Tanglewood’s must-watch frightful flicks
Our Halloween Movie Guide
Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, not just for the excuse to stock up on an absurd amount of candy bars, the cooler weather, drinking a million cups of Tanglewood Chai, costume parties, wearing said costumes while running errands all month long–but we are mostly appreciative of all the horror movies and all their subgenres that run the gamut during this 31-day celebration.
We’ve compiled a guide to some (and certainly not all!) of our favorites here:
For the witches
Teen Witch (1989)
You have not lived if you have not yet experienced the glorious rap battle that is “Top That”.
The Witches (1990)
Angelica Huston stars as the frightening (yet ridiculously stylish!) Grand High Witch in this movie adaptation of the Roald Dahl graphic novel.
The Craft (1996)
Come for the killer outfits, stay for the quintessential ‘90s teen angst.
Practical Magic (1998)
This cult classic adapted from the beloved Alice Hoffman book is every person’s fantasy of living in a gorgeous Victorian on a coastal New England town with a Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell-laden soundtrack, magic spells, and flipping pancakes–sans love curse, of course.
The Witch (2015)
Then-newcomer Anya Taylor-Joy makes her mark as Tomasin in this witchy horror flick.
For the vampires
The Lost Boys (1987)
No vampire movie list would be complete without this ’80s classic.
Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
A gripping, beautifully stylized and portrayed adaptation of the Anne Rice novel.
Blade (1998)
Before Marvel Studios began making billion-dollar blockbusters, there was Wesley Snipes’ Blade, in this ‘90s action-packed comic book adaptation. We can’t wait to see the upcoming Mahershala Ali version.
Let the Right One In (2008)
This is one Swedish bloody valentine horror tale must-see.
What We Do In The Shadows (2014)
Before we peeked into the lives of Nadja, Laszlo, and Nandor, there was Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav. Check out the hilarious big screen inspiration behind the hit FX TV series.
For the zombies [h4]
Night of the Living Dead (1978)
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
A Zack Snyder remake of the 1978 George A. Romero that definitely stands on its own.
Cooties (2015)
Chicken nuggets containing a mutant virus causes a zombie outbreak amongst elementary school children and the teachers who try to save them.
Train to Busan (2016)
This South Korean hit about a zombie apocalypse breaking out on a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan is thrilling as it is entertaining.
Zombieland (2019)
A rag-tag group joins forces to slay zombies by abiding 30 very important rules.
For the comedy
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Horror, comedy, musical–three genres all in one movie. This cult classic is on heavy rotation every year.
Ghostbusters (1984)
With a catchy theme song, CGI that makes us chuckle now, and a memorable cast, it's no surprise that Ghostbusters is a beloved classic.
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Another horror-comedy-musical that we can happily watch over and over again.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Michael Keaton’s hilarious performance as the ghostest with the mostest is A+ entertainment. A kickass female cast including our nineties queen, Winona Ryder, Geena Davis, and an impeccably stylish Catherine O’Hara are the icing on the cake.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Simon Pegg co-writes and stars in this homage and lampoon of the aforementioned George A. Romero original.
For the slashers
Psycho (1960)
Arguably one of the greatest horror movies of the 20th century.
Halloween (1979)
A classic that defines the genre of slashers.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
One of the most original villains of his era, Freddy Kruegar is still frightening 38 years later.
Leprechaun (1993)
Jennifer Aniston and Warwick Davis star in this B-movie horror flick that’s so bad it’s good.
American Psycho (2000)
A perfectly curated cast, women screenwriters and director, and a killer soundtrack.
For the mystery & thrill seekers
The Shining (1980)
A slow burn of a film during a time when audience instant gratification wasn’t demanded as it is today.
The Thing (1982)
It just keeps you guessing.
The Descent (2005)
What started out as a girls’ caving trip quickly becomes the adventure they did not ask for.
Split (2016)
James McEvoy stars in this mind-bending M. Night Shyamalan thriller with a plot twist ending that you’ll be thinking about days later, just like we did when we first watched The Sixth Sense.
Get Out (2017)
The title that says what we’re all thinking.