Every year I look forward to the month of October, not just because of the great weather, pumpkin spice, and Halloween vibes, but because of the amazing movies that come with the Halloween season.
It’s been a great year for horror, with the likes of Nope, Barbarian, Pearl, Smile, Halloween En- well maybe not that one. But, for those of you looking for some spooky films to watch from the comfort of your own homes, I’ve got you covered. Here for you today I have my favorite not so scary, very scary, kinda scary, and just straight up introspective films that I love rewatching at this time of year. So let’s dive right into it.
Starting off with something not so scary, is the cult classic Killer Klowns from Outer Space. It’s become a tradition for me to watch this every October because of how stupid and fun it is. It’s a ridiculous concept, with some dare I say incredible execution that never fails to leave me grinning ear to ear. Also the 1980s aesthetic is just too perfect for this film. No sequel could ever top it no matter how much fans cry for it.
Getting a little scarier is the Ari Aster film Midsommar. I was absolutely floored the first time I watched this. This is such a disturbing film where once the horrible things start to happen, it’s hard to watch, but even harder to look away. The deeper you get into it the more that this sense of dread in instilled in the lives of these characters, all grouped together at what should’ve been something fun, that turns horrifically dark. It’s a wonderfully made film, with some amazing visuals and a gripping story. In my opinion this is also Florence Pugh’s best performance so far, she is a star at playing characters coping with this sense of despair.
If you’re a little thrill seeker, oh wait. You think you can handle something worse? Alright well try watching Damien Leone’s Terrifier, and maybe even Terrifier 2 in theaters if your stomach can still handle more. These are some of the goriest, over the top, extreme films you will ever see in your life. Trust me. It is a lot. Terrifier 2 has famously made people pass out in the theater, even leading to them having to be escorted out in an ambulance. But hey, if you’re up to it.
My final recommendation if you’re looking for a sad, supernatural story that will leave you not the same person after watching it, then A Ghost Story is for you. This is just an utterly heart-wrenching film about life, death, and grief. It’s hard to watch, as you spend a great deal of time watching these two characters just suffer internally, and for long takes too. That’s an ode to the performances as well, Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara are excellent in this film, you can’t help but feel so much sorrow for their characters. I walked away from this film with a greater appreciation for life, and wanting to hug my loved ones close, because you never know what can happen.
These are just a few of the films I love watching every year. I hope you check them out because they’re all worth watching, with unique qualities to each of them. If you do watch any of these, let me know what you thought! DM me @TheJokingGeek on Instagram, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Have a Happy, and safe Halloween! And here’s a few bonus films:
The Shining, The VVitch, The Lighthouse, Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street, NOPE, Get Out, Us, and American Psycho.