Each year, as October rolls around, we all start to get cosy in our jumpers, burn scented candles and drink pumpkin spice lattes. Many of us also adorn our homes and gardens with ghosts, skeletons and jack o’ lanterns in preparation for our favourite time of the year: Halloween. One of the main things I do is get out my extensive list of scary movies and curate a playlist of sorts, being particularly choosy about the movies I specifically watch on All Hallows’ Eve itself and in the days running up to. Here, I share with you a top twenty(!) of my ultimate go-to movies for the Halloween season each year (in alphabetical order), followed by a categorised collection of other highly recommended creepshows for your fear and entertainment (at any time of the year, frankly). Be warned: some of these movies are absolutely not for the faint of heart, nor should be watched alone/with the lights off (although it’s recommended for the ultimate scary experience). The majority are pretty mainstream, so there shouldn’t be much trouble tracking them down on streaming services. The list is also by no means exhaustive – others could be added in the future, so keep checking back! Happy Halloween!

The Addams Family & The Addams Family Values
Released: 1991/1993
Starring: Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Jimmy Workman, Carel Struycken, Joan Cusack, Mercedes McNab, David Krumholtz, Peter MacNicol, Christine Baranski
Synopsis: The Addams are a tight-knit, ghoulish family that appear odd on the surface but have dark hearts of gold. From the intense love shared between parents Gomez and Morticia to the dangerous shenanigans of children Wednesday and Pugsley, there’s a lot of fun and shocks to be had. In The Addams Family, a con-artist tries to trick the family by impersonating their beloved Uncle Fester, and in Family Values, Wednesday and Pugsley are sent to a vomit-inducingly goody-goody summer camp.
Why are they good Halloween movies? The Addams family are quite synonymous with all things dark and creepy (and kooky, mysterious and spooky), and are pretty much a given at Halloween, especially when it comes to costume choices. They’re scary yet family-friendly (mostly) and a perfect fit for daytime viewing. Guaranteed to get you in the mood for spooky season.

Casper
Released: 1995
Starring: Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle, Malachi Pearson, Devon Sawa
Synopsis: Casper is a young ghost living in a large and creepy mansion with his three ghost uncles. When Kat and her dad James (both alive) move in, all kinds of mayhem ensues thanks to the mischievous uncles, and Casper does his best to keep Kat and her dad from receiving too much unwanted poltergeist attention.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? Another fun, family-friendly Halloween go-to that was/is a particular staple of 90s kid’s Halloween watching worldwide. It boasts everything horror lovers could want about living in a haunted house with fun hidden secrets and cheeky spirits. If you want something light-hearted to get the heads ball rolling for Halloween, particularly in kids are involved, then this is a good one to kick off with. 3/5

Dracula
Released: 1931
Starring: Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners, Dwight Fry, Edward Van Sloan, Herbert Bunston, Frances Dade
Synopsis: When lawyer Renfield travels off to Transylvania to meet Count Dracula, he succumbs to the Count’s will and assists him in moving to England, where Dracula preys on innocent victims.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? I mean, it’s an all-time classic. It does differ somewhat from Bram Stoker’s novel, but the main plot remains the same. These days this style of film won’t be for everyone, but anyone who can appreciate the classic art style and original performance of Bela Lugosi will get much enjoyment from it. The black and white cinematography, including the calculated lighting effects, lends itself to an atmospheric creepshow, and the skulking actions and intense accent of Lugosi indeed make for a classic Halloween romp. 4/5

Evil Dead series
Released: 1981-2023
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, Sarah York/Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas, Lou Taylor Pucci
Synopsis: Starting with 1981’s The Evil Dead, the series begins with the opening of a demonic book and playing of a demonic tape, and all literal hell breaks lose. The series goes on to follow mainly the character Ash and his fight with demons. Cut to 2013’s Evil Dead and we have something of a reboot/remake that adds a heck of a lot more gore and horror to the events mirroring those of the ’81 original.
Why are they good Halloween movies? If you’re down for some intense gore and terrifying hell creatures, this is for you. Particularly, if you want some added comedy/B-movie-style horror, start with the 80s trilogy. Then, to really drive home the fear aspect, flip to 2013 – this one features some pretty awesome and frightful cinematography. There’s also 2023’s Evil Dead Rise, but I personally didn’t find that one all that appealing (though I know many differ on that opinion, so do as you will). With dark spells casting and demons abounding, there are many reasons this series continues to endure and ranks well on horror movie lists (and I suppose one of those reasons is Bruce Campbell).

