Halloween is knocking at the door, and it is the best time to watch some of the spookiest horror movies of all time to make this festive season even better.
The most spooktacular time of the year has arrived; Halloween is right around the corner, and it deserves a grand celebration. Other than dressing up as your favorite character or something very evil, you should also enjoy the spooky essence a bit further with the help of movies. There are plenty of horror movies that you can watch during the Halloween season for a better celebration with an authentic essence. If you are looking for some great horror movies of all time, here is a list of the top 20 best horror movies of all time.
- ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’
This is a classic horror story that is not really horror in the sense of jump-scares and ugly ghostly beings. This classic from the 1920s made an experimental approach with silent film, depicting the hallucinations and schizophrenic thoughts of a sleep-walking person. The protagonist of the film, Conrad Veidt, is sleep walker with dark and grim thoughts the where evils of his mind takes shape for the audiences. It is a brilliant work and a perfect fit for Halloween, where you can also find traces of German expressionist imagery. There is a twisted ending as well.
- ‘The Bride of Frankenstein’
A new version for this movie has already released where the role of Frankenstein’s monster is played by Christian Bale. However, nothing can beat the beauty of the original classic that was released in 1935. In this movie, the role of Frankenstein’s monster is played by Boris Karloff and he has done a remarkable job is offering the expressions of monster who has more emotions than humans. The role of the bride is played by Elsa Lanchester, and her presence with lightning-zapped hair is truly enjoyable.
- ‘Horror of Dracula’
Dracula and vampires are the most common elements of horror settings that are well appreciated by the audiences, especially women, as there is something romantic about it. Although it is hard to find romance in an undying ghoul trying to suck your blood, ‘Horror of Dracula’ added more artistry, composure, and class to that vicious thought. The movie was released in 1958, and it is still a great watch for Halloween with its beautiful storytelling, acting, and cinematography. If there is something called horror-romance, Dracula stands for it.
- ‘The Birds’
‘The Birds’ is one of the critically acclaimed movies by Sir Alfred Hitchcock that made people fear the seagulls. Released in 1963, this movie showcased a small town in Northern California where the birds have turned rogue. The birds keep attacking humans, and those attacks are not for food. The sinister birds make deadly attacks, which cause the death of many innocent people. Although the graphics are old, there is still something enjoyable about this horror story that you might like.
- ‘Night of the Living Dead’
When there was no ‘World War Z’, ‘Zombieland ’, or ‘28 Days Later ’; people would watch ‘’Night of the Living Dead’ for a zombie treat. This movie came out in 1968 and is considered to be one of the pioneering movies in the genre of zombie and undead. The original movie, directed by George Romero, showcased a story of a Pennsylvania farmhouse where the undead ghouls rise from under the soil and their graves to descend upon the living people. If you are a fan of horror or zombies, you will like the twisted end of the movie.
- ‘The Exorcist’
Well, the original or the first movie of the franchise, ‘ The Exorcist ‘, was truly terrifying. The movie was released in 1973, and it is still a difficult movie to watch for many. The main theme of this horror movie is innocence lost and the power of faith, which a lot of people have justified later with Biblical references. But that is not the point. What is truly magnificent is the acting skill of Linda Blair, who played the role of the possessed girl. It is an uneasy watch, and there is some dark imagery. However, it is a perfect fit for Halloween!
- ‘Jaws’
‘Jaws’ is a film by Steven Spielberg that was released in 1975 and became a massive hit globally. This movie is not really horror, but it falls under the category of creature movies. The movie is based on a massive great white shark that appeared off the coasts of America and devoured a fair number of people. The protagonist goes out on hunting preparation for this massive shark along with his two friends and the epic adventure begins. There is a lot of blood and gore, but fortunately no shark is harmed during the shooting process. But the movie created a negative notion of sharks and portrayed them as evil towards humans, which is not true. They are not deliberate human eaters, as we are not a good food source.
- ‘Halloween’
You have to watch ‘Halloween’ on Halloween as it is meant for that. This slasher drama by John Carpenter is a masterpiece horror creation that came out in 1978 and still offers an enjoyable watch for all kinds of audiences. The plot follows the masked, institutionalized killer Michael Myers escaping to stalk teenager Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis in her iconic film debut. Defined by its chilling, minimalist synth score and slow-building suspense, this low-budget classic became a legendary box-office triumph. It is a classic that every horror lover should watch.
- ‘Alien’
The idea of sci-fi horror and creature thriller has merged in this movie by Ridley Scott, which was released in 1979 and created a whole new franchise with its grand success and influence among the audiences. In this movie, a group of astronauts, scientists, and research experts go on a mission in space, and they encounter a different intelligent species up there that hijacks their shuttle and hunts them down. They are not human, but rather primal beasts with sharp instincts. The horrific representation of the xenomorphs and their alien-lings going inside human bodies and them popping out of the chest is truly gruesome and enjoyable.
