By Molly Silverman
Tis the season for Halloween! People want to be scared or have a mild twinge of discomfort during this time of year, and I am ready to help provide the public with some scares! These are ten of my personal favorite movies to watch during this season! I must admit though, some of them are scarier than others. So watch with caution ;)!
1. Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock: 1960
Alfred Hitchcock’s tale of a woman on the run stopping at the ever creepy Bates Motel will get your adrenaline pumping. This movie is best to watch on a rainy night, with all the lights off. This adds to the creepy factor. I mean, it’s a Hitchcock film, so twists and turns should be expected. This movie is more thrilling than scary; nevertheless, it is spooky enough to watch during Halloween season.
2. Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese:2010
A great film to make you want to crawl underneath the blankets! This movie portrays a detective with an unfortunate past that tries to move forward and help find a missing patient from a criminal insane asylum. Leonardo DiCaprio and Michelle Williams were brilliantly kooky in this movie, and portrayed their characters quite effortlessly. This movie misleads, so if you like thrillers that boggle your mind, this is a must-watch!
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas, directed by Tim Burton: 1993
This movie is claymation and still tends to creep me out a little bit every time I watch it! This has always been a favorite of mine around this time of year ever since I was a kid. The idea of different towns for different holidays always made me so happy, and I bet watching this movie you will want to live in the Halloween town. But beware! Oogie Boogie might scare children! After all, that is his intention, right? I’d recommend curling up under a blanket with kids who are brave enough to endure this cute movie! I promise, it’s not too scary!
4. Zombieland, directed by Ruben Fleischer: 2009
This movie is AMAZING. It’s a different breed of the zombie movies, however, there are times where you get the intense feeling that something is going to jump out at you! There is a great deal of comedy in this movie, but don’t let that fool you. The zombies are quite creepy and realistic. I honestly didn’t expect for the make up to be so good, because it’s a zombie comedy. But boy was I wrong. Just remember, double tap, and you will be able to handle life after seeing this movie!
5. Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton: 1988
Tim Burton is apparently the king of making creepy cool movies! Beetlejuice is one of those movies that was advanced for its time and still is a favorite of many! The idea of two deceased people living in the attic of someone’s house is quite creepy. However, the movie goes to another level of creepy when you see all of the dead people in an alternate universe. And let’s be real, Beetlejuice is just creepy looking by himself. This movie is quite funny, but I wouldn’t enjoy it too close to bed time!
6. Arsenic and Old Lace, directed by Frank Capra: 1944
Don’t let this being a comedy from the 1940’s deceive you! This movie will creep you out! Two elderly women killing seemingly lonely men? Yes, that does happen in this movie! Also, there is a Boris Karloff look-a-like. That identifies creepiness! This movie will give you some mild discomfort, but isn’t that the point of dark comedy? Regardless, this movie is spooky enough to raise some hairs on the back of your neck!
7. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, directed by Robert Aldrich: 1962
Bette Davis creeped me out so much as the grown up has-been Baby Jane who torments her older sister who became paralyzed when she was younger. The whole movie you can’t believe what Bette Davis’s character will do to her sister or how she tries to revive her career. This movie is literally haunting. I would never want to watch this in the dark before bed time. It is not horrifying, but some of the images in the movie will just get imprinted in your mind and become your nightmares!
8. Sleepy Hollow, directed by Tim Burton: 1999
Another one of Tim Burton’s finest, this movie will give you goosebumps all up and down your spine. Tim Burton’s spin on the character, Ichabod Crane is ingenious! His fear embodies the viewer’s fear while watching the movie! The creepiness is not too strong, but it follows you as you watch the movie! Please, beware, you will see some very graphic, haunting images!
9. Van Helsing, directed by Stephen Sommers: 2004
This movie will make you jump! There is a lot of fast paced creatures coming out of nowhere, screeching! This movie is very haunting! Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale hunt monsters very well! Meaning, they do it in a way that scares the crap out of you because they are quite stealthy! The dark tone of the film will creep you out the whole time you are watching it! I wouldn’t watch this movie alone in the dark!
10. Frankenstein, directed by James Whale: 1931
To end my list, I shall talk about an oldie but goodie. Even though this movie was made a long time ago, it still has the possibility to frighten you! Boris Karloff plays the monster fantastically! The way he hovers over the humans and doesn’t use any words, can creep anyone out! The old Universal horror movies were great for their time period! Don’t underestimate it’s time period, this movie is creepily fantastic!
Watch these movies if you dare! Enjoy being spooked!
