Fall has finally arrived, which is naturally the spookiest season. It brings falling leaves and cooler weather, so now is the perfect time to get cozy and binge-watch some brilliant horror movies.
Between classics from the 80s and some newer gory ones, the genre has so many franchises to keep you on the edge of your seat. These are on my annual watch list and I think you’ll love them too.
10
Prom Night
Prom Night makes going to your high school prom a death wish. Imagine spending four years of your life patiently waiting to dance until you drop—but you might drop dead instead. Jamie Lee Curtis, the iconic scream queen that I love, stars in this 80s slasher.
The franchise is packed with upbeat retro music mixed with over-the-top murder scenes. If you love to laugh and hide in fear at the same time, these movies are perfect for you.
9
V/H/S
Watching the V/H/S films feels like you accidentally grabbed an uncensored tape from the creepy movie section behind the beaded curtain of a video store. The franchise comprises a variety of short films from different directors, which are showcased as if they were filmed on old videotape.
Catering to the experimental indie horror crowd, these films are great if you’re looking for something completely unpredictable. They showcase physical violence, supernatural entities, and bizarre creatures, delivering jaw-dropping scares. You can watch them on Tubi, along with some other great classic horror movies, for free.
8
All Hallows’ Eve/Terrifier
Horror and gore have no limits in the insanely creative mind of filmmaker Damien Leone. Art the Clown makes his feature debut in the horror anthology All Hallows’ Eve, where he creates terror for the babysitter and the children she is watching. This appearance is followed by the character starring in the Terrifier feature films.
Realistic effects and extremely graphic kill scenes make these movies stand out. Watch at your own risk; you can never forget the unsettling things a murderous clown can accomplish with a hacksaw.
7
Saw
Saw is a horror franchise that really makes you wonder what you might do if you woke up in a strange, abandoned place, trapped in a torture contraption. The only way out is to play a game. Would you play or accept your fate?
Packed with elaborate life versus death challenges, these films incorporate thought-provoking moral dilemmas with graphic horror. If you are into interesting storytelling, deep characters, and can deal with plenty of murder, you will love this franchise.
6
The Conjuring/Annabelle/The Nun
A power couple that fights dark entities, a demonic doll, and a creepy nun all in one haunted universe? The Conjuring franchise slays the supernatural horror genre.
As someone who usually doesn’t enjoy ghostly frights, this franchise is crafted so perfectly that it allows the storytelling to overshadow any unholy doubts. It’s easy to appreciate the immaculate attention to detail, cinematography, and jump scares.
5
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street is an 80s horror classic that spawned a fan favorite horror icon. Freddy Krueger is a horribly burned man seeking revenge on the children of his attackers. The sassy and humorous dialogue of the evil man with knives for fingers is a reason the films are loved by many. It is the perfect combination of a well-crafted scary movie mixed with subtle humor.
With Freddy transforming into other forms, such as a trippy snake, along with his evil Willy Wonka energy, the character is horror perfection. Eight films of terror exist and they’ve made people sleep uneasily for years.
4
Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th is a film about camp counselors being terrorized by a former camper who passed away in a tragic drowning incident. Each film follows the same theme of the camper coming after everyone in his path, but they also have their own unique flair that sets them apart—one even goes to space!
The series includes some recognizable actors, like Crispin Glover, known for his role in Back to the Future, who performs a dance to upbeat 80s music, and Kevin Bacon gives a killer performance in the first film. Classic horror fans will enjoy the soundtracks, and there is plenty of murderous mayhem that makes you feel a part of the movie.
3
Halloween
Halloween is a classic slasher flick that follows the sinister journey of a troubled kid, Michael Myers, who committed murder on Halloween night and was sent away to an institution. Years later, he has managed to escape and is on a mission to stalk his sister Laurie and kill her, along with anyone else in his path.
Creepy and slow is this killer’s modus operandi. Backed by an unforgettably intense instrumental score, horror fans will be mesmerized by how a calm walking man with a knife can cause so much fear. Jamie Lee Curtis delivers a great long-running performance as Myers’s obsession. Plus, the films have amazing soundtracks that add to the suspense of Michael’s stalking.
2
Child’s Play
Child’s Play is a film that I imagine heavily contributed to the increase of doll phobias in the late eighties. It took an already creepy My Buddy-inspired doll and turned it into a murderous nightmare. The brilliant animatronic work, with the doll’s realistic movements, takes the horror to the next level. As a 90s kid, trying to avoid Chucky’s evil smile and killer scissors in the horror section of the video store was a thrill.
The first film shows what happens when a serial killer goes to extreme lengths to avoid getting caught, even if it means potentially spending his life as a plastic toy. Horror fans will love the gory kills in each film; it stands out as a mainstream horror franchise with few limitations on the level of detail in each scene.
1
Scream
Scream is a horror franchise that presents itself as a clever nod to cheesy horror clichés. It even ended up inspiring the popular horror parody Scary Movie. Most horror villains are an evil presence lurking in the dark, but in Scream fear begins with the sound of a phone ringing. Before the days of caller ID and cell phones, it was easy to anonymously prank call strangers (so I’ve heard, of course). This created the ability to scare someone with a deep, threatening voice that could be either miles away or hiding in your home.
Starring an incredible cast of scream queens, like Drew Barrymore with her iconic blonde bob and complete disdain for that cordless phone, it’s an unforgettable experience.
These horror film franchises will make your fall as spooky as it should be, so grab a pumpkin-flavored drink and enjoy the fear.
