Given that Halloween is coming up, I thought I’d give out some recommendations for some of my favorite all time scary movies. The list is far too long to include everything I enjoy, so I picked a few classics, a few new films and a few foreign films.

First up, one for the whole family. This is Disney’s “Watcher in the Woods” starring none other than Bette Davis. This is one of the earlier scary movies I ever saw, and to this day I still love it. It’s a great spooky film about a “ghost” in the woods surrounding a castle a family move into. Suitable for all ages. “Naaaaaaareeeeeeek!”

Up next is the Aussie film “Undead.” I’m not the biggest fan of Zombie films, because they are all the same, kill the brains and the zombies die. This one is a bit different though. It is part horror and part comedy with one big twist your not expecting in a zombie film! I can’t say what without spoiling the film.

“The Toolbox Murders” is a recent film but is built upon classic slasher films. It is made by the original director of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and is a gore fest and scream fest. The film centers around a woman living in an old building in Hollywood in which the residents go missing one by one. If you just want to be creeped out by a good old fashion slasher flick, this is a good pick. Warning, very violent and not for the faint of heart!

“The Eye” is a film from Thailand that has a lot in common with “The Sixth Sense.” This film is about a woman who receives cornea transplants and as a result sees the dead. This is a very spooky film and is recommended for those who love ghost stories. Subtitles require reading, and I know that bothers some. If you can get past the subtitles, your in for a good ride.

“The Others” is another great ghost story. While somewhat predictable, it’s still a good tale with a good twist. The movie centers around Nicole Kidman and her children, who are haunted by a houseful of unseen spooks during WWII (maybe WWI, it’s been awhile).

Forget the remake that is in the theaters now, see the original “The Fog” instead. This one is spookier, has more shock value and is a better story all around. The film centers around a mysterious fog that descends upon a town that is getting ready to celebrate it’s 100th anniversary. Something is back for revenge, and it’s in the fog! It’s a John Carpenter film, you can’t go wrong with him!

“Poltergeist” is just a classic, there is no doubt about it. The film centers around the disappearance of a families youngest daughter Carol Anne and the ghosts that haunt their house. If you’ve never seen this film, I just have to ask why? Go rent it now! One of the best ghost stories ever made! “They’re Here!”

Another classic, one that spawned a lot of pretty bad sequels. The original “Nightmare on Elm Street” is the best of the bunch. Everyone knows this story, Freddy the clawed killer gets people in their dreams. Gory and scary, this one still packs a wallop. Even if you know how it ends, I bet you’ll still get chills when watching it again.

“The Mothman Prophecies” is a supernatural thriller inspired by a true story. It is about a figure called the mothman who brings devastation whenever he appears throughout history. While not a jump out of your seat thriller, it is a creepy film with some even creepier audio effects. I dare you to take on Ingrid Cold and not get chills!

“Halloween” by John Carpenter launched Jamie Lee Curtis’ career as a scream queen, and this is one of those classics that still holds up. Everyone recognizes the theme song and the mask of Michael Myers, the crazed killer who wreaks havoc on Halloween. While not a gore fest, the knitting needle scene still gives me the willies.

While most horror movie sequels don’t live up to the originals, “Halloween H20” is one damn good film that does. It takes place 20 years after the original, and Michael is still looking for Jaime Lee! It manages to recapture the scares of the original. Not to be confused with the horrible “Halloween Resurrection.”

Again, this is one of those films that is just as good as, if not better than the original. “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter” is really the best of the “Jason” films. This film was touted, at the time, the last of the series in which Jason dies. It’s also the film in which Jason was unmasked (though he was unmasked in the 2nd one for a quick second).

So what are some of your favorite horror films?

Dustin

6 Replies to “Movie Recommendations for Halloween”

  1. I pretty much like the ones you listed, but the ones that you didn’t that I like is “the Blair Witch Project”, “The Exorcist”, “The Silence Of The Lambs” and “Children Of The Corn”. But My Favorite is “Halloween”.

  2. I agree on your favorites. I also love “When a Stranger Calls”. I never wanted to babysit any more after I saw that one. I also like “The Amityville Horror” movies, the first and second ones. I also love “The Shining”, the original, not the made for tv version, something about those twins and “redrum” can give me the heebie-jeebies for a couple of days!!

  3. “Have you checked the children?” That was a good movie. I also love the original Amityville. Blair Witch I saw in the theater and it made me ill cause of the camera movements. Children of the Corn is good. “Outlander!”

  4. you listed some great ones for sure, but have you seen The Audition?..(slow starting, but freaky for sure)

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