31 days of horror to celebrate Halloween

In honor of Halloween, here is a ranking of my top 31 Halloween movies starting with number 31. 

The Scream film started the Scream franchise that now includes six films. (PROVIDED/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

31. Don’t Breathe

Made by the same team as Evil Dead (2013), Don’t Breathe, released in 2016, is a reverse home invasion film that knows how to build suspense. Every moment in this film is suspenseful and will make you hold your breath, no pun intended. 

30. Orphan: First Kill 

Orphan: First Kill is the 2022 prequel to Orphan that came out in 2009. Orphan is also implied in this, but I wanted to highlight Orphan: First Kill because it genuinely surprised me. I didn’t think it was going to be good, but it still found a way to make a really solid plot twist. It is more campy than the first film but definitely worth the watch. 

29. The Black Phone

Released in 2021, based on the short story by Stephen King’s son, Joe Hill, The Black Phone is a serial killer crime horror movie with some supernatural elements. This movie gives you a sense of dread and tension right from the start. There are many parallels to other Stephen King films. Ethan Hawke playing a villain is definitely a pleasant change of pace from what we are used to seeing him play. 

28. The Visit

The Visit is a 2015 found footage film directed by M. Night Shyamalan about two kids that are going to their grandparents’ house and things start to get more sinister the longer they stay. This movie is funny while also being creepy. The two lead actors, Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould, stood out the entire film. 

27. The Invisible Man 

The Invisible Man, released in 2020, is a remake of The Invisible Man released in 1933. This movie did a wonderful job at re-imagining The Invisible Man in the modern and digital age. It built suspense phenomenally and creatively considering we cannot see the antagonist.  

26. Black Christmas 

Black Christmas, released in 1974, is considered to be the first slasher movie. This movie created the foundation for the slasher sub-genre. It takes place at a sorority house while the sorority sisters get picked off one-by-one. While it sounds like a stereotypical horror movie, it was what many slasher movies used as inspiration. 

25. The Conjuring

The Conjuring is a 2013 paranormal horror movie that follows a family being terrorized by a demonic presence. This is one of the few horror movies that can make me feel a little spooked after the movie if I am home alone. No other movie has managed to do that, so I have to give it props for that. The Conjuring is the first movie in The Conjuring Universe which also includes Annabelle and The Nun series. 

24. We Summon the Darkness

We Summon the Darkness, released in 2020, is not at all what it seems. If you watch this movie without knowing anything about it, the direction it takes will surprise you. This movie is not anything groundbreaking, but it is definitely a fun time. 

23. Thirteen Ghosts

Thirteen Ghosts, released in 2001, is a unique supernatural horror film. This film definitely has some fantastic set design, taking place in a glass house. It also has some notable kills that have become iconic in the horror community. It’s also always a good time watching Matthew Lillard on the screen. 

22. It Follows

It Follows is a 2014 supernatural horror film that could also be considered a creature feature. It’s very minimalistic style makes for a distinctive movie that manages to be terrifying without creating a necessarily scary looking monster. 

21. Talk to Me 

This 2023 “elevated horror” film follows a group of kids that find a cursed hand and use it to contact the dead. This movie managed to create a brand new spin on this familiar plotline. It is not like any other paranormal horror movie you have seen before. 

20. Barbarian 

Barbarian, a 2022 horror film you should know absolutely nothing about before watching. Its structure is very unpredictable and you will have no idea what’s going to happen. This makes for a unique and memorable viewing experience that makes this movie standout from others. 

19. The Babysitter 

The Babysitter is a hilarious 2017 horror comedy movie that does a great job of mixing humor and gore. The sequel, The Babysitter: Killer Queen is just as well done as the first one. Both movies are just an overall fun, gory time. While this movie is not scary by any means it is absolutely entertaining. 

18. Final Destination 

The Final Destination franchise, which started in 2000, as a whole has successfully made some of the most unique and unforgettable death scenes that feed off of common fears such as airplanes, roller coasters, and car crashes. To this day, I cannot go on a plane or a roller coaster without thinking of these movies. I will also never go into a tanning booth because of these movies. I feel like this franchise is not talked about enough. 

17. Haunt

Haunt is a 2019 Halloween season essential viewing movie. It follows a group of teens as they go through a haunted house. It has a simple storyline, but it is so well done. The movie is dark and grim in all the best ways. This is a very underrated movie that deserves so much more hype. 

16. A Nightmare on Elm Street 

One of Wes Craven’s most iconic movies is A Nightmare on Elm Street. Released in 1984, this movie was a change of pace for the slasher genre. Instead of just a guy in a mask that doesn’t really speak, we get a man that appears in people’s nightmares that has a personality of his own. Full of quippy one-liners while terrorizing people in their nightmares, A Nightmare on Elm Street is definitely one of a kind. 

