TOP SEVEN SCARY MOVIES TO WATCH

Boo! Spooky season is upon us! To get in the proper Halloween mood, here are seven scary films to watch this October.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

This ‘70s classic follows the trip of a group of friends who stumble into the gruesome happenings of an “abandoned home”. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was produced, (co)written, and directed by Tobe Hooper, making it an independent film. The low budget of the film makes it a violent, raw, and psychologically thrilling watch. The plot is designed to explore themes like: the “arbitrary human existence”, nihilism, and societal deviance. Due to the themes of the movies, paired up with the time period it was released in, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre had a strong cultural impact. It is a movie thats charms are heard echoing in many horror movies that have come after it. Now, in saying that, the style of this movie is exploitative and very edgy. Hence, this movie is not for everyone! All in all, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a Halloween must watch. It’s an experience you will not forget!

The Shining (1980) 

“Here’s Johnny!” Or maybe—“Redrum! Redrum! Redrum!” ring a bell? No? Well then this might be your sign to watch The Shining this October! Even if your answer was yes, The Shining is a classic horror film that everybody must watch. Based on Stephen King’s 1977 novel, The Shining follows Jack Torrance, who takes a winter caretaker position at the isolated “Overlook Hotel”. He brings his wife, Wendy, and their son, Danny with him. There, Jack hopes to relieve his writer’s block. In fear of the hotel being haunted, we slowly watch the descent of not only Jack’s fragile psyche, but also of his wife and son. You’ll quickly find that The Shining is one of those stories that is “one big metaphor” and how beautifully it shows! The director, Stanley Kubrick, crafted the visual experience of this film intricately. According to theac.com, cinematographer John Alcott, who worked with Kubrick, said he…“becomes more thorough, more exacting in his demands. I think that one has to go away after having done a film with him, gather knowledge, come back and try to put that knowledge together with his knowledge into another film.” The extremely wide shots create depth and unease behind the stillness and rigid dialogue of each scene. The Shining is a scary watch with countless themes and interpretations. I encourage you to watch it this spooky season.

Hellraiser (1987)

Like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) earlier on this list, Hellraiser is a low-budget cult classic of the late eighties. Warning: this movie has… quite the plot. Larry Cotton, and his second wife, Julia, move into his late brother, Frank’s, deserted home. Upon venturing to the attic, Julia discovers an undead, skin-less Frank. It is revealed that before his death, Frank had had a romantic relationship with Julia. Now, being mysteriously resurrected, Frank asks her to help him finish restoring his body. Julia agrees. Hellraiser is full of kills and top-tier practical effects. It deeply explores the realm between pain and pleasure, represented by its otherworldly creatures called “Cenobites”, who are hailed upon by a “mystical puzzle box” (and who were responsible for Frank’s death). The main female lead (Larry Cotton’s daughter) Kirsty Cotton, has an amazing performance done by actress Ashley Laurence. She truly brings the energy of this film to life. However, one Cenobite creature—as well as the lead antagonist—Pinhead, takes the cake for most prominent character. Hellraiser creates an atmosphere of intensity that burns itself in the mind. It is totally worth watching this Halloween!

Perfect Blue (1997)

Have you ever questioned who you are? What is your position in society? Is your identity truly your own, or just a set of thoughts assigned depending on your environment? Normally in research fields, such as psychology, a sensory basis is used to determine valuable things like one's own identity—but here another question arises. What happens to the individual when their own senses are faulty? The film Perfect Blue [Satoshi Kon, 1997] revolves around these questions. Following the story, we meet our protagonist. 

Mima Kirigoe, a fully trained j-pop idol with a solid fan base, decides to change the pace of her career. Proposing to her managers to change the direction of her career toward acting. Throughout the movie, Mima mentally descends into the rabbit hole of her own madness. She is being driven by the constant harassment of a fan and the negligence of her managers in keeping her safe. The film tackles the issue of objectification in a cryptic and artful way, heavily utilizing distortion, which constantly creates uncertainty in the audience about Mima's mental and physical state. If you're interested in psychological horror, I would definitely recommend this movie!

Get Out (2017)

This Jordan Peele production leads us through the visit that Rose, and her boyfriend (and protagonist), Chris Washington, have at her parents’ home. With the progression of the trip comes uneasiness, and eventually, shocking discoveries that seriously involve Rose and Chris’ interracial relationship. Get Out is a creepy and nerve-wracking rollercoaster. The changes in lighting paired up with the wide shots are strategically used to sway the audience’s mood depending on the tones of the scenes. 

As the plot unravels, so do the viewers’ emotions. There is not one lackluster performance from any actors/actresses. Peele worked to convey themes and commentary on racial discrimination and cultural appropriation beautifully here, while keeping it scary and entertaining. If you’ve yet to see Get Out, this is your cue!

Saw (2004)

If you haven’t seen Saw (2004)—what’s stopping you? Look, the movie starts like this… Two men awake in a dingy bathroom, chained up by the leg on opposite sides of the room with little to no recollection of the events leading up to it. Even if you have not seen Saw, you must know Jigsaw. Saw tells the story of the ominous “Jigsaw the Killer”, who captures his victims and tests how far they are willing to go to survive. 

The tension closes in on the viewers as the stakes stretch higher and higher. The heart of this movie’s genius lies in the fact that it takes place almost entirely in one room, (similarly to, the famous film, 12 Angry Men), while being engaging and achingly creepy. The practical effects, the natural camera style, and the raw, emotional acting will put you in the mind of the characters themselves as they are forced to decide between killing the other and escaping or to face death themself. What would you do if you were put in such a situation? Watch this movie and find out!

The VVitch, A New-England Folktale (2015)

This 2015 modern classic takes us back to 1630 New England. After being banished from a Puritan settlement, a family of six settle near a secluded forest. Upon their arrival, Thomasin, the eldest daughter and protagonist, is blamed for her baby brother’s mysterious disappearance. They soon find that his disappearance was an abduction—a paranormal abduction. Being an A24 film, it’s no surprise that The VVitch is wonderful. From its spectacular historical accuracy and perpetually ambient scenes to its phenomenal acting performances, this movie is chocked full of scares and symbolism! 

Now, despite the great quality of this film, at points you might find it to be dreadfully quiet or slow. Take the chance. Watch The VVitch this Halloween. It’ll leave you staring at your ceiling.