By Dominic DiIorio

Staff Writer

After three bone-chilling weeks filled with horrific screams, blood-curdling plots, and creatures and ghouls that go bump in the night, our October Horror Movie Countdown has finally reached its grand conclusion! If you’ve been following our Instagram, you’ve already seen our previous 15 terrifying selections chosen to keep you awake in your bed with the lights on. Now that Halloween is upon us, it is time to unveil the final five ultimate spooktacular recommendations to close out the month. Turn off the lights, grab your popcorn and a blanket to hide under…the last week of horror is upon you.

20. An American Werewolf in London (Aug. 21, 1981)

Some of the best practical effects film has to offer, thanks to the great Rick Baker. It is the perfect blend of comedy and horror, with both concepts complementing each other equally, never once tipping the scale or going too overboard in one aspect compared to another. It remains one of my favorite monster movies.

19. Weapons (Aug. 8, 2025)

Zach Cregger has once again crafted an original horror tale that fully solidifies his place among the pantheon of amazing modern horror directors. His style and flair are fully realized and felt in this movie specifically. You get a sense of his directorial style from “Barbarian,” but you gain an even deeper one after seeing this. Yes, there is amazing horror, but the mystery and characters are always front and center. They are the focus, and that is what makes “Weapons” special. It’s as bizarrely wild, horrific, and funny as one can imagine from a director like Zach Cregger.

18. Late Night with the Devil (March 22, 2024)

One of my personal favorite found-footage horror movies. It portrays the ’70s and the rise of late-night TV masterfully, which made for such a fun and unique movie premise, especially for found-footage horror. The question of what lengths you would go to for fame was also bold and tied in beautifully with this movie’s dark subject matter of cults, control, manipulation, and remorse.

17. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Oct. 11, 1974)

Absolutely terrifying and a classic for a reason. This movie is the perfect length and never lets up, even without the presence of immediate danger. The imagery and some of the shots in this film make it impossible to eat anything while watching. Leatherface will forever be one of the best horror icons in the genre, and the ending is one of the best horror movie conclusions.

16. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (Oct. 22, 1982)

I know I’m in the minority, but this is one of the best entries in the “Halloween” series. I love this movie to death simply by how absolutely crazy, bold, and fun the plot is. I mean, the directors just said, “Let’s make this as far away from the Michael Myers story as we can,” and I absolutely loved it. The man isn’t even in it, nor is the story even about him. I won’t spoil anything, but this movie goes in a direction that has some genuinely scary imagery while also including self-aware silliness that never stops. It’s just entertaining through and through.

15. Evil Dead II (March 13, 1987)

The definition of a movie is better than the first in every way. It makes for one of the best sequels and a fantastically dark-humored hellscape that is very much in line with “The Three Stooges,” if their gags involved battling demons.

14. Shaun of the Dead (Sept. 24, 2004)

A heartfelt comedy-drama that happens to take place during a zombie apocalypse. It is literally impossible not to watch this without a smile on your face. The jokes are genius, the characters and horror elements are on point, and the drama is surprisingly real, emotional, and intense, with a heart of gold at the center that you can’t help but revel in.

13. Trick ‘r Treat (Oct. 6, 2009)

A Halloween season staple. This movie is an hour and forty minutes, and it flies by in the best way possible. So engaging, so much fun, and so creative with its narrative structure overlapping and connecting a through-line for all the individual stories. If you save it to watch on Halloween, it immediately gets better.

12. Nosferatu (Dec. 25, 2024)

Robert Eggers delivers a fantastical, gothic, yet seductive take on a story that has been around for a hundred years. The set designs are immaculate, all the characters were fully realized and acted to a T, the time period is so accurate, and Bill Skarsgård gives a haunting performance of Count Orlok that is unrecognizable, both physically and vocally. A true standout for modern horror movies.

11. The Invisible Man (Nov. 13, 1933)

Classic is a word that truly defines meaning and pop-culture relevance when used to describe any of the Universal monster movies, but especially “The Invisible Man.” They were the first to accomplish breakthroughs in cinematography, effects, storytelling, and direction—all thanks to James Whale and the wonderful novels many of his films are inspired by. Claude Rains absolutely makes this film. The performance is on par with Karloff and Lugosi, and the tale is eternal. A true horror classic.

