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| Photo by Daniel Jensen on Unsplash |
Hi boys and ghouls! It’s spooky season and my second Halloween post of this great month of October! To celebrate this scary, eerie month, I’ve decided to write about something that I am very passionate about: horror movies! Yes, scary movies and Halloween just go hand in hand (though you should really be watching horror movies all year round. Trust me, they’re still scary to watch even when it’s not Halloween time!) and it’s now time for my yearly edition of horror movies that I recommend! But in a twist, I’ve not only added some of my favorite scary horror movies (of course!), I’ve also added a fun horror movie or two. Because there are some funny, tongue-in-cheek horror movies out there that maybe won’t chill you to the bone, but still give you the fun spooky thrills, plus some laughs that a lot of other horror films will not offer you. (At least, not very many!)
And now I present my fourth (yes, fourth) edition of my horror movies that you should watch this Halloween! From ghosts, to crawling creatures with big teeth, vampires, and a twisting, turning cavern of bones under the most romantic city on earth, you will have plenty of movies to choose from! So no excuses, get watching and get ready to get some chills up and down your spine and goosebumps on your arms, because that’s part of the fun of Halloween!
If you haven’t checked out my other scary movie recommendations, you can read the first three here, here, and here! (I really like horror movies, you guys. In case you couldn't tell already.)
You may be familiar with Annabelle, the demonic doll from The Conjuring and it's Annabelle spin-offs (who knew a scary and demented version of Raggedy Ann could give you nightmares?). While the first standalone Annabelle movie was a bit bleh (we expect a lot from you, Annabelle!), the second one, Annabelle: Creation, was a scary and well-written horror romp that I truly loved (seriously, watch it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised!). And while the third installment, Annabelle Comes Home, isn’t as good as Annabelle: Creation, it’s still a really fun horror romp that may not be as satisfying, but it’ll still give you a thrill or two. And bonus points for all of the fun 70’s fashion and music thrown out throughout!
I feel ashamed that it took me so long to see this movie. I honestly tried watching it a few years ago and couldn't get into it (so ashamed!). But I blame that on me being used to American horror movies which are so stylized and fast paced (aka lots of jump scares). But this classic South Korean horror flick is a master of suspense, dread, and tragedy. One of my favorite horror movies, The Uninvited, is based off of A Tale of Two Sisters and as much I love The Uninvited, A Tale of Two Sisters reigns supreme. It will confuse you, astonish you, and then break your heart. It may start off slow, but trust me, the end, and the whole entire movie, is so worth it.
And now I present my fourth (yes, fourth) edition of my horror movies that you should watch this Halloween! From ghosts, to crawling creatures with big teeth, vampires, and a twisting, turning cavern of bones under the most romantic city on earth, you will have plenty of movies to choose from! So no excuses, get watching and get ready to get some chills up and down your spine and goosebumps on your arms, because that’s part of the fun of Halloween!
If you haven’t checked out my other scary movie recommendations, you can read the first three here, here, and here! (I really like horror movies, you guys. In case you couldn't tell already.)
Ready or Not
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| Fox Searchlight |
Ready or Not was one of the movies I was so desperate to see last year. It seemed like such a unique and fun concept: a new bride on her wedding night has to play a game of hide and seek with her new in-laws (what a wedding night, am I right?) until morning… or else. It turned out to be not just a slasher (though there were gory parts), but a brand new and fun horror story in it's own right. I was genuinely so surprised and had the best time watching it. You'll laugh, you'll jump, and dare I say, you'll have a devilishly good time. (You'll know what I mean once you see the movie! Also, I'm terrified to get married and have in-laws now. Eek)
Very Special Link: Buy Ready or Not on Amazon
Annabelle Comes Home
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| Warner Bros. |
Very Special Link: Buy Annabelle Comes Home on Amazon
Before Florence Pugh was doing her famous crying face in Midsommar (you know the face I mean!), she was playing an American posing as a psychic along with her "ghost-hunting" brother, who decides to investigate a paranormal case in England that she, her brother, and her friends start to realize they never should have taken the job at all, once things take a sudden and deadly turn. This was the first time I had seen Florence Pugh in anything, and I remembered being in awe of her acting chops, and the fact that the movie gave me more shivers than Midsommar ever did (I mean, Florence was great in it, but am I the only one who thinks Ari Aster’s movies are overrated? Just me? Okay).
