Northwestern students have crossed the halfway mark of the semester, and Halloween quickly approaches. People are busy with classic Halloween activities like pumpkin carving, visiting the corn maze and watching scary movies. To help you narrow down which movies to watch this year, here is a list of the top seven best Halloween movies, according to the Beacon.
“The Conjuring” (2013)
First on the list: film based on real events, “The Conjuring” is about paranormal investigators helping a family expel a malicious presence from their newly bought farmhouse. This movie is the first installment in a larger universe of stories taking place from 1952 to the late 1970s, including the “Annabelle” movies, “The Nun” and most recently, “The Curse of La Llorona.”
“Psycho” (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock is known as “the Master of Suspense,” and for good reason. His work continues to be some of the most suspenseful film in history, and “Psycho” is no exception. Norman Bates runs a ramshackle motel with his mother. Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) stays there on her way to visit her boyfriend and finds out just how difficult Bates’ relationship is with his mother. “Psycho” was one of the building blocks of the slasher film genre, and though it pales in comparison to the gore of “Saw” or “Friday the 13th,” the shower scene lives on in infamy.
“Get Out” (2017)
When it was announced that the comedian Jordan Peele would be directing a horror movie, audiences were unsure about what to except, but “Get Out” was a massive success. Young couple Chris and Rose visit Rose’s family for the weekend. At first, Chris thinks Rose’s family is uncomfortable with their interracial relationship, but Chris realizes something much worse is going on.
“The Shining” (1980)
This classic thriller based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King is getting a sequel after nearly four decades, but nothing can top the gripping mystery of the original. “The Shining” is about a groundskeeper who gets snowed in with his family at the resort during its off season. Soon, it’s clear that something more malevolent is at work.
“It” (2017)
“It” is the second horror film based on a Stephen King novel to make the list. This time, killer clowns are the problem. Pennywise has terrorized generations, but we’ve picked the newest reboot to be on our list because, while the original Pennywise has an endearing campiness, the new Pennywise is straight out of the novel: a dark, ancient evil that chose to appear as a clown.
“Halloween” (1978)
Another horror classic that was recently rebooted was John Carpenter’s “Halloween.” Fifteen years after murdering his sister, Michael Myers escapes from the mental hospital, steals a car and drives back to his hometown, looking to kill again.
“Jaws” (1975)
Even if you haven’t seen “Jaws,” you know the theme by heart, and you would freak out if it was played while you were in the pool. “Jaws” is director Steven Spielberg’s scariest film, and despite the animatronic shark, the suspense is real even today. A killer shark preys on the unsuspecting vacationers of a small island off the east coast. Unlike the terrors in most horror movies, sharks are real and they really will kill you.
