It’s finally Halloween, which means it’s finally time to watch horror movies (as if I haven’t been watching horror movies year-round). So, in the spirit of the season I’d like to share some of my favorite goose-bump-inducing, scary movies. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I hope it provides a varied selection of some of the best horror movies of all time.
- Alien (1979)- Few other environments can elicit the kind of fear response that outer space can. The mystery of the monster and the compelling characters add up to a sci-fi horror classic with plenty of action and scares.
- The Thing (1982)- There’s a weird kind of draw-dropping grotesqueness to this movie that is unnervingly appealing. Again, the elements of science fiction and mystery combine into a thrilling and intense story which showcases director John Carpenter at his best.
- The Fly (1986)- This movie might be considered more of a cautionary tale of the dangers of unchecked scientific advancement. I think it’s just gore being fun. It’s David Cronenberg, the master of gross-out, body horror, being his absolute grossest. Bonus: Who doesn’t love Jeff Goldblum?
- The Evil Dead (1981)- Moving away from sci-fi horror now, The Evil Dead is about five friends stranded in a secluded cabin haunted by a supernatural force. It’s gory, it’s campy, it’s everything a scary movie ought to be.
- Dead Silence (2007)- This is a goofy, cliché-ridden attempt at horror with just enough of a plot twist to draw me in. This is go-to, friend-group-setting, movie viewing garbage at its best despite what its Rotten Tomatoes score would have you believe.
- Shaun of the Dead (2004)- I’m kind of pushing the line of horror by including this one. It’s a comedy that plays off horror tropes in a way that most other horror/comedy movies just fail at. It’s cleverly written and perfectly presented in a uniquely Edgar Wright way.
- As Above, So Below (2014)- I am unapologetic about my love for this movie. Actually, ‘love’ is too strong a word. In reality, it’s pretty ridiculous. The movie consists of a forgettable plot, surprisingly interesting characters, and some genuinely eerie imagery that makes for a pretty fun viewing.
- The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962)- This is my obligatory deep cut into horror cult classics. It’s got over-the-top acting that is genuinely hilarious because it tries so hard not to be. It’s got a crazy, hairbrained plot that keeps surprising you with how bad it can get. And it’s got one of the best movie posters of all time that I absolutely had to include.
We consume works of art because of the emotions that they stimulate. These specific examples from the horror genre astonish us, they make us laugh (whether they intended to or not), and naturally they scare us. Maybe it’s an inborn, animalistic response for our adrenaline-starved brains to crave action. Maybe we love the snobbish feeling of suppressing our fears when we know there’s nothing really to fear. Maybe we’re feeding a depraved side of ourselves in a socially accepted way. Or maybe it’s just fun to watch scary movies.