Editorials
The Ultimate Guide to Over 100 Horror Movies Set Around Halloween!
This Halloween season, we’re making it insanely easy to assemble your own curated watchlists with this massive guide to horror set on or over Halloween. That’s it. Horror of all types, including beloved holiday staples. If it doesn’t take place around Halloween, it’s not on the list (Sorry, Pumpkinhead, we still love you).
There are over 100 titles to pour over and create your own customized October viewing schedule, if you so choose, or you can watch them all!
Either way, you might want to bookmark this and save for next year too…
31 (2016)
Rob Zombie’s most polarizing yet is set during Halloween 1976. Five carnival workers are kidnapped and held in a compound where they’re then tasked with playing a violent game. The goal of that game, 31, is to survive the next 12 hours against a gang of violent, homicidal clowns. 31 stars Sheri Moon Zombie, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Meg Foster, Malcolm McDowell, and Richard Brake as scene-stealing Doom-Head.
The Addams Family (1991)
Con artists attempt to con the eccentric and macabre Addams family by using an accomplice that claims to be their long lost relative. The family’s persona exudes Halloween spirit, but the film also takes a bow on the holiday.
All Hallows’ Eve (2013)
After a night of trick or treating, a babysitter finds an unmarked VHS tape in one of her two wards’ trick or treat bags. The trio decide to watch it, and find it contains three tales of terror featuring a creepy clown named Art. As the night wears on, strange things start happening in the house. This anthology by Damien Leone marks the feature introduction to Art the Clown.
The Amityville Horror (1979)
The Lutz family thinks they’ve received the bargain of the century when they purchase their dream home, but they had no idea a mass murder had been committed on the property just a year prior. The house also happens to be extremely haunted, putting their lives at risk. Clearly, the Lutz family has bigger things to worry about than Halloween, which doesn’t factor into the story at all. But it is set pretty close to Halloween time.
The Amityville Horror (2005)
This remake of the 1979 haunted house classic adheres pretty closely to the original, at least in characters and setting, but makes modern adjustments with pacing and backstory. Meaning if you want more blood, chills, and danger then this is for you. This one stars Melissa George and Ryan Reynolds.
Among the Living (2014)
Three kids skip school to play and goof off. When they explore an abandoned film studio lot, they witness a captive woman being dragged by a masked man. A masked man who wants to eliminate any witnesses. Halloween plays a major factor in the film’s prologue, and a Halloween mask from the opening carries over in the main narrative.
Bad Reputation (2005)
A high school tale of revenge, Michelle has had enough bullying and decides to take matters into her own hands. Think slasher/revenge thriller lite. The film’s climax takes place at a Halloween party.
The Barn (2016)
It’s 1989. Seniors Sam and Josh just want to enjoy their final Halloween before graduating, and decide to spend Devil’s Night at a rock concert. But they decide to take a detour on the way there, and their group of friends ends up awakening an evil from an abandoned barn. Look for horror vets Linnea Quigley and Ari Lehman.
Beetlejuice (1988)
After an accident, the spirits of a deceased couple are annoyed by the family that has moved into their home. They seek outside help removing them from a malevolent spirit. It’s showtime!
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
In October 1994, a trio of film students set off into the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland to film a documentary about the local urban legend of the Blair Witch. Only their found footage is left to tell their tale of horror. This formative horror movie is a perfect spooky Halloween tale.
Boo (2005)
Before directing Sharknado, writer/director Anthony C. Ferrante helmed a Halloween set horror movie that saw a group of college kids sneaking into an abandoned hospital on Halloween. What could go wrong? Everything. They get trapped inside, and it’s haunted.
Boo! (2018)
A suburban family is barely keeping it together; the parents are struggling with their marriage, and the kids suffer depression. An innocent prank played on them on Halloween night unleashes a supernatural force that wreaks havoc upon the family.
Boys in the Trees (2016)
On Halloween 1997, two estranged teens embark on a surreal journey through dark fantasy, horror, dreams, and fears in this bittersweet coming of age story. Look for ‘90s nostalgia, an earworm soundtrack, and loads of Halloween atmosphere.
