Halloween is fast approaching, which means elaborate outfits, pumpkin carving and an awful lot of trick-or-treat goodies. But if your idea of a good evening is less apple bobbing and more sofa lounging, there is an easy way to embrace the spooky season without needing to leave the house: a good old horror film.
Whether you’re after a gory slasher for a sleepover spookfest or a psychological thriller to scare yourself senseless, here are 13 of the best Halloween movies to snuggle up in front of this October.
Halloween (1978)
Starting off with an obvious pick, ‘70s slasher Halloween follows mental patient Michael Myers (Donald Pleasence) who murdered his teenage sister one Halloween night. Fifteen years later, he escapes and returns to his hometown, where he stalks teenage Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her friends.
It Follows (2014)
It Follows is a supernatural horror thriller centered on Jay (Maika Monrow), a teenager who becomes cursed after a sexual encounter. The curse manifests as a mysterious entity that relentlessly follows its target at a slow pace. Only the cursed can see it, and if it catches them, they die. Jay has two options: pass the curse to someone else through another sexual encounter or be doomed to run from the entity forever.
Psycho (1960)
One of Alfred Hitchcock’s most iconic film’s, Psycho follows Marion Crane, a woman who steals a large sum of money from her boss and seeks refuge at the remote Bates Motel, run by the mysterious Norman Bates. After Marion vanishes, her family and a detective start to investigate, uncovering unsettling truths about Norman and the motel.
The Invisible Man (2020)
The Invisible Man follows Cecilia (Elizabeth Moss), a woman who escapes an abusive relationship with a wealthy, controlling scientist. After his apparent suicide, she begins to suspect that he’s found a way to become invisible and is stalking her. As she faces various threats to her life, Cecilia struggles to prove that she’s being hunted by an unseen force while those around her question her sanity.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
This iconic supernatural horror features a group of teenagers being stalked in their dreams by Freddy Krueger, a disfigured, vengeful killer with a bladed glove. When Freddy attacks them in their dreams, the injuries carry over into the real world – and that includes if they’re murdered. As the teens try to stay awake to avoid Freddy, they start to uncover the dark history behind why he’s haunting them.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
A good spooky film that won’t keep you up at night, this family friend comedy is about three 17th-century witches, the Sanderson sisters, who are accidentally resurrected in modern-day Salem by teenager Max. Along with his sister Dani, friend Allison and Binx the black cat, Max must stop the witches from stealing the life force of children to stay young and powerful.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) follows a group of friends who travel to rural Texas and find a remote house, not realising it’s the property of a family of deranged killers, including the terrifying, chainsaw-wielding Leatherface. The film’s raw, documentary style means it’s a really grisly watch for hardcore horror fans out there.
The Conjuring (2013)
This paranormal spookfest revolves around investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are called to help the Perron family after a series of disturbing events at their Rhode Island farmhouse. As the Warrens delve deeper into the haunting, they uncover a dark history tied to witchcraft and possession – and end up being forced to face the malevolent entity face on.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Another family friendly option, Bedknobs and Broomsticks follows Eglantine Price, a witch-in-training during World War II, who is tasked with protecting three orphaned children evacuated from London. When they discover her magical bedknob, they embark on a series of enchanting adventures, from battling against the Nazis to trying to rescue Eglantine’s mentor.
Final Destination (2000)
Final Destination follows high school student Alex Browning, who has a premonition of a catastrophic plane crash while on a school trip to Paris. After escaping the plane with several of his classmates, Alex and the survivors soon realize they have cheated death. One by one, they begin to die in gruesome accidents, all the while trying to uncover and reverse the fatal pattern.
Corpse Bride (2005)
Tim Burton’s animation tells the story of Victor Van Dort, a shy young man who accidentally proposes to a deceased bride, Emily, while practicing his wedding vows in the woods. Transported to the Land of the Dead, Victor discovers a whimsical and haunting underworld. As he navigates between the living and the dead, he must ultimately choose between his living fiancée, Victoria, and dead bride Emily.
Child’s Play (1988)
Child’s Play follows a single mother, Karen Barclay, who gifts her son, Andy, a seemingly innocent Good Guy doll for his birthday. Unbeknownst to them, the doll is possessed by the soul of a notorious serial killer, Charles Lee Ray, who uses voodoo to transfer his spirit into the doll. As strange and violent occurrences unfold, Andy becomes the prime suspect in a series of murders. Karen must uncover the truth and protect her son from the malevolent doll, leading to a terrifying showdown.
M3G4N (2023)
Gemma, a brilliant robotist, sets about creating an advanced AI doll designed to be a child’s best friend. After becoming the legal guardian of her orphaned niece, Cady, Gemma introduces M3GAN to help care for her. Initially, M3GAN proves to be a remarkable companion, but her protective instincts quickly turn deadly as she becomes increasingly possessive of Cady. As M3GAN’s behavior spirals out of control, Gemma must confront the consequences of her creation before the effects become fatal.
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