October 1st signals the beginning of what I like to call Spooky Season, so let's celebrate by watching some horror movies! This list has movies ranging from "laughing the whole time" to "let's leave the lights on," but all of them have classic horror movie elements that will help you get into the Halloween spirit.
Practical magic
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Practical
Fantasy, Horror, Romance
The wry, comic romantic tale follows the Owens sisters as they struggle to use their hereditary gift for practical magic to overcome the obstacles in discovering true love.
The dead don't die
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Dead
Horror, Comedy
In the sleepy small town of Centerville, something is not quite right. The moon hangs large and low in the sky, the hours of daylight are becoming unpredictable, and animals are beginning to exhibit unusual behaviors. No one quite knows why, and no one foresees the strangest and most dangerous repercussion that will soon start plaguing the town. The dead rise from their graves and savagely attack and feast on the living, and the citizens of the town must battle for their survival.
Creepshow. Season 1
BLU-RAY Creepshow 1st season.
Horror
The new anthology series based on the 1982 horror-comedy classic. A comic book comes to life in a series of twelve vignettes over six episodes, exploring terrors from murder to the supernatural and unexplainable. Haunted dollhouses, werewolves, murderous goblins, villainous trick-or-treaters, the dead, and medical marvels are just a few of the things to watch out for in this new series.
Tucker & Dale vs. evil
DVD MOVIE COMEDY Tucker
Comedy, Horror
Two friends on vacation at their dilapidated mountain house are mistaken for murderous backwoods hillbillies by a group of obnoxious, preppy college kids. When one of the students is separated from the group, the boys try to lend a hand, but as the misunderstanding grows, so does the body count and the laughs.
I was very frustrated with some of the characters in this movie, but I rooted for the main two friends from the start. Overall, the silliness of this made it worth the maddening assumptions the college kids made.
- Jacy
Pet.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Horror
Sweet but lonely Seth (Dominic Monaghan, *Lost, Lord of the Rings*) spends his days working in an animal shelter. In a hopeless daze, he has a chance encounter with beautiful young waitress Holly (Ksenia Solo) who awakens something within him. Obsessed, he tries everything to win her over. Time and again, she rejects him, leading him to steal her journal and make a plan: to kidnap Holly. After Seth takes Holly, she wakes up in a cage beneath the animal shelter, treated like the dogs living above her. As Seth’s lies begin to catch up to him, Holly toys with his emotions and his certainty of the situation falls apart. His dishonesty and obsession threaten to trap Seth between the pressures of love, murder, and control. A bloody psychological battle begins where the line between prey and predator, victim and criminal blurs, leaving a deadly trail along the way. Official Selection at **SXSW Film Festival**, **Brooklyn Horror Film Festival**, and **Frightfest Film Festival London** *"The film is engrossing, thanks to the director's skill at delivering sustained tension, and the excellent performances." - Frank Scheck, **Hollywood Reporter*** *"The films zigs where you expect a depraved zag, resulting in a smart and unsettling tale..." - Alex McLevy, **AV Club***
This movie is also available as a DVD!
- Jacy
Ready or not
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Ready
Horror, Action
A young bride joins her new husband's rich, eccentric family in a time-honored tradition that turns into a lethal game with everyone fighting for their survival.
When this first came out, I thought it was more of a silly action movie but I was proved wrong when I first sat down to watch it. Yes, it’s a comedic movie, but the gratuitous gore and suspense elements make this a true horror. The last few minutes are especially my favorite.
- Jacy
Happy death day
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Happy
Horror
A college student relives the day of her murder with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer's identity.
If you like campy horror that follows all of the classic plot points, you will enjoy this movie. Creepy guy in a mask? Check. Weird sense of time? Check. Twist ending? You bet.
- Jacy
Us
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Us
Horror
Haunted by trauma from her past and compounded by a string of eerie coincidences, Adelaide grows increasingly certain that something bad is going to befall her family. After spending a tense beach day with their friends, Adelaide and her family return to their vacation home. When darkness falls, the Wilsons discover the silhouette of four figures holding hands as they stand in the driveway: doppelgangers of themselves.
