Halloween is right around the corner, and if you haven't been cramming a bunch of amazing horror movies into the past few weeks, now is the time to start. We've taken the liberty of putting together a list of the best Scream Factory releases to watch for Halloween to help you get a playlist together!
13. Scarecrows (1988)
The Wizard of Oz may have tackled animated scarecrows first, but this film takes it to another scary level entirely.
Unsettling and creepy tale of a model moving into a New York apartment. We’re warning you now of the insane, funhouse-like (and disturbing) final act.
Funny and offbeat, but the treat here is finding out just how “Farmer Vincent’s Fritters” are made. Was also released 35 years ago near Halloween.
For contemporary scares, you really can’t go wrong with this. Turn off the lights and be prepared to clutch onto something.
Only John Carpenter could direct a story about the Devil swirling around in a jar full of green liquid and still manage to haunt us. Very underrated and deserves another look.
Joe Dante’s werewolf classic is clever, amusing and sports some of the best practical transformation special effects ever. Dee Wallace (pre
-E.T. & Cujo) also proves to be an effective and believable heroine amidst the gory mayhem.
7. The Amityville Horror (1979) (as part of The Amityville Horror Trilogy)
The creepiest-looking house ever (I mean, those windows that look like eyes!) with the most notorious past (truth or BS?) gets the spotlight in this spooky big-screen tale that will make one think twice about flies, basements and imaginary friends.
6. House on Haunted Hill (1959) (as part of The Vincent Price Collection Volume 2)
William Castle’s hokey black-and-white haunted house shocker is still a hoot years later. Vincent Price is at the top of his sinister game here too.
5. Terror Train (1980)
Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis and her friends are terrorized on a choo-choo by a killer who ends up wearing all sorts of masks (lizard, Groucho Marx, witch). Bonus: The assassin’s identity reveal is a great twist!
This ghostly tale of dead sailors terrorizing a small coastal town drips with atmosphere and quite a few shocks. You also can’t beat John Carpenter’s ominous score and a lighthouse-turned-radio station.
The Great Pumpkin has nothing on the vengeful demon who systematically stalks its victims in this flashy foray into fear. Effects hold up today and the witch in the swamp is brilliant.
Costume party? Check. On Halloween night? Check again. Partying and demon-possession in an old house? BINGO! Pure entertainment.
1. Halloween (1978) Halloween II (1981) & Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) (as part of the Halloween: The Complete Collection)
Okay, we cheated here and included three films from the
Halloween franchise, but it was impossible to choose just one. The first, of course, is the classic slasher to end all slashers, but Part 2 does in more victims then the original. And
Season of the Witch just gets the holiday right with its weird blend of masks, children and evil. John Carpenter also had involvement in all three (including their scores), which elevates this trilogy ahead of Part 4 and on. (Sorry to the fans of those!)