Candy Corn (2019)
Over Halloween weekend, a group of bullies take their hazing too far on poor Jacob Atkins. Jacob will have the last laugh, though, when he’s resurrected to enact revenge. Look for notable horror stars like P.J. Soles, Coutney Gains, and Tony Todd.
Cemetery of Terror (Cementerio del terror) (1985)
Halloween pranks in horror are always a really bad idea. Here, a group of teens think it’d be hilarious to steal a corpse from a morgue. A corpse of a serial killer, no less. When the teens read an incantation from an old book over the corpse, it returns to life. Along with all the other dead bodies in a nearby cemetery. Nice going, guys.
The Changeling (1980)
John Russell (George C. Scott) has just lost his wife and child in a tragic accident. In his grief, he moves across the country and into a historical mansion that’s still harboring the ghosts of its past. An eerie fall chiller that is set over Halloween, though that doesn’t factor into the story in any way. John Russell understandably has other things on his mind.
The Child (1977)
Alicianne has just been hired on as housekeeper and caretaker to young Rosalie Nordon, who recently lost her mother. Alicianne soon realizes that Rosalie has a supernatural gift, including zombies at her disposal, and uses it to seek revenge on those who piss her off. This one is set, of course, over Halloween and makes creepy use of a jack o’ lantern.
C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. (1989)
A sequel in name only, C.H.U.D. II is a zombie comedy starring Gerrit Graham as Bud, the zombie remnant of a military experiment to create super soldiers. Leave it to teens to let Bud loose in their neighborhood, causing a horde of new zombies. Being that it’s Halloween, Bud and his new zombie friends blend right in, and make an appearance at the Halloween dance.
The Clown Murders (1976)
Four men kidnap an old girlfriend on Halloween night as a prank to ruin a real estate deal. Halloween pranks are bad news, and the group learns the hard way when a clown-masked killer stalks them. A rare horror movie to star John Candy.
The Collection (2012)
Arkin faces off against the deadly Collector once more when he’s forced to help rescue a girl from the killer’s booby-trapped lair. More gore, bloodshed, and creative deaths. Arkin doesn’t have time for Halloween if he wants to survive, but this does take place over the holiday.
The Collingswood Story (2006)
When Rebecca leaves home to attend college in Collingswood, New Jersey, her boyfriend gifts her with a webcam so they can maintain their long-distance relationship. Told through the webcam over the days leading up to Halloween, it becomes clear something is seriously wrong with the house Rebecca has moved into.
Creepshow (1982)
Directed by George A. Romero with screenplay by Stephen King, this classic anthology spins five tales of terror based on EC horror comics. It’s only the wraparound segment that’s set on Halloween, though its revenge plot means that the connection to the holiday is a bit slim.
Creepshow 2 (1987)
Just like its predecessor, the Halloween ties are minimal. Co-written by Romero with Michael Gornick in the director’s chair, this anthology contains another wraparound tale of revenge, and three spooky segments.
The Crow (1994)
On October 30, Eric Draven and his fiancée are brutally murdered. One year later, Eric is resurrected to avenge that tragedy. Based on the comic book, this dark fantasy is a horror adjacent story set on Devil’s Night.
Cry Wolf (2005)
A group of eight prep school students gather to play a game of Cry Wolf, where one of them is marked as a Wolf and the group has to figure out who it is. But their mystery game is complicated when a killer is on the loose. This mystery slasher is, of course, set over Halloween.
Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981)
In a small Southern town over the Halloween season, a mentally challenged man is wrongfully murdered for a crime he didn’t commit. Even worse, a crime that didn’t even actually happen. A creepy, mysterious scarecrow enacts vengeance. A supernatural story set in a small town full of Halloween nostalgia.
Deadly Friend (1986)
Directed by Wes Craven, the plot sees a teen attempting to save his braindead friend by implanting a microchip after her abusive father puts her in the hospital. Instead of getting his friend back, though, he gets something much worse. Spanning the fall season, past Thanksgiving, Halloween factors into the plot in a major way.
