In the past few years we’ve had horror remakes that have been less than fantastic and a whole slew of parody horror movies. I think it’s about time we returned to the classics, the movies that made people scream and fear the night.
As someone not easily frightened, these are the five movies that terrified me upon first viewing. If you’re looking for a good movie to see this Halloween season, I suggest one from the following list. Beware watching these alone in the dark.
“Amityville Horror” (1979)
Some awkward special effects aside, this movie is pretty terrifying. The Lutz family decides it would be a great idea to buy a house where a grand total of six people were brutally murdered by another family member. A heaping helping of hauntings ensue and psychological turmoil comes into play. Based on a true story, “Amityville Horror” is a great watch with friends that gets you into the spirit of Halloween.
“The Exorcist” (1973)
“The Exorcist” is one of the most frightening movies I’ve ever seen, complete with shouts of “The Power of Christ compels you!” A classic still being shown around Halloween, this movie has been terrifying audiences for forty years. Linda Blair’s performance as Regan, the possessed child, will make you want to start carrying around some holy water and crosses at all times. Watch this one at night for the full horror effect.
“The Shining” (1980)
Even if everyone hasn’t seen this movie, most people are familiar with the immortal line “Here’s Johnny!” This Stephen King-inspired thriller is utterly terrifying. You’ve got your creepy as sin child spelling murder backwards while your husband slowly slips into insanity and eventually becomes an axe-crazed homicidal maniac. Fun times, right? Watch this one at night, but maybe bring a friend or two along for the ride. You’ll need the moral support after this nightmarish trip to Hell.
“Halloween” (1978)
Want to see a movie where a deranged child stabs his sister to death? Feel like seeing a homicidal maniac go around stabbing people like it’s his God-given right? If so, Halloween is the movie for you. Michael Myers is our resident psychopath who has escaped his padded room on Halloween night to go on a murder spree. Containing little visible gore and violence, this is a great suspense film to watch on Halloween. Fair warning, you might be terrified of masks after viewing this movie.
“Scream” (1996)
“Scream” follows Sidney Prescott as she deals with teenage problems like boyfriend troubles, school and a stalker who likes to threaten people via phone and then brutally gut them with a giant knife. One of the gorier classics, “Scream” has jump scares and excellent plot twists. It also has the best sequels, unlike most films. If you find you like the first “Scream” movie, try the rest of the series. Just try not to panic when the phone rings.