Movies that may give you a little scare this Halloween

Halloween: the day of the year when scaring people is acceptable and dressing up in the most ridiculous costumes gets you candy. Growing up, my favorite thing to do was dress up, go trick-or-treating, come home with all my candy, snuggle under a blanket, and watch scary movies while picking through the best sweets. These are some of my favorite movies that I have watched on Halloweens past and will watch on Halloweens to come.

1. Casper (Brad Silberling,1995): Who says there is no such thing as a friendly ghost? This movie isn’t the typical scary Halloween film, but it is one of those classics that I’ve grown up with and can’t go a Halloween without watching. Casper is a lonely young ghost who lives with his three odious uncles in a drafty old mansion. When Kat Harvey and her dad, Dr. James Harvey, move in, the three ghost uncles have their twisted ways of trying to get rid of the unwanted house guests. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kppS6cJE02M

2. Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978): After 6 year-old Michael stabbed his 15 year old sister to death, he was institutionalized for 15 years. But the night before Halloween, Michael breaks out and is on the hunt again. This film is a low budget, independent slasher horror movie but is also relatively scary, and a good movie altogether. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2DWutxndgk

3. Nightmare on Elm Street (Samuel Bayer, 2010): The iconic Freddy Krueger is the star of this slasher, horror film. Several young adults are being “chased and chastised” by Freddy Krueger, a finger-bladed demon that comes to haunt these young adults’ lives. film is not for the faint of heart, rated R for strong, bloody horror violence, so grab a pillow or something to hold (and cover your eyes with) because you may not be getting sleep tonight. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=polKMrfyK-A

4. Dawn of the Dead (Zack Snyder, 2004): A movie about zombies and surviving in a world that is being overrun by an army of undead, this movie is sure to please if you are a fellow zombie-lover. This movie is also rated R for strong horror violence and gore. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZGLRIOQHOY

5. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960): Although not the typical horror film of today’s standards, this movie is the epitome of suspense. The music soundtrack by Bernard Herrman is perfect for this film, and of course this movie has the legendary shower slasher scene (which is not as scary as it sounds). This movie is a must see for everyone, and with all of the plot’s twists and turns, it will not disappoint. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz719b9QUqY

6. Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme, 1991): The legendary psychopath Hannibal Lecter comes alive in this thriller about young FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) trying to find a missing woman to save her from a psychopathic serial killer who skins his victims. This twisted movie is one of my favorites, although very unusual, but the cinematography and the story is one that keeps it on my list of Halloween favorites. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQKs169Sl0I

7. The Ring (Gore Verbinski, 2002): This film combines both mystery and thriller to create a film that will always scare me in some way. A young journalist, played by Naomi Watts, begins to investigate a videotape which seems to kill anyone a week after they watch it. Watts must run against time to save her and her son’s life. (Oh, and beware, this movie may make you slightly paranoid for a couple days after watching it). Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuH5FaUpFm4

Happy Halloween!