With Halloween quickly approaching, many of us are ready to put on our masks and celebrate the Pagan holiday. What better way to do so than by watching a horror movie (or 31 plus for every night of the month). Luckily, I am here to point you in the direction of movies that will not only scare you and your loved ones senseless, but will be classics you may have missed or never heard of. A number of these films can be found on Netflix or other streaming services, as well as your local video store. Without further explanation, let’s jump in.

Creep (2014)

Starring Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass

Directed by Patrick Brice

I will say this film is not for everyone, especially those who are not into a slow burn of a film. The movie tells the tale of Josef, a man who contacts Aaron via Craigslist to help him create a film for his child he may never get to meet. With most of the film playing like a creepy buddy comedy akin to What About Bob?, Josef’s story slowly starts to unravel leading to one of the most unsettling conclusions in recent horror history. With an upcoming sequel, now is the time to experience this gem, especially if you have Netflix, where this film can currently be viewed. You can view the trailer here.

The Girl with All The Gifts (2016)

Starring Sennia Nanua, Gemma Arterton, and Glenn Close

Directed by Colm McCarthy

Today, zombie movies are a dime a dozen. This film stands out as being the most entertaining zombie film since 28 Days Later. Set in a post-apocalyptic world akin to The Last of Us, the less you know about this movie the better it is. Featuring superb acting and equal parts drama and gore, this film cannot be missed. View the trailer here.

Green Room (2015)

Starring Anton Yelchin, Patrick Stewart, and Imogen Poots

Directed by Jeremy Saulneir

Featuring the most brutal violence I have seen in recent horror cinema, this story focuses on revenge/survival. The film features the late Anton Yelchin in one of his final roles, as a member of an unknown punk rock band who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is not for the squeamish; you can view the trailer here.

Spring (2014)

Starring Lou Taylor Pucci, Nadia Hilker and Nick Nevern

Directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead

If your significant other isn’t into horror films, this horror movie disguised as a romance is a perfect fit. A man on the run flees the US and meets a strange woman in Italy who isn’t what she seems. Another slow burn, but well worth the payoff. The trailer can be viewed here.

Holidays (2016)

Starring Seth Green, Lorenza Izzo, and Harley Quinn Smith

Directed by multiple directors.

Another anthology based upon major holidays, each written and directed by a different director. While not all of the shorts are amazing, there is a good blend of horror and comedy. If nothing else, be sure to watch the Halloween and Easter based shorts. The trailer can be found here.

Silent Hill (2006)

Starring Sean Bean, Radha Mitchell, and Laurie Holden

Directed by Christophe Gans

While the film industry has given us its fair share of horrible video game adaptions, Silent Hill remains as one of the single films to get it at least somewhat right. Mixing elements from the first three entries of the game featuring the same name, it’s a faithful adaption worth visiting (or revisiting). The trailer can be found here.

Hush (2016)

Starring John Gallagher Jr, Kate Siegel, and Michael Trucco

Directed by Mike Flanagan

While most of the Netflix originals have been subpar, Hush remains one of the most entertaining thus far. The thought of having someone stalking you throughout your home is terrifying to begin with; being a deaf person makes it that much worse. This film shows us just what that would be like, as Maddie struggles to survive in her rural home while a masked intruder stalks her. You can find the trailer here.

If you’re like me, you have little ones running about; please keep in mind these movies are intended for mature audiences. If you’re looking for some family friendly fare, I’ve included a few honorable mentions.

Ghostbusters (1984)

Starring Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Sigourney Weaver

Directed by Ivan Reitman

A timeless classic, while the recent reboot wasn’t the greatest thing to happen since dancing toasters, the first and its sequel are both excellent films. If your kids (or yourself) have yet to experience these films, now is the perfect time of year. You can find the trailer here.

Arachnophobia (1990)

Starring Jeff Daniels, Julian Sands and John Goodman

Directed by Frank Marshall

My wife, like a lot of people, has a crazy fear of spiders. With that being said, this film might terrify some more than others, but to this day, the use of hundreds of live spiders to complete the film is astounding. While some may want to use discretion in showing it to their youngsters, my four year old loves this film and it’s become a bit of a Halloween tradition in our house. The trailer can be found here.

 

There you have it, your second week of Halloween viewing recommendations from my personal collection. Be sure to visit us next week to see week three’s recommended horror flicks! If you missed last week’s post, you can find it here and catch up with the rest of us.