The following is a list written by my father, Mark Thompson. He is a horror buff and seriously disturbed so if you’re into a very scary/gory/disturbing Halloween this is the list for you! Here’s my dad:
Hello. Mark Thompson here. This isn’t just a list of horror film suggestions; I intend for you to watch each film on the date it is suggested. If you watch even half of these, you will have the best Halloween of your life.
1. GASLIGHT (1944)
Gonna start you off lite, but classic none the less. Ingrid Bergman won the first of her three Oscars with this one. This movie is where the term gaslighting came from, and it’s still happening to this day.
2. THE OMEN (1976)
Gregory Peck
One of the greats. Can’t miss
Streaming: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Philo
DOUBLE FEATURE
It’s BLACK AND WHITE SATURDAY NIGHT. And since it’s the weekend, let’s do a double header. If you’ve never seen “Baby Jane” you are in for a treat. Betty Davis and Joan Crawford hated each other when they made this, and it shows
3A. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
3B. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (1962)
5. DRACULA (1931)
Hard to believe but this movie is where black cats, bats, and skeletons became synonymous with Halloween.
7. THE BIRDS (1963)
I know you’ve seen it but it’s been a while. See it again.
Streaming: Hulu, Sling TV, fubo TV, Amazon Prime Video, Showtime
8. CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962)
Made for about thirty thousand dollars, and the entire script was built around the fact that the writer found an old abandoned carnival. There is something about this one that stays with you.
Streaming: Pluto TV, Vudu, EPIX NOW, HBO Max, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video
9. HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959)
Early 60’s Vincent Price. Creepy guy, creepy house. Considered a classic now. Campy, but good.
Streaming: Tubi, Pluto TV, Vudu, EPIX NOW, Sling TV, Philo
DOUBLE FEATURE
Double feature Saturday night. This is THE version of Sleepy Hollow. Everything else is a copy. Bride is considered actually better than the original Frankenstein.
12. MAGIC (1978)
Very early Anthony Hopkins. This is one of my all-time favorites and I think I’m alone in that.
Streaming: Tubi, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, Philo
13. FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980)
The very first one. It started one of the biggest string of sequels in history. Friday the 13th on the 13th. Gotta do it.
Streaming: HBO Max
15. IT (2017)
My new favorite. Clowns are clearly creepy, and Bill Sarsgard’s performance as Pennywise has no equal. Make sure you see the first one. IT 2 is shit.
Streaming: HBO Max
16. THE DEAD ZONE (1983)
Forget horror films, this is one of my all-time favorite FILMS.
DOUBLE FEATURE
DOUBLE HEADER. The dual performances of Carrie and her mother are stand alone. Hard to see better acting than this.
18. THE EXORCIST (1973)
In my world? All time scariest thing I have ever seen
Streaming: Sling TV
19. HELLRAISER (1987)
Very original. Effects don’t hold up very well.
Streaming: Tubi, Pluto TV
21. THE HAUNTING (1963)
Hands down, the most frightening haunted house film I have ever seen.
22. THE STRANGERS (2008)
I know this sounds like a line to get you into the theater, but if you are a little woozy with horror films, I seriously challenge you to watch this one alone at night. I guarantee, YOU WON’T MAKE IT TO THE END.
Streaming: Netflix
23. THE CONJURING (2013)
Best horror film I had seen in 5 years, at the time.
Streaming: Netflix, HBOMax
DOUBLE FEATURE
Both of these movies deal with the phone, and both are great. BLACK CHRISTMAS had an original plot point that has been copied a thousand times. See it.
24B. THE RING (2002)
Streaming: Hulu, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video
26. INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956)
The best film to come out of the entire 50’s. Sheer classic now.
Streaming: Peacock, Amazon Prime Video
27. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)
Among zombie films, the very first one is still the best. The word classic isn’t enough.
Streaming: Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi, Vudu
29. THE THING (1982)
The same guy who brought us the 1st Halloween, John Carpenter, brings us this one. Sooooo goooood.
Streaming: Starz, Hulu, Sling TV
30. THE SHINING (1980)
As a rule I don’t like Stephan King stuff on the screen, but this is an exception, and I think Nicholson is the reason.
Streaming: HBO Max, Sling TV
DOUBLE FEATURE
I have nothing to say. This is the perfect night.
Happy Halloween,
-Mark
13 comments
Hi Amy, Nice job on the Beautiful website. Love this list…..love your mom and dad 🙂
Both lists are great! Thanks so much for sharing with us and love the new website Amy – you’re a peach! I’m more into the horror/scary movies like your Dad (maybe because my birthday is Oct 29 lol), but your list is great to share with my 11-year old. We already watched Hocus Pocus and Ichabod/Toad. I haven’t seen all on the list so I’m looking forward to watching them. I totally agree with him on The Exorcist. Scariest movie I’ve ever seen! I disagree with him on IT though. I love Stephen King books, but most don’t translate or aren’t made well for the big screen. Carrie and Cujo maybe yes, but IT, aside from Sarsgard’s performance fell flat for me. Will definitely be watching It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown with my son on Halloween and then the original Halloween later after he goes to bed. Halloween is the best scary movie of all time! Love the website, YouTube channel and all you do. And of course definitely love Ludo!
The original “The Thing” was by far more chit in your pants scary than the remake.
Great list by the RG but it’s Bette Davis not Betty. So sorry to be one of “those” people but she’s an icon.
Great job on the new site, Amy, Eleni and Bradley! You guys are doing great work, congratulations!
Thanks, Amy!!!!!
Great choices . Hulu this year has a Huluween film fest this year . Most of them short films between 4-7 minutes long . You can find them on YouTube . The best in my opinion are ‘CARVED’ and ‘The HUG’ check them out! Also good scary movies one with Liv Tyler .. “The Strangers”. And also Doctor Sleep the long awaited sequel to “The Shining”
Mark, have you seen the 1944 black and white “The Uninvited”? Whoa Mommy baby momma, that is a scary ass film, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Did Mark change his list after he first submitted it? I noticed the list of individual movies doesn’t match the graphic at the very end.
Thank you to your dad for giving us options for those who love both “Family” classics and actual Horror movies. And this is totally a unique list – as a horror buff I’m so surprised to find things on here that I have never even watched. Happy Halloween!!
🙌🙌🙌🙌 LOVE THAT YOU AND YOUR DAD DID ALL OF THIS WORK FOR US! ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 👻
As someone who used to participate in an all nighter of horror movies, this is a great list!
I have to agree with your dad though – The Exorcist is to me still one of the scariest movies I have ever seen.
awesome list-can’t wait to check some out this weekend, thanks Amy and Mark!