From classic slashers like Friday the 13th to lighthearted spooky fun in The Nightmare Before Christmas, there’s something for every kind of Halloween fan. Here’s your guide to the must-watch flicks for a truly unforgettable Frightday.
Starting from the very top, rather fitting for a Friday as special as this, Friday the 13th is number one on this list. This movie, directed by Sean S. Cunningham, takes place at a summer camp named Camp Crystal Lake with the main characters being newly made counselors, but little do they know the counselors’ summer getaway won’t go as planned, as the camp’s tragic past is brought to light.
From a camp of terror to small-town fear, it’s no surprise that Halloween slasher classic Halloween is next. Directed by John Carpenter and co-written by Debra Hill, this movie takes place in a small-town years after the events of Judith’s murder by her brother, Michael Myers. Unfortunately for all who knew him, Myers is no longer tucked away in an institution and is on the loose.
Upping the amplitude, next up is The Conjuring, directed by James Wan and written by Chad Hayes and Carey Hayes. Placed in the Annabelle series, this movie follows the real-life investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren of an old farmhouse and the supposedly cursed Annabelle doll, but the Warrens seem to have gotten way more than they bargained for.
Shifting back to the clever twist on slasher horror, the next on the list, directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, is Scream. Following the tragedy of Casey Becker’s murder, her classmate Sidney Prescott deals with not only the rampant media attention but also the grief from the anniversary of her own mother’s murder, and not long after, a murderer who calls himself Ghostface sets his sights on a new target, Sidney.
After a string of masked killers and haunted houses, it’s about time to take a breather while keeping the supernatural energy alive. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, directed by Fran R. Kuzui and written by Joss Whedon, is about a close-to-graduating teen cheerleader named Buffy. When coming close to the senior prom, she meets someone who claims she was made to be more, that she will be “the Slayer.”
Keeping the fun and spooky momentum going, Ghostbusters is naturally next on the list. Directed by Ivan Reitman, this movie takes place in New York, where the hoax of ghosts becomes reality, and luckily for New York, they know who to call for dealing with mischievous and pesky ghosts.
Leaving proton packs and ghost traps behind, next up is Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. Directed by the one and only Tim Burton, this movie follows a newly turned ghost couple and the family who moved in after their tragic deaths, and with the dramatic entrance of a mischief-prone spirit named Beetlejuice, it only gets more chaotic from there.
After ghosts, ghouls, and mischievous spirits, it’s time to give witches a chance to shine. Hocus Pocus, directed by Kenny Ortega, takes place in the infamous town of Salem, Massachusetts, where tales of the Sanderson Sisters are rampant every Halloween, but one thing is certain: the Sanderson Sisters are not beyond coming back once more.
From witchy mischief to eerie stop-motion adventures, Coraline is next on the list. Directed by Henry Selick, Coraline follows a new move into an isolated building called the Pink Palace, but this new place isn’t without its quirks and history, which Coraline crawls straight into.
Honorable Mentions
- Goosebumps, suggested by senior Gia Jimenz, is about a teenager who moved from a big city in New York to a small town in Madison, Delaware. However, Madison isn’t as normal as the town the Coopers were hoping for. Goosebumps was directed by Rob Letterman, based on R.L. Stine’s books, and written by Darren Lemke
- The Great Big Pumpkin Charlie Brown, suggested by Katherine Edwards, teacher of Marine science, features Charlie Brown and the rest of his friends on the night of Halloween. In the meantime, away from the celebration, Linus waits for the mythical Great Pumpkin to show. The Great Big Pumpkin Charlie Brown was directed by Bill Melendez and based on Charlie M. Schluz’s Charlie Brown series as well as written by Charlie M. Schluz.
- Monster House, suggested by junior Hudson Brady, takes place on the eve of Halloween around a creepy and old-looking house where things go over and never come back. Unfortunately, it seems the rumors weren’t as far off from the truth as you would think. Monster House was directed by Gil Kenan, based on a story made by Harmon & Schrab, and written by Pamela Pettler.
And finally, bringing the marathon to a magical close is another stop-motion film that serves dual purposes: The Nightmare Before Christmas, directed by Henry Selick. It’s about ghouls and ghosts living in a town made for all spooky creatures called Halloween Town until something magical happens and transports Jack Skellington into a place of wonder and snow.
I hope you enjoy this lineup of Halloween kills, thrills, and chills and have a spooky Frightday!