The 16 Best Scary Halloween Movies You Must Watch

Spooky season is fast approaching and Halloween is just made for the ultimate movie night in. Finding a good horror movie these days can be difficult though so I’ve done all the hard work for you (who am I kidding, it wasn’t that hard because I love horror films) and I’ve come up with the 16 best scary Halloween movies you must watch. There’s a mix of classics and more modern offerings so you’ll be sure to find something terrifying. Grab your snacks, turn off the lights and be prepared to be scared!

Sinister

Released – 2012 | Run time – 109 minutes | Genre – supernatural horror

I went to the cinema to see Sinister when it was first released and that night in bed I was terrified. I’ve watched this film many times since its release and pretty much every time I do, I get sleep paralysis so it obviously does something to my mind! If you can get over the fact that the supernatural being has a terrible name, Mr Boogie, then I think this succeeds in being a genuinely creepy movie. There’s something about the old film footage, the use of kids and a creepy attic that just makes this movie a hit.

True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt moves his family into a new home, but he’s hiding the truth from them about what happened there. When he finds a box of strange home videos in the attic, Ellison begins to piece together terrifying mystery that puts his family’s safety at risk. It’s a haunted house movie with a difference.

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Psycho

Released – 1960 Run time – 109 minutes | Genre – Thriller

The absolute cinema classic, Psycho just had to be on a Halloween movie list right? If you haven’t seen it then you just can’t call yourself a horror film fan, sorry!

Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho remains an essential and ground-breaking work in the horror genre. With that iconic shower scene, an unsettling score, and unexpected twists, the film set a new standard for suspense and terror in movies. Norman Bates is a seemingly ordinary motel manager harbouring a sinister secret and this character become a classic example of how character ambiguity should be done. Hitchcock can only be praised for his diligent direction and original techniques that made sure this film would never be forgotten.

The Woman in Black

Released – 2012 | Run time – 95 minutes | Genre – supernatural horror

OK so 2012 was apparently a good year for horror films and this is another one I saw at the cinema. The Woman in Black ditches all the horror tropes that modern audiences have become accustomed to and instead manages to chill its audience with an eerie atmosphere and great tension building. Considering it was produced by Hammer Film Productions it’s no surprise that it went against all the blood and gore and instead went down the route of a classic gothic horror film. This is how horror films used to be so if you’re after a classic ghost story this is definitely one to watch.

Adapted from Susan Hill’s novel, The Woman in Black, Arthur Kipps is a young solicitor sent to settle the affairs of a deceased woman in a remote village. As he digs deeper into the haunting secrets of the eerie mansion, he encounters the bitter ghost of the Woman in Black. This movie shuns gore and shock tactics and relies on atmosphere and mood which makes for an excellent, classic-feeling horror film.

The Exorcist

Released – 1973 | Run time – 122 minutes | Genre – supernatural horror

This was going to make it onto a list of movies to watch at Halloween wasn’t it? The Exorcist is a classic horror film that can still provide modern audiences with a scare. There have been a lot of horror films that focus on demons and exorcism since the release of this classic and some are a lot better than others. But this is truly the place to start with the exorcism subgenre. What sets The Exorcist apart is its ability to provide the audience with a genuinely unnerving experience. The haunting sounds, strange visuals, and stand-out performances all contribute to the terrifying atmosphere. The infamous exorcism scene remains one of the most most horrifying scenes in cinema history.

Its explicit and shocking content pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in cinema at the time. However, the film’s impact on popular culture is beyond doubt.

The Conjuring 2

Released – 2016 | Run time – 134 minutes | Genre – supernatural horror

I seem to remember that I went to see the first Conjuring film in the cinema and I that impressed (maybe I should revisit it). Due to that reason I skipped the second instalment when it was released and instead came to it a few years later when I couldn’t find anything else to watch. For me the second film in The Conjuring franchise is far superior. It focuses on the Enfield poltergeist which is a case I find super interesting anyway and the film actually works well. It’s a little predictable in places which is what you tend to find with franchises like this but I can easily overlook that because it’s an enjoyable film that covers an interesting real-life case. 

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren travel to Enfield, London, to help a single mother and her children who are tormented by evil spirits. The Conjuring 2 delivers jump scares, fantastic performances, and a gripping storyline that makes it stand out from the rest of the franchise.

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Released – 1984 | Run time – 91 minutes | Genre – slasher

Another horror classic that has an iconic villain we all know. A Nightmare on Elm Street burst onto the scene in the 80’s and has remained a firm favourite of horror fans ever since.