Crawl
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| Paramount Pictures |
I'm not one for creature features, but I'm not going to lie: big ass animals with sharp teeth scare me. A lot. And a horror movie featuring gigantic alligators...well, that’s something I probably wouldn’t make it out of alive! In Crawl, a young woman and her father have to fight off some seriously huge and angry alligators at their house in Florida. During a hurricane! Not only is the movie pretty dang scary, but it also has a bit of humor in it (I mean, it’s set in Florida and there are some colorful locals. I have to say, it was a nice touch!). The whole thing will have you on the edge of your seat and vowing to never go anywhere that alligators may be roaming freely.
Very Special Link: Buy Crawl on Amazon
Malevolent
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| Netflix |
You can watch Malevolent on Netflix in some countries!
A Tale of Two Sisters
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| Tartan |
Very Special Link: Buy A Tale of Two Sisters on Amazon or stream it for free on Amazon Prime
Have any of you ever had sleep paralysis? I’ve only experienced it once and it was terrifying. Sleep paralysis is when you’re between that stage of being awake and still asleep and dreaming, and for some people, it can create horrible waking nightmares where you’re unable to fully move or wake up and you’re just witnessing something terrible that’s only happening in your mind. This documentary, told only through recreations and voiceovers, tells the stories of people who suffer from this condition, and the terror that it creates whenever they go to sleep and (try) to wake up. From shadow people, to almost alien-like creatures, you’re right in that person’s POV and it’s scary as hell.
The Nightmare
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| Gravitas Ventures |
Very Special Link: Buy or Rent The Nightmare of Amazon
I’m sure you’ve heard of Leatherface, but have you actually seen The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? Like, the original 1970’s version? Not the modern remakes, but the actual legit horror classic? Because I hadn’t a few years before, despite being a horror movie connoisseur (not my official title. But if you want to call me that, you can!). And you guys: it was actually really scary. I’m not a slasher type of movie person by any means (ghosties and demons all the way for me!), but there was just something about this low budget 70’s that just got me right in the “I’m scared” part of my brain. From the disturbing family of Leatherface, to the fact that they used actual animal carcasses on set during the height of summer (that must have smelled lovely!), the bluntness and sparseness of the filming makes it an even more bleak and scary experience. You won’t be able to hear a chainsaw in the same way again after this movie, I promise you that.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
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| Bryanston Distributing |
Very Special Link: Buy or Rent The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on Amazon
I know, I know. Saw, you say? Hasn’t there already been too many of these movies? Yes, but the first one is a masterpiece. Is it low budget? Yes. Is it gory? Yes. Was it one of the first time’s we got to see James Wan’s genius in action? Oh yes. And for that, I am truly grateful. Yes, you may be distracted by all the “let’s play a game” jokes people have been saying for years and Jigsaw on his trike, but if you really focus on the story and realize how clever it is, you can put all that aside and just marvel at how this one little movie and it’s brilliant premise spawned so many (good-ish to bad) sequels aka a whole freaking movie franchise.
Saw
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| Lions Gate Films |
I know, I know. Saw, you say? Hasn’t there already been too many of these movies? Yes, but the first one is a masterpiece. Is it low budget? Yes. Is it gory? Yes. Was it one of the first time’s we got to see James Wan’s genius in action? Oh yes. And for that, I am truly grateful. Yes, you may be distracted by all the “let’s play a game” jokes people have been saying for years and Jigsaw on his trike, but if you really focus on the story and realize how clever it is, you can put all that aside and just marvel at how this one little movie and it’s brilliant premise spawned so many (good-ish to bad) sequels aka a whole freaking movie franchise.
Very Special Link: Buy or Rent Saw on Amazon
*Trigger Warning: This movie contains some pretty upsetting and disturbing scenes. I won’t get too specific, because it would involve spoilers, but just a word of caution if you’re sensitive to certain violent subjects*
I literally just watched this movie and had to add it to my list for this year. Like A Tale of Two Sisters, I had seen the American version of this, but the original Thai version of Shutter is just perfection and makes the American one seem like utter trash (which it is). From the horrifying plot (a hit and run where the ghost of the victim begins to haunt the young couple), to how the story unravels and becomes so much more and even more disturbing than the beginning of the movie, you’ll be shocked and upset at the end outcome. (And that imagery! My god, that imagery at the end! So haunting!)
Shutter
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| Phenomena |
I literally just watched this movie and had to add it to my list for this year. Like A Tale of Two Sisters, I had seen the American version of this, but the original Thai version of Shutter is just perfection and makes the American one seem like utter trash (which it is). From the horrifying plot (a hit and run where the ghost of the victim begins to haunt the young couple), to how the story unravels and becomes so much more and even more disturbing than the beginning of the movie, you’ll be shocked and upset at the end outcome. (And that imagery! My god, that imagery at the end! So haunting!)
