10 horror films to watch for a spine-chilling Halloween

In the mood to be scared? The Federal takes you on a chilling journey through some of the most iconic and spine-tingling horror films — from the psychological to the supernatural — in cinematic history. From Alfred Hitchcock’s timeless masterpiece Psycho to the eerie and unsettling world of Robert Eggers’ The Witch, these films have deeply influenced the horror genre over the decades, with each of these offering a terrifying experience that continues to fascinate admirers of the genre:

1. Psycho (1960): Alfred Hitchcock’s timeless masterpiece influenced countless filmmakers; the sense of dread it evokes remains as potent as ever. The film draws you into a web of intrigue and shock, with a fresh approach to horror; not all monsters wear capes, have grotesque appearances, or rise from the dead. Instead, some of them are ordinary individuals, resembling the people next door, living in eerie, towering Gothic houses along the highway, complete with long, ominous staircases and swinging light bulbs in dimly lit basements. Hitchcock had already explored the theme of serial killers in his earlier work, such as The Lodger in 1927. By the time Psycho was made, he was a master of manipulating his audience’s emotions and expectations. Hitchcock skillfully combines his expertise in suspense and his ability to mislead the audience to deliver a nerve-jangling experience that has become a hallmark of the horror genre.

2. The Haunting (1963): The solitude and psychological despair of the female characters are the recurring themes of Shirley Jackson’s books, including her 1959 gothic horror novel, The Haunting of Hill House. It has had numerous adaptations, but Robert Wise’s rendition remains the most haunting and compelling. From the very beginning, as the narrator unveils the sinister history of the Hill manor, a palpable sense of malevolence shrouds the narrative. The film conveys the notion that the property has been irrevocably marred by pure evil. The plot revolves around a parapsychologist, portrayed by Richard Johnson, who seeks to investigate the unusually high level of ghostly phenomena occurring at Hill House. He is joined by a psychic, played by Claire Bloom, a young man set to inherit the house (Russ Tamblyn), and a deeply disturbed woman, Julie Harris, who becomes a central figure in the horror saga. As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly evident that restless spirits indeed reside within the mansion’s foreboding walls, with a particular fascination for the vulnerable Julie Harris. Wise employs baroque camera angles and eerie sound design to create an atmosphere in which the boundaries of reality seem to warp and bend around the unfortunate souls trapped within Hill House.

3. Rosemary’s Baby (1968): At the heart of Roman Polanski’s psychological horror, an icy commentary on the subservient role of women in society — based on Ira Levin’s 1967 novel of the same name — is a pregnant and increasingly paranoid Rosemary Woodhouse (an exceptional Mia Farrow), who embarks on a harrowing journey to uncover the disturbing truth about the child she’s carrying. It's a true slow-burn terror that plays on the fears and anxieties of impending motherhood and the eerie mysteries that surround it. Rosemary, a young Manhattanite, is deeply in love with her struggling actor husband, Guy, played by John Cassavetes. The couple moves into a new apartment building, and soon Rosemary discovers she is pregnant. However, her unease grows as she struggles to recall the circumstances leading to her pregnancy. Rosemary becomes suspicious of the people around her, particularly her devilishly nosy neighbour, portrayed by Oscar-winner Ruth Gordon. It becomes clear that the concern of those around her isn’t for her well-being, but rather for her unborn child.

4. Night of the Living Dead (1968): Directed by George A. Romero, this film revolutionised the zombie genre, and spawned several movies in the subsequent decades. Romero, known for his penchant to use the undead as a vehicle for social commentary, crafts a tale of a zombie apocalypse that resonates with viewers both for its deeper metaphors and its sheer terror. It’s about a ragtag group of survivors, who barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls that are ravaging the Northeast portion of the United States. What distinguishes this film is Romero’s working-class background, which gave the film a grounded authenticity. He wasn’t a product of film school or the studio system, but a director who started by making industrial films and commercials in Pittsburgh. With Duane Jones as the hero, this spooky fare delves into issues of race and identity.

5. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): Directed by Tobe Hooper, it introduced us to Leatherface, an iconic horror villain who would go on to become a central figure in the horror-movie franchise. Centred on a group of friends — Sally, Franklin and their pals — on a road trip who unwittingly stumble into a nightmare when they pick up a hitchhiker and end up in a house inhabited by a chainsaw-wielding killer. One by one they are tormented and killed by a chainsaw-wielding killer and his psychopathic family. Although the character of Leatherface and minor story details were inspired by the crimes of murderer Ed Gein (American serial killer known as the Butcher of Plainfield or the Plainfield Ghoul) its plot is largely fictional. A gritty and visceral experience, it derives its raw, unrelenting terror from its ability to plunge the audience into a nightmarish world where there is no escape from the depraved violence. Its success led to a slew of sequels and reboots, including the 2022’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a Netflix film.