I was late to the party in watching this but so glad I finally did. It will definitely make your skin crawl.
- Jacy
The shining
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Shining
Horror
A young boy and his parents spend the winter in a resort hotel which is possessed by ghosts.
As a child I remember vividly scenes like the twins in the hallway and bloody elevator doors, and so do many others. I don’t have to point out how iconic this movie is; safe to say, it will get you in the Halloween spirit. Don’t forget to check out the long awaited sequel, Doctor Sleep, which is also available in the library as a DVD.
- Jacy
Drag me to Hell
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Drag
Horror
Christine Brown is an ambitious L.A. loan officer. She is on a desperate quest to break an evil curse. Professor Clay Dalton is her charming boyfriend. Life is good until the mysterious Mrs. Ganush arrives at the bank to beg for an extension on her home loan. Christine denies the extension to impress her boss and get a leg-up on a promotion, which shames Mrs. Ganush and dispossesses her of her home. Christine finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse, which turns her life into a living hell.
Zombieland
DVD MOVIE COMEDY Zombieland
Horror, Comedy
In a world that has become overrun with zombies, two men must figure out how to survive. Wimpy Columbus is afraid of his own shadow, while Tallahassee is the biggest, baddest, gun-toting zombie-slayer who ever lived. When they meet two sisters, Wichita and Little Rock, the four strike out for an amusement park that is said to be zombie-free. This mismatched group will have to rely on each other to survive, which could be worse than surrendering to the zombies.
Around this time of year, I usually watch this movie at least once because it’s the fun kind of horror. The cast is a great combination of characters most will be familiar with, and, as a bonus, the sequel is pretty good too.
- Jacy
Hereditary.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Horror
When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter Annie (Toni Collette) begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The more she discovers, the more he family finds themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited. Making his feature debut, writer-director Ari Aster unleashes a nightmare vision of a domestic breakdown that exhibits the craft and precision of a nascent auteur, transforming a familial tragedy into something ominous and deeply disquieting, and pushing the horror movie into chilling new terrain with its shattering portrait of heritage gone to hell. Nominated for Best Female Lead and Best First Feature at the **Film Independent Spirit Awards**. Official Selection at the **Sundance Film Festival**. "*Hereditary is a new horror landmark.*"- Peter Travers, ***Rolling Stone***
I definitely find this one to be towards the “let’s leave the lights on” end of the spectrum. Gorey imagery and creepy scenery made me jump multiple times, but it was worth it. The back story isn’t unique (think Paranormal Activity) but I really enjoyed the way they told it.
- Jacy
Ma
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Ma
Horror
Sue Ann, a loner in her quiet Ohio town, is asked by Maggie, a new teenager in town, to buy some booze for her and her friends. Sue Ann sees the chance to make some unsuspecting younger friends. She offers the kids the chance to avoid drinking and driving by hanging out in the basement of her home as long as they abide by the house rules. Her hospitality starts to curdle into obsession, and what began as a teenage dream turns into a terrorizing nightmare.
Beetlejuice
DVD MOVIE COMEDY Beetlejuice
Horror, Comedy
A couple of likeable ghosts contact the afterlife's bio-exorcist to rid their home of a trendy New York family that moves in.
Whenever I’ve watched one too many scary movies, this is one I’ll go to for a nice break. It’s a classic for good reason, so if you haven’t seen it yet join in on the fun!
- Jacy
The evil dead
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Evil
Horror
Teens in a secluded cabin in the woods are terrorized by evil demons from another world.
Calling a movie a “classic” in recommendations lists can be overdone, but in this case it really is true. Not only does this movie have two more after it, it’s been remade AND a series exists to continue the story. I put this one, the original movie, on the list but be sure to also check out Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness, Ash vs. Evil Dead (the TV show), and the remake titled Evil Dead (instead of *The* Evil Dead like the original).
