Be prepared to be scared: Here are the best horror movies!

By Sofia Hume (Staff Writer)

With this October finally here, it’s the perfect time to begin thinking about what makes the scary season so special. Starting with an essential to every October, what are the best horror movies? But not any old movie categorized as horror will be making it onto this meticulously crafted list. No, that would be too easy. You'll notice that the films that’ve made the cut, can also be recognized as cinematic masterpieces, films that leave you shaking in your seat but also wanting more. 

American psycho:

A perfectionist. A businessman. A narcissistic psychopath. Patrick Bateman. The man who needed to kill in order to be satisfied. As an audience you share an intimate relationship with Mr. Batemen, being able to hear his inner dialogue, witnessing truly how disturbing his conscience is. The thoughts behind each kill, the emotions, or the lack thereof. Successfully played by actor Chritian Bale, it’s hard to watch this film and think you’re not actually looking in on a madman at work. A high maintenance individual who likes to keep the “perfect” image, it’s not hard to believe that he escapes unconvicted every time.

Jaws:

Dunuuuh.. Dunuuuh... Dunuh Dunuh.... Dunuh Dunuh Dunuh Dunuh..... Everyone knows it, when you hear the sound you practically see the enormously large shark fin cutting through the dark blue water. Or you imagine someone definitely in need of a bigger boat. The movie ”Jaws” brought a new sense of fear to the cinema, not just the kind that's jump scares make you leap from your seat, but the type of fear that prevents you from stepping foot into the ocean for weeks. As you get to know the civilians living in Amity Island, you also begin to understand their growing fear. Hoping that whenever there is an underwater perspective shot, whoevers swimming gets out of the water fast. 

IT:

It’s no surprise that every halloween you can’t go without spotting a red balloon, a little kid in a yellow raincoat, or a clown for that matter. “IT”, a movie based off of one of Stephen King's fan favorite books, has come out in a few different directors interpretations over the years. Though the film released in 2017 tends to be the most popular. With its realistic cgi, and funny cast that ease you through the 2hr 26min horror film, you can't help laughing when someone breaks an arm or rushes to get a puff of their inhaler. Set up like a coming of age, you create emotional bonds with the loser club’s members as they take on their terrifying adventure. Fearing for their lives and cheering whenever having successes against the antagonist Pennywise.

The Shining:

The movie that has references in an endless amount of other projects, consisting of Nemo, Toy Story, Coco, and even an episode of The Simpsons, has stayed a pop culture phenomenon since its release 42 years ago. So when you hear someone yell, “Here’s Johnnyy!”. It doesn’t take one long to picture a man's face pushing its way through a hole in the wall, a set of twins wearing matching blue dresses and white knee socks, or the words red rum spelt backwards. “The Shining”, a story following what at first seems like a  completely innocent family's stay at a hotel, due to their father seeking a writer's oasis. Quickly becomes their journey experiencing the torment and psychological tricks brought upon them by their stay in the colonial revival style brick resort. Leaving its audience fearful to ever enter a room labeled 237.

The Birds:

Though maybe not the scariest of the five films listed, this movie does not go without being understood as groundbreaking for its time. “The Birds”, one of Alfred Hitchcock's many successes in the film industry, lead the way with its at the time breathtaking special effects and horrifying series of events. What was meant to be a quick, perhaps romantic, trip to Bodega Bay from San Francisco for one Melanie Daniels. Soon became a long stay accompanied by attacks from birds, the cause of their violent behavior unexplainable. Now this movie might not leave you sleepless with nightmares, but don't be surprised if you flinch whenever a crow flies overhead after watching this film.