Halloween might be the perfect time to delve into the horror genre, both new and old. With a plethora of bone chilling films to choose from, we take a look at the five best horror films to watch this Halloween.
5 – The Babadook, directed by Jennifer Kent
Released in 2014, The Babadook became an instant hit amongst horror circles for the sheer terror and nightmare that formulates its story. A mother and son duo move into a new house, only to find a book that summons a disturbing entity hell bent on annihilation.
The slow reveal of the monster is terrifying in and of itself as the protagonists desperately try to keep the monster at bay. Packaged as more of a psychological horror than in-your-face type jump scares, The Babadook is one of the scariest horror films in recent memory and will make everyone sleep with the lights on.
4 – The Witch, directed by Robert Eggers
Another slow burn horror film that is more about the atmospheric tension than crazy monsters running around and chasing people, The Witch stars Hollywood’s latest superstar Anna Taylor Joy. The story involves a rural family in the 17th century who begin experiencing a series of damaging events to their home and children.
As the family descends into infighting, a horrific evil lies in wait, hoping to capitalize on this moment of confusion to pounce and destroy everything. With specific focus on witchcraft and satanism, The Witch captures the real life essence of a time when being labelled a witch was sure to be a death sentence.
3 – The Others, directed by Alejandro Amenábar
Widely considered to have one of the greatest twists in the horror genre, Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar’s The Others stars Nicole Kidman’s Grace as the mother to two photosensitive children who finds her residence increasingly beset by unexplained phenomenon.
As the layers to the mystery are peeled back, Grace finds herself face to face with a shocking secret that is sure to crash her entire world down. With a creepy atmosphere and a pervasive sense of doom, The Others is mystery horror done right.
2 – The Conjuring, directed by James Wan
One of the most disturbing films to come out of Hollywood in recent memory, The Conjuring cemented James Wan as a horror icon on par with the all time greats of the genre. Based on the real life paranormal investigating husband and wife duo, Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film takes place in the 80s as evil forces threaten to tear the family apart.
With jump scares that will disturb even the most ardent of horror fans, the film takes a slow burn approach which makes the entire film full of uneasiness and anxiety.
1 – The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick
Rightly considered one of the scariest movies ever made, The Shining comes from a long line of masterpieces by the one and only Stanley Kubrick. Jack Nicholson gives a star turn Taking place in the Overlook Hotel where malevolent forces terrorize an employee’s family, The Shining presents an extremely disturbing atmosphere as the protagonists find themselves deeper and deeper into maddening visions that lead to an extremely violent finale.
From axe welding crazies to undead children, The Shining’s impact on the horror genre and cinema as a whole cannot be understated.
