*This list may contain minor spoilers to popular horror films. No major plot points or endings to films are revealed*

As you get older, Halloween becomes harder and harder to organize fun plans for. You can no longer go out with your close group of friends to trick or treat, haunted houses tend to be overpriced, and it is almost impossible to find someone willing to host a Halloween party. That being said, the best way to get into the spooky spirit is to gather a group of people and have a horror movie night! And to help you in your film selection, here are The Fordian’s  Top 10 Ten Must-See Horror Movies for this Halloween season (in no particular order):

1. Scream (1996)
   • What better way to start off this list than one of the most iconic slasher films of all time? Although Scream might not leave you experiencing nightmares for the rest of the year, it will definitely keep you entertained. If you’re into more jumpscare, humorous horror, Scream is perfect for you. This film serves as the perfect representation of early slasher films and is most likely inspired by iconic movies such as Halloween (1978) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). The movie presents the ever popular plot driving question of “Who is the killer?” and leaves you shocked as the credits start to roll.  
2. It (2017)
   • The ever-popular killer clown Pennywise made his return to the big screen in the 2017 version of It this past September and has taken the world by storm while doing it. The new adaptation of Stephen King’s horror novel puts audiences back into their childhood and taps into a situation no one person can ever forget; childhood nightmares. If you want to read more about why It is the right movie to watch this Halloween, read our full review here.
3. The Witch (2015)
   • If you are into the more indie, deeper meaning, eerie horror film genre, then you MUST watch The Witch. When I first saw this movie in theatres, I left feeling a mixture of emotions. For one, I was terrified. This movie was one of the only times where I sat in the theatre genuinely scared as to what was coming next. The director, Robert Eggers, uses more than just jump scares to tap into your fear factor. Although this movie succeeded in making me sit on the edge of my seat, it also was extremely interesting and fun to delve deep into the hidden meanings behind certain scenes.  
4. Sinister (2012)
   • Sinister, although following the predictable horror movie plot of a troubled writer living in his haunted home, is one of, if not the scariest movies I will put on this list. Don’t be fooled by the name “Mr. Boogie”, the villain in this film is all but humorous. Since watching this movie over four years ago, certain shots of this villain still stand out to me as some of the best jumps scare I’ve seen in a horror film. If you’re planning on picking up a copy of this movie, make sure you are prepared not to sleep that night.  
5. House of Wax (2005)
   • Although critically rated extremely low, House of Wax stands out to me as a horror movie that does not follow the typical formula for the horror genre. Set in a ghost town in the middle of nowhere, a group of college students becomes trapped in the local wax museum, which happens to be inhabited by a serial killer. This movie reminds me of the times I would secretly be watching horror movies while my parents were not looking but instantly regretting it. Even if this film is not the best written of its genre, It will keep you on your toes as unexpected twist and explores a new type of killer unseen before.
6. Don’t Breathe (2016)
   • If you’re looking for a shocking ending to a horror movie this season, Don’t Breathe is perfect for you. When I saw Don’t Breathe for the first time in theatres, I had to hold back my gasp. Towards the end of the film, characters are revealed to be much different than presented from the beginning and the entire plot switches up, keeping you intrigued and terrified for the fate of the main protagonist. Don’t Breathe does not fit into the typical slasher or paranormal categories of horror, making it unique.
7. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
   • In addition to being a well-known classic, The Silence of the Lambs stands out to me as one of the most terrifying, well written and directed horror films of all time. This film serves as one of the first, and most iconic psychological thrillers ever made, thrusting you into the mind of psychopath Hannibal Lecter. While sometimes harder to understand, The Silence of the Lambs will leave you with the eerie creeped out feeling after watching.
8. It Follows (2014)
   • Along with a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, It Follows is known as one of the best horror movies of the past 10 years. The film follows a teenage girl as she tries to break the curse that killed her boyfriend and is set to kill anyone she ever loves. This movie takes you on a terrifying journey from the main character trying to get someone to believe that she is cursed to eventually facing her supernatural killer head-on, keeping you entertained for the entire duration.
9. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
   • I’m not going to lie, when I first saw the trailer for The Cabin in the Woods I thought it might be a pretty bad film. It seemed to be an overdone concept and followed the typical group of college students that have their vacation ruined by a killer. But when I eventually was forced to watch it by a friend, I was pleasantly surprised. The Cabin of the Woods appears to be a story about another psychopath slasher, but you later find out the movie to be about the power of science (and what how far can you go for science before it comes unethical) and you even get a little bit of zombie action.
10. Get Out (2017)
    • Speaking of Psychological thrillers, Get Out will leave you hypnotized with fear. No seriously, Get Out plays with fear factors rooted in hypnotism and offers deeper meaning commentary on racial issues. Aside from its hidden meanings, Get Out is a thriller in nature, and will leave you scared for the future of the extremely likable (and sometimes hilarious) main characters, played by Daniel Kaluuya and Lil Rel Howery.

Whether you are trying to pick out the perfect movie for your Halloween night, or just looking for a good scare, these movies are guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seats.