalism. Clarice uses Hannibal's intellect to help catch Buffalo Bill, a killer on the loose who's just recently kidnapped a local college student. Together, hero and villains must team up to catch the killer, but how far is Clarice willing to go in order to do her job?
9. "The Ring" (2002)
A strange videotape followed with a phone call telling you that you are going to die in seven days - sounds like some lame prank, right? Reporter Rachel Keller seems to think so...until people start mysteriously dying after watching the tape. As a curious journalist, Rachel watches the tape, and now she only has seven days to solve its mystery. The Ring is a movie that only gets better each time you watch it since there are so many elements thrown around that are meant to confuse and terrify the viewer. If you like creepy mysteries with lots of suspense, this is a great movie for you.
10. "Beetlejuice" (1988)
Although it's known as more of a comedy than a horror movie, Beetlejuice is still a creepy classic for those looking for less of a sleepless night and more of a good spook. After suffering from a tragic accident, a young couple is forced to haunt their house for all eternity, but they're not very good at it. After seeking the help of the boisterous spirit "Beetlejuice," they realize their guide may be more malicious than good and work with the new family who's moved into their home to get rid of him. A classic Halloween film that is always sure to be a crowd pleaser, Beetlejuice is a must on your watch list for spooky movies this month.
11. "Orphan" (2009)
After losing her third child in a miscarriage, Kate decides she wants to adopt. At the orphanage, Kate's husband Pete becomes close with Esther, an intelligent little girl who seems perfect in every way. Esther seems like just the right addition to Kate and Pete's family, but after a series of sinister events seem to plague the couple and their other two children, Kate begins to suspect that there is something evil lurking behind Esther's innocent appearance. Orphan is a highly unique movie full of twists and turns. Try to watch this movie without gasping every twenty minutes.
12. "Insidious" (2010)
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When Josh and Renai Lambert's oldest son Dalton falls into a coma after falling from a ladder, the couple is devastated. To make matters worse, ever since their son's accident, the family has been seeing terrifying spirits lurk about their home. After calling paranormal specialists to come and investigate, Josh and Renai learn that their son is actually trapped in an alternate, demonic reality, and it's up to Josh to save him. A classic paranormal film, Insidious is scary for its horrifying characters and its neglection of a happy ending.
13. "Psycho" (1960)
Janet Leigh Screams In Shower From 'Psycho'timeentertainment.files.wordpress.com
The first movie of its kind, Psycho is a Hitchcock classic that is a mandatory watch for movie fanatics everywhere. On the run from the police after stealing $40,000 from her place of work, Marion Crane checks into a discreet motel. She isn't heard from in a week, and out of concern, Marion's sister goes to the motel to investigate. There she meets Norman Bates and learns the disturbing truth behind the seemingly innocent hotel proprietor. After nearly 70 years, this movie still manages to freak out its viewers and is a great Halloween classic.
Fall - specifically October - is the absolute best time of year! The cooler weather, overall eerie feeling, and Halloween all make it such a wonderful season.
One of the best parts of fall is walking into a store like Wal-Mart or Target (or maybe a table at your local library?) and seeing displays full of horror movies. These displays often feature a mix of old classics and new scares, popular horrors and underrated frights. I love that, because my list of favorites is a mix that varies, with all sorts of subgenres from any year.
If you aren't sure what horror movies you should watch this October, here is my list of fifteen must-see flicks.
Warning: Jump scares ahead!
1. Sinister
This might be my favorite horror movie! It's super creepy, unique, and the ending is totally unexpected!
2. Insidious
The best part of this film has to be the sound effects and score. From the jarring, retro-inspired music to the horrifying creaking sounds that follow the red demon, each sound you hear really amps up the horror!
3. The Conjuring series
As movies, these are terrifying stories, but they become even scarier when you're aware of the true stories behind them!
(And the really scary stuff that happened on set.)
4. The Shining
An incredible, necessary classic!
5. The Orphanage
Yes, this is a Spanish horror movie, so you do have to watch it with subtitles, but it's SO worth it!
6. The Fourth Kind
Plot-wise, this isn't the greatest movie, but it makes up for that with convincing, horrifying "found footage" elements.
7. The Ring
Most of the time, American remakes don't hold up to the brilliance of the original, but this modern classic is pretty close to being as good as the original Japanese Ringu.
8. The Purge series
Normally, I'm not a fan of horror movies where the villain is just a normal person - it's just too real! However, there are a few exceptions, and this franchise is one of them! Sociologically, this series is a fascinating look at government, race, and class - my kind of movie!
9. The Forest
Starring Natalie Dormer. Need I say more?
10. The Amityville Horror (1979)
While this classic gets a few facts* wrong, it's still horrifying to watch knowing it's "based on a true story!"
*"Facts" depends, of course, on whether or not you believe Ed and Lorraine Warren's stories.
11. Paranormal Activity
I know, I know, everyone is sick of this series (and found footage) because they dragged it out way too long. But! The first one was actually really good! And legitimately scary!
12. Halloween
With a new film in the series coming out this month (!!!!!), it's definitely a good idea to rewatch this slasher classic!
13. Poltergeist (1982)
This one is pretty campy and cheesy now, but knowing the skeletons used in the film are actually real human bones definitely adds a new layer of horror to the film!
14. Alien
This sci-fi classic features one of the scariest movie monsters ever! You won't be able to sleep for months after seeing H.R Giger's horrifying alien design! And that tagline - "In space, no one can hear you scream" - will haunt you for days!
15. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Okay, yes, this isn't actually a horror movie, but you can't have October without the Pumpkin King!
Have a creepy October!
