Horror movies to watch before Halloween

ZARREEN MOGHBELPOUR | October 2, 2018 |

What’s that? It’s nearly Halloween and you haven’t been watching scary movies? Oh no. No, no, no, we can’t have that.

Source: Country Living Magazine

Halloween is a time of costumes, tricks, treats and creepy things. All in good measure of course. You might not be such a horror movie buff because you think they’re lame or you just aren’t able to stomach them for many reasons, few being those of gore, evil spirits and dark corridors. You know… small understandable things.

You have your Halloween movie classics that are funny and cute like The Witches, Hocus Pocus, The Adamms Family and The Nightmare Before Christmas. But it’s time for some different scares.

So here’s a list of well known horror movies you should watch that are only mildly scary and aren’t too bad if you laugh along with a friend. And trust me, I was never one for horror movies either. But sometimes you just have to sit down, get your hit of adrenaline, have a tea and then watch a Disney movie or romantic comedy.

The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, Annabelle and Annabelle Creation

Okay so technically it’s four movies and five if you add The Nun (but we’re not going to talk about that one because it’s bad, and not bad as in good) but the story line of each movie connects to another! What’s the best thing about the Conjuring? I have one word for you. Warren. More specifically Lorraine and Ed Warren. The only reason you will keep watching and rooting for anyone to survive in the film. Without this couple the movie really isn’t worth watching! There’s only one jump scare so you’ll be able to save yourself the trouble of cleaning popcorn from couch crevices. And if you’re wondering if the others are any good… Annabelle Creation is off the scale in comparison to Annabelle, and Annabelle got you invested and interested from the beginning. But to understand one, you have to watch them all.

2. Get Out

You want messed up. This is messed up. But messed up as in it’s amazing and you should absolutely watch it! It’s not your conventional horror movie. There’s a reason that this movie has 99 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

“This socially aware scary movie takes you by surprise, setting the scene for a slasher flick that’s a ticking timebomb. And then, ka-boom.”

– Peter Travers, Rolling Stone Magazine.

3. Grave Encounters

When my friend said we should watch Grave Encounters, I asked if it was a good movie, and she said it’s quality. Little did I know that quality stood for QUITE LITERALLY SHOCKING because… well I can’t give you any spoilers, but just don’t emotionally invest yourself in any of the characters. Just don’t.

4. The Open House

Netflix, I have a bone to pick with you. Why did you promote Open House as though it were a paranormal movie? This is not the case. This movie will never give you closure, something you definitely want when you watch a movie that’s going to scar you! I mean come on now. This is a gore. This has a killer who is human. There are suspicious characters and stupid police men (why are the police in horror movies always stupid?). So you’re probably wondering why I put it on the list.

So you can watch it and see that there is plenty to be annoyed about. You’ll see what I mean.

5. Arachnophobia

Spiders! Spiders! Spiders! Do not watch this movie if you have arachnophobia. Which is funny because the main protagonist of the film, played by Jeff Daniels, has a severe case of arachnophobia caused by a childhood trauma. This movie is a bit slow in the middle, but the ending is humorous and enjoyable. No spiders were harmed in the making of this film and shoes with hollow heels were even used!

With a 92 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes this movie is sure to spin you right round and have you web bound from the very beginning.

6. IT

Nothing is more random and creepy than a clown. There’s something about them that ruins the innocence and fun loving atmosphere they are meant to embody. Mostly I just found this movie to be sad. It pulls at your heart from the start and makes you emotionally invested in the characters with their little quirks and adventurous personalities. There are dark scenes focusing on dark topics, no doubt about it, and the concept of floating has an eerie presence throughout the film that isn’t fully understood until the end. You can watch the 1990 original or the 2017 remake, either way you’re sure for a thrill. And if you’re freaking out before you go to bed you can always find comfort in the countless funny memes.

7. The Ring

Once you’ve seen this movie it just sticks with you. It used to be the movie that was always brought up when you spoke about horror movies with your friends in school. Do yourself a favour and check it out. Maybe it would be better if you watched this one alone. But then you can take great satisfaction in watching Lilo and Stitch afterwards, knowing that the creepy demon you just watched is the voice of Lilo.

8. Hush

It feels like it has become tradition to put a mask on a psychopath and make them kill people in horror movies. A mask that hides any hint of emotion and isolates us. But as soon as they take it off, it’s an ordinary person. Hush is about a deaf writer who lives in an isolated cabin in the woods (why couldn’t it be a castle by the sea? Come on people, be creative) who becomes the target of a killer. This movie is gory. It’s silent. It’s intense. It’s pretty brilliant and highly unusual. Just don’t watch it in a ski lodge or during a camping trip.

9. The Haunting in Connecticut

Source: Gold Circle Films and Integrated Films

This movie might not be on everyone’s lists. Its space is probably filled with The Orphan or Misery, and no doubt about it that you should read Misery!

But I thought why not? The main protagonist has cancer and has many emotional ordeals, but he is brave and persevering. Don’t watch this movie if you don’t like eyelids and eyeballs and autopsies. The ending is suspenseful and dramatic. You have been warned.

10. The Sixth Sense

Source: Hollywood Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment, Barry Mendel Productions, The Kennedy/Marshall Company

Okay. This actually belongs in the genre of mystery and drama. However, it is so meticulously made and well though out, that it belongs in the horror genre, because it scares you with its attention to detail. If you don’t watch this and feel like you’re ready for Halloween, I don’t know what will. It will gives you chills, thrills and the need to wallow in your tears afterwards. If you’ve already seen it, watch it again. If you haven’t, shame on you.

So get your snacks at the ready, your pumpkins carved and sit among them as you hide in the depths of your blanket. It’s time to get spooked.