- Jacy
The people under the stairs
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR People
Horror
A boy breaks into his landlords' house to find they are serial killers who trap their disfigured victims in the basement.
The host
DVD MOVIE FOREIGN KOREAN Host
Horror
In Seoul, an American army doctor forces his assistant to dump bottle after bottle of formaldehyde into the drain. The drain runs into the Han River, the major river running through the middle of Seoul. His only reason is that the bottles are covered with a layer of dust. Six years later, a food cart operator, Gang-du falls asleep every time his dad, Hie-bong, is away from the stand for more than a few minutes. Soon, his daughter, Hyun-Seo returns from school. Then a monster appears in the river and starts to attack the people lounging at its banks. Gang-du and Hyun-Seo are chased by the beast. Hie-bong tries valiantly to save his daughter, but the beast soon captures her and drags her away. They receive a call from the daughter's cell phone and try to rescue her from the large monster.
Normally the father figure who saves their child from a monster is a noble and strong character; this movie challenges that. Every time I watch it my heart warms with how determined the dad is to find his daughter. The monster has a really interesting design as well. Check it out!
- Jacy
Attack the block
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Attack
Horror
A gang of tough inner-city kids try to defend their turf against an invasion of savage alien creatures, which turns a South London apartment complex into an extraterrestrial warzone.
The Hole In the Ground.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Horror
After Sarah and her young son Chris move to a new rural home, they discover the surrounding forest hides a massive, ominous sinkhole. One night Chris suddenly disappears into the woods, causing Sarah to panic. He soon returns, but he's changed: distant, increasingly erratic, and prone to violent outbursts. The longer he's back, the more Sarah begins to suspect that the boy who has returned is not her son. Official Selection at the **Sundance Film Festival**. "*[T]his is an impressive feature debut for a filmmaker with more in mind than just monsters and jump-scares.*" - Noel Murray, ***The Los Angeles Times***
Krampus
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Krampus
Horror
This darkly festive tale of a yuletide ghoul reveals an irreverently twisted side to the holiday. The horror-comedy tells the story of young Max, who turns his back on Christmas as his dysfunctional family comes together and comically clashes over the holidays. When they accidentally unleash the wrath of Krampus, an ancient entity from European folklore, all hell breaks loose and beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own.
A variety of evil, supernatural characters makes this version of the tale of Krampus interestingly creepy. The story is one we’ve seen before, but it’s nice to go back to the familiar route of “child loses their spirit and bad things happen” every once in a while. This one also doubles as a Christmas movie, technically.
- Jacy
Rift.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Horror, Thriller
In this Hitchcockian Thriller, when Gunnar receives a distraught phone call from his ex, he drives up to a secluded cabin to see him. He discovers that there's more going on than he imagined. Someone is lurking outside and the two find that they are haunted by someone -- or something. Official Selection at **Fantastic Fest**. Winner of the Artistic Vision Award at **L.A. Outfest**. Winner of the Top Ten of the Year - Audience Award at the **CinEuphoria Awards**. *"The accomplished acting, stunning cinematography and solid direction keeps RIFT constantly engaging and steeped with ... talent." - Alex Lines, **Film Inquiry*** *"An ambiguous, creepy study of conflicting desires and haunting pasts - as well as a literally glacial take on 'Don't Look Now.'" - Anton Bitel, **Sight and Sound***
The curse of La Llorona
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Curse
Horror
La Llorona is a specter from legend, wailing in the night for her lost children and desperate to claim living children to replace her own. In the 1970s, a social worker deals with a woman charged with child endangerment who is actually a victim of La Llorona, and gets caught up in the supernatural realm herself. Now the only hope for her own children may be a priest who lives on the fringes of where fear and faith collide.
Some criticism of this movie was that there are a lot of been there, done that type of jump scares, and not enough relying and expanding on the folktale it was based on. From what I've seen, I agree with those sentiments; however if you're wanting a predictable jump scare, this would be right up your alley. Watch it and decide what you think!
