Connor Spellecy
Entertainment Editor
Halloween is fast approaching, which means horror movies are becoming a more popular choice for movie nights with friends and family.
From supernatural possessions like in “The Exorcist” (1973) to masked killers like in “Halloween” (1978), the genre offers a variety of ways to frighten audiences.
One of the most well known horror classics is “Scream,” (1996) directed by Wes Craven. The film follows a group of teenagers targeted by a masked killer known as Ghostface.
“Scream” is able to combine traditional horror elements with humor and self-awareness, poking fun at horror movie cliches. However, the humor doesn’t overshadow the horror aspect of the film, allowing audiences to remain frightened as the characters are picked off one by one.
Neve Campbell (“The Craft”) gives a career-defining performance as Sidney Prescott, the film’s main protagonist, while Jamie Kennedy (“Dead Poets Society”) and Matthew Lillard (“Scooby Doo”) play two of the film’s most magnetic characters, Randy Meeks and Stu Macher.
For viewers seeking more supernatural horror, “The Exorcist,” directed by William Friedkin, remains a renowned classic among horror fans.
The film focuses on Chris MacNeil, played by Ellen Burstyn (“Interstellar”), a mother whose daughter, played by Linda Blair (“Scream”), begins exhibiting disturbing behavior, leading to an attempted exorcism. The film’s unsettling atmosphere and serious tone create an extremely frightening experience.
John Carpenter’s “Halloween” offers a different approach to horror through its slow-building suspense.
“Halloween” follows Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), as she becomes the target of Michael Myers, a masked killer who returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, IL, 15 years after murdering his sister. “Halloween” is a movie that instantly comes to mind at the mention of horror. That combined with its memorable score, suspenseful pacing and fitting name make it a Halloween staple.
A more recent selection, “Weapons” (2025), directed by Zach Cregger, centers on the mysterious disappearance of nearly all the children from one classroom in the town of Maybrook, PA.
The film gradually reveals disturbing details through interconnected perspectives, keeping audiences guessing. Julia Garner (“The Perks of Being a Wallflower”) and Josh Brolin (“Dune”) provide performances as two of the main characters of the story, the former playing the teacher of the missing students, and the latter playing a parent of one of the missing children.
Austin Abrams (“Resident Evil”) also provides comic relief to the movie that audiences don’t usually get out of horror.
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974) directed by Tobe Hooper is one of the most influential horror movies of all time, but also one of the more underrated ones, compared to the likes of “Scream” or “Halloween.”
The film centers around a group of young travelers who encounter a violent family in rural Texas while on the way to visit the grave of the grandfather of Sally and Franklin Hardesty, played by Marilyn Burns (“American Psycho”) and Paul A. Partain.
The film uses its isolated setting, gritty cinematography, and unsettling sound effects to create a disturbing atmosphere. Leatherface, the film’s masked killer, is particularly memorable because of his unpredictable behavior and intimidating appearance. The film also contains one of the most iconic and beautiful closing shots in horror film history.
However, these films have many flaws. At times, “Scream” tends to focus too much on humor rather than horror, leaving much to be desired for die-hard horror fans. On the other hand, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” contains relentless violence which some will consider gratuitous, as well as limited character development. “The Exorcist” also contains some gross-out special effects that can be considered unnecessary.
Even with their flaws, these films are able to create a variety of experiences for all kinds of audiences, and prove themselves to be perfect for a Halloween movie marathon.