Demonic Toys (1992)
This Full Moon feature sees a pregnant cop pursuing a gun dealer into a toy warehouse…one that happens to have evil origins dating back to Halloween night of 1925. That evil is looking to be reborn, and unleashes demonic toys upon them.
Donnie Darko (2001)
A psychological thriller that follows a troubled teen plagued by visions of a man in a rabbit suit after narrowly escaping a freak accident. The visions spurn him into committing a series of crimes. Set in October of 1988, the surreal cult classic’s climax kicks off on the night of a Halloween party.
Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)
The night before Halloween, Ernest Worrell accidentally releases an ugly troll that turns children into wooden dolls. It’s up to Ernest and his middle school friends to stop the troll.
The Exorcist (1973)
In this definitive horror classic, teen Regan is possessed by an evil entity after playing with a Ouija board. Her desperate mother seeks out the help of two priests when medical assistance fails to yield any progress. The possession horror movie that defined a subgenre spans the fall season, including Halloween. But don’t look for the holiday to factor into the story much.
Flatliners (1990)
Five medical students decide to experiment with near death experiences, in the hopes of discovering if there’s life after death. That is, they each take turns flatlining while the others resuscitate them. But their actions have consequences, and their past mistakes begin to haunt them. The lone female of the group (Julia Roberts) decides to take a turn on Halloween, with nearly catastrophic results.
FleshEater (1988)
A low budget zombie flick that sees a group of teens taking a nighttime Halloween hayride, and they come across flesh eating zombies. It’s a fight for their lives as the zombie infection spreads. Written/directed by/starring Bill Hinzman, who played small roles in a number of George A. Romero movies, including Night of the Living Dead.
Flick (2008)
An oddball hybrid that mixes rockabilly, comic books, and zombies. The plot sees a Memphis cop investigating a series of strange deaths in the wake of the resurrection of a 1950s murder victim. A victim who happens to be in search of his teenage sweetheart. Faye Dunaway plays the cop. Halloween theming can be found in the dance scene and music numbers.
The Funhouse Massacre (2015)
A group of psychopaths escape their asylum and terrorize unsuspecting patrons of a Halloween funhouse. It just so happens that the funhouse mazes are a perfect complement to the psychopaths varying personalities. This one features horror stars Robert Englund, Courtney Gains, and Clint Howard.
Ghostwatch (1992)
On Halloween night, the BBC dedicates their programming to a supernatural investigation of the most haunted house in Britain. What seems like a night of irreverent laughs turns into something more harrowing for BBC, the investigators, and viewers at home. This mockumentary style TV special stirred up controversy for its realism, and scared the pants off those watching.
Ginger Snaps (2000)
A pair of sisters obsessed with the macabre, therefore social outcasts, deal with puberty and death when one of them is bitten by a werewolf. This beloved werewolf favorite stars Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle, and its climax falls on Halloween.
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018)
Two young friends find a magic book that brings a ventriloquist dummy, Slappy, to life. On Halloween, Slappy brings costumes and decorations to life, wreaking havoc on the town in an attempt to take over.
Grave Halloween (2013)
On Halloween, Maiko travels to the Aokigahara Forest -aka Suicide Forest- to search for her birth mother, who has recently committed suicide. Three of her friends travel with her, hoping to turn the trip into a documentary. Haunted forests are bad news, especially on Halloween.
Gravy (2015)
A trio of costumed misfits take an entire Mexican cantina hostage on All Hallow’s Eve. They force their hostages to engage in games, food, and libations, but the catch is that this trio has very specific dietary needs. The hostages don’t know they’re on the menu in this horror comedy.
The Guest (2014)
David shows up one day at the Peterson residence, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. But David’s behavior is a little off, and people start dying around him. Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett’s action hybrid is a Halloween set favorite.
Hack-O-Lantern (1988)
A low budget slasher where a seemingly standard grandpa reveals himself to be a leader of a satanic cult that sacrifices people on Halloween. Pure ‘80s insanity.
Halloween (1978)
15 years after murdering his sister on Halloween night, Michael Myers escapes from his mental