Looking for something other than a classic slasher movie to watch this Halloween? Want to impress/ annoy your friends with a movie they’ve never heard of? Or maybe you’re just looking for something spooky without all the jump scares. Whatever your taste, hopefully you’ll find on this list something new to chill you this spooky season.
10. Carnival of Souls (1962) dir. Herk Harvey
An independent cult-classic, Carnival of Souls follows Mary Henry as she attempts to adjust to a new town after being involved in a traumatic car accident. In her new locale she finds herself drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival and inexplicably stalked by a terrifying “man”. With the director’s cut clocking in at a short 84 minutes, Carnival of Souls is a great quick watch for those looking for something more haunting and atmospheric than down right scary.
Where to watch: Rentable on Amazon
9. The VVitch (2015) dir. Robert Eggers
“Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?” Egger’s directorial debut may not be full of jump scares and creepy monsters, but it’s meticulous pacing and unsettling atmosphere more than make up for it. The VVitch crafts a tense, terrifying portrait of an family unraveling while banished to the fringes, between society and wilderness, in colonial America.
Where to watch: Netflix, UBC Criterion
8. Young Frankenstein (1974) dir. Mel Brooks
Who says Halloween movies always have to be spooky? Brook’s Young Frankenstein brilliantly parodies Universal’s monster movies of the 1930s (RIP Dark Universe) with a mix of slapstick, in-references and absurdism. Gene Wilder as the grandson of Victor Frankenstein and Marty Feldman as Igor give particularly hilarious performances in this outrageous comedy that rapidly goes off the rails. Bonus: the film has the best diegetic use of Puttin’ on the Ritz.
Where to watch: Netflix, UBC Criterion.
7. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
If you like weirdness, this one is for you. The family members of a surgeon (Colin Farell) begin to become inexplicably paralyzed after the surgeon befriends a young, fatherless boy (Barry Keoghan). While not overtly scary, Sacred Deer is still deeply unsettling, balancing dark humor with a pervasive sense of paranoia. If you’re a fan of off-beat chills, this movie is for you.
Where to watch: Netflix, Rentable on Amazon
6. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) die. Hayao Miyazaki
A Studio Ghibli movie where a young witch uses her powers to run a delivery service. Do I really need to say more?
Where to watch: This one’s in Disney’s hands, find a friend with a copy.
5. The Exterminating Angel (1962) dir. Luis Buñuel
Frequently considered Buñuel’s finest work, The Exterminating Angel hinges on a simple premise, what if you inexplicably couldn’t leave a space? A premise which Buñuel uses to level a critic at the upper class through an “eerie comic absurdity” (Criterion) that results in a tonally unsettling film. Best for those looking to impress (or annoy) their friends.
Where to watch: Kanopy UBC
4. House (1977) dir. Nobuhiko Obayashi
It’s that cat movie! Another cult-classic, House follows seven teenage girls as they visit a relatives haunted (unbeknownst to them) house for their summer Holiday. House is barely a horror movie, but more a comedy centered around a spooky narrative premise. However, even that assessment feels to be putting it in too tight of box. With its experimentation with special effects, narrative breaks and music, House is unlike any movie you’ve ever seen. By far the most fun movie on the list.
Where to watch: Rentable on Amazon
3. Bone Tomahawk (2015) dir. S. Craig Zahler
Like Westerns? Like Horror? Than boy is this the movies for you. Cannibal savages are terrorizing Sheriff Franklin Hunt’s (Kurt Russel) little Western town and it’s up to him and a group of brave frontiersmen to put a stop to the mayhem. Although it takes a while to get truly scary, Bone Tomahawk eventually builds to a place that rattled me to my core. A deeply visceral film that will stay with you long after. Plus, Kurt Russell!
Where to watch: Netflix, rentable on Amazon
2. Suspiria (1977) dir. Dario Argento
Look, I’m mature enough to admit that Luca Guandagnino’s upcoming remake looks pretty decent. However, there is something so hypnotic about Argento’s original giallo stylization of his narrative about young woman attending a ballet academy run by witches. While the narrative isn’t exactly groundbreaking, Suspiria is a fest for the senses, which is only enhanced by some of it’s shoddiness (bad dubbing anyone?). Plus, there are some genuinely terrifying moments, and some excellent kills smattered throughout.
Where to watch: UBC Criterion, 4K Remastered edition at Cinematheque Oct. 26, 27, and 28.
1. The Reflecting Skin (1990) dir. Philip Ridley
I’m not really sure how to classify this movie, maybe “American Empty Quarter Gothic” would be best. The film follows a young boy Seth (Jeremy Cooper), who believes that a young window (Lindsay Duncan) in his town is actually a vampire. As residents of the town are being mysteriously killed, Seth attempts to “save” his older brother (Viggo Mortensen) from falling victim to the mysterious woman. Ultimately a coming of age story, The Reflecting Skin explores the terror of coming of age in middle of nowhere America.
Where to watch: This movie is nearly impossible to find, but if by some halloween miracle you can find it, give it a watch! I guarantee you’ll never forget it.
Author: Ashley Johnson
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