Halloween is here, and for many, that means late-night scary movie marathons. I wasn’t always a horror fanatic, but when my Dad introduced me to “Halloween” one October night when I was 11, you could say I was hooked. Horror movies have been around for more than a century and became increasingly popular with the wave of modern slasher films introduced in the 1970s. The appeal of horror movies comes from the thrill people get from watching things that scare them. You would think that people wouldn’t like to be terrified by their worst fears, but horror movies present a safe way to face them. If you are a horror veteran looking for a new scare or a new viewer unsure of where to start, this list will help you find the perfect movie for your level of fear tolerance. 

Psychological:

Psychological horror movies are not for the weak. They confuse you, mislead you, disturb you, and often leave you staring at the credit screen asking, “What just happened?” They often contain gore or supernatural elements. They always have a deep concept that makes you question the world. I would suggest this genre if you enjoy contemplating deep topics and are not afraid of disturbing ideas and images.

Recommendations: “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991), “The Shining” (1980), “Psycho” (1960)

Slasher:

The Classic; Serial Killer with a weapon attacks innocent people on their quest to kill the main protagonist. They usually contain blood and gore, so be aware if you can’t handle bodily violence. It is a great choice if you like jump scares.

Recommendations: “Halloween” (1978), “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974), “Scream” (1996)

Comedy:

Not all Horror movies have to leave you shaking from fright. Comedy Horror movies have your basic features, ghosts, serial killers, murder, but choose to include a bit of humor, which minimizes the intensity of the conflict. They might not be less scary, but they will make you chuckle.

Recommendations: “Tucker and Dale vs Evil” (2010), “Scary Movie” (2000), “Heart Eyes” (2025)

Demon:

Demon movies, at least for me, are the scariest type of movie. They include someone becoming possessed by an evil entity that causes havoc through the person. Sometimes these demons are summoned, and sometimes they are just waiting in a house or an object. I would recommend these for people with a high fear tolerance, because these have lots of jump scares, often gore, and lots of scary images.

Recommendations: “The Exorcist” (1973), “The Conjuring” (2013),  “Hereditary” (2018)

Paranormal:

Paranormal movies are exactly what the name suggests; NOT normal. They can have ghosts, demons, and spirits that cause unexplainable events. These movies are very suspenseful and spine-chilling, as you don’t know what is causing these strange occurrences. A great choice for someone interested in mystery and jump scares.

Recommendations: “Poltergeist” (1982), “Insidious” (2010), “Weapons” (2025)

Mindless Monsters:

Monster movies are always a reliable option for a good scare. They include a bloodthirsty creature that torments the main protagonist. You would expect the protagonist to prevail and slay the monster, but at least in my top three picks, that’s not always the case. These movies are good if you like a less supernatural story, and a more action packed thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Recommendations: “The Mist” (2007), “28 Days Later” (2002), “Quiet Place” (2018)

Man-vs-Nature:

 This genre leans on the edge of horror. While the same jump scares and fear apply to man-vs-nature movies, they are not as paranormal and unusual. Many of the conflicts in these plots could happen in real life, which makes watching them even scarier. Beware; they will often have lots of blood and gore.

Recommendations: “Cocaine Bear” (2024), “Black Sheep” (2006), “Jaws” (1975)

Mild:

For my grandma’s sake, I am including this list of more mild Halloween films. These are good for older kids, and do have some parts that could maybe be frightening. Overall, these are just fun watches to get you in the spooky mood.

Recommendations: “Beetlejuice” (1988), “Coraline” (2009), “Monster House” (2006)

Cerebral:

These types of movies are genre-bending and high concept. They address intense and heavy themes but camouflage them in a supernatural world. They need high levels of concentration to watch but will absorb you from start to finish.

Recommendations: “Alien” (1979), “Get Out” (2017), “Barbarian” (2022)