10. Get Out (Feb. 24, 2017)

Jordan Peele’s best film and one of the best modern horror movies. The themes are not only important, but they go hand-in-hand with the horror and surprising humor, thanks to Peele’s comedic mind. The twist is also one to behold, and the first-time viewer is sure to be shocked and love it anyway. A rewatch is a must, allowing you to notice so many more details and an appreciation for the story that only grows deeper.

9. Psycho (Sept. 8, 1960)

Influential isn’t a big enough word when describing “Psycho.” It’s a classic for a reason, and every horror movie owes some kind of debt to it. Hitchcock started a horror spark that inspired so many modern horror directors. It checks off every box when it comes to plot, setting, cinematography, characters, you name it. If you are one of the few who doesn’t know the twist, you’re in for a horrific treat.

8. Misery (Nov. 30, 1990)

One of the greatest Stephen King adaptations. It has performances and a story structure that are akin to the original novel. This movie is the definition of anxiety and dread, and it never lets you out of its horrific grasp. The characters are at the forefront, and the dread is slow building. Another must-watch.

7. The Fly (Aug. 15, 1986)

A true tragedy-focused story that is as heartbreaking as it is horrifying. The practical effects are incomprehensibly terrific, as is the relationship between our main duo of Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. The writing has so many hidden subtleties and blends different subgenres so well. Easily Cronenberg’s most digestible film for audiences.

6. Creepshow (Nov. 12, 1982)

A must-watch anthology that encompasses everything you want from the genre. It masters the mix of comic-book-styled camp and horror, making for absurdly dark, twisted tales that are accompanied by visuals and structures that are equal parts pulpy and popping. They are tried-and-true, devilishly dark tales that never stop flourishing with ease.

5. The Shining (May 23, 1980)

Nothing will ever top this in the genre of horror. Foreboding, terrifying, psychological, and dreadful. The kind of film where the more you watch it, the more you become immersed, lost, and terrified all over again. You never fully understand the horror, even if you’ve seen the film a hundred times. The Overlook withstands, and the deeper you travel and roam its halls, the more trips and falls you make into the never-ending spiral of macabre mysticism. It’s brilliant, it’s the definition of horror, and it’s easily one of the greatest horror movies ever made.

4. The Thing (June 25, 1982)

You simply cannot go wrong here. It is genuinely one of the greatest horror movies ever put on screen, but more importantly, it’s the greatest monster movie ever made. The tension and deception are unreal, the soundtrack phenomenal; the snowy, barren landscape makes you shiver and feel like you’re there. The practical effects are the best film has to offer, and the characters are so endearing and fun to watch every time you revisit them. It’s the definition of how to do a remake. It doesn’t get better than this as far as remakes go.

3. Halloween (Oct. 25, 1978)

A film that defines the genre. What else hasn’t been said about this classic? The atmosphere is its own character in “Halloween,” with every shot feeling ominous, almost as if Michael is the town itself. The way evil is depicted—and how some forms of it can’t be reasoned with or understood and must simply be destroyed—is what makes “Halloween” the classic it is. You have to love Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis, too. Both are as important as Michael for the story. It is an endearingly perfect horror film, a true tone-setter for the genre, and remains the most quintessential slasher film of all time.

2. The Silence of the Lambs (Feb. 14, 1991)

A true genre-mixer that blends psychological thriller and horror. “Silence of the Lambs” is almost too good to believe. It immediately sucks the viewer in, placing us into this horrific situation that no human would ever want to be assigned to solve. Everything here is perfect when it comes to themes, cinematography, writing, etc., but the true highlight is character. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins give groundbreaking performances, with both of their characters serving as the perfect example of good and bad meeting in the middle. Their psychosocial conversations and their respective character breakdowns of their own psyche are what make this film so memorable. A true must-watch.

1. The Lighthouse (Oct. 18, 2019)

A mysterious psychosocial odyssey that dives deep into themes of religion, isolation, madness, and masculinity. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson give the best performances of their careers. Watching these two men slowly lose their minds is a true sight to behold. The dialogues and monologues get burned into your mind. The visuals are also extraordinary, with every beautiful black-and-gray frame having some sort of looming dread and horror on the horizon. The film is also darkly funny, with some rare flashes of humor despite the barren setting. It’s a modern classic and one that people will be talking about more and more as the years pass.