This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UNH chapter.
Fall is upon us, Halloween is so close yet so far, and horror movies are some of my favorite movies to watch (yes, I know that’s a little weird). So, here are eight of my favorite horror movies of all time to watch for your next movie night! Grab your popcorn, a blanket, and turn those lights off – it’s movie time.
- The Saw Franchise (2004-2017): The Saw movies fall under the gory section of horror and are considered a “splatter” film. A summary without giving anything away: It revolves around a man named John Kramer, aka Jigsaw, who has a twisted way of testing people who don’t appreciate the life they’re given. The concept of these films is interesting, a little psychologically intriguing, and throw you for a loop. If you teeter on the line of queasy or can’t typically handle the sight of blood and gore, these movies might not be for you. However, if that isn’t an issue for you, I recommend giving these movies a shot (especially with an open mind). I believe these movies are still available on HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video (purchase is necessary).
- The Blair Witch Project (1999): This movie falls under the psychological horror film category. A summary without giving anything away: It shows the tapes filmed by three friends who traveled to a small town to investigate the Blair Witch murder. This movie isn’t super long but definitely effective in getting your heartrate going. The camcorder-style filming gives this movie a realistic feel, which is different from many horror films where it’s easier to separate it from reality. I don’t think this movie is available anywhere for free, unfortunately, however if you’ve got a pretty penny to spend, this movie is worth it.
- The Scream Franchise (1996-2011): The first Scream film is my favorite horror film of all time. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen it, but anyways, here’s a summary: A masked knife-killer, aka Ghostface, goes around Woodsboro High School killing students. The franchise re-invented slasher films (thank you, Wes-Craven) and gives an unsettling feeling to viewers unlike many horror films. The Scream franchise makes you want to check under your bed and in your closets before you go to sleep, pull back that shower curtain before you brush your teeth, and offers a massive twist at the end of each movie. These WONDERFUL movies can be found on HBO Max (subscription needed, but you could get away with a free trial) and would definitely be worth your time (Forget everything you heard or saw in the Scary Movie franchise and go into these films with an open mind. You won’t be disappointed, I promise).
- Us (2019): When I tell you, this movie had me on the edge of my seat and my jaw on the floor… I mean it. This movie falls under both psychological and thriller categories of horror films. A summary: Adelaide Wilson and her family travel back to her childhood home and is haunted by her traumatic past in the most twisted way you couldn’t imagine. Jordan Peele has this incredible way of making everyone question everything ever and making you uncomfortable in the best way possible. If you’ve seen Get Out (2017) and enjoyed it, you will definitely enjoy this film as well. This movie is unfortunately not available anywhere for free, but you can find it on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video, and it’s definitely worth the money.
- The Invisible Man (2020): This movie was one I had always stumbled upon but was a little bit skeptical about. It never really caught my eye throughout my search for a movie to watch, but I’m so glad I finally decided to watch it. Here’s your summary: The ex-girlfriend of a crazy, powerful scientist is terrorized by him after his staged suicide. I know that may seem like I spoiled something for you, but I promise you, nothing can prepare you for what this movie entails. You can find this movie online at Amazon Prime Video and Hulu with a premium subscription, or on YouTube. A 10/10 for sure.
- The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016): This was another movie I had seen throughout my hunt for movies, but never gave it a chance, and was very happy that I did. This movie is a bit gory, definitely tame compared to the Saw Franchise, but those of you who might be on the queasy side, air on the side of caution. A summary: A father and son medical examiner duo investigate the death of a “Jane Doe”, to try and figure out how she died, but come across an unimaginable twist. I loved this movie; it was definitely one that kept me on the edge of my seat and had me wondering what would happen next. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find this movie anywhere for free, but it would be worth your time and money.
- The Invitation (2016): This movie is more of a thrilling horror film rather than a scary, shaking-in-your-boots horror film. I am so happy I came across this film during a movie night because I hadn’t heard about it anywhere. A brief summary: While attending a dinner hosted by his ex-wife and her new husband, a man is experiences a crazy twist of events in a very sinister way. This movie is well-acted and the plot is one that has you on the edge of your seat. This film isn’t anywhere for free, sadly, but you can find it on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video for rent (and worth every penny).
- Sinister (2012): This is another thrilling horror film, and is one that I’ve seen a few times now. Here’s a summary: A true-crime writer and his family move into a home that was once owned by a family who was murdered, in hopes of uncovering the mystery of their death for his next book. After discovering some old tapes, the family’s life is in danger. This movie is definitely interesting and have a slight paranormal factor to them. This movie can be found on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video with a premium subscription, and YouTube for a few dollars.
I apologize for not providing some free options, but don’t blame me, blame Netflix and other streaming services for taking all these movies away from you and I. However, all these movies are worth your money and time, I promise I wouldn’t tell you to spend your money on a movie if it sucked. Hopefully, if you love horror films as much as I do, you’ll love these films and appreciate them for all their complex storylines. Happy (almost) Fall and I wish you the best in your movie-watching journey.