Halloween weekend No. 2 is the perfect time to tuck in for a seasonal classic. Whether you’re a horror film aficionado or a fan of Disney’s made-for-TV classics, we’ve got you covered.
Here are our top flicks to catch before the weekend is out:
This choice is obvious. “Halloween,” directed by John Carpenter, is as bone-chilling as movies come. When a crazed lunatic escapes from a psychiatric hospital, he goes on a killing spree in a small Illinois town. The film favors slow, drawn-out scares. Did you just see the killer’s face in the corner? Why are we hearing these sinister synthesizer notes? It’s these little touches that create one of the most horrifying films of all time.
The film that inspired all slasher films, Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” is a claustrophobic, black-and-white tsunami of suspense. With its chilling score, shower scene, classic set pieces and a terrifying performance from Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates, “Psycho” is not only one of the greatest horror films of all time. It’s also one of the most iconic.
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (1966)
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is not only one of the best movies to get you Halloween mood, it’s also one of the most depressing takes on trick-or-treating culture ever. If you’ve ever been a loner, you’ll empathize with Charlie Brown each time he’s given a rock.
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)
Watch this movie, and you’ll never want to get stranded in a sparsely-populated Texas town. Or eat meat while you’re there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs3981DoINw
In this early 90s classic, three witches get resurrected in Massachusetts, leaving two teenagers, a girl and a cat to stop them. Sarah Jessica Parker is in it — who wouldn’t want to ride that broomstick?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UUMsInka2s
Stanley Kubrick’s classic take on Stephen King’s novel spins haunted house tropes on their heads. After all 143 oppressive minutes of the film’s mounting insanity, what will stay with you more than anything is Jack Nicholson’s hypnotic, crazed stare. Or maybe the bear giving the old guy a blowjob.
Not only is “Halloweentown” a Disney Channel Original Movie, it is also a 90s Disney Channel Original Movie. And every millennial loves the 90s. It is one of the finest specimens of made-for-TV scary children’s movies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNzazQmQyGE
If you’ve ever had a fear of rabbits, never watch this film. If you aren’t afraid of the little creatures, watch this film and you will be.
The friendly ghost’s feature film debut received mixed reviews from critics, but no one can deny its charm. This is the perfect movie for those looking for something lighter among the more typical horror fare in this list.
“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)
The original found footage film is still the best. When three documentary filmmakers get lost in the woods, they hear strange noises at night. But they never see anything. What this film teaches moviegoers is sometimes what scares us most are the things we can’t see. And those last five minutes: If you don’t shit your pants, you are one brave soul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D51QgOHrCj0
