Halloween is approaching fast, so it’s time once again to break out the horror flicks! They’re fun any time of year, but they’re especially fun when you curl up with (or hide under) a big blanket with some friends. Or alone…if you dare.
There are so many horror movies and, unfortunately, a lot of them are pretty terrible. Don’t get me wrong, I love a terrible horror movie from time to time. There is something satisfying about laughing at something that was obviously meant to terrify.
But there are only so many horror movie tropes you can see before they start to bore you. Creepy little girls in white nightgowns, flash cuts, jump scares, and oozing black substances get old. With so many sub-par films out there, it can get disappointing when you’re in the mood for a scare.
So we compiled a list of some of the best and scariest movies we’ve ever seen. We’re leaving out a lot of the classics, because you’ve probably heard of them. Instead, we’re including smaller movies and movies that might not be traditional “horror” films, but are creepy anyway.
1. The Haunting, Robert Wise, 1963
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The 1999 sequel never happened. It never happened. Okay? This horror movie is perfect for people squeamish about horror movies, because the scares are in your mind rather than on the screen. You don’t have to wonder when something is going to appear and shock-scare you, but hardened horror veterans can appreciate it, too. It’s a classic story of a group of strangers in a supposedly haunted house looking to do research on the paranormal. And, yes, they find it.
2. The Innkeepers, Ti West, 2011
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A hotel with a known ghost legend is about to close. Two ghost hunting employees, alone for the hotel’s last night, are determined to find ghosts before they have to find new jobs. And they do…kind of. This is another film that’s more psychological than just things popping out and shrieking, and it requires thought. Director Ti West stated in interviews that he’s not content to let the audience in on too much. Instead, he makes them come along for the ride without the benefit of figuring out what’s actually going on.
3. Paranormal Activity, Oren Peli, 2007
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No, wait, hear me out. Ignore that this movie became a franchise with about a billion sequels. The original movie is actually pretty good. It’s a found-footage movie chronicling couple Micah and Katie’s move into a new house and the way they cope when things start…happening. It’s a pretty slow-paced movie, with little in the way of scares or special effects, but what it offers is effective. It’s also an interesting take on the “haunted house” genre, with the people, rather than the space, being haunted. Skip the sequels, though. They’re not worth it.
4. The Orphanage, J.A. Bayona, 2007
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A couple moves into an old orphanage with the hopes of refurbishing it and making it into a home for disabled children. When they arrive, their young son Simon begins to make friends, in particular a little boy named Tomas. Trouble is, no one can see Tomas. As the movie unfolds, secrets about Tomas, Simon, and the orphanage become unveiled. Though there are horror elements, and the film is chilling and suspenseful, but what carries this one is the compelling story. It’s also produced by Guillermo del Toro, so it’s visually striking as well.
5. The Conjuring, James Wan, 2013
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A family of seven moves into a picturesque old house. When things start getting creepy, they call in famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Then things get really creepy. This film was shot and styled like a classic 70s horror movie. It has nothing in the way of gore, violence, sex or even swearing, but was given an R rating simply because it’s really scary. It’s also lightyears better than Wan’s Insidious films.
6. Event Horizon, Paul W.S. Anderson, 1997
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The crew of a spaceship discovers a ghost ship off Jupiter that disappeared after generating and entering a manmade black hole. The trouble with creating black holes is you might open up into a dimension of pure chaos, but the rescue crew doesn’t realize this. What follows is the descent into both figurative and literal hell for the crew. This is not a film for children, with a considerable amount of violence and gore. And while it’s scary, the film’s real horror comes from the impending doom, the isolation of space, and each of the crew members’ personal demons.
7. Jug Face, Chad Crawford Kinkle, 2013
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This Southern gothic tale is not what you expect. Whatever you expect, you’re probably wrong. The movie centers on a rural, isolated community that worships “the Pit,” a hole in the ground exuding a supernatural force…and demands human sacrifice. Again, whatever you’re thinking now, you’re also wrong. It’s a desolate, ominous, character-driven piece with a mythology of its own.
8. The Moth Diaries, Mary Harron, 2011
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This movie is “horror” in the traditional sense, drawing inspiration from the gothic novels of the 19th century. When a newcomer strikes up a close friendship with her best friend, boarding school student Rebecca struggles with the feeling that something isn’t quite right about this new girl. Or maybe she’s just jealous? Using the classic vampire tale as its foundation, this movie is also an exploration of the friendships of teen girls. It’s an interesting departure from the basic vampire story. Vampire fans should take a look.
9. Alien, Ridley Scott, 1979
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“But wait,” you say, “that’s a sci-fi movie!” Yes, it is, but it’s more science horror than science fiction. It’s described as a “slasher movie in space,” and director Scott knew from the outset that fear was the feeling he wanted to inspire. The crew of a mining ship encounters a strange distress call, and when they investigate, an alien life form sneaks aboard their ship. This is the kind of movie that’s scary because of what you don’t see, and the claustrophobic settings add to the feeling of inescapable doom.
10. “In Chambers,” Aleksander Nordaas, 2011
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This one is a short! Clocking in at only 10 minutes, you can watch this on your lunch break for a spooky afternoon. This short involves nefarious men with medical equipment and a great soundtrack. Explaining any more would give too much away.
So grab that popcorn and turn the lights down. Actually, on better thought, you might want to keep them on for these!
