Since spooky season is upon us, it’s only fitting to give a rundown of college students’ favorite Halloween flicks.
There is an endless list of worthy candidates, including the creepily animated “Monster House” (2006) and gruesome slasher “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974).
Here are the top seven films that UB students say give them the chills.
‘Scream’ (1996)
With a clear fixation on slashers, UB students are falling back on guts and gore to give them the creeps this October. “Scream” focuses on high school student Sidney Prescott, who becomes the target of Ghostface, a serial killer in a costume.
Despite the not-so-realistic special effects, its innovations garnered huge popularity at the time, paving the way for a whole franchise. Its most recent instalment was released earlier this year.
If you are a fan of these latest “Scream” movies but have not yet had a chance to view the pioneer of the franchise, give it a watch this fall.
‘Cabin in the Woods’ (2011)
This American comedy-horror follows five college students who head off on a fun weekend getaway to a secluded cabin. Sounds like a great idea, right?
Unfortunately,. Multiple zombie-esque monstrosities sent by technicians in an underground lab ensure that their trip doesn’t quite end with kumbaya around a campfire. A very strange yet totally terrifying storyline makes this movie a college student’s worst nightmare, but also a great Halloween watch.
‘Corpse Bride’ (2005)
Is it really Halloween without Tim Burton? Apparently not! A lot of people recommended Burton to me with classics like “A Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Frankenweenie,” but the undisputed favorite seemed to be “Corpse Bride.”
“Corpse Bride” brought together the voices of iconic movie duo Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. It follows Emily and Victor, who are accidentally wedded after an awkward encounter in the woods — despite Victor’s prior engagement to someone else.
Though perhaps not your first choice when grabbing popcorn for a scary night in, this tale of love and loss brings both the spooky and the heartfelt.
‘Halloween’ (1978)
Another chilling classic is the infamous “Halloween” series, with the first of 13 installments being a fan favorite. Here, we are introduced to Jason’s murderous tendencies while he targets Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode.
With sufficient jump scares, gore and plenty of opportunities to let out a scream or two, John Carpenter’s independent slasher cannot be overlooked. Praised for its narrative and score, film-fanatics and casual movie watchers alike will enjoy it and get the scare of their lives.
‘Smile’ (2022)
A more recent production and the first psychological horror on the list, “Smile” is definitely one to keep you up at night. After a therapist watches the unnerving suicide of one of her patients, she becomes convinced that an invisible supernatural force is tormenting her, showing itself through an assortment of smiling people. Yep, another weird narrative, but a truly terrifying experience.
If you are a fan of “IT,” this is for you. Just a word of advice: steer clear of birthday parties, abandoned houses and, worst of all, anyone looking mildly content. After all, “once you see it, it’s too late…”
‘Scary Movie’ (2000)
An unsurprising favorite is this horror-parody primarily based on Wes Craven’s “Scream.” Cleverly mimicking various scenes from other slashers such as “Friday the 13th” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” the story follows a group of irresponsible teenagers who accidentally hit a man whilst driving and carelessly chuck his body in a lake. A year later, their group is targeted by Ghostface and picked off one by one.
Sounds kinda scary, right? Unfortunately, if you are looking for something to give you the creeps, this isn’t it. Full of innuendos, explicit scenes and the weird and wonderful lives of high school students, it’s definitely worth a watch if you just can’t hack real horror.
‘Hocus Pocus’ (1993)
Finally, the movie that had all my friends talking was Disney’s “Hocus Pocus.”
Following brother and sister Max and Dani, the viewer enters a world of soul-sucking witches trying to steal the youth of Salem’s children. With trick-or-treating, black cats and arguably the best cover of Nina Simone’s “I Put a Spell on You,” this is a Halloween must.
Perhaps giving a “so bad it’s good” vibe, this fantasy-comedy definitely receives mixed reviews on a yearly basis. Though definitely not a go-to if you want horror or gore, this unsettling comedy is sure to get you into the spooky spirit this October.
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com
Esther Arnold is a contributing writer.