- Jacy
The babadook
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Babadook
Horror
Amelia is a single mother plagued by the violent death of her husband. When a disturbing storybook called Mister Babadook turns up at her house, she is forced to battle with her son's deep seated fear of a monster. Soon she discovers a sinister presence all around her.
I started watching this when it first came out and got so scared that I turned it off and decided to try again another day, preferably when the sun is up. From what I saw then and how others have described it, this one is another creepy movie with great imagery.
- Jacy
Unsane.
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Horror
A young woman (Claire Foy) is involuntarily committed to a mental institution where she is confronted by her greatest fear - but is it real or is it a product of her delusion? Official Selection at the **Berlin International Film Festival**. *"Foy owns this intimate, claustrophobic film, which at its heart is about the universal fear...of telling your story and not being believed." - Sara Stewart, **The New York Post***
Insidious
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Insidious
Horror
Josh and Renai have a happy family, until tragedy strikes their young son, and he begins to experience things that science cannot explain. Now they must try to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.
Everyone has that one scene in a scary movie that will haunt them forever; this one has mine. The music, the jump scares, and the general helplessness feeling I got when they were trying to save the kid made this movie a wild ride worth the lingering terror. Also check out the next movies in this series; Insidious Chapter 2, Insidious Chapter 3, and Insidious: The Last Key.
- Jacy
It follows
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR It
Horror
For nineteen-year-old Jay, the fall should be about school, boys and weekends at the lake. Yet, after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter she suddenly finds herself plagued by nightmarish visions; she can't shake the sensation that someone, or something, is following her. As the threat closes in, Jay and her friends must somehow escape the horrors that are only a few steps behind.
Cloverfield
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Cloverfield
Horror
Rob is getting ready to leave New York in order to take an executive job at a company in Japan. At his goodbye party in a crowded loft, Rob's brother Jason hands a camcorder to best friend Hud, who proceeds to tape the party over old footage of Rob's ex-girlfriend, Beth. Beth shows up at the party with a new beau, which upsets Rob. Then the unexpected happens: New York is suddenly under attack from a Godzilla-like monster who stomps through midtown, destroying everything and everybody in sight. Rob and his friends take to the streets, but instead of running away with the other evacuees, they head toward the center of destruction so that Rob can rescue an injured Beth.
Found footage movies are how I started watching horror, and this was one of my first. I really liked the characters since they were realistic and developed the story further. Unfortunately we don’t get to learn a lot about the monster or what is happening, but some context is provided in 10 Cloverfield Lane and The Cloverfield Paradox, which I also recommend watching!
- Jacy
The thing
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Thing
Horror
New version of the 1951 horror film set at an Antarctic research station in winter of 1982, where a scientific team of twelve men discover an alien being which has been buried in the ice for 100,000 years. As it defrosts, the "Thing" replicates dogs and men and becomes one of the research team. Includes John Carpenter's " The Thing, terror takes shape."
28 days later
DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Twenty
Horror
An infirmary patient wakes up from a coma to an empty room ... in a vacant hospital ... in a deserted city. A powerful virus, which locks victims into a permanent state of murderous rage, has transformed the world around him into a seemingly desolate wasteland. Now a handful of survivors must fight to stay alive, unaware that the worst is yet to come.
It’s a sign that I really like rewatching a movie when I own a physical copy, and I have this at home as well as 28 Weeks Later. This and the second one are always a good option for a classic zombie movie night.
- Jacy
The Devil's Carnival
STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY
Horror, Musical
In this horror musical, sinners are invited to a theme park where they endure the repetition of their transgressions. What chances do a conniving kleptomaniac, a gullible teenager, and an obsessed father stand when facing their own moral failings?. Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II-Saw IV, Repo! The Genetic Opera) and starring Sean Patrick Flanery (Boondock Saints).
This witchy classic used to scare me as a child, but overall it isn’t too terrifying. I do get a chill whenever I hear the lyrics “You are always on my mind…”
- Jacy