Halloween is just around the corner – the time when all the most terrible and creepy stories come to life – so stock up on nerves and get ready for a marathon of selected horror films. Traditions are traditions, and there is simply no better time to face all your fears than Halloween.
We will talk about the most legendary, scary, creepy, and atmospheric horror and horror films that have stood the test of time, the frightened screams of the audience, and the significance of cinema.
We strongly recommend picking up more goodies and watching at night – an unforgettable effect and the atmosphere of Halloween are guaranteed!
Exorcist (1973)
A classic of the horror genre that has influenced hundreds and thousands of horror films and has received a couple of remakes. To a sophisticated viewer of the 21st century, the film may not seem so scary, but the gloomy atmosphere and the religious and mystical edging will certainly be remembered by exorcists, obsessed and, of course, by the devil himself – were without him.
The story takes place in the family of a famous actress – her minor daughter begins to behave inappropriately and frighteningly. The mother believes that this is a consequence of her personal tragedy, the doctors suspect a mental illness and are unable to diagnose, but a specially invited priest thinks he knows the truth – the girl is possessed by the devil.
Psycho (1960)
A film is a legendary man, maestro, master of the suspense genre, which gave the viewer dozens of film masterpieces – Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock is a virtuoso image constructor, so all shots, mise-en-scenes, techniques, music, and titles are thought out from and to – every component of the film is thought out and has its own role. Shooting a scary house, a panorama of rooms, zooming cameras, murders with a knife, blood that flows into the bathtub, an eye … and other attributes are replicated by a mass of clones from the maniac horror genre. And what is one scene in the shower worth!
The story tells of a girl who is dissatisfied with an affair with a divorced man, who steals a large amount of money at work and flees the city in a hurry. At the motel where she’s staying for the night, she has to run into its young owner…
Shining (1980)
The Shining is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King’s The King of Horrors, whose film adaptations turn out to be very successful with surprising consistency. This film is rightfully considered one of the most terrible and ingenious horrors in the entire history of cinema, which did well without terrible makeup and dismemberment. Director Stanley Kubrick does not know how to shoot badly, no matter what genre he takes on – this is a fact.
This is a scary psychological film about Jack Torrance (played flawlessly by Jack Nicholson) who arrives at a hotel with his family to work as a winter watchman. Torrance had never been here before. Or is it not quite right? The answer lies in the darkness woven from the criminal nightmare.
Doctor Sleep (2019)
An unexpected and very high-quality sequel to The Shining, which tells the story of Danny’s life after what happened at the hotel. Dan tries to suppress the “shine”, his psychic abilities, and this becomes the cause of his alcoholism. Having gotten rid of the harmful addiction, the man tries to start everything from scratch, but his calmness is interrupted by a certain secret society – the “True Knot”. They prey on the “radiant” children and brutally kill them to prolong their lives.
In his new life, Dan meets a “radiant” girl named Abra, and together they try to confront the “True Knot”. And whether it is successful or not, see the film.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
A stunning example of a demonic thriller from director Roman Polanski, who himself experienced a real horror over the next year, so terribly echoing the events of the film. Polanski’s pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, was murdered in 1969 by the Charles Manson gang, who named their series of crimes after the Beatles song “Helter Skelter.” It is noteworthy that one of the members of the ensemble, John Lennon, was killed in 1980 near the Dakota house, where he lived and where Rosemary’s Baby was once filmed. Are there too many coincidences?
Young childless couple Rosemary and Guy Wodehouse move to New York’s Bramford. One day, Rosemary has a strange vision that she is sailing on a yacht with Guy, who turns into a demon and rapes her. A few days later, the girl finds out that she is pregnant. A series of strange events prompts Rosemary to conjecture that members of a satanic cult are involved here …
Omen (1976)
The Omen is a revolutionary film in its genre, not stupid in its plot and quite beautiful in its creepiness, which for 1976 was something incredible. This is exactly the case when the director continuously plays with your imagination, nerves, attention, without oversaturating clichés and disgusting, only visually scary shots.
The story of a boy born at 6 o’clock 6 days 6 months and adopted by an American diplomat. Mysterious events constantly occur around this child, and soon everyone in the family begins to fear this innocent boy with an angelic face, behind which a devilish essence is hiding.
Halloween (1978)
A scary, slightly ridiculous, and utterly canon horror movie that is perfect for watching with friends on Halloween night. An immortal classic of the genre, in which the maniac killer goes hunting again on Halloween. Undoubtedly a worthy representative of the genre, captivating with its atmosphere, resulting from a dynamic plot and impressive staging.
Psychopathic killer Michael Myers, as a child, committed the murder of his own sister on Halloween – All Saints Day. 15 years later, a maniac-killer has again taken up his old ways and is terrorizing a small town. He escaped from an asylum for the mentally deranged, only to deliver his deathblows again on Halloween.
Silent Hill (2006)
In its own way, a beautiful and surreal film about an abandoned city in which an ecological disaster occurred. However, in addition to the coal smoldering in the belly of the earth, something else lurked in the very heart of the city, much worse than smoke and burning.
A young mother, desperate to find a cure for her daughter Sharon’s mysterious illness, refuses to commit her to a psychiatric hospital. Together with Sharon, she goes to Silent Hill – the city, the name of which her daughter constantly repeats in her sleep. But in the city itself, under mysterious circumstances, the daughter disappears. In search of her child, Rose learns about the history of Silent Hill, it’s puritan past, full of violence, and the causes of the curse hanging over the city. She realizes her baby is just one piece of a larger, terrifying puzzle…
The film is an adaptation of one of the most famous computer games in the horror genre and in a short time managed to become a must-see classic of the genre. The most important “villains” of the film are the atmosphere and the fog. Definitely one of the masterpieces of its genre.
There is also a second part that tells the story of Sharon, already grown up. It is identical to the third part of the game, but it’s not worth watching – there are too many inaccuracies and creepy, not scary moments.
Babadook (2014)
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has 98% positive reviews from critics, because the film “The Babadook” relies on real horror, not a cheap horror story, and delivers a truly moving story that you want to watch.
In the story, Amelia is a single mother who raises a six-year-old strange son, Sam. Motherhood burdens her: her son constantly gets into trouble because of his desire to make various “weapons against monsters”. At one point, Sam finds the book “Mr. Babadook”, and after reading this book, the family begins to be haunted by an unknown monster that drives both of them crazy.
The Babadook frightens with ignorance: either Amelia is going crazy, or the Babadook really exists – until the last, you don’t know what is actually true and what is not. It’s worth watching to get really scared.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
This movie will appeal to all fans of Guillermo del Toro: what’s more, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is perfect for Halloween. Light autumn atmosphere, creepy monsters, and, most importantly, a deep meaning hidden behind the scary.
On Halloween night, Stella and her two friends find the book of an urban legend, Sarah Bellows, in a haunted house. The scary stories written in this book seem to be just stories at first, but when they start to come true, friends are no longer in the mood for jokes.
The film is cool, interesting and new, so chances are you haven’t seen it yet.
Ghostland (2018)
A film with a very unexpected ending and an interesting plot. A spectacular film, unexpected and very talentedly filmed. You can watch it both alone and in the company – it will be equally interesting and creepy.
In the story, popular horror novelist Elizabeth Keller has nightmares about her gruesome past. The fact is that many years ago, together with their mother and sister Vera, they moved to the house of a deceased relative, where something terrible happened. Many years later, Beth receives a call from Vera, who never recovered from that horror, and returns to the same house. But everything is not so simple: something terrible is happening around. What is the reason?
