michael myers, jack torrance and xenomorphs are perfect nightmare fuel for halloween night

By: Keaton Marcus

Before the era of jump-scares, easy profit, and Hollywood spitting crap at our faces, the late 1900s was truly a goldmine for movies. In particular, horror films were even booming. Michael Myers, Jason Vorhees, Freddy Krueger and more haunted moviegoers. No, I’m not talking about the unimaginative, terror-less reboots that followed, I am referencing the grand originals that truly brought fear into our hearts.

1. Jaws (1975), directed by: Steven Spielberg

What’s it about: When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.

Why you should watch it: Number one on this list, in no particular quality order, is Steven Spielberg’s classic, Jaws. People may prefer Spielberg’s Jurassic Park because of the updated special effects, but if you really think about the work that went into prosthetic effects for the shark, the 1975 shark flick ends up more impressive. Don’t get me wrong, Park is still a very good movie, but it still doesn’t reach the heights of his original creature feature. Crafted with a compelling story, a sense of dread, characters audiences want to root for, and a terrifying opening, Jaws is not only the perfect summer blockbuster, but it’s also a choice for Halloween night.

2. Scream (1996), Directed By: Wes Craven

What’s it about: The sleepy little town of Woodsboro just woke up screaming. There’s a killer in their midst who’s seen a few too many scary movies. Suddenly nobody is safe, as the psychopath stalks victims, taunts them with trivia questions, then rips them into bloody shreds. It could be anybody…

Why you should watch it: Wes Craven’s Scream is a subversive, uncannily witty and smart slasher movie with bits and pieces of humor to make it lighthearted. If you want something that’ll both send chills down your spine, but is also fitfully funny, this deconstruction of horror movies is the creepy satire on your list this Halloween. Neve Campbell is one of the most classic scream queens, and this film went on to spawn three other profitable sequels. Do you like scary movies?

3. halloween (1978), Directed By: John Carpenter

What’s it about: On a cold Halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years. But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith's Grove. He returns to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims.

Why you should watch it: Possibly the most iconic of slasher films, Halloween is known for its viscerally thrilling camerawork, Jamie Lee Curtis’ performance, and one of the most recognizable villains of all-time: Michael Myers. This one movie spawned countless sequels and reboots because of the sheer popularity, and is still known today as one of the greatest films to watch on Spooky Season.

4. alien (1979), Directed By: Ridley scott

What’s it about: In deep space, the crew of the commercial starship Nostromo is awakened from their cryo-sleep capsules halfway through their journey home to investigate a distress call from an alien vessel. The terror begins when the crew encounters a nest of eggs inside the alien ship. An organism from inside an egg leaps out and attaches itself to one of the crew, causing him to fall into a coma.

Why you should watch it: A slow-burn of horror, Ridley Scott made his bones as a director with the 1979 sci-fi horror Alien. Although folks who admire more fast-paced movies will appreciate it less, audiences will be impressed by the dazzling practical effects, Sigourney Weaver’s game performance and its classic villains. It also blends some much-needed heart, and bleak poetry into the mix, crafting a brilliant movie with a solid sense of dread at its core.

5. the shining (1980), Directed By: Stanley Kubrick

What’s it about: Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) becomes winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado, hoping to cure his writer's block. He settles in along with his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), who is plagued by psychic premonitions. As Jack's writing goes nowhere and Danny's visions become more disturbing, Jack discovers the hotel's dark secrets and begins to unravel into a homicidal maniac hell-bent on terrorizing his family.

Why you should watch it: Kubrick’s The Shining is one of the most terrorizing experiences I’ve ever had. One of the best, if not the best horror movie, this was game-changing for me. Between Jack Nicholson’s ferociously horrifying performance, the artful cinematography, and impending sense of doom, the film is such a classic. There’s no jump scares or masked villains, just a man, his family, and a hotel. This dive into madness and despair inspired generations of movies in the genre, and it’ll have you checking your pants by the end of it.