Frankenstein
Released: 1931
Starring: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles
Synopsis: Dr. Frankenstein decides to play god and reanimate a body thrown together with multiple body parts from different corpses in order to create the Monster. Without someone to guide him, the misunderstood Monster terrorises the locals until they set out to hunt him down.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? Much like Dracula, and released in the same year, this is a horror classic that stands the test of time, if only for its brutal nature and dark tones (in both its visuals and its story) and the famous make-up on Boris Karloff. Staying more or less true to Mary Shelley’s famous novel, there’s a lot to be terrified of in this movie, and a lot to enjoy in its 30s style. Again, it’s perhaps not going to be for everyone, but everyone SHOULD see it, and Dracula, at least once of a Halloween. 4/5

Get Out
Released: 2017
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Caleb Landry Jones, Marcus Henderson, Betty Gabriel, LaKeith Stanfield, Lil Rel Howery
Synopsis: When African American Chris meets his white girlfriend’s family, everything is not as it seems, and he begins to uncover unsettling secrets surrounding the family, their black staff their white friends.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? Writer/director Jordan Peele has set a name for himself not only in the comedy world, but more recently in the world of psychological horror. Get Out will give you the creeps, but also encourage you to think more deeply in its themes and the way it can be interpreted, in some ways shedding light on the “horrors” that still exist in society. It’s frightening both visually and conceptually, making it quite the all-rounder, but if you’re less a fan of blood and gore and prefer to have your mind put to the test, this one is for you. 4/5

Hellraiser
Released: 1987
Starring: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Doug Bradley, Nicholas Vince, Simon Bamford, Grace Kirby
Synopsis: Based on the original story The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker (this first instalment also directed by Barker), there is a whole series of movies within the Hellraiser franchise (check out the full Film Club round-up here), and they revolve around a particular puzzle box named the Lament Configuration that is used to summon demonic sadomasochistic Cenobites, led by the infamous Pinhead. Once summoned, they delight in torturing people, and it’ll take a lot to avoid their evil.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? For me, Hellraiser is an all-rounder. There’s out-and-out body horror, plenty of gore, the costumes and make-up make the Cenobites terrifying, and it’s got the added fun of gaudy 80s OTT horror. One of the more frightening aspects is its play on the human condition, revealing darker aspects of ourselves, so it’s not just your average creepshow. Not all the movies in the franchise are decent (not even Henry Cavill could save 2005’s Hellraiser: Hellworld), but for the most part they are worth a binge of a dark night. Even so, just watching this first instalment will be more than enough to give you your dose of horror for one night. 4/5

Incantation (咒)
Released: 2022
Starring: Tsai Hsuan-yen, Huang Sin-ting, Kao Ying-hsuan, Sean Lin, RQ (Wen Ching-yu)
Synopsis: In this Taiwanese found footage folk horror, a group find themselves in trouble with a clan as they document a private ritual. As the film flips between the past and present, we are privy to what happened during the groups’ intrusion and the horrific consequences of their actions.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? This movie felt like it came out of nowhere and was a surprisingly decent horror movie. More often than not, you can’t go wrong with a found footage/documentary style horror, as they usually lack a score, which really adds to the scary atmosphere, and there’s usually more of a blurred line between real and fake. There’s also added elements that can induce nyctophobia and claustrophobia, adding psychological fear to the mix. It builds extremely well to the climax and comes across like a mix of Ringu and The Blair Witch Project. 4/5

It Chapters 1 & 2
Released: 2017/2019
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Chosen Jacobs, Wyatt Oleff, Nicholas Hamilton, Owen Teague, Jackson Robert Scott, Stephen Bogaert, Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean, Teach Grant
Synopsis: Based on the novel by renowned horror writer Stephen King, part one follows a group of kids in Derry, Maine as they encounter Pennywise, a creepy, murderous clown who comes around once every 27 years to kidnap and kill children. The group resolve to rid the town of this curse. In part two, the story follows the same group as adults, as they continue their quest to face and destroy Pennywise before he can take away any more children.
Why are they good Halloween movies? For one, Skarsgård does an amazingly scary job as Pennywise, with everything about the character being terrifying. Both films are also paced very well so as to keep audiences on their toes, and the performances by the young actors are extremely good. It is another story that plays on particular themes that go beyond the obvious horror, including child and domestic abuse, homophobia and suicide. Overall, the creep factor is excellent and it could leave you checking under your bed before you go to sleep.

