It is officially spooky season and even if you don’t celebrate Halloween you might want to binge some horror movies, just for the fun of it.
Finding a horror film that is actually scary is usually difficult as some movies just don’t get it right.
Mastering a scare is something that only the most gifted of directors can manage, and there are a lot of films out there that fall very short when trying to terrify their audience.
But don’t dismay there are some directors that have gotten it right like John Carpenter, George Romero and Get Out director Jordan Peele just to name a few.
For horror fans here are some of the scariest films to watch, these will be perfect for Halloween themed movie marathons.
The Amityville Horror (1979)
The Amityville Horror is based on the true story of the Lutzes, a family who were run out of their home after being terrorised by paranormal phenomena in 1975. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg, the film stars James Brolin and Margot Kidder. The fact that it’s based on a true story makes it even more terrifying.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Everyone knows that the woods can be a scary place, now imagine if being stuck in them with no map? Directed by Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez, The Blair Witch Project shows exactly how deadly that can be. This movie had people genuinely believing they were watching real clips of three student filmmakers being terrorised by a Maryland legend known as the Blair Witch.
The Exorcist (1973)
The exorcist needs very little explanation, it was the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars in 1974 and after watching it you will understand why. Directed by William Friedkin this movie remains one of the most controversial films of all time, telling the story of the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl named Regan (Linda Blair).
Halloween (1978)
It would not be a complete list of horror movies without including John Carpenter’s 1978 film Halloween. It inspired movies like Scream (1996) to Trick ‘r Treat (2007) and leaves us all terrified of masked characters.
Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
Based on a story about a cursed house in Tokyo Ju-On: The Grudge will give you chills. Directed by Japanese horror maestro Takashi Shimizu this film will keep you up at night.
The Ring (1998)
Every true horror film fan has heard about Ring at some point. Directed by Hideo Nakata the film centres around a cursed videotape. People that view it die seven days later. Watch this one with the lights on.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Director Wes Craven gifted the world with one of the most infamous movie villains: Freddy Krueger in 1984, a decade before Scream. With Johnny Depp making his acting debut, this movie’s storyline will definitely leave you scared to go to sleep.
There’s Someone Inside Your House (2021)
This new film is about a group of teenagers from Osborne High School who try to identify and stop a masked killer who’s targeting students and exposing their biggest secrets. It will definitely leave you at the edge of your seat.
Us (2019)
Jordan Peele had people fearing their own shadows after the release of Us, a film that followed a small family of four as they travelled to the mothers’ beachfront home where she grew up as a child. Their trip is quickly ruined when four masked strangers descend upon the house, forcing the family to fight for survival.