Wes Craven’s classic movie introduced horror fans to the violent Freddy Krueger, a razor-gloved nightmare stalker who haunts the dreams of teenagers. The film crosses the line between dreams and reality adding to the suspense and blurring what’s real. A group of friends battles to stay awake to escape the clutches of Krueger. Robert Englund’s portrayal of Freddy Krueger cemented him as one of the most iconic villains in horror history. With its original concept, A Nightmare on Elm Street tapped into the basic fears we all have to secure it’s place in horror history.

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The Cabin in the Woods

Released – 2012 | Run time – 95 minutes | Genre – horror comedy

I was pleasantly surprised by how good this turned out to be as we really didn’t have high hopes. It’s pretty bonkers but quite an interesting concept and the comedy aspect actually works really well in it. The balance between horror and comedy is just right, it’s not too silly that it comes across as a spoof and the horror elements are well done and add a twist to the funnier moments. It cleverly uses the set up of five teens alone in the woods to create a slasher horror archetype with a twist. This is great for modern horror fans as all the conventions are there but the twists keep it interesting.

This could have been a typical teens find creepy cabin film but the twist subverts the trope. When a group of college students embarks on a weekend getaway, they find themselves trapped in a nightmare scenario none of them could have ever imagined. With a smart and self-aware approach that some horror movies severely lack, this film delivers both scares and laughs in perfect balance.

Halloween

Released – 1978 | Run time – 91 minutes | Genre – slasher

No Halloween movie list would be complete without John Carpenter’s iconic slasher film, Halloween. The movie that brought the world, Michael Myers. The film focuses on the relentless pursuit of babysitter, Laurie Strode, by the masked murder on Halloween night. It keeps audiences on edge throughout. Halloween gained cult status in the slasher subgenre and remains a must-see movie for horror fans to this day.

The film’s impact on horror cinema is undeniable, and its legacy continues to inspire generations of horror filmmakers and fans alike. An absolute must-watch during Halloween season.

Get Out

Released – 2017 | Run time – 104 minutes | Genre – horror mystery

Get Out is like no other film I’ve ever seen, it’s easy to see why it got such rave reviews and was nominated for a lot of awards. It’s horror but in a totally unconventional way, you’ll not find any ghosts, demons and masked murderers in this film. The true horror here is rich white people. It manages to be funny, scary and highly entertaining all while providing a cautionary tale of the out of whack relationships between black and white people that do still exist today. If you’re after something completely different to any other film and aren’t in to typical horrors this is one you definitely need to watch.

Jordan Peele’s directorial debut is a provocative horror film that tackles racial tension in a way that’s never been done before. The movie blends scares and social commentary which have solidified it as one of the best horror movies to date.

The Shining

Released – 1980 | Run time – 144 minutes | Genre – psychological horror

I was introduced to The Shining from quite a young age as I read the book when I was about 12 or 13 and then watched the movie when I was around 14. For that reason it’s always stuck with me. This year is definitely the year I’m going to revisit both the novel and movie!

Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, The Shining, showed the world exactly how psychological horror should be done. Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of Jack Torrance, a writer spiralling into madness while caretaking a remote and haunted hotel, is one of the most iconic performances in cinema history with just about everyone knowing the excellently executed “here’s Johnny!” scene.

 The Shining explores the darkest recesses of the human mind, where isolation and the family unit mix with supernatural forces to create a chilling movies that blurs the lines between reality and nightmare. The film has created many unforgettable horror moments that we all know and love.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Released – 1974 (original) and 2003 (remake) | Run time – 83 minutes (original) 98 minutes (remake) | Genre – slasher

Sorry classic horror fans but I honestly couldn’t decide whether to include the original movie or the remake here because I actually really like them both so you’ve got a little bonus here because I’m going to talk about both of them (so technically this is 11 scary films you need to watch!). I watched the remake many years ago before I watched the original. While both movies have different plots they both feature the main character Leatherface who is based on the real-life murderer, Ed Gein. Whilst the remake is set up more for modern audiences, as you’d expect, it still does a good job of sticking to the typical slasher genre, granted it’s a little bit over the top in places and has quite a bonkers premise but I still think it’s a good slasher film and a solid attempt at a remake.

As for the original, I’ve watched quite a few classic horrors and as I’m more used to modern horror there are very few classic horrors that I actually find truly scary. Whilst I can appreciate a well made film and the fact that to audiences of the time it would have been scary they don’t really tend to creep me out. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre however is utterly bizarre and still creepy to this day. It’s the original slasher movie and it’s aged well. If you’re looking to try out some classic horror films, this is a good place to start.