15. The Strangers and The Strangers: Prey at Night

The Strangers, released in 2008, is a very simple home invasion movie. However, the idea that people can have no motive when killing random people is a scary thought. Its sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night that came out 10 years later, is much more action packed and visually appealing than the first movie. Both movies are being put in this spot as they are both fantastically done slasher movies. However, The Strangers: Prey at Night is a stronger movie than the first one. 

14. You’re Next

While this appears to be a typical home invasion movie, You’re Next is a standout movie because of how smart and resourceful the final girl is. Released in 2011, this movie manages to make a simple home invasion movie much more interesting with its gory kills and its plot twist. 

13. Tusk 

Tusk is a 2014 body horror film that is one of the few movies that have managed to make me uncomfortable and squirm. If a movie can manage to do that, then it’s done its job. This movie is better without knowing much about it. It is definitely a movie that stands out and can’t be compared to anything else. 

12. Abigail

Abigail is a 2024 Radio Silence film, the same team that made Scream (2022) and Scream VI. This vampire ballerina horror film is not anything groundbreaking, but its fantastic ensemble cast makes it a super fun watch. The plot was heavily marketed and I feel like it would be much better if the reveal was not given away in the trailers. Had we not known about the vampire ballerina going into the movie, it would have been even higher on this list. 

11. Happy Death Day

Happy Death Day is a 2017 horror comedy taking its plot inspiration from Groundhog Day. The main character gets murdered by a masked killer and wakes up re-living the day she dies over and over again. This movie is a fun and romantic whodunit slasher but with a supernatural twist. 

10. Fresh

Fresh is a perfect example of a movie being successfully terrifying without using gore. This movie is about a cannibal but is not explicit at all. The main character is extremely intelligent in this movie, for the most part, which makes for a fantastic viewing experience. This movie is highly underrated and deserves much more attention. 

9. Trick r’ Treat 

Trick r’ Treat is a 2007 anthology film that takes place on Halloween night. It follows multiple different storylines that all end up connecting. This movie is essential to watch during Halloween season as it shows what happens when you don’t embody the spirit of Halloween. 

8. The Belko Experiment 

The Belko Experiment is a 2016 slasher film about a building full of employees that get locked in and told they have to start killing each other. With such a large cast of characters, we get to see many more gruesome kills than you would normally see in another horror movie. This is another underrated movie that does not get talked about enough. The idea of a bunch of normal, everyday people having to kill each other is one of my favorite story tropes.

7. The Forever Purge

While the entire Purge franchise is a must-watch, I want to showcase The Forever Purge. This is the most recent installment in the franchise, releasing in 2021. This movie stands out from the rest of the franchise because the characters are the best and most interesting characters out of The Purge films. The plot also stands out because it does something completely different from the rest of the franchise. It’s better not knowing too much about the plot before watching this one. 

6. Better Watch Out

Better Watch Out is a 2016 holiday horror movie. It is very important that you know nothing about this movie going into it. You think you know where this movie is going to go when you start it, but then it quickly becomes something else entirely. That is one of my favorite horror movie tropes. This movie stars the same two actors from The Visit where they again showcase their phenomenal acting skills. 

5. Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a 2023 slasher whodunit that has some amazing and gory kills. Nobody had any expectations going into this movie and it absolutely blew everyone away. This was not on anyone’s radar, and now we have a wonderfully gruesome movie to watch during Thanksgiving season. 

4. Ready or Not

Ready or Not is another 2019 Radio Silence slasher film. This movie is a demonic twist on the kids’ game, hide and seek. It’s equal parts comedic and dark, making for a terrifying and entertaining watch experience. 

3. X and Pearl

X and its prequel Pearl, both released in 2022, are movies that managed to do something different in the formulaic slasher sub-genre. X follows a group of filmmakers that start getting killed off one by one while shooting their film. That is all you need to know going into it. Pearl is just as strong as the first film. Mia Goth shines in this trilogy and she deserves all the praise for her phenomenal acting. The third film in the trilogy, Maxxxine, can be skipped. 

2. Jennifer’s Body

Jennifer’s Body is a 2009 horror comedy that was made way ahead of its time. It didn’t get the credit it deserved when it was released because of the marketing strategy used. However, it has since received a cult following now that people are re-watching this hidden gem. The dialogue in this movie is weirdly hilarious and it just stands out as a fantastic horror movie about friendship and a succubus. 

1.Scream

The entire Scream franchise is the best thing that ever happened to the slasher sub-genre. These movies are meta with references to other horror movies all throughout the movies. It’s also so much fun trying to guess who the killers are in each movie. Sydney Prescott is the best final girl to grace our screens and will always outsmart the killer. 

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