I don’t do much for Halloween. I just sit in my movie chair and watch spooky movies with my family. Every time a jump scare happens I’ll make funny comments like, “You do know the bad guy dies at the end?”
Today, I’m looking at seven of the spookiest films of all time, Halloween classics that are guaranteed to make students howl in fear.
7. Poltergeist (1982)
This is a spooky film about the Freeling family, whose house is invaded by hostile ghosts. The ghosts then kidnap the Freeling’s little girl, and they have to seek professional help from an exorcist to get her back. From the man eating trees to the person peeling off his own flesh, this movie is very effective at delivering the spooks. Be sure to check this one out if you are looking for a scary good time.
6. Arachnophobia (1990)
Arachnophobia is a fantastic scarefest that is truly frighting to watch. The movie follows a group of California residents whose town is infested by a herd of killer spiders. The movie is made all the scarier by its choice to never show the killer spiders that are terrorizing the town. You just see a lot of residents dropping dead. This makes for a terrifying movie experience that will have its audiences looking over their shoulders long after the credits roll.
5. The Shining (1980)
The Shining is one of the scariest films you’ll ever see. The movie is about Jack Torrance, a writer who takes a job as a caretaker of a haunted hotel. This hotel has a long history of making its caretakers go insane, and that’s exactly what happens to Jack. From the creepy girls in the hallway to the elevator covered in blood, this movie is a great choice for horror fans who want to get their spook on this Halloween.
4. The Thing (1982)
When I first saw this movie, it scared the hell out of me. From the creepy character designs to the effective frights, The Thing has it all. The special effects are terrific and the spooky atmosphere that John Carpenter created really lends itself to some fantastic action scenes. This movie its a great watch, especially on Halloween. Please, if you haven’t yet, do yourself a favour and check this one out.
3. Psycho (1960)
This is one of the most influential horror films out there. This is mainly due to Alfred Hitchcock’s decision to kill the female lead midway through the movie. This directing choice added a level of tension and suspense to the movie that was arguably unlike anything anyone had seen in a movie before. This is an effective and terrifying movie that rightfully earns its title as one of the scariest movies of all time.
2. Alien (1979)
The first Alien was a landmark in horror filmmaking, because it’s one of the first horror movies to blend genres. This science fiction/horror mash-up follows Ellen Ripley and her crew of space scientists, who have a deadly run-in with an alien species that starts killing all of the crew members. This is an extremely creepy movie that entertains its audience as well as scares the heck out of them.
1. Jaws (1975)
I had the pleasure of seeing the re-release of this movie in movie theatres last month, and I’ve got to say it was the scariest movie experience I’ve had in a long time. If you don’t find this film scary, you’ve never seen it in a movie theatre. From John Williams’ tense, Oscar-winning score to the heart-pounding opening 10 minutes and the movie’s climax, this is truly one of the most fright-inducing films of all time, which is why it’s my number-one pick today.