Lake Mungo

Released – 2008 | Run time – 89 minutes | Genre – psychological horror

Lake Mungo may not be a film you’ve ever heard of due to its limited release. I’m a huge fan of Red Letter Media on YouTube and this is a film that’s been mentioned quite a lot on there so I decided to give it a go. It’s an Australian film that uses a mockumentary style which can be make or break for a film in my opinion. I’m usually not a huge fan of mockumentary or found footage films but for this film it works incredibly well. It’s a low budget film but it’s so good and a genuine hidden gem, everything about it works so well. The story is interesting and engaging and the ending is excellent. It’s certainly a film that deserves more exposure and I urge you to find a copy and give it a watch!

Centring around the Palmer family’s grief after the drowning of their daughter, Alice. Strange things begin to happen to the family, leading them to uncover dark secrets about their daughter’s life. It’s a slow burner that builds atmosphere incredibly well to round-off with a fantastic ending.

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It (miniseries)

Released – 1990 | Run time – two parts totalling 192 minutes | Genre – supernatural horror

The original adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, It had to to feature over the remake. Whilst I actually don’t mind the first movie on the remake franchise, the second one left a lot to be desired. The 1990 miniseries however is horror gold. For me, Tim Curry’s portrayal of Pennywise goes down as one of the best horror performances I’ve seen.

Set in the fictional town of Derry, the story follows a group of friends who confront an ancient evil that takes the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Tim Curry’s portrayal of Pennywise left an lasting mark on pop culture, managing to completely subvert all ideas of clowns been fun and friendly and tapped into a fear of them instead. The films blends nostalgia, camaraderie, and spine-tingling scares to create a coming-of-age story with terrifying twists.

The Strangers

Released – 2008 | Run time – 85 minutes | Genre – slasher

Here’s a film that’ll make you double check all your windows and doors are locked. Playing on the fear that you aren’t alone in your own home, this ramps it up a notch by being set in the middle of nowhere with the murderers sporting some creepy looking masks. Even though this film does fall into the slasher genre there’s actually more focus on building suspense and tension over racking up the bodies and gore which is refreshing and allows for some genuinely creepy moments to come through. It’s a quiet film in that there’s not a lot of dialogue, The Strangers themselves hardly speak with only one or two lines between them. However it’s not a film that needs an overly fancy script or a lot of blood and gore.

Inspired by true events, The Strangers follows a couple staying in a secluded vacation home who find themselves terrorised by three masked attackers. The realism and fear of the unknown is what makes this movie work so well. You’ll never want to be home alone again!

Hush

Released – 2016 | Run time – 81 minutes | Genre – slasher

From husband and wife horror super team Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel, Hush is a wonderfully different film that was released straight to Netflix and managed to gain favourable reviews from critics. With a small cast and very little dialogue owing to the fact the main character is a deaf mute this is a wonderfully creepy movie that relies on nothing more than amazing visual story telling. Due to there being very little dialogue the film instead uses fantastic sound effects that perfectly compliment what is happening on screen to keep the audience interested and further build suspense. It’s a game of cat and mouse with a silent twist and it works amazingly well.

When a masked intruder begins tormenting her at her remote home, Maddie must rely on her wits and resourcefulness to survive. While traditionally a home invasion movie, Hush is so innovative that it adds a fresh take on the subgenre.

Orphan

Released – 2009 | Run time – 123 minutes | Genre – psychological horror

I can guarantee that you’ll have never seen a horror movie with a twist like this one. I’ve watched this movie quite a few times especially in the couple of years after its release but I haven’t watched it in quite a while now so this may have to go on my Halloween watch list too. Orphan uses the horror trope of creepy kids and gives it a huge twist that makes it so different to any other horror film of this sort that I’ve seen. For fans of conventional horror films there’s enough of the stuff you’d expect in this film to keep you happy but the twist stops it from being just another formulaic psycho-kid movie.

Orphan follows a couple who adopts a mysterious 9-year-old girl named Esther. As strange and disturbing events start to unfold, they begin to question Esther’s true nature and what actually happened in her past. This psychological thriller keeps audiences guessing right up until the end.

There we have it, 16 scary Halloween movies that are sure to terrify you. A Halloween movie night is the perfect activity for autumn and with this list of movies you won’t be short of things to watch!

If you’ve seen any of these film let me know your thoughts on them in the comments below, be sure to leave your own scary movie recommendations too!

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