Revisiting Halloween in Movies

Horror heads and jumpscare lovers, the wait is finally over. We are officially in October, the month of costumes, treats, and a bunch of comedically lousy horror movies- in other words, Halloween! Halloween has evolved to become loved by everyone throughout the decades- young, old, and the undead.

What started as an ancient ritual to ward off spirits and ghosts has now become a cultural phenomenon. It is a time when people chant for Bloody Mary at three in the morning and a time to call upon the spirits with the ouija board. It is also the perfect time to sit back and binge on some bone-chilling (and sometimes comically bad) horror movies.

A mixture of Halloween and film

Watching horror movies on Halloween night has become as commonplace as decorating a Christmas tree on Christmas. As time passed by, the tradition of watching horror movies on Halloween night has so smoothly incorporated itself into the culture. Now, we do not see it as something out of the blue. A ton of horror movies also play on television on the night of Halloween. To entertain children, channels like Disney replay some of their best classic Halloween-themed movies. Others like HBO and WB replay Halloween classics like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Blair Witch Project.

From the serial killers to the paranormal and even killer clowns, Halloween gives us some of the most deadly yet memorable characters in horror we've seen, and there are many more to come. Revisiting these movies that generations have watched is surely a great way to spook yourself out. Lights? Out. Popcorn? Ready. It is time to take a look at some of the best movies to watch on a spooky Halloween night

Hollywood and Halloween in the Sixties

The 1960s was a time in Hollywood when some of the biggest directors like Alfred Hitchcock released movies like Psycho (1960) and Peeping Tom (1960), which are considered some of the best horror classics to date. Everyone is familiar with the famous "shower scene" from Psycho- that scene is scary enough to give you nightmares. Peeping Tom, as frightening as the plot is, gives you an insight into the voyeuristic nature of the film.

Some of the classic 1960s horror movies include Night of the Living Dead (1968), Rosemary's Baby, The Haunting (1963), and Black Sabbath (1963).

The Spooky Seventies

The Seventies was a time when John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) hit theatres. Little did one know that this movie would have its own legacy in the genre of Halloween movies. Micheal Myres is a character that every horror fan would have heard of. This movie created an entire Halloween universe, which horror fanatics love even today.

When it comes to the 70s, one cannot forget the timeless Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). The iconic character is a favorite Halloween costume for many. Other movies that you can watch are The Brood (1979), Alice Sweet Alice (1976), and It's Alive (1974).

The Eerie Eighties

Advancements in technology made it possible for horror movies to upgrade the viewers' horror experience. Stephen King's bestseller The Shining turned into a movie that became one of the most iconic Halloween movies of all time. And when it comes to ghosts with a little comedy, who can forget Ghostbusters! Children would love to dress up as the ghostbusters who save New York City.

Other iconic eighties movies include Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Friday the 13th (1980), Child's Play (1980), and Poltergeist (1982).

The Nerve-Wracking Nineties

As we reach the end of the millennium, horror movies started stepping up their game. The trend of serial killers became popular with the success of The Silence of The Lambs (1991). The Sixth Sense (1999), a movie with one of the most incredible twists in history, is another classic. The idea of a clown being a scary character was popularized with the success of IT (1990). Remember the time when clowns terrorized the streets of America back in 2016? You can say thanks to IT for that.

Other nerve-wracking movies include The Blair Witch Project (1999). The Haunting (1999). and The Addams Family (1991).

Terrifying 2000s 

The horror genre in the new decade became as popular as ever. Many horror films ruled the box office. The Zombie as an element of the horror genre became famous thanks to the success of 28 Days Later and Zombieland. Think about a couple who move install cameras in their new house to detect ghosts. Seems familiar? Paranormal Activity is your answer. Post-apocalyptic movies swept the theatres. 

The other famous films include 13 Ghosts (2001), Wolf Creek (2005), The Grudge (2004). and Final Destination (2000). 

Horror and Hollywood in the 2010s By the time we reach the 2010s, getting a good night's sleep after watching a horror movie was next to impossible. There were many films in the religious horror genre like The Conjuring and The Last Exorcism. The movie Babadook even invaded the comfort of children's storybooks. With Netflix becoming more popular in the 2010s, movies like A Quiet Place and Bird Box were a streaming success. We no longer watched movies the traditional way. Instead, the bingo-watching culture rose to popularity with the help of streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, among many others. Honorary mentions include Annabelle (2014), Annihilation (2018), and Insidious 2010 . 

...The End. Or is it?

Halloween is a time of trick-or-treating and carving out pumpkins. It is also

the time to sit back and enjoy (or maybe not) the thrill of horror movies on a

spooky Halloween night. Now that you have read the entire history of horror

movies, you can brag to your friends about knowing a thing or two about

ghosts, monsters, and creepy dolls.

So what are you waiting for? Dress up as Edward Scissorhands and have

your freaky romance, or dress up as a clown to reminisce the good old

times when Clowns were having the time of their lives terrifying people. In the

end, always remember to close the doors and windows so that your

neighbors do not hear you screaming while you watch the horror movie of

your choice!