Five horror flicks that will keep you up at night this Halloween

Sahara Sriraman, Spectrum Editor

With Halloween coming up and the weather getting cooler, now is the perfect time to bundle up and binge some season-appropriate films. This upcoming Halloween weekend, there’s nothing better to do to get in the spirit than watching scary movies.

Grab a friend, some candy corn and your scariest costume for an activity well-suited to get you in the Halloween spirit, while practicing COVID-19 safety guidelines. 

Here are five terrifying horror film recommendations that are guaranteed to make you lock your door at night.

“The Conjuring” (2013)

In the first and original film of the franchise, a family moves into a farmhouse in Rhode Island only to find out that there is a supernatural terror living in the house, instilling fear in the family. When they enlist the help of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, they find that the deadly dark forces inside the house have targeted the family. They soon realize they will never be safe until they investigate the disturbing history of the house and get rid of the forces that threaten their lives. 

This film is a classic for a scary night in, it includes everything from supernatural suspense to chilling jump scares. Even if it’s based on true events, this movie will make you glad you’re just sitting behind a screen.

“The Conjuring” is available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Vudu.

“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)

When three film students travel to Burkittsville, Maryland to collect footage of the rumored Blair Witch legend for a documentary, they mysteriously go missing without a trace. A year later, footage of them interviewing local townspeople and collecting evidence is found. As the footage continues, it gets increasingly chilling as the three begin to find more disturbing evidence.

One of the scariest movies of all time, much of the fear comes from not knowing who or what caused all the horrific events that take place. Full of terrifyingly unexplainable scenes told through the documentary footage, this unsettling film is sure to have you peering into the dark corners of your room.

“The Blair Witch Project” is available on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu and YouTube.

“Sleepy Hollow” (1999)

The small town of Sleepy Hollow is haunted by the legend of The Headless Horseman, who is rumored to have decapitated a number of people. New York City police constable Ichabod Crane, played by Johnny Depp, who is skeptical about the legend, is sent to investigate this mysterious series of crimes. However, after discovering hidden clues and witnessing the Horseman’s crimes firsthand, it’s up to Crane to find the truth and avenge the Horseman’s victims.

Based upon Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” this gothic supernatural film features a star-studded cast which will leave you every bit as enthralled with the story as with the violence and gore on the screen. Featuring all the folk horror of the original tale, amplified for a modern audience, this movie is sure to turn stomachs and heads in equal measure.

“Sleepy Hollow” is available on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Starz and Apple TV.

“Trick ‘r Treat” (2007)

“Trick ‘r Treat” follows four different stories that all take place on the same Halloween night, including that of a high school principal that maintains a secret life as a serial killer and a cruel old man who is faced with a demonic trick-or-treater. As all four of these stories unfold, each one just as spooky as the previous, the Halloween night becomes even more terrifying and deadly.

This multifaceted film is centered around multiple stories, each one including its own elements of fear and horror. A fairly spooky, and oftentimes funny Halloween classic, “Trick ‘r Treat” will remind all those who watch it not to break the rules of the holiday.

“Trick ‘r Treat” is available on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV and HBO Max.

“A Quiet Place” (2018)

This classic sci-fi horror film follows a family of five as they try to survive in a world with monsters that have extremely keen hearing, making the smallest sounds deadly. Although the family has rules and precautions in place to ensure they never put themselves at risk, there’s only so much they can do before they’re discovered.

Although this film doesn’t include a lot of gore, nor violence, it includes more than enough suspense and jump scares to keep you on the edge of your seat. “A Quiet Place” is extremely intense, and demands viewers’ full, undivided attention so as to leave their hearts pounding.

“A Quiet Place” is available on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV and Vudu.