1. Halloween (1978)

To be as good as it is, Halloween was shot in just 20 days. It was revolutionary to the horror film industry as well as the film industry as a whole. The cinematography was groundbreaking and continues to provide inspiration to many directors still. The story is so simple, but wonderfully thought out and transitioned into a movie. Everything is tied together, but much is left to the viewer’s own mind and imagination which only adds to the mystery of it all. Is Michael Myers just a metaphor for evil, or is he a real human man? This is a question in everyone’s mind as the plot unfolds. Check out John Carpenter’s website here: https://theofficialjohncarpenter.com/halloween/

2. Midsommar

Midsommar followed director Ari Aster’s debut film Hereditary. This entire film is so beautifully done from the production to the plot. While there is gorgeous scenery and bright colors, the message behind this film is much darker. The viewer is kept heavily confused at what is actually going on as we follow Dani and her friends on a trip to Sweden. Only at the end of the movie does everything finally come together and we understand what exactly everything leading up to end really means. It’s captivating and grabs your attention from the very start. There are many twists and turns in this film.

3. Scream (1996)

This movie holds a special place in the hearts of many horror movie fans. From the dark humor to the major twist at the end, it certainly has no problem holding the viewer’s attention. Wes Craven has seen much success in the horror industry, but Scream remains one of the highlights of his career. This movie makes the audience laugh, scream, and reach into the bucket for more popcorn. It wittingly toys with horror classics and brings about instant nostalgia for any fan of the genre. The movie created one of the most iconic killers of all time: Ghostface. He remains a popular choice for Halloween costumes and pop culture references. This one is certainly in my horror movie hall of fame. Check out this website to learn more about the franchise: https://hellosidney.com/scream/

4. The Shining

Kubrick’s masterpiece is a wonderful look into the descent into madness of main character Jack, with some supernatural element of course. Throughout the movie, we aren’t quite sure who is realiable enough to trust and who to be wary of. Shelley Duvall has a remarkable performance as Jack’s wife and we see her character go through so much emotional turmoil throughout the happenings of the film. The supernatural elements of the film are questionable as well, since we are never completely certain that they aren’t simply figments of the character’s imaginations. It also has many plot elements that are left open-ended, leaving it to the viewer to discern what actually happened. Here’s the website for the hotel the movie was filmed at: https://www.stanleyhotel.com/

5. It (1990)

This is yet another film that makes the viewer question if the villian is real or just a figment of fear in general. It explores the lives of a group of kids in a small town called Derry. They quickly learn that there is an ominous presence that seems to make its appearance every 27 years to abduct children. The problem is that none of the adults seem to raise a finger when all of these horrible things are happening. Based on the book by Stephen King, It tells a captivating story with plenty of blood and gore for any horror fan.