I absolutely love Halloween. It’s one of my favourite times of the year, and I love how the UK is now embracing it more. It definitely makes my inner teenage goth very happy. When I was little I used to love carving pumpkins, dressing up in a black bin bag and going trick or treating. Please tell me it wasn’t just me who wore a bin bag as a costume?! Now there’s nothing better than spending the evening, or day, watching a scary movie and eating a ridiculous amount of sweets and popcorn.
So what’s your favourite scary movie?
- The Craft
A newcomer to a Catholic prep high school falls in with a trio of outcast teenage girls who practice witchcraft and they all soon conjure up various spells and curses against those who even slightly anger them. I absolutely love this film. It might be over 20 years old but it’s still good. This film made me want to be a witch, I walked around in black. Dyed my hair, wore black makeup, I was definitely a teenage goth partly thanks to this film. The soundtrack is also great as well.
- Scream
What’s your favourite scary movie? Well this one actually. It was one of the first scary films I ever saw, and I loved it from the start. I also love the sequels, although 3 is kinda bad I still watch it. A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a new killer, who targets the girl and her friends by using horror films as part of a deadly game.
- Paranormal Activity
After a young, middle class couple moves into a suburban ‘starter’ tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to. I always find films where the scares are more psychological than physical scarier. Paranormal Activity is a good example of that. Blair Witch is another. It made me jump and hide behind a pillow a few times.
- A Tale of Two Sisters
A Korean horror film from 2003. Telling the tale of two sisters who, after spending time in a mental institution, return to the home of their father and cruel stepmother. Once there, in addition to dealing with their stepmother’s obsessive and unbalanced ways, an interfering ghost also affects their recovery. It’s creepy and made me jump. Perfect for Halloween.
- Dawn of the Dead.
Now I’m going for the remake here, controversial I know. But I really liked it, and not just because of the use of Richard Cheese. Plus it’s the first zombie movie on my list. A nurse, a police officer, a young married couple, a sales rep, and other survivors of a worldwide plague that is producing aggressive, flesh-eating zombies, take refuge in a mega Midwestern shopping mall.
- Shaun of the Dead.
I have loved Edgar Wright ever since Spaced. Making up the first part of the cornetto trilogy, Shaun of the Dead is a comedy horror. Shaun decides to turn his life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living. I remember seeing this in the cinema and loving it straight away. Full of geeky references, and a host of British comedy stars this is definitely a must watch.
- Halloween.
Everything about Halloween was pretty much perfection. A “slasher” film in genre only, the movie had little gore and relied heavily on suspense and tone to make it scary. Carpenter’s use of the first-person viewpoint of Myers aided in that suspense. This one cannot be missed. Without this there would be no Scream.
A few more are
- Descent
- You’re Next
- The Babadook
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- Hocus Pocus
- Nightmare on Elm Street
- The Ring
If you don’t feel like watching a movie and want something a little longer there are some great TV shows as well.
American Horror Story is an obvious choice. I’ve watched all the seasons apart from the circus themed one. ‘m not a huge fan of clowns but most of the other seasons have been pretty creepy. Stranger Things is another must watch. Whilst it’s not scary it’s definitely good and perfect for Halloween. If you prefer something a little less scary, then I can recommend The Vampire Diaries, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural or Teen Wolf.
Now all that’s left is to pick the movie, pass the popcorn, grab a pillow or a blanket and snuggle down for a night of screams.
