When trick-or-treating fatigue sets in and dressing up for a Halloween party feels like a Herculean task, calling it a night is not the only option available. Make it a party of your own as you ring around friends to binge-watch these spooktacular films to serve up some silly scares. Here’s the Gulf News tabloid! list of must-watch horror movies to get you through All Hollow’s Eve.
The Ring (2002)
The movie that gave rise to the surge of Japanese or J-horror films in Hollywood spins a supernatural yarn of a death and destruction spanning decades. A haunted videotape proves to be a gateway for the scorned spirit of Samara, a child whose thirst for vengeance cannot be satiated.
Why we love it: Did you SEE that scene when Samara climbs out of that well? Nightmares are made of these.
The Omen (1976)
The critically-acclaimed film about a demonic child named Damien spawned a franchise and a remake following its success. As Damien’s trail of mysterious deaths keep piling up, his adoptive father makes the horrific discovery that he’s the Antichrist himself.
Why we love it: Jerry Goldsmith’s Oscar-winning musical score keeps the tension bubbling until the very last frame.
The Exorcist (1973)
Based on a book, which in turn was inspired by a real-life story, narrated the terrifying tale of the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl. The myth of the Exorcist was not limited to the screen alone, with tales of paranormal happenings and unexplained accidents attracting claims that the film itself was cursed. Although, the film’s success at the box office saw the franchise spark several follow ups, buy none could really match the original.
Why we love it: When the possessed Regan spider walks down the stairs. The scene did not make the cut during the initial release of the film due to a lack of CGI effects that were only introduced years later.
The Conjuring (2013)
The film credited for reviving the flagging horror movie genre follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are called to a dilapidated farmhouse to investigate a dark presence that is terrorising the family.
Why we love it: The film had several stand out moments: Carolyn’s exorcism covered in a white sheet, the hide and clap game that leads Carolyn into a dark basement with evil crouching behind her. A personal favourite was a young Christine being woken up in the middle of the night when someone tugs on her legs. Thinking it is her sister, Christine’s annoyance soon turns to horror when everyone’s worse nightmare comes out to play in the dark.
Scream (1996)
The cult of Scream, which redefined the terror of slasher movies, is visible even today with films such as Happy Death Day (out on October 26 in UAE cinemas) aping its success. But none can come close to this Wes Craven-directed gem, which had the female lead stabbed to death in the opening scene. Audiences were hooked and Scream’s success went on to spark a whole genre, with films including I Know What You Did Last Summer and Urban Legend.
Why we love it: A whodunit in every sense, Craven had us guessing until the very end.
Halloween (1978)
After murdering his sister on Halloween night in 1963, six-year-old Michael Myers is institutionalised for 15 years before he escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield to embark on a killing spree. With 10 films in the franchise slashing away at the box office over 40 years, imagine our surprise (sense the sarcasm) that scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis announced her return to Haddonfield one last time for a Halloween reboot.
Why we love it: What’s a Halloween without this franchise churning up some cheesy scares?
The Evil Dead (1981)
This Sam Raimi-directed classic follows five college students vacationing in a remote cabin, when they unleash an evil force that is bent on destroying them.
Why we love it: The cheese-o-meter goes through the roof with several ham scenes that will have you roaring with laughter one minute, before seeing you dive for the covers in a gore fest.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
What’s not to love about cannibalistic hillbillies bent on eating anyone that crosses their paths? Be warned though: the cringe-worthy violence depicted in the film resulted in this first outing banned from screenings.
Why we love it: The film sparked a string of copycats, along with eight films in the Chainsaw franchise (one is currently playing in UAE cinemas). If we had to pick a scene, it is definitely the twisted dinner party where Sally (Marilyn Burns) is tied-up as the main course for the night.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Fresh from directing his 1982 superhero science-fiction horror film, Swamp Thing, Wes Craven decided to experiment with the teen horror genre that started it all. What was not to like here — Midwestern teenagers, a star-crossed romance and a murderer who sneaks into your dreams to cut you up in reality?
Why we love it: John Carpenter may have given birth to the slasher genre, but Wes Craven made it his own with this gore fest. Although, the sequels didn’t live up to the hype.