Very Special Link: Buy Shutter on Amazon
Yes, I know, you’ve most likely seen this one, but for those who haven’t, it’s a brilliant take on all of the horror movie genres, from the slasher movies, to the supernatural ones, all mish-mashed into one brilliant and entertaining tribute to the genre that we all know and love. More full of laughs than terror, you’ll be delighted with this movie if you’re a horror fan. And probably enjoy it even if you’re not! Because I’m pretty sure you know at least a few of the horror movie tropes even if you’re not a big horror fan!
The Cabin in the Woods
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| Lionsgate |
Very Special Link: Buy or Rent The Cabin in the Woods on Amazon or stream it for free on Amazon Prime
Can you believe I’ve never added this movie to any of my horror movie lists?? (Did you read that in a Jonathan Van Ness voice? Because if not, go back and read that first sentence again in his voice. You won't be sorry!) Because this is probably one of my all time favorite horror movies and horror novels. If you haven’t read the book (which you should), at least see the movie. It’s so faithful to the book, and truly, honestly horrifying. But so, so good! I’ve known so many people who’ve only seen it once (usually when they were kids) and have refused to watch it again because it scared them that bad. But the story of a little girl who is possessed by a demon and must be exorcised is so much more than just split pea soup vomit and heads spinning 360 degrees- it’s a story of faith, or more like the story of a failing faith. Whichever way you want to view it, horror or with a deeper meaning, it’ll probably disturb you despite the old-fashioned effects. Because if the spider-walk down the stairs doesn’t get you, the subliminal imagery woven into the movie definitely will!
The Exorcist
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| Warner Bros. |
Very Special Link: Buy or Rent The Exorcist on Amazon
As Above, So Below
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| Universal Pictures |
Have you ever wanted to explore the Paris Catacombs? Me too! I mean, an underground burial site filled with bones of the deceased that goes on for miles under the great city of love? Count me in! But I definitely don’t want to go on this trip from As Above, So Below. I mean, urban exploring sounds great in theory, but the fact that you could get lost in the wandering, maze-like tunnels of the Catacombs, is frightening in and of itself. And this is exactly what happens in this scary, dizzying, and trippy horror flick. You won’t come out of the movie the same person you were (much like entering and exiting the Catacombs!).
Very Special Link: Buy or Rent As Above, So Below on Amazon
What We Do In The Shadows
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| The Orchard |
We all know vampires, right? They drink human blood, have lived for centuries, can’t go out in the sunlight, and can only be killed by a stake in the heart. But what about the modern day vampires living today that aren't Dracula and Lestat? What We Do in the Shadows is a hilarious mockumentary about three vampires living together in modern day Wellington, New Zealand, where they drain corpses and then argue about who’s turn it is to do the dishes. It’s the perfect combination of silliness and horror, that even centuries old vampires can’t escape the mundaneness of modern life, yet they try to preserve that royal elegance that only vampires can have. While also doing housework and dealing with werewolves, of course.
Very Special Link: Buy or Rent What We Do in the Shadows on Amazon
What We Do In the Shadows (TV Series)
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| FX Network |
In case you loved the movie What We Do in the Shadows, you’ll probably love the American TV version of it! Set in modern day Staten Island, NY, we again have several vampires living together, including an energy vampire who gets their feed by draining people by being very mundane (I think we all know a Colin Robinson in our lives!), and one of the vampire’s human familiar, the ever put upon Guillermo. Just like the movie version, you’ll learn to love the new vampires, and may even recognize a few old familiar faces in a couple of the episodes! (Also, if they start making an actual version of doll Nadja, please let me know, because I want it. It’s so creepy that I need it in my life!)
Very Special Link: Buy the first season or individual episodes of What We Do in the Shadows on Amazon or stream it for free with your Hulu account
And those were my thirteen horror movies (plus one TV show!) for this spooky season aka Halloween aka October aka the best time of the year! I hope if you’re looking for a scary movie, you can find at least one that will fit your mood on my list! (Because I’ve seen a lot of horror movies, guys, and these are some of my favorites!) How many of them have you seen and which ones do you want to watch? And tell me what horror movies (or shows) you think I should watch! Maybe I’ll put them on my fifth edition of this next year!
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Thanks for sharing these! I've seen a few of them but most of them are new to me. Ready or Not, Crawl and As Above, So Below definitely pique my interest. I've actually been inside the catacombs - there are many closed off areas, but young people have been known to have raves and get lost in these sections! According to one of the tour guides. Highly recommend it if you're ever in Paris.
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