No one is immune to the spookiness of Halloween. We all enjoy a good scare from time to time and this is the season we celebrate it! To that end, the staff at Level Up Entertainment would like to share some of our favorite movies, TV shows, and specials we return to every October. Whether they’re for fear, fun, or family you’ll find something for everyone.

Did we miss something? Write your own recommendation and we will feature it in our post “Halloween Highlights: From Fans” on Halloween night! Send your submission to contact@levelupentertainment.com

Halloween

Scott Fine

It could be argued that this movie is the most ripped off and copied movie of all time. This is the film that set the standard for the horror movies that flooded the 80’s and it’s legacy can still be felt today. Making the villain in this movie just purely evil, thus unknowable and ultimately unstoppable is freakin’ terrifying. Michael Meyers is like a natural disaster. He just rolls into town and leaves a path of death in his wake.

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Scott Fine

Is there anything more scary than someone who wants to kill you for A. something someone else did and B. you can’t possibly run from? Well that’s what Freddy Krueger is in A Nightmare on Elm Street. While the sequels ramp up the campiness and comedy (and are great in their own right) the original is straightforward and creative. There’s a reason Freddy became an instant horror icon after this movie.

An American Werewolf in London

Becca Swezeny

An American Werewolf in London is a great werewolf movie with amazing effects and honestly some of the best humor I’ve ever seen in a werewolf movie. Basically two guys get attacked by a werewolf, one dies the other survives, and the surviving one is haunted by his dead friend telling him to kill himself before he causes more havoc as a werewolf. Overall the movie is just a werewolf movie but the transformation is one of the best. The effects used are all practical but between the animatronics used and the way the scenes are shot it just seems so real. Also you just have to watch to the scene where a bunch of zombie/ghosts attempt to tell a man the best ways to kill himself in an adult movie theater, trust me it’s AMAZING.

John carpenter’s The Thing

Scott Fine

The creative and horrific practical effects alone would elevate this movie to an instant classic. Thankfully, there’s so much more to John Carpenter's remake of The Thing From Another World than that! The tension from never knowing who or what the thing is, meaning you’re as much in the dark as the characters is extremely effective. The tension of not knowing if anyone was safe and when and how you might be killed makes this movie an unforgettable experience.

Jaws

Becca Swezeny

One of the few “perfect” movies in my mind, up there with Die Hard and Aliens. Jaws is just a masterpiece, from the score to the shots, it’s fairly perfect. I still jump at some of the scenes even though I know what’s coming just because the suspense that is built. I usually also give this a watch on the 4th of July, but with a monstrous beast of a shark, it makes a great Halloween movie too.

Alien

Chazz Noble

One of the best horror/suspense movies of all time. Tension is built, maintained, and used nearly perfectly throughout the movie. It also came about at the perfect time where practical effects lend a scary physicality to the Alien, but CG is advanced enough to refine the visuals. The Alien series is all over the place in terms of quality, but it’s hard to dispute the original being a near masterpiece even today.

Hereditary

Chazz Noble

A more recent entry, but one of the stronger horror movies in the last few years. The story begins with the grandmother of the family dying, but it takes a lot of turns from there. Constantly keeps you guessing and on edge, and everything comes together for some of the most frightening moments I’ve ever seen. One moment from the climax of the film will haunt me for a while. Phenomenal film and well worth a few watches to catch the many details that might pass you by.

The Exorcist

Scott Fine

This is a timeless horror classic for a reason. The bone chilling and oppressive atmosphere permeates every image on the screen with this movie. Couple that with the unforgettable performances and if you don’t believe in demons before watching The Exorcist, you will after.

Night of the Living Dead

Scott Fine

This is the movie that created the zombie as we know it today. As they say “hell is other people”. Well, this movie puts that to the test as disparate groups of humans hole up in an old farmhouse to save themselves with the walking dead. And while yes, there are flesh eating corpse walking around, the true monsters are your fellow man. Interestingly enough this movie has slipped into the public domain so you can watch it for free basically anywhere on the internet!

UNiversal Monster Classics

Scott Fine

Even if you haven’t watched these movies, you’ve seen these movies. The classic monster films Universal Studios produced in the 1930’s and 40’s still define how many of us see these monsters today. That said they’re still quite good movies. Most are creative and have a creepy atmosphere. If they look a little to old and corny for you I highly recommend giving them a chance!

Channel Zero

Gregg Mester

This anthology show takes Creepypastas and brings them to the small screen. Each season has a distinct feel and atmosphere with a lot of tension to them. The music in this show is subtle but really brings everything together.

Twilight Zone (The Series)

Gregg Mester

One of if not the best anthology series of all time. It’s not always horror per se but it puts people in very different situations and human nature takes over. Most episodes have some sort of social commentary to them but not all. To me this show really exemplifies what horror can be without jump scares and blood.