As October arrives and Autumn creeps in, it’s officially scary szn and we’re in the mood for all things trick or treat. If Halloween is your favourite season of all or if you’re looking to get in the spooky spirit, fear not. Boo baskets are on everyone’s wish list this season but we’ve conjured together at eve HQ to concoct a gift that keeps on giving, a list of movies you can watch (or hide behind a pillow!) to help you countdown to the night of all nights. After all, a scary movie a day keeps the spiders away!
countdown to halloween: our favourite scary movies
We’ve put together a mix of films fit for young witches and wizards as well as some for the scare fanatics so grab the popcorn and get cosy.
1st – Hocus Pocus
The spooky season classic where a teenage boy and his younger sister manage to awaken a trio of witches, who set out to cast a spell on the town to retrieve their youth. And there’s also a sequel.
2nd – IT
Based on the novel by Stephen King. The story follows a group of seven children as they face their worst nightmare, an evil demon who poses as a clown. When children begin going missing, the group must face their own fears to battle against it.
3rd – The Witches
Watch the original 1990 version or there was a remake in 2020. A young boy stumbles across a convent of witches who are staying at the same hotel as him and his grandma. He must find a way to stop them before they rid England of all children.
4th – The Shining
Another film that is based on a novel by Stephen King. A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter, where an evil presence influences the father into violence. At the same time, his psychic son sees horrifying visions from both the past and the future.
5th – Friday 13th
A group of young adults visit an abandoned summer camp near Crystal Lake despite hearing about it’s gruesome past.
6th – Paranormal Activity
If super-natural horror films are your kind of vibe then Paranormal activity is a must. A young couple move into their new home and decide to document their experiences on video camera when they are haunted by an evil presence.
7th - Hereditary
After losing her mentally ill mother, Annie and her family are haunted by disturbing omens. They each begin to have otherworldly experiences linked to the sinister secrets that have been a part of their family for generations.
8th – Pet Sematary
Can you see a theme, based on a book by Stephen King (He is the king of horrors after all!). After relocating with their two children, a couple discover a creepy burial ground hidden deep in the woods. But is everything as it seems?
9th – The Addams Family
When a loan shark learns about an eccentric (and wealthy!) family's missing relative, she forces her son to pose as the long-lost uncle so that she can steal from the family.
10th – Saw
The first film in a series of gory horrors. Captured by the infamous killer known as Jigsaw, two men must complete the game before time runs out. But this game has rules that must be followed. If you like this Halloween movie, you'll be pleased to learn there's another 8 to watch too.
11th – The Strangers
When spending the night in a remote cabin, a couple are visited by 3 masked strangers who are determined to torture and terrorize them.
12th – The Conjuring
The Conjuring (and it’s sequels) follow two paranormal investigators who help people who are being troubled by an evil presence. Rumoured to be based on a true story, this film is sure to get you hiding behind your pillow.
13th - Coraline
A family Halloween favourite. Curious young Coraline discovers a door when wandering her family home that transports her to an alternate universe.
14th - Smile
After witnessing a traumatic incident at work, a psychiatrist becomes increasingly paranoid that she is being threatened by a super-natural entity.
15th – The Black Phone
One for those who like thrillers and mystery. A boy starts receiving calls on a disconnected phone after being kidnapped and locked in a basement. Can they help him survive?
16th – Monsters Inc
Perfect for a family movie night. A city of monsters who power their homes using human children’s screams. But when a 3 year old child called Boo sneaks into the monster world, Mike and Sulley must send her back safely before anyone finds out.
17th - Malignant
Madison is traumatised in her sleep by visions of grisly murders, but things get worse when she discovers that these visions are actually reality.
18th – BeetleJuice
The spirits of a interesting ghost couple are harassed by a family that has moved into their home, and hired a malicious spirit to drive them out.
19th – Sinister
A true crime writer discovers a box of home movies in his new house, revealing similarities to a murder case he is currently working on. Could this be the work of a serial killer that has been active since the 1960’s?
20th – The Crazies
A toxic virus enters a quiet farming town after a strange plane crash. The sheriff, his wife and two other unaffected people try and make sense of the situation while fighting for survival.
21st - Insidious
22nd – Long Legs
An FBI agent discovers a personal connection to a serial killer when she’s assigned to an unsolved case. She must race against time to stop him before he strikes again in this Halloween thriller.
23rd – M3GAN
A engineer at a toy company builds a life-like doll that begins to have a mind of it’s own, with unimaginable consequences. That's horrifying enough for Halloween to us!
24th – The Nightmare Before Christmas
Some may say this is a Halloween film, and others may say Christmas but we say it fits for both. Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween town, stumbles across Christmas town and tries to bring the magic back to his town.
25th – The Exorcist
Said to be one of the scariest horror films of all time (pillow at the ready). The exorcist is about a actress, who notices scary changes in the behaviour of her daughter and turns to a priest to help.
26th – Deliver Us From The Devil
A New York police officer begins investigating a series of disturbing crimes that have no explanation, other than demonic possessions. The Devil must be at work in this dark perfect for Halloween title!
27th – Haunted Mansion
A realtor and his wife are invited to a mansion, which they soon discover is haunted by spirits that have different motives. For those seeking a fun, frightening movie for all ages.
28th – The Grudge
After a young woman murders her family in her own home, a detective tries to solve the case. However, she soon discovers the answer could have dangerous consequences for herself and her son.
29th – Lost Boys
A mum and her two sons move to a coastal town that is plagued by bikers and some mysterious deaths. The brothers soon realise that the town has something much more sinister going on than the usual party going surfers.
30th – Hubie Halloween
One for the comedy lovers. Hubie is devoted to his home town. Unfortunately for him, he's made a mockery of by the whole town. But this Halloween, he finds himself at the centre of a murder case and it's up to him to save his beloved town.
31st – Halloween
After being institutionalized for killing his sister for 15 years, Michael Myers breaks out on the night before Halloween. His Psychiatrist is certain he’ll return to his home town, but will he kill again?
countdown to halloween: our final frightening thoughts
We hope there’s a title (or two) in our countdown to halloween movies list that has caught your attention. With several options worthy of hiding behind a duvet for most of the viewing experience, you’re sure to make use of yours a bit more this October! And for anyone wondering what to dress up as this Halloween, our bed sheets DIY Halloween costume ideas round up should come in handy!
Happy countdown to All Hallow’s Eve folks. Until next time, eveSleep.