The Nightmare Before Christmas
Released: 1993
Starring: Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shaddix, Ken Page
Synopsis: Jack Skellington is bored with the same old drudgery of being the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town and celebrating Halloween year after year. Wanting to find a way to spice things up a bit, he stumbles across Christmas Town, and resolves to bring Santa Clause to Halloween Town, but other citizens of Halloween Town have other ideas for “Sandy Claws”.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? Generally, TNBC is a classic Halloween movie, on par with the likes of Dracula and Casper. It is of course very much about Halloween, and its main theme, This is Halloween, is played continuously in reality throughout the season. It has some creepy aspects to it, but for the most part it is family-friendly and a great movie to get into the spirit (it does also double nicely as a Christmas movie, but I think most would argue that it is a Halloween movie at heart). 3/5

Paranormal Activity
Released: 2007
Starring: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat
Synopsis: When a young couple begin to experience paranormal phenomena in their home, they decide to set up cameras throughout the house to capture the incidents and get to the bottom of it. What they don’t realise is the more they involve themselves and antagonise the presence, the deeper into danger their lives get.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? This one often separates people on whether or not its a worthy horror movie. For me, it absolutely is. Like most found footage movies, this one lacks a score, so the barely audible noises add an intense creepiness and the lack of obvious jump scares thanks to crescendos in music does it a lot of favours. It builds really well in the way the presence messes with the two characters and culminates in what is, for me, one of the most terrifying endings in a horror movie. This is the first installment of a franchise, but frankly the rest aren’t worth much of your time (perhaps two and three, but forget the rest). 5/5

REC & REC 2
Released: 2007/2009
Starring: Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano, Pablo Rosso, David Vert, Carlos Vicente, Claudia Silva, Javier Botet
Synopsis: When a reporter and her cameraman are reporting on an overnight shift at a fire department in Spain, the team are called out to an apartment building where a woman is apparently trapped inside her apartment. They soon realise something more sinister is at play in the building. The sequel replays the same events but from another perspective, shedding more light on the occurrences.
Why are they good Halloween movies? These movies aren’t just your average found footage style horrors that may focus on one aspect of horror: they play with multiple genres of horror, blending them into one chilling story. When you think it’s all about one particular “thing”, we later find out there’s more to it and more to the origins of the occurrences. The performances are fantastic and the way its shot can fully pull you in to feel like you’re there. The sequel does what sequels can often never do: improve and build on the first, giving us more information but not entirely ruining the mystery of it. There are another two movies in the franchise, and a god-awful American remake titled Quarantine, but I wouldn’t waste my time with those (if you really, really want to see what else happens to a particular character, you could skip to the fourth movie after the first two, but don’t disappoint yourself).

Shaun of the Dead
Released: 2004
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Peter Serafinowicz, Penelope Wilton, Bill Nighy
Synopsis: Shaun lives a rather bland life, though he seems relatively happy, even if his girlfriend isn’t. When there’s a zombie outbreak, Shaun must take charge and lead his friends and family to safety, preferably at the Winchester pub where they can have a pint and a pack of peanuts and wait for it all to blow over.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? Add some humour into your Halloween viewing with this British classic that’ll have your mum laughing every five minutes (true story). Putting a twist on the zombie genre with extra comedy and romance (making this the world’s first rom-com-zom), there’s some creepiness to it, but overall, it’s just a fun take on the zombie movie, and there’s definitely some truth to how British people would probably react in this kind of situation. Edgar Wright comes through with a well-written, easy-going Halloween movie that could be good for some day or evening viewing with a few mates. 4/5

Signs
Released: 2002
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin, Cherry Jones, M. Night Shyamalan
Synopsis: A former priest lives with his two kids and his brother on a farm in Pennsylvania, mourning the loss of his wife in a car accident six months prior. When crop circles begin to appear in the fields, and then in other countries, they start to see mysterious figures around the farm, figures that are also witnessed on video in other countries. This culminates in the family having to defend the farm against these invaders, as well as defend each other.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? If you want to step away from the usual blood, gore, ghosts and the supernatural, why not try some aliens. Signs is a pretty creepy alien movie, never scarier than when it gives you small glimpses of the aliens as they begin to invade Earth. On top of this, M. Night Shyamalan does what he does best and sends a few twisty twists and recognisable themes our way, making it more than just a scary alien movie. The ending is a little anticlimactic, but the journey is what we’re here for. 4/5

Sleepy Hollow
Released: 1999
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Jeffrey Jones, Richard Griffiths, Ian McDiarmid, Michael Gough
Synopsis: When he is called to a small town to investigate a series of murders, Ichabod Crane is pulled into something much older and more sinister that involves the town of Sleepy Hollow, with the tale of the Headless Horseman being perhaps more than just a tale.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? It’s dark, it’s got some twists and turns, it’s Johnny Depp, it’s Christina Ricci, and, most of all, it’s a Tim Burton film. It’s a classic story, based on a short story from the early 1800s by Washington Irving, and is very reminiscent of the old creepy tales that were born out of the north-east of the United States. It’s got some great set pieces, a dark tone and colouring, and is just generally a great movie for a dark, preferably stormy, night. 4/5

