As Halloween rolls around, movie buffs and scaredy cats alike have an occasion to curl up on the couch with a bowl of candy and pop in a scary movie. But there are so many to choose from. The nigh endless list of movies deemed appropriate for Halloween runs the gamut covering everything from B-list horror flicks to timeless classics. Here is a list of recommendations that offers a little taste of everything, none of which will leave you disappointed.
"Psycho" - This may not technically be considered a "horror" movie, as it falls more into the suspense/thriller genre. Nevertheless, this movie's shower scene is arguably one of the scariest moments in cinematic history. The plot of the movie revolves around Norman Bates, one of the creepiest villains of the silver screen, owner of an out-of-the-way motel. And to belabor the obvious the director of the movie is Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense. The suspense in the film gradually builds up into a wonderful climax that will have you leap off that couch and possibly spill your candy corn. From its first shot to its last, "Psycho" is an aesthetic masterpiece and any Halloween movie night is incomplete without it.
"Saw" - Don't let its five sequels fool you, the original Saw provides very good thrills. The movie was notoriously low budget, making it even more of a Halloween classic. If you think you've seen all of the plot twists possible in a scary movie, then think again. This movie's ending will have your jaw drop to the floor, alongside that bowl of candy corn.
"The Shining" - If you have not delved into the creative genius of a Stanley Kubrick film, then you are missing out. Like Psycho, this movie features a creepy guy, Jack Nicholson, in a creepy hotel. Unlike Psycho, this movie is full of rich colors ranging from blood red to ghastly white. This movie is sure to send shivers down your spine for no other reason than "Redrum."
"Nightmare Before Christmas" - Theoretically almost any Tim Burton film could be deemed appropriate for Halloween, but "Nightmare" takes a look at what the spooky holiday is all about. As its title implies, this movie is also a Christmas movie. What is unique about this film is that it asks the viewer to rethink Halloween and Christmas. The two have more in common than you think. While this movie may not be as scary as the others on the list, it still has the power to traumatize children. Unfortunately it does not have a similar effect on college kids that act like children.
"The Descent" – So you think modern horror movies are garbage and they just don't make ‘em like they used to? Well think again. This movie's unique camerawork only adds to the thrills. Its plot is pretty straightforward – hot girls go spelunking and encounter a strange breed of predators.
The original "Thriller" video – OK, so it's not a movie, but the original video is about 10 minutes long and can be found on Youtube. Fun fact: It is directed by John Landis who also directed "The Blues Brothers."
