With Halloween festivities approaching, you may want some ideas for how to spend your Halloween. Since Ohio University can get pretty crazy on Halloween, why not spend the night in with these five spooky Halloween movies?
5. "Halloween" (1978)
Starting out with a classic, "Halloween" is a staple in American horror movies. Directed by the legendary John Carpenter, "Halloween" follows an escaped psychiatric patient by the name of Micheal Myers as he goes on a rampage through a small town called Haddonfield. The person tasked with stopping this massacre is high school student Laurie Strode, as played by the magnificent Jamie Lee Curtis. "Halloween" is a must-watch if you have not seen it before. It is regarded as one of the best horror movies of all time.
4. "Friday the 13th" (1980)
Another amazing and vintage movie, "Friday the 13th," involves mysterious deaths around Camp Crystal Lake. The director, Sean S. Cunningham wanted to follow the success of "Halloween," by telling another story about a creepy killer. Although this movie is one of the most popular Halloween movies, you may be surprised when you watch this one all the way through.
3. "Monster House" (2006)
Here we have the only movie on the list that fully utilized computer animation for its graphics, "Monster House." Directed by Gil Kenan, "Monster House" follows three protagonists as they investigate a mysterious house across the road that may be haunted. The movie definitely falls closer to a comedic side rather than outright terrifying, which can be good for viewers who don't want to be absolutely horrified by the events that unravel. However, "Monster House" has its spooky moments that can scratch that scary itch for some viewers.
2. "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993)
Whether this is a Christmas or a Halloween movie is often contested, but there is enough evidence that the film is more Halloween-focused. "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was released on Oct.13, 1993, a perfect time for a Halloween movie to come out. The director, Tim Burton is also regarded as one of the best horror movie makers of all time. Starring Danny Elfman and Chris Sarandon as Jack Skellington, it tells the story of Jack, a scary skeleton, who stumbles across a place called Christmas Town, where it appears to be Christmas all the time. Throughout the entirety of the film, visual effects are utilized to create an unsettling image. It also features fun musical numbers as a bonus.
1. "Hocus Pocus" (1993)
A Disney original that everyone is dearly fond of, "Hocus Pocus" creates a mystical atmosphere about three mischievous witches who get unleashed onto the world after some kids explore a cabin they shouldn't have. This entry is number one because many students on campus are talking about the new sequel that just came out, so why not watch the original as a refresher? The director of "Hocus Pocus," Kenny Ortega, had to make clever use of practical effects as the movie's budget was limited, a feat that was well executed and added a fun layer of charm to all the action. Overall, "Hocus Pocus" is an amazing movie filled with light-hearted tones and creative use of effects.
