The time has finally come to snuggle into the blanket, grab a bowl of popcorn, and turn on a thrilling movie fit for the occasion of Halloween!
Horror movies have certainly been a crowd favorite with new movies like “Smile,” “Candyman,” and “M3GAN.” However, sometimes, it’s nice to bring back the oldies and just turn on a classic Halloween movie. From movies about terrifying masked murderers to playful animations about the Peanuts gang.
Out of 17 NVD students asked, seven students reported “Scream” as their favorite Halloween classic. The movie starts with a chilling phone call to set an uneasy, frightening tone. As the plot unfolds, the question of who the true killer is keeps the audience on their toes.
Although the movie features many aspects of a classic horror film, like jumpscares and gruesome killings, the director makes sure to include bits of humor that make it an enjoyable blend of both genres.
Erin Rhee, a junior at NVD, says, “It wasn’t very scary, but it was both mysterious and comedic at the same time, which made it good.”
The movie’s horror cliches ultimately add up to reveal the masked killer at the end, bringing a perfect twist to the build of suspension.
“The Conjuring” is another very popular horror movie that takes place in Harrisville, Rhode Island. In the movie, the Perron family moves into an isolated farmhouse, which the family soon learns to be a demonically haunted house. What makes the movie so effectively unsettling is the fact the movie is based on a true story.
Junior, Ava Mclaughlin, says “I can’t believe it’s actually based off a true story though. I think that’s what makes the movie so compelling.”
Inspired by the true case of world-renowned husband and wife paranormal investigators, the Watsons, the plot follows as the married couple is hired to be rid of the demonic supernatural that haunts the farmhouse.
As a horror movie fan, McLaughlin continues to state that although she has watched other movies in the Conjuring universe, she has been watching it since it came out and claims that it will always “stay as a classic movie to help [her] get into the Halloween spirit.”
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” was also stated as a Halloween favorite numerous times.
“It’s a classic, nothing beats a classic movie you can watch with everyone,” Samatha Liew said.
The movie follows the adventures of the beloved pumpkin king from Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, who no longer finds himself satisfied with the annual routine of Halloween scares and festivities. Everything changes once he discovers a door to Christmas Town and gets inspired to take over Santa’s Christmas duties.
“I loved seeing the contrast between the Halloween and Christmas towns when he found the Christmas town.. and the emotions he had,” Liew said.
However, things don’t go according to plan, and chaos takes over in the “real world,” where Jack Skellington is forced to overcome the challenges that arise as a result of his actions.
Certainly not as terrifying, but just as enjoyable, “The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” takes the spot of movie number four.
The tale follows the story of Linus, who busies himself with his own plans apart from the Peanuts gang. While the Peanuts gang plans to go trick-or-treating and a party, Linus sticks strongly to his belief in the Great Pumpkin. He stays committed to his plan of camping out in a pumpkin patch to wait for the arrival of the Great Pumpkin all night long.
With its animations from 1966 and its popularity among children, the children’s movie successfully brings a sense of nostalgia for people, including highschoolers.
“I watched it every year when I was little…It’s nostalgic for me and I like the part where he gets a rock. It reminds me of my childhood,” junior Olivia Ketchian-Coombs said.
And, of course, a movie fit for Halloween: “Halloween.”
Starring the infamous fictional serial killer, Michael Myers, “Halloween” sets the bar for the rest of the slasher movies with its build of suspension and thrill.
Junior Aiden Hwang comments that the first killing in the movie “was so brutal and intense…you could really see the psychotic behavior of the main character throughout it.”
After Michael Myers’ first victim at age six, who was his 17-year-old sister, he gets locked up in a mental institution. But while being transported, he escapes 15 years later and returns to his hometown in Illinois. There, he sets himself on a series of murders to pick up where he left off.
After a long day of trick-or-treating, a classic movie could just hit the spot. The wide variety of Halloween movies: “Scream” “The Conjuring” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” “Halloween” and “The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” offer a movie for just about anyone looking to get into the spooky mood. It’s a good time to enjoy these movies for the last couple of times this year, before the fall leaves get replaced by icicles and snowy roofs.
