Horror is easily my favorite genre. Even when I was a kid, I loved watching scary movies. I was fascinated and rarely ever scared. Every October, or Spooktober, I try to watch a horror film a day. I started my Spooktober by watching Scream (1996). It’s become a classic and one of the many I watch each October, including Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street. Many don’t realize that horror genre goes back to the early days of film and because of this, a lot of the true classics and obscure titles are overlooked for more recent, trendy movies.

I’m going to turn back time for my suggested horror films to watch… From the early, silent monster movies, to the gore of the 70’s, to the slasher films of the 1980’s, there are so many titles that are worth seeing! So, here are some titles to add to your Spooktober 2017 watch list:

Nosferatu (1922)

Director: F.W. Murnau  Writers: Henrik Galeen (screen play), Bram Stoker (based on the novel: “Dracula”) Stars: Max Schreck, Greta Schröder, Ruth Landshoff

Also Check Out: The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920), Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931)

 

Un Chien Andalou (1929)

Director: Luis Buñuel (as Louis Bunuel)  Writers: Salvador Dalí, Luis Buñuel  Stars: Pierre Batcheff, Simone Mareuil, Luis Buñuel

Also Check Out: Suspiria (1977)

 

The Man Who Laughs (1928)

Director: Paul Leni  Writers: Victor Hugo (novel), J. Grubb Alexander (adaptation) Stars: Mary Philbin, Conrad Veidt, Julius Molnar

Also Check Out: The Hands of Orlac (1924), The Phantom of the Opera (1925), Faust (1926)

 

Who Can Kill a Child? (1976)
¿Quién puede matar a un niño? (original title)

Director: Narciso Ibáñez Serrador Writers: Juan José Plans (novel), Narciso Ibáñez Serrador (screenplay) Stars: Lewis Fiander, Prunella Ransome, Antonio Iranzo

Also Check Out: The House that Screamed (1970), The Other (1972)

 

Raw Meat (1972)

Director: Gary Sherman  Writers: Ceri Jones (screenplay), Gary Sherman (original story) Stars: Donald Pleasence, Norman Rossington, David Ladd

Also Check Out: Cannibal Holocaust (1980), The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

 

Wolfen (1981)

Directors: Michael Wadleigh, John D. Hancock (uncredited) Writers: Whitley Strieber (based on the novel by), David Eyre (screen story) Stars: Albert Finney, Diane Venora, Edward James Olmos

Also Check Out: The Wolf Man (1941), An American Werewolf in London (1981)

While I have enjoyed many reboots and remakes over the years, I almost always prefer the originals. My favorite horror film is The Amityville Horror (1979). Fun Fact – The only horror film to ever so scare me so much that I never watched it again was The Exorcist (1973). It’s been 20 years since my first viewing and I still have no desire to put myself through it again. I guess you can so it was so good there was no reason to watch it again. haha!

If you want to beef up on your horror films, IMDB offers some really great must see lists! What are you in the mood to watch? Ghosts? Possessions? Monsters? Cannibals? Slasher? The sub-genres of horror are endless! I hope I’ve inspired you to watch some films that were made before your time!

So, what’s your favorite scary movie?