5 Classic Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween


The scariest time of the year has descended upon us again, so make sure you’ve sorted your costume, carved your pumpkin, and have a big bowl of candy sitting by your front door! Yes, it’s Halloween, a time for spooks and scares; a time that all horror movie fans love, because we finally have the perfect excuse to sit down and watch our favorite movies without judgment.

However, with so many great horror movies out there - be it the jump-scare-laden Blumhouse productions, B-movie schlock, or unequivocal classics (often schlocky in their own way) – and so little time to watch them, you need to pick the best ones! So, we put together this list to help you out, detailing the 5 classic horror movies you should be watching if you want to bring the scares this Halloween – just be sure to keep the lights on!

1.    Halloween (1978)



An obvious choice maybe, but when the title of the movie is the day you’re celebrating, you have to include it, don’t you? John Carpenter’s seminal slasher masterpiece follows the original bad boy of the genre, Michael Myers, as he attempts to ‘reconnect’ with his long lost sister, Laurie, on Halloween. He also does a bit of murdering along the way. 

This movie has spawned a slew of sequels, spin-offs, and remakes, cementing the pale face of Michael Myers as a true horror icon, but if you truly want to experience a classic, there’s no replacing this original feature. While it might appear tame and a little dated by today’s standards, true horror fans will appreciate the tense atmosphere, unforgettable characters, and eerie soundtrack.

2.    The Shining (1980)



Even if you’ve never seen this Stanley Kubrick classic, you definitely know all of the lines and dramatic beats from countless pop cultural references. ‘Here’s Johnny!’, possibly one of the most frightening lines in movie history, is synonymous with this movie and has spawned a number parodies and rehashes that have earned Kubrick’s masterpiece a firm place as one of the greatest horror films of all time.

The story is a simple one. Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer, becomes the new caretaker of a secluded hotel through the winter, bringing his wife and young child with him. Weird stuff starts to happen and the rest is film history! Not only is the direction cold and flawless, in the only way a Kubrick movie can be, the performances are beyond frightening, with Jack Nicholson being the stand out as the murderous Jack. The Shining is a must see for any horror fan wanting a taste of unsettling, psychological fear.

3.    A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)



The film that put the Master of Horror himself, Wes Craven, on the map, A Nightmare on Elm Street introduced audiences to another icon of the genre: Freddy Krueger. This razor-gloved lunatic – with his instantly recognizable striped sweater and hat - haunts the dreams of Elm Street’s youths, looking to get them when they think they’re safest, until Nancy Thompson and her group of friends look to beat him once and for all.

While there have been several sequels and remakes, the original is ingrained in the memories of movie-goers everywhere, which is why it’s remained so popular decades after its release. These days it’s hard not to find a costume or a horror movie that isn’t influenced but this classic. There’s even a Nightmare on Elm Street themed slot game! If you’re after a fun, campy slasher film with plenty of spooky moments to watch this Halloween, definitely go back to this one!

4.    Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)



There’s really no way around it, Japanese horror movies are freaky. And while we may be stretching the definition of ‘classic’ with this one, there’s no denying that this bizarre supernatural horror movie is a great choice for any Halloween viewing party. Not only will it make you look cultured and sophisticated if you have people over, it’s also going to scare the highly-processed candy out of them.

Set in Tokyo, the story follows a young nurse as she cares for an elderly woman in her home, all while a malevolent spirit, driven by vengeance, looks to claim more victims. Unlike, other movies on this list, which are loud, in your face, and sometimes campy, The Grudge plays on your emotions, eking out the horror in slow and methodical ways. It definitely has a lot more in common with The Shining than A Nightmare on Elm Street, but if you like a slow burn with plenty of pay off, it’s a perfect movie for Halloween.

5.    Friday the 13th: Part 3 (1982)



While this isn’t the first in the franchise, Part 3 is beloved by fans, not least because it’s the first film to feature Jason Voorhees (our supernatural serial killer of the week) in his signature hockey mask. Following a similar story to the first couple of films – teens appear at Camp Crystal Lake for a vacation, teens have sex, teens get slaughtered horribly for not checking the Yelp reviews beforehand - this is the perfect film to celebrate all that is great about the character of Jason, the series as a whole, and Halloween night.

As an early 80s horror flick, it has the perfect amount of gore, scares, and schlock to keep fans of the genre hooked, and newcomers to the series will enjoy discovering the origins of everyone’s favorite machete-wielding psychopath. If you can only fit one Friday the 13th movie in on Halloween, make it this one!