By Matilda Collard, Second Year, English
Skipping the clubs this Halloween? Here are five handpicked films for a perfectly spooky night in.
The Exorcist (1973):
Often hailed as the scariest film of all time, The Exorcist remains a benchmark of horror cinema more than five decades after its release. William Friedkin’s tale of a young girl possessed by a demonic entity was considered so terrifying it was banned from home entertainment release in the UK until 1999. With iconic moments including spinning heads, levitating beds and, of course, that infamous pea soup scene, The Exorcist is regarded as one of the most influential films in the horror genre. Blending psychological trauma with supernatural terror, it taps into our most primal fears to deliver a story of faith, fear and the limits of human understanding. While the 1970s special effects may lessen its scare factor compared to modern horror, The Exorcist remains a cornerstone of the genre — a film that brought horror into the mainstream and set the standard for supernatural storytelling for decades to come. It’s Halloween horror at its most significant.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975):
It’s just a jump to the left... and into the wildest Halloween movie of them all. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a gloriously weird, gender-bending, sci-fi horror musical that invites you to sing, dance and embrace the bizarre. The cult classic follows clean-cut couple Brad and Janet as they stumble upon the castle of Dr Frank-N-Furter, a cross-dressing mad scientist with a flair for the dramatic and debaucherous.
Rocky Horror remains a landmark in queer cinema, celebrating fluid sexuality and gender expression in a way previously unseen. Within the LGBT+ community, the film and its sibling stage show stand as a legacy of queer celebration. Released only a few years after the 1969 Stonewall riots, Rocky Horror captured the spirit of queer liberation, exuberance and visibility, fostering community through its midnight screenings and famous audience participation. Tim Curry’s iconic performance as Frank-N-Furter elevates a film that revels in excess, queerness and joyful absurdity. Whether you’re watching it for the first time or returning for your annual ritual, its infectious energy and wild soundtrack make it a Halloween essential — fishnets optional, but highly encouraged.
The Shining (1980):
Few films possess the unsettling power of The Shining. Directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on Stephen King’s chilling novel, this slow-burning tale is a masterclass in psychological terror. The film follows Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) as he takes a job as the winter caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel. As isolation sets in, the hotel’s dark history begins to twist Jack’s mind, with terrifying consequences. Visually striking and deliberately paced, The Shining redefined horror, elevating the genre into psychological art that thrives on uncertainty. Rich with symbolism, eerie atmosphere and moments of sheer cinematic brilliance, it stands as both a terrifying and artistically sophisticated work. From the haunting twin girls to the blood-filled lift, it plays more like a waking nightmare than a traditional haunted house story. For those who like their Halloween horror layered and psychological, The Shining delivers dread in every frame.
Hocus Pocus (1993):
For those who favour magic and mischief over true terror, Disney’s Hocus Pocus is a spellbinding tapestry of Halloween iconography, stitched together with camp, colour and cackling charm. Set in modern-day Salem, the film follows a trio of resurrected witches, the hilariously villainous Sanderson Sisters, as they attempt to steal the souls of children to regain their youth. Standout performances from Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, portraying the three witches with pure theatrical glee, give the film its iconic nostalgia. Beneath the slapstick and sharp one-liners lies an affection for Halloween itself: not just as a setting, but as a mood, a palette, a piece of youth. It’s the kind of film that smells like pumpkins and candle wax, like a Halloween night pulled from childhood memory, just spooky enough to thrill, but warm and familiar. With talking cats, zombie ex-boyfriends and musical numbers that practically demand a sing-along, this film will certainly put a spell on you.
The Conjuring (2013):
Directed by James Wan, The Conjuring revived old-school horror with a new edge. Based on the real-life investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film centres on a family plagued by a dark, malevolent presence in their farmhouse. As the Warrens delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a chilling backstory that leads to one of the most harrowing exorcisms ever put to screen. The film doesn’t try to reinvent the haunted house story; instead, it perfects it — reminding audiences that atmosphere, patience and deeply human characters remain horror’s most powerful tools.
What makes The Conjuring so effective is Wan’s meticulous control of tone and tension. The scares aren’t built on cheap jump cuts or sudden blasts of sound — they’re earned, constructed through creeping camerawork, oppressive silence and the slow tightening of dread. Wan often lets the camera glide through the house like a ghost itself, lingering just long enough on a dark corner or open door to let your imagination do the work. It’s the kind of film that lingers long after the credits roll.
The Conjuring marked a turning point in modern horror, spawning an entire cinematic universe including Annabelle and The Nun, and inspiring a new wave of paranormal horror that paved the way for films like Hereditary. Rich in atmosphere, steeped in spiritual terror and anchored by committed performances, it remains one of the most terrifying horror films of the 21st century, and an essential Halloween watch for anyone who doesn’t mind a sleepless night afterwards.
Featured Image: Disney / IMDb
From haunted hotels to singing witches, these films prove there’s more than one way to get into the Halloween spirit — so, what’s your must-watch horror this spooky season?