Train to Busan (부산행)
Released: 2016
Starring: Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-seok, Jun Yu-mi, Kim Su-an
Synopsis: In South Korea, a divorced dad sends his daughter from the northern city of Seoul, where they reside, to the southern city of Busan via train because she wishes to spend time with her mother for her birthday, owing to her father’s consistent absence. He resolves to accompany her on the train, and as their journey progresses, a zombie outbreak threatens not only all the passengers, but the entire country, and hindering their ability to reach Busan safely.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? Because… zombies. What more do you need? But really, this is an extremely well-made zombie flick from Yeon Sang-ho and isn’t just another bite-fest with little substance. It’s done very well, particularly all the claustrophobic scenes on the train, and the hordes of zombies are very convincing. In general, Korean filmmakers are quite good at the horror genre, much like the Japanese and the Spanish, so you know you’ll be in for a treat with this one. There are also the added layers of familiar themes to make it more well-rounded, as well as a good fright-fest. You can also check out the animated prequel, Seoul Station, and the live-action sequel, Peninsula. 4/5

Trick ‘r Treat
Released: 2007
Starring: Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker, Rochelle Aytes, Quinn Lord, Lauren Lee Smith, Tahmoh Penikett, Brett Kelly, Britt McKillip, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Samm Todd, Leslie Bibb
Synopsis: In much the same vein as Love, Actually (though of course of a completely different genre), Trick ‘r Treat is a horror anthology of four separate stories that intertwine and are linked by one creepy (yet somehow cute) little onesie-wearing sack-headed demon named Sam. Each follows some kind of urban legend that has dire consequences, but also features some fun twists and turns to keep audiences on their toes.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? This movie is Halloween. To me, it’s the ultimate Halloween movie. You have a bunch of different stories, all happening on Halloween night, all intriguing and creepy in their own right, that come together nicely, and it just has that overall feel of spooky season that every creep fan enjoys. 4/5

The Thing
Released: 1982
Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur, T.K. Carter, David Clennon
Synopsis: When a group of researchers in Antarctica discover something strange after a helicopter crashes, they take it back to their research station and perform an autopsy. Soon, this strange “thing” begins to assimilate and imitate other life-forms, making it near impossible to find it and destroy.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? Much like most horror movies of the 80s, this one relies a lot on gore and body horror, but it does it better than many CGI-heavy horrors do these days. The creatures featured in this film are real, in the sense that they are actual animatronics and/or costumes, lending a terrifying realism to the creatures. It’s truly a cult classic and has a great mix of gore and alien creepiness to bring something fresh to your Halloween viewing. This movie is the epitome of “they just don’t make them like they used to”. 4/5

War of the Worlds
Released: 2005
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins, Miranda Otto
Synopsis: A single dad tries to protect his two children from an alien invasion, as he desperately tries to reunite them with their mother across the country.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? Another alien movie, this one takes away from the supernatural/bloody side of Halloween, but there’s just something about aliens that can be more terrifying than the thought of ghosts and the paranormal. What really makes this movie what it is, however, is John Williams’s score. It’s subtle, but terrifying. Steven Spielberg is no stranger to aliens (he is dad to E.T, after all), but don’t think of this as just another blockbuster with nothing to it. Based on H.G. Wells’s famous story, this gives us all the frightening thoughts we have about aliens that Wells wrote about and puts them into a chilling film. 4/5

The Woman in Black
Released: 2012
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciarán Hinds
Synopsis: Based on the book by Susan Hill, a young recently widowed lawyer, Arthur Kipps, travels to a small village to retrieve some papers left by the deceased owner of an isolated house. Upon staying in the house, he is confronted by some evil spirit that haunts the house, and, with the help of some of the village folk, he must find a way to put the spirit to rest.
Why is it a good Halloween movie? This movie has excellent creep-factor, being very dark and sinister. Daniel Radcliffe puts in a great performance, and the jump scares are actually quite well done to be genuinely frightening. Ultimately, it’s a classic ghost story, and is perfect if you fancy some more of that period horror with a straight-forward haunting. 4/5

Thirsty for more horror? Head over to Terror Tapes and find out what’s worth crapping your pants over, or what isn’t worth losing sleep over!