Top Picks for the Halloween Season

It’s my favorite time of year again! Here are some of my top movies to watch during the Halloween season. Be sure to check them out for a few good screams!

Psycho

Widely considered Alfred Hitchcock’s most shocking film, Psycho is the “slasher” that defined a genre and set the benchmark for modern horror movies. Halloween is the only other film of its kind to come close.

Halloween

No list would be complete without this perennial favorite from WKU’s own John Carpenter. After 35 years, Halloween still stands the test of time as a post-Psycho affirmation of the “slasher” genre and one of the scariest of its kind for its silent, brooding antagonist and haunting musical score from Carpenter himself.

The Conjuring

This recent chiller from Insidious director James Wan is destined to become the next horror classic. Fine performances, a strong story, and slow-burning thrills are punctuated by a spooky, slam-bang climax that rivals The Exorcist. Homage is paid to that and several other old-school favorites, including Poltergeist and Child’s Play.

The Exorcist

An engrossing story about two priests enlisted to save the soul of a young girl after she is possessed by the devil. The infamous “pea soup” scene is just one of several spine-tingling moments that have earned The Exorcist the title of "scariest movie ever made" by top critics.

The Evil Dead

To this day, Sam Raimi’s 1981 cult classic is still considered one of the most graphic, gut-wrenching pictures ever made, despite its use of practical visual effects over CGI. The film has a dark sense of humor that soars on the wings of Bruce Campbell’s over-the-top performance. Such humor was sorely missed in this year’s remake.

Sinister

At the time that I first saw Sinister last October, it was the scariest movie I had ever seen. Director Scott Derrickson doesn’t cheat with his scares, evoking a sense of dread in every frame. It becomes more and more stylized by the end, but it’s still a bloody good time that caused me to lose sleep for days.

The Blair Witch Project

You have the creative team of Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez to thank for popularizing the “found footage horror” genre with this cult favorite. Made on a shoestring budget in the late 90s, Blair Witch is still one of the most realistic thrillers you’re likely to see. Its minimalist approach proves that the human imagination can be more frightening than any vampire, mummy or werewolf out there.

Paranormal Activity 3

In my opinion, this is the best of the Paranormal Activity franchise. Rewinding the story back to the VHS days of the late 1980s, this prequel hints at how and why the “activity” began. The scares start early and don’t let up, culminating in the series’ most shocking ending.

The Cabin in the Woods

This entertaining thrill ride from the creative duo of Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Drew Goddard (Cloverfield) turns horror movie clichés on their head with a classic setup but a completely atypical payoff.

Zombieland

I enjoy the wacky sense of humor with which director Ruben Fleischer and scribes Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick approach this romp while packing on satisfying zombie action. Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin make for endearing leads.

Donnie Darko

Though not technically billed as a “horror” film, Donnie Darko is a season staple for its intricate plot, bizarre imagery and Halloween-time setting. A young Jake Gyllenhaal affirms his A-list status with an arresting performance.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

While Tim Burton’s stylized, stop-motion settings and characters certainly evoke the spirit of the season, Nightmare technically doubles as both a Halloween and a Christmas movie. It’s just as good any time of year.