Come October, as leaves turn brown and red and the weather becomes crisp and frigid, there’s one thing on everyone’s mind: Halloween.
Halloween has developed from a Celtic holiday of Samahin, which entailed making bonfires and dressing in costumes to ward off ghosts. This time of year was not only believed to signify the start of winter, but also a time where the supernatural would become present in our world.
Today, Halloween is celebrated everywhere from Europe to Canada, and is more of a celebration of the dead.
There are many ways to get in the Halloween mood: pumpkin spiced drinks become available, decorations are put up, and jack-o-lanterns are carved. However, a popular way to embrace the spirit is through scary movies.
Horror was classified as an official genre after the release of Dracula in 1931, and according to rotton tomatoes is now in the top 5 types of movies. If you’re looking for a good scare, have never watched a scary movie, or are just looking for something to watch with friends, keep reading for recommendations from your fellow classmates!
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Sophomore Derrick White said his favorite movie to watch for Halloween was ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. He summarized this movie by saying “kids can’t sleep at night or scary monster comes with finger knives” and also described it as “a pretty splendid movie.”
Robert Englund plays Freddy Kreuger, the monster who attacks teens in their sleep. A group of 4 friends try to stay awake to prevent him from invading their nightmares and solve the mystery of his past. This is great first horror movie to watch as it’s a classic full of twists and turns.
Annabelle
Rachel Tromble, sophomore, said that as someone who was newer to horror movies, she would recommend Annabelle. Especially if you’re just starting to get into scarier film. Rachel says this movie is a good first because it’s a balance between creepy and intriguing.
In this suspenseful story, John and Mia Form are expecting a baby, and as a gift John brings home a seemingly beautiful vintage doll. The doll, however, is tainted into an evil creature when cultists invade their peaceful home, and the Form family’s house is turned into a crime scene.
Hocus Pocus
Cannon Evans, junior, was very enthusiastic about Hocus Pocus, and when asked what his favorite scary movie was he didn’t even hesitate. He said he recommended it because “it’s nostalgic and just so Halloween.”
In this comedic thriller, three witches arise from the dead to chase their everlasting youth by terrorizing and eating children. Ella Esquinasi, another junior, even described it as “cute and fun,” and if you’re looking for a good scare and a good laugh, this is the movie for you.
The Silence of the Lambs
If you’re looking for a more psychological scare, the Silence of the Lambs is exactly what you want. Olivia Kane, grade 10, said this movie “is just really engaging and a great scare.”
The movie was made in 1991, and the premise is a top FBI training academy student’s first real case. Clarice Starling is determined to discover a new serial killer and his motives, but to do this she must interrogate and entrust a psychiatrist-turned-psychopath who just might have the answers she needs. Starring Jodie Foster and Scott Glenn, this movie is full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat for all 2 hours.
All things considered, we can all agree that Halloween movies are a great way to kick off the fall season. After interviewing our local Lincoln students are thrilled to share their favorite movies. We hope this gave you some inspiration for how to spend fall season this year!