- ‘The Shinning’
Director Stanley Kubrick is best known for his mind-bending and difficult movies that offer deep impact in your brain. ‘The Shinning’ is one of the greatest creations by the director that has captivated generations of movie lovers. Released in 1980, this movie received a huge amount of attention, with Jack Nicholson’s remarkable acting that can scare you. The director has cleverly used many immersive moments and elements to offer an authentic taste of psychological horror, such as an elevator flowing blood, a pair of creepy twins in the corridor, Jack attacking with an axe, and many others.
- ‘An American Werewolf in London’
Well, we have talked about vampires and Dracula, but one thing was missed, and that is werewolves. ‘An American Werewolf in London’ is a perfect movie for that, which was released in 1982. The story follows a group of American dude backpacking in the old town of London. Guess what: the UK has werewolves that reveal their real form under the full moon. The movie showcases the undead buddies and classic special effects, which might appear a bit funny now.
- ‘The Thing’
‘The Thing’ also falls under the category of sci-fi horror and creature movie where the creature is an alien that can shapeshift. This movie was released in 1982 and showcased an alien organism that is capable of assimilating other organisms and takes their shape to blend in with the same species, such as humans. The presence of glorious Kurt Russell with a beard and fighting the hideous monster is truly a treat. The monster gets uglier and more dangerous over the course of the movie until it finally dies. However, the question still remains whether ‘the thing’ is still alive in the shape of someone else.
- ‘The Fly’
A lot of people might not know about this movie, but ‘The Fly’ stands out with its own unique concept of body horror. Released in 1986, you can find Jeff Goldblum as the protagonist in this movie, who mainly received his recognition from ‘Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World’. In the story, a scientist makes a pod that can successfully teleport an organism to a different pod, but in the process, the organism is broken down to the atomic level and comes back to shape again. While Jeff makes the attempt at teleportation, a fly gets stuck inside the pod, and so what appears in the other pod is a monstrous insectoid.
- ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
Some horror movies are good for the heart, such as the ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ that was released in 1986. This classic masterpiece is a musical, and though it includes all the elements of a fright fest, there is also a wholesome essence to it. The story revolves around a nerdy flower guy played by Rick Moranis who develops a strong crush on a co-worker, played by Ellen Greene. Rick grows a friendship with a man-eating plant, and the co-dependence of their relationship feels quite enjoyable. There are plenty of Alan Menken songs that can make you bop your head.
- ‘Candyman’
The plot for ‘Candyman’ is quite intriguing, and after its release in 1992, the original story set a benchmark in the horror movie industry. Tony Todd did a remarkable job in playing the role of the antagonist and offered a creative edge to the story. The story follows a vengeful spirit of a slave’s son who was murdered during post-Civil War America. The story cleverly deals with the cycle of violence and trauma that keeps coming back.
- ‘Scream’
While there are 6 to 7 sequels to this movie, nothing can beat the first original story of the franchise. The first ‘Scream’ movies released in 1996 and this slasher has received a lot of attention from global fans. Wes Craven’s creation has given birth to a Ghostface psycho-killer who offers an authentic taste of killer drama and a perfect portrayal of villains from the 90s. Drew Barrymore was looking gorgeous and terrified after receiving the call from a stranger killer, and that is enough for the plot reveal. Watch the first movie to find the origin.
- ‘American Psycho’
The movie that made people like Christian Bale so much is ‘American Psycho’. This movie from 2000 offers a different taste than Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho,’ and the modernized story has more layers to it. Bale played the role of Patrick Bateman who is notorious murderous businessman who has suffering from mental health issues. But to him, he was doing absolutely fine, and his obsession and narcissism helped to create a new trope for the horror genre. Make sure to dance to “Hip to Be Square”!
- ‘May’
‘May’ is a psychological horror cult-classic from 2002 that gives you goosebumps with its twisted plot. It is often considered a modern Frankenstein story where the lead protagonist sews a special friend for herself. Angela Bettis has offered a spectacular performance as May Canady, who is a socially awkward veterinary assistant carrying childhood trauma. After receiving much rejection in romance, she decides to stitch a friend for herself. It is definitely sad and terribly horrific.
- ’28 Days Later’
Well, it is a different kind of zombie movie where you can find Cillian Murphy as the only survivor in apocalyptic London. A rage-inducing virus has broken out in the city as well as in the country, which has made the city eerily empty. However, there are flesh-eating zombies at every corner, and survival is only a hope. The movie came with sequels later, but the first one remains a masterpiece in the genre.
- ‘Kill List’
This movie comes with a unique concept where a trained killer comes across something horrific. In the story, you can find Neil Maskell as a British Soldier who returns home and starts working as a hitman. While the story starts as a crime thriller, it slowly takes a turn towards horror as the protagonist finds something sinister and turns into someone more horrific. Watch this 2011 movie to complete your Halloween night.
