Another year, another Halloween horror movie list. Here are 15 more unique horror movies that you should watch (or rewatch) on Halloween. Read on, if you dare!
1. Psycho (1960)
I doubt I really need to get into this one.
2. The Birds (1963)
Or this one. We all know Hitchcock is the man.
3. The Stepford Wives (1975)
Ok, I’ll start the reviews here. The Stepford Wives starts innocently enough with a family moving to an unusually idyllic town. As the wife begins to uncover the not-so-perfect truth, the movie quickly becomes a nightmarish tale that can turn any rational human into a conspiracy theorist.
4. Cujo (1983)
Hey, I didn’t say they all had to be good horror movies. Unless you’re deathly afraid of dogs, Cujo probably won’t scare you. In fact, it’s often unintentionally hilarious. But, for one of many 80’s monster movies, Cujo at least presents the audience with a unique, fearful scenario that hits, quite literally, close to home.
5. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
Jacob Singer’s world slowly unravels after his return from Vietnam. And by “unravels” I mean he sees demons and people try to kill him. It’s creepy, trippy and weird, and I love it!
6. Scream (1996)
When I think of horror comedies, I immediately think of this 90’s classic. For those of you who aren’t big into slasher horror, Scream might just be the film for you! While this flick brings plenty of gore, it never takes itself too seriously. The characters constantly poking fun at horror movie tropes while being stalked by a masked killer guarantees that the film is just as likely to amuse, as it is to spook.
7. The Others (2001)
I’ll admit, this one has a slow start. But once it gets going, it never lets up. A wholly original take on traditional ghost stories makes this one well worth seeing.
8. Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)
No, not the shot-for-shot American remake. The original Japanese version. The one that doesn’t get enough credit because everyone saw the American version instead of this one. This one is better. And scarier. Trust me. Or just watch the American one and encourage the film industry to keep taking foreign films and remaking them for no reason. Your choice.
9. Saw (2004)
Before the Saw movies got out of hand, there was the low-budget marvel that was the original Saw. Viewers marveled disgustedly at serial killer Jigsaw’s elaborate and creative traps that explored the great lengths humans will go to in order to survive.
10. The Strangers (2008)
The Strangers may appear to be just your typical home invasion thriller, but in reality, it is much more. The revelation of the intruders’ motivation makes this one a chilling tale that holds a much more sinister tone than initially expected.
11. Contagion (2011)
Germaphobes, beware. This one’s definitely not for you. Though it’s technically not a horror movie in the traditional sense, Contagion made me genuinely fearful of a worldwide pandemic.
12. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
The Cabin in the Woods is, in a way, the distant cousin of Scream. By that I mean this film masterfully blends comedy and horror; but, it is also entirely different from its predecessor.
While Scream does have some truly scary moments, The Cabin in the Woods is much more a satirical take on the horror genre than an actual horror movie. So, if you’re a newbie to the horror scene, you might want to give this one a try before graduating to some more frightful selections.
13. Hush (2016)
In a refreshing take on the home invasion genre, Hush tells the story of an isolated female writer who faces off against a masked intruder. Oh, and she just so happens to be deaf. This highly underrated movie startled me as much as it fascinated me.
14. Split (2016)
M. Night Shyamalan is back, baby! After the distinctly average horror film The Visit, I was overjoyed to see Shyamalan soar with Split. The film follows three girls who must fight for their lives when they are kidnapped by a man with 23 distinct personalities. If nothing else, watch it for James McAvoy’s stunning and terrifying performance.
15. It (2017)
I can’t remember being this creeped out while watching a movie in a long time. Bill Skarsgård’s performance as the demented demon clown Pennywise is scary enough. Now throw in an unsettling atmosphere, great child performances, and plenty of 80’s nostalgia for those of you out there going through Stranger Things withdrawal, and you’ve got a winner!
If you’re more of a TV fan, head on over to Collin Ingram’s blog to find some spooky small-screen Halloween TV horror movie favorites.