Countdown to the most haunted night of the year. For horror (and non-horror) lovers, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to get into the right mood amidst smashed pumpkins and streams of (fake) blood and catch up on the best Halloween movies out there.
One of the best things about the so-called Halloween month is that it coincides with the start of the cozy season. So you can watch scary movies with your friends while being wrapped up in warm blankets and wearing your favorite knitwear.
There are no strict guidelines for what's terrifying; you recognize it when it chills your spine or makes you scream in terror.
Let's delve into the films that have haunted audiences, taking the bumps in the night and transforming them into the stuff of nightmares.
In no particular order, here are some of the best halloween movies to watch this season.
A QUIET PLACE (2018)
Gore 2.5 - Disturb 4.6 - Suspense 7.5
Halloween is all about the suspense, and what's more suspenseful than a world where making noise can get you killed by mysterious creatures?
Watch A Quiet Place, but don't make any noise while eating your popcorn!
THE EXORCIST (1973)
Gore 3.6 - Disturb 7.5 - Suspense 6.4
It's Halloween, and you're already dressing up, so why not watch one of the best-known horror films of all time. The Exorcist is also one of the scariest movies of all time.
It's simply a must-watch if you haven't already seen it.
TALK TO ME (2022)
Gore 6.5 - Disturb 8.5 - Suspense 6.5
A good combination between psychological, thrilling and scary, Talk To Me is a modern take on a classic horror trope of possession and conjuring up the dead.
When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
MIDSOMMAR (2019)
Gore 5.9 - Disturb - 7.0 - Suspense 5.2
This perfect Halloween movie choice does not begin and does not end. It 'flows', and it runs over you, disconcerting you and taking you under its wing again and again.
A difficult and layered movie that knows how to be at once enveloping and repelling, grotesque and chilling. Good luck with it!
GET OUT (2017)
Gore 2.4 - Disturb 4.8 - Suspense 6.2
It's like meeting your girlfriend's family, except way, way worse. This movie has gotten great critical acclaim and will definitely be a fan favourite for many years.
Prepare for a thrilling exploration of racism and horror.
HEREDITARY (2018)
Gore 4.5 - Disturb 6.6 - Suspense 6.0
A family unravels dark secrets after the death of their secretive grandmother, leading to a series of terrifying and supernatural events.
The unsettling atmosphere and disturbing imagery make it a Halloween must-watch.
SAW X (2023)
Gore 6.9 - Disturb 5.1 - Suspense 4.0
"Do you wanna play a game? "
Led by an amazing performance from Tobin Bell, Saw X pushes the series forward with an installment with a tremendous amount of heart to go with all the classic gore of the historical franchise.
Countless Halloween movie nights have been spent watching the Saw franchise by people all over the world. Saw X is a great way to keep the tradition going both for new audiences, and for the faithful fans.
THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT (2021)
Gore 2.5 - Disturb 7.2 - Suspense 6.8
This installment in the Conjuring series delivers more paranormal chills and thrills based on a real case. The film expertly combines horror and courtroom drama for a spine-tingling experience.
Hands down one of the best Halloween movies to pick this season.
THE GREEN KNIGHT (2021)
Gore 0.8 - Disturb 4.2 - Suspense 6.0
Ok, bear with me on this one. While not your traditional horror movie, this eerie and visually stunning fantasy film offers a unique and haunting experience that will spare you the classic horror scares.
The movie follow the story of Sir Gawain as he embarks on a quest to confront the enigmatic Green Knight, facing supernatural challenges and moral dilemmas along the way.
The film's dreamlike atmosphere and surreal encounters make it a perfect Halloween choice for those who appreciate a touch of fantasy with their frights.
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
Gore 5.8 - Disturb 7.2 - Suspense 6.2
Forget about the remakes of this legendary halloween movie. A group of friends falls victim to a family of cannibals in rural Texas, and Leatherface's iconic appearance will be guaranteed to haunt your dreams.
Add to that a perfectly low resolution of a movie that came out in the early '70s, and the stage is set for a great retro Halloween movie night.
HUESERA: THE BONE WOMAN (2022)
Gore 1.8 - Disturb 6.3 - Suspense 6.9
Mexican-Peruvian supernatural horror film directed and co-written by Michelle Garza Cervera in her directorial debut.
Valeria's joy at becoming a first-time mother is quickly taken away when she's cursed by a sinister entity. As danger closes in, she's forced deeper into a chilling world of dark magic that threatens to consume her.
FUNNY GAMES (2007)
Gore 2.8 - Disturb 5.3 - Suspense 6.3
Two psychopathic young men take a family hostage in their cabin. A crazy, violent movie that barely gives any justification for it, if any at all. You sit there and watch the violence unravel just like any great slasher movie, but the mocking undertones to the genre made by the director serve the purpose of making you question why exactly we are being so drawn to the violent story, even if there is no great premise or protagonists' back story to justify it.
For more Highsnobiety-approved movie suggestions, check out the most iconic sneaker moments in cinema history, the best gangster movies of all time, or the best outdoor movies to inspire your next outfit.
