I’m definitely a Halloween person, probably because of my love of all things horror, spooky, mysterious, etc. that has steadily built throughout my life. I love a good spooky movie, and I’ve watched my share, and I have a list of some recommendations to share! I’ve refrained from putting anything too obvious in here (no matter how much I love Scream [1996] or The Cabin in the Woods [2011]), so hopefully you can find something new to check out here no matter how many spooky vibes movies you’ve seen.
Raw (2016, dir. Julia Ducournau, French)
This French coming of age body horror film follows a staunch vegetarian’s entrance to veterinary college as she develops cannibalistic urges. Raw is tense and disturbing in the best way, while also being a story of sisterhood and coming of age.
Häxan (1922, dir. Benjamin Christensen, silent)
A silent Swedish horror film, Häxan is set up like a documentary about the history of witches. It has a sinister vibe, an interesting subject matter, and can be clearly seen as an influence on later horror films. You can watch the full film on youtube here.
Son of Ingagi (1940, dir. Richard C. Kahn, English)
Son of Ingagi is the earliest known science-fiction horror film with an all-Black cast. A Black woman scientist comes home from an expedition to Africa with a missing link monster. It’s a solid monster movie with a sense of humour. You can watch the full film on youtube here.
Train to Busan (2016, dir. Yeon Sang-ho, Korean)
This South Korean zombie flick has lots of action, emotion, social commentary, and intensely creepy, fast-moving zombies. Train to Busan has gained enough of a cult following that it has a couple of sequels, but the original is everything a zombie movie needs to be all on its own.
Ginger Snaps (2000, dir. John Fawcett, English)
Ginger Snaps is a Canadian cult classic and one of the best werewolf movies out there. It’s a great movie for those like myself who enjoy the trope of monstrous girls as part of a coming of age story.
Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017, dir. Issa López, Spanish)
Set in a modern day Mexican city, Tigers Are Not Afraid is a fantasy horror that blends crime and magical realism. The story centres on a group of young children, orphaned by the ongoing Drug War, as they live their lives on the streets and hope for the return of their parents.
The Invisible Man (2020, dir. Leigh Whannell, English)
Inspired by the H.G. Wells novel of the same name, The Invisible Man is a new take on the classic story in which a woman believes she is being stalked by her supposedly dead abuser. With stellar acting and deftly handled themes of abuse, it’s worth the watch.
Blood Quantum (2019, dir. Jeff Barnaby, English/Mi’kmaq)
Set on a Mi’kmaq reservation in what is known as Quebec, Blood Quantum is a zombie horror in which being Indigenous makes you immune to zombie bites. It’s a bloody and intense movie filled with excellent social and political commentary, and one of my personal favourites.
The Lure (2015, Agnieszka Smoczyńska, Polish)
If a carnivorous mermaid horror musical sounds like your jam, this is a must watch. The Lure offers up yet another instance of monstrous girls in a coming of age tale, but inspired by The Little Mermaid, and with surprisingly enjoyable songs along the way.
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019, dir. Xavier Burgin, English)
Fancy a documentary as part of your Halloween watch list? Horror Noire, based on the book by Robin R. Means Coleman, shares the history of Black people starring in/making horror movies in the US. It’s incredibly interesting to watch, and will give you a whole new list of movies to watch.
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014, dir. Ana Lily Amirpour, Farsi)
Noir western meets vampire film, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is about a vampiric anti-hero and a man who is drawn to her, offering a fresh feminist take on vampire mythos. It’s moody and engrossing with a surprising realism and a great soundtrack.
The Wind (2018, dir. Emma Tammi, English)
The Wind is a horror western set in late 19th century New Mexico centered on two couples in a remote area as they’re looking to build a new community, but supernatural horrors await. The atmosphere is superb and the non-linear narrative will keep you guessing until the end.
Onibaba (1964, dir. Kaneto Shindō, Japanese)
Set in medieval Japan, this historical horror drama is set in the midst of war as two women kill stray soldiers for their possessions, but a man comes between them, leading to a horrifying climax. Onibaba is tense, atmospheric, and fascinating to watch as a piece of post-WWII Japanese horror.
La Llarona (2019, dir. Jayro Bustamante, Spanish/Mayan-Caqchickel/Mayan-Ixil)
La Llarona is a chilling piece of Guatemalan history and present presented as an atmospheric folk horror story. It follows the family of an aging general who committed atrocities against the Maya people just as justice is being attempted, a new maid is hired, and a sinister haunting begins.
Homebodies (1974, dir. Larry Yust, English)
In 1970s Cincinnati, this horror comedy centres on the elderly residents of a condemned building as they are being unceremoniously evicted from their building to make way for progress. Homebodies is unexpectedly fun and has powerful commentary on gentrification.
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