13 Scary Movies to Watch in October

Happy October everyone! Are you looking for some scary movies to watch this month? Well, look no further! I’m a huge fan of the horror genre, whether it’s a book, TV series, or movie, I’m there! I’ve compiled a list of my all-time favorite horror films that I revisit every year. I’ve also included a few that aren’t too spooky for those who aren’t a huge fan of horror.

13 Scary Movies to Watch in October

1) Psycho 1960 “Marion disappears after stealing money from her employer. Her lover and sister try to find her and end up reaching the infamous Bates Motel, where they meet Normal Bates.” This movie is a classic. I had the opportunity to visit the real Bates Motel located at Universal Studios Hollywood in California. It was such a fun and thrilling experience, I was geeking out! If you love this film as much as I do, I highly recommend watching the TV Series Bates Motel too. 

2) Halloween 1978 “Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.” I love the Halloween franchise. There’s not a single year that goes by without watching the Halloween movies. It’s such a classic that no matter how many movies come out, the fans always show up wanting more! In fact, I can’t wait to see Halloween Kills, which will be in theatres October 15^th! 

3) The Conjuring 2013 “The Perron family moves into a farmhouse where they experience paranormal phenomena. They consult demonologists, Ed and Lorraine Warren, to help them get rid of the evil entity haunting them.” Nothing sets the tone for a movie than the words, “Based on a true story.” The Conjuring is my favorite supernatural films of all time. Director, James Wan, does a wonderful job setting the tone, building suspense, and keeping the audience engaged. I hope you have a blanket or pillow handy, you might just need it to hide behind. 

4) Scream 1996 “A year after Sidney’s mom is murdered, more murders start to occur. She begins to suspect if these murders are related and tries to find the killer as everyone seems to be a suspect.” Scream movies are so fun, especially for horror fans. I really enjoy the references the horror genre and the classics. Each film is filled with thrills, suspense, and funny moments. 

5) Haunt 2019 “A group of friends discover a haunted house on Halloween and decide to explore it. However, things do not go as per plan as the night turns deadly.” If you love haunted houses, this film will add another layer of terror and make you think twice before going. It’s similar to 2018’s Hell Fest, but I enjoyed this movie more. 

6) Host 2020 “Six friends accidentally invite the attention of a demonic presence during an online séance and begin noticing strange occurrences in their homes.” Host was one of my favorite horror films of 2020. This movie was shot over a period of 12 weeks through Zoom during the pandemic. The cast and crew shot with their own cameras and even did their own stunts. I guarantee lots of jump scares for this one! 

7) The Shining 1980 “Jack and his family move into an isolated hotel with a violent past. Living in isolation, Jack begins to lose his sanity, which affects his family members.” The Shining is yet another film inspired by true events. Influenced by The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, The Shining is a haunting tale that will be sure to stick with you for a long time. 

8) The Sixth Sense 1999 “Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist, starts treating a young boy who acts as a medium of communication between the former and a slew of unhappy spirits.” This chilling classic is still one that haunts me to this day. The acting is on point, the story is suspenseful, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I guarantee you’ll have to sleep with the lights on after this one. 

9) Train to Busan 2016 “Seok-woo and his daughter are on a train to Busan on the latter’s birthday to see his wife. However, the journey turns into a nightmare when they are trapped amidst a zombie outbreak in South Korea.” I was never a huge fan of zombie movies, but this film had been recommended to me time and time again, that I had to check it out. I was blown away by the story telling, the acting, and the cinematography. This film is unlike anything I’ve ever watched and it’s inspired me to watch more foreign cinema. 

10) The Strangers 2008 “A young couple staying in an isolated vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants.” Whether you have a vacation home or not, the idea of staying in the middle of nowhere can be frightening. Especially for me, because I watch so many of these films. This story is unsettling and will make you double check that you’ve locked your doors.

11) Beetlejuice 1988 “The spirits of a deceased couple are harassed by an unbearable family that has moved into their home, and hire a malicious spirit to drive them out.” Beetlejuice was one of those movies that was always playing on TV during the Halloween season. I wasn’t a huge fan of this film growing up, as I found it too scary, but overtime it’s grown on me.  

12) It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown 1966 “The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween while Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin.” Halloween wouldn’t be complete without this TV movie. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a tradition for a lot of people, no matter your age! 

13) Coco 2017 “Miguel pursues his love for singing in spite of his family’s ban on music. He stumbles into the Land of the Dead, where he learns about his great-great-grandfather who was a legendary singer.” If you’re looking for a sweet movie with a beautiful message behind it, then you need to watch Coco. The animation is stunning, the music is fun and upbeat, and there’s so much emotion. It’s the perfect movie for the entire family!

I hope you found some new picks for your movie nights. You can find these titles on Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney+ and Shudder. Synopses are from Google and IMDb. Do you enjoy horror movies? Is your favorite on this list? I’d love to hear your thoughts!