6. Halloween (1978): Directed by John Carpenter, this touchstone of unadulterated horror effectively redefined the slasher film, setting a new standard that countless filmmakers continue to emulate in its spin-offs. From the unforgettable, eerie notes of John Carpenter’s score to the chilling point-of-view shots that put the audience in the shoes of the killer, Halloween thrives on its deceptively simple yet highly effective scares that resonate with viewers long after the credits roll. Set mostly in the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois, the plot centres on a mental patient, Michael Myers, who was committed to a sanitarium for murdering his teenage sister on Halloween night when he was a child. What makes him truly terrifying is the unexplained, almost supernatural bloodlust that propels his murder of his sister, his subsequent ruthless killing spree, and his pursuit of Laurie Strode, portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis. Myers is a slow-moving menace, methodical yet unpredictable, creating an atmosphere of dread and tension that is unmatched in the genre.

7. Friday the 13th (1980): This teen horror classic, independently produced and directed by Sean S. Cunningham, written by Victor Miller, and starring Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, among others, follows a group of teenage camp counsellors who are murdered one by one by an unknown killer — Mrs. Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer) — while they are attempting to re-open an abandoned summer camp, the once-idyllic Crystal Lake, 25 years after the tragic drowning of Pamela’s young son, Jason (Ari Lehman). A catalyst for a modern horror genre, the film was prompted by the success of Carpenter’s Halloween. If many of us are wary of Friday the 13th whenever it comes up on our calendars, we owe a lot of our nervousness to this eerie film, which has been a favourite with the lovers of the genre and is one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time, reaching across generations.

8. The Shining (1980): This adaptation of Stephen King’s 1977 novel by Stanley Kubrick is about a family spending an eventful winter as out-of-season caretakers to Colorado’s historic but isolated Overlook Hotel. Jack Nicholson stars as Jack Torrance, a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic, who becomes the off-season caretaker of the Colorado Rockies. As winter descends and the hotel becomes snowbound, Jack’s descent into madness begins, which endangers his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and their son Danny (Danny Lloyd), who possesses psychic abilities known as ‘the shining.’ Known for its ambiguity, it leaves viewers haunted by unanswered questions: Is Jack driven to madness by supernatural forces within the hotel, or does the isolation bring his seething anger and frustration to their breaking point? The film’s use of the innovative Steadicam contributed to its distinctive and immersive visual style. A sequel, titled Doctor Sleep, based on King’s 2013 novel of the same name was adapted to film and released in 2019.

9. The Conjuring (2013): A gripping supernatural horror film directed by James Wan and inspired by the real-life investigations of paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren, it marked the inception of The Conjuring Universe franchise (including Annabelle and The Nun franchise), offering a spine-tingling experience that has caught the fancy of horror enthusiasts. It revolves around Ed and Lorraine Warren (paranormal investigators and authors associated with prominent cases of haunting), played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who are renowned demonologists known for their involvement in significant haunting cases. They come to the aid of the Perron family, who have recently moved into an isolated farmhouse in Rhode Island and are tormented by increasingly disturbing supernatural events. As the Warrens delve into the mysteries surrounding the Perron family’s haunting, they quickly realize that the spirits they encounter should never be underestimated. The film masterfully builds tension and dread, drawing from the Warrens’ actual case files. Its sequel, The Conjuring 2, was released in 2016.

10. The Witch (2015): The directorial debut of horror auteur Robert Eggers, this folk horror (about the fears and superstitions of rural communities) masterpiece is set in 1630s New England and centres on a religious family consisting of English settler William, his wife Katherine, their teenage daughter Thomasin, and their other children. Banished from a Puritan settlement over a religious dispute, they establish a farm near a secluded forest. Their lives take a sinister turn when Samuel, the youngest child, disappears while under Thomasin’s care, which reveals the presence of a witch in the woods. Unlike many modern horror films that rely on elusiveness, The Witch offers a direct, unsettling portrayal of evil. Its portrayal of the witch and her actions, which include the abduction of a baby and a goat that is more than what it seems — guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.