Autumn is here, the cold is slowly returning and with the time change, night is falling earlier and earlier… For this monstrous Halloween evening, do you want to get in the mood? So, turn on your TV, take out your most comfortable blanket and something to snack on… And turn off the lights. Whether you’re badasses or total sissies, we’ve made a list of the best movies to watch again and again for Halloween. Ready to be (ci)scared?
Horror classics for the bravest
Ah, the adrenaline… The little thrill… If you love to be scared, especially for this Halloween evening, we have selected the essential horror films to watch to celebrate October 31 in the best possible way. Whether you are alone or with others, you are guaranteed goosebumps.
Shining
To make us shiver with ShiningStanley Kubrick relies on psychological fear. A heavy atmosphere, (too) immaculate corridors, an oppressive soundtrack and a one-way ticket to madness… More than forty years after its release, Shining continues to traumatize moviegoers. Jack Nicholson’s performance is masterful, more disturbing than ever. This is definitely a film to watch again and again on Halloween night.
A writer in need of inspiration is hired as caretaker of a huge hotel in the heart of the mountains for the winter. He then settles with his wife and son in this strange hotel which reveals its terrible secrets little by little. Isolated and victim of the blank page, Jack gradually descends into a murderous madness… Shining is available on MAX.
Halloween: Night of Masks
Spend Halloween night without watching one of the films in the saga Halloween ? It’s impossible. The plot is quite simple. On Halloween night in 1963, a young boy stabbed his sister. After 15 years in a psychiatric asylum, still on October 31, he escapes and sows terror in the streets of a small American town.
Released in 1978, this film left its mark on generations of horror fans. Considered a classic of horror cinema, it has influenced numerous feature-length horror films. The character of Michael Myers, and his terrible mask, has become iconic. However, at its core, it was a simple low-budget independent film directed by John Carpenter and produced by Debra Hill.
Want to replay the horrific saga? The first film can be seen and rewatched on Mubi.
Scream
With the iconic Ghostface, knife in hand, Scream quickly became a cult horror film when it was released in 1996. Thanks to Wes Craven, who revolutionized the genre, slashers returned to the forefront. As a killer stalks the peaceful town of Woodsboro, Sidney Prescott doesn’t know who she can trust. The success of Scream is so strong that Ghostface will be entitled to no less than six films between the end of the 90s and today. Halloween is the perfect opportunity to get the complete ScreamNo ? Most of the films can be found on CANAL+ and on Netflix.
That
Who’s afraid of clowns? Another horror film inspired by a work by Stephen King. Released in 2016, That is the highest-grossing horror film of all time. In the 1980s, seven teenagers band together to face the bullying from their peers and the deadly cycle that has plagued their town forever. Every 27 years, a strange creature in the form of an evil clown preys on children. Beware of the sewers… Both films That are available on MAX and Netflix.
The Claws of the Night
Watch out for your nightmares. While teenagers all have the same recurring nightmare with a man with a burned face, an old torn sweater and sharp blades for fingers, one of them is brutally murdered in his sleep. Like Ghostface, Michael Myers and Pennywise, Freddy and his blades are monuments of pop culture. After seeing (or rewatching) The Claws of the Nightyou too will have trouble sleeping tonight…
The claws of the night can be seen on Insomnia via Prime Video or CANAL+.
Bonuses for Friday the 13thwhich stands as another essential horror franchise. To be devoured on Paramount+ via CANAL+. With all these scary movies to watch, you’re going to have a stressful Halloween night…
For the less daring…
If you want to get into the Halloween spirit without suffering from insomnia and paranoia for several nights, we have the perfect films. Get out the pumpkins and candy, you’re going to have a great time. To watch with family, friends or alone.
Hocus Pocus: The Three Witches
Head to Salem where the city’s three most famous witches, the Sanderson sisters, return on Halloween night. But since their last tour of town, in the 17th century, times have changed. Funny and enchanted, Hocus Pocus: The Three Witches is a Halloween film for young and old. Even better? There is even a second part on Disney+, released three decades later. Something to get you in the Halloween spirit with your family. Head over to Disney+ to watch both volumes of Hocus Pocus.
The Addams Family
This funny macabre family has become cult over the years. More than bizarre rather than truly frightening, the members of the Addams family were able to seduce spectators in their first feature film by Barry Sonnenfeld. The gothic atmosphere is there as a lookalike of Uncle Fetid, who has been missing for decades, comes to the Addams’ house… We can also advise you Wednesdaythe series dedicated to the daughter of the family, directed by Tim Burton.
Want to take a trip to the Addamses? The two cult films can be seen and rewatched on Paramount+ and Netflix.
Watch on Paramount+ via CANAL+
Ghostbusters
Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! In this ’80s classic, three zany scientists open their paranormal investigation company and hunt ghosts galore. Monument of pop culture, Ghostbusters is a timeless fantasy comedy. Going ghost hunting for Halloween is the idea of the century. The film is available on MAX.
Scary Movie
If higher in this ranking, we recommend that you redo the entire Screamyou can also opt for the less scary version: Scary Movie. This parody of Wes Craven’s franchise, but not only that, is the perfect balance between thrills and laughs. Wazzup! To buy or rent on CANAL+.
Coraline
We haven’t forgotten animation fans! In 2009, Henry Selick adapted the novel Coraline by Neil Gaiman, the author to whom we owe, in particular, the graphic novels Sandman. In stop-motion, the film Coraline follows a young girl with a strong character who discovers a parallel world in the strange house into which her family has just moved. But while this alternate world looks much better than her own, Coraline quickly realizes something is wrong. Both haunting and gloomy, Coraline is a gem of animation to watch in rainy weather as Halloween approaches.
If you want to celebrate Halloween differently, you can turn to Coco. Pixar’s animated film offers us a new vision of the Day of the Dead, heading to Mexico. Not scary for a penny but rather extremely touching, Coco can be seen on Disney+.
Of course, this is just a non-exhaustive list of movies to watch on Halloween. A difficult selection to make as there are so many films to devour like candy during this monstrous period. Sleepy Hollow, Beetlejuice, Psychosis or even Welcome to Zombieland are other feature films worth checking out if you want to get in the mood. And you, what is your favorite Halloween movie? And which one are you going to watch with joy this evening?
