5 must-see scary films for this season

It has arrived, the time of year when carved pumpkins, black cats and paper bats decorate houses around the world.

Yes we are talking about Halloween, the funniest and creepiest celebration of the year.

Have you got any plans for the day and night?

No doubt there will be parties and gatherings and in some places, kids will dress up and visit their neighbourhood asking for ‘trick or treats’. But what Halloween also means is darker nights; where some may prefer to cuddle up and let Hollywood do the scaring.

If you are stuck for ideas of which film or films to watch to give you the fright of your life, we are here to help, taking inspiration from some old classics and some modern breakthroughs.

Happy Hauntings!

Psycho (1960) – IMDB – 8.5

Alfred’s Hitchcock’s film Psycho is one of the scariest and most brilliant films in the history of horror film. The story is about a Phoenix secretary who steals money from her employer to run away with her boyfriend. She checks into a remote motel run by a disturbed young manager… we’ll leave you to fill the gaps on what may happen in the motel.

The Shining (1980) – IMDB – 8.4

Based on Stephen King’s novel, a family heads to the isolated Overlook hotel in Colorado for the winter due to Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) writer’s block. He settles in along with his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), who is plagued by psychic premonitions. After a winter storm, the supernatural forces inhabiting the hotel start to influence Jack causing him to unravel into a homicidal maniac hell-bent on terrorising his family.

Corpse Bride (2005) – IMDB – 7.4

If you like animation, Corpse Bride by Tim Burton is a great option for your Halloween night. Set in a 19th century European village, this stop-motion, animated feature has Johnny Depp leading a star-studded voice over cast as the voice of Victor, a shy groom who practices his wedding vows with Emily, voiced-over by Helena Bonham Carter.

Halloween (2007) – IMDB – 7.9

This is not for the faint hearted, as this is a seriously creepy film by John Carpenter that will have you checking behind your shoulders for a long time. The story is about a kid who stabs his sister on a Halloween night of 1963. Institutionalized in a mental hospital he escapes after 15 years, only to return to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield to kill his next victim.

The Ring (2002) – IMDB – 7.1

Directed by Gore Verbinski, this psychological horror follows Newspaper reporter Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) who has to investigate an urban legend. It’s a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone who watches. Rachel has only a week to unravel the enigma.

For die-hard fans of this we also suggest heading to the cinema for a second helping of the Ring 2!

 

Stuck for time and looking for a quick bolt of thrill?

Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983) – IMDB – 8.6

This 14 minutes horror themed music video is one of the most memorable by Michael Jackson and has been seen more than 350 million times on YouTube. Directed by John Landis, Michael Jackson turns into a zombie and give viewers a frightful viewing.

 

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