Silence of the Lambs

Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 psychological thriller in the Hannibal Lecter series. It follows FBI agent Clarice Starling as she investigates a disturbing series of disappearances and murders. During her investigation, she frequently consults Hannibal Lecter, a convicted cannibal and serial killer. Silence of the Lambs is a classic horror/thriller and is well-loved by many fans of the genre.

Pet Sematary

The original Pet Sematary movie was released in 1989 and is based on Stephen King’s book Pet Sematary. It tells the saddening story of the Creed family after their fateful move out to the countryside. When tragedy strikes, the grieving father finds an ancient burial ground and takes desperate action to bring a loved one back from the dead. His choices have dire- and even fatal- consequences that affect more than just the family.

The Conjuring

Released in 2013, The Conjuring tells the allegedly true story of the haunting of the Perron family’s new home. The Conjuring creates a chilling atmosphere with shocking supernatural encounters and frequent paranormal activity. The Conjuring universe is a collection of movies following paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they look into various cases, and every single movie in the collection is definitely worth the watch.

It

It focuses on the small town of Derry, Maine, as it is plagued by a monster every 27 years. The monster often takes the form of a cannibalistic clown named Pennywise, but also transforms into its victim’s worst nightmare. A tight-knit group of high school outcasts sees what is happening to their town and bands together to put a stop to it. This movie, based on yet another of Stephen King’s books, is deeply disturbing, yet has an uplifting overall message.

The Shining

The Shining is a classic psychological horror film that was released in 1980 and is based on Stephen King’s book of the same title. It tells the story of Jack Torrence and his family when he becomes the winter caretaker of the extremely isolated Overlook Hotel. The Shining is full of chilling scenes, supernatural occurrences, and ghastly deeds.

Halloween

Halloween (1978) is a classic slasher movie that all cultured people have seen. Michael Myers had been sent to a mental hospital after murdering his sister. 15 years later, Myers escapes and searches for his next unsuspecting victims. This horror movie is a thriller, but won’t give you too many nightmares. 

Scream

The iconic Scream movies are definitely a must-watch close to Halloween. The original movie was released in 1996, and falls under the horror/thriller genre. When people start to receive mysterious calls, they fall victim to the anonymous killer in a mask. It is centered around Sidney Prescott, whose mother had been murdered a year prior. With a turn of events, the movie ends in blood and betrayal.

Child’s Play

Child’s Play is a 1998 horror film the evil “Good Guys” doll stars in. It is one of the most successful horror movies with many sequels to follow after. Charles Lee Ray, a serial killer, performs a ritual so that he becomes a doll we know as Chucky. After he gets sold to a young boy, Andy, and kills his babysitter, nobody believes him. As crazy as it sounds, the cops must believe Andy’s story before Chucky eliminates him.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space

This horror sci-fi was released in 1988, and is about… you guessed it, killer clowns!  A couple of goofy clowns invade a small town and terrorize a couple of teens. The clowns keep bodies in cotton candy and shoot with balloon ray guns. In the end, the klowns retreat and the teens are saved. This iconic movie is very cheesy, but still includes the classic horror movie elements.

Trick ‘r Treat

This 2007 movie connects four different stories that take place on the night of Halloween. It is considered a horror comedy because viewers will definitely hide under a blanket watching this, but still have a good laugh. Sam, who wears the burlap sack over his head, appears throughout the film like an easter egg when tradition is broken. At the end of the night, always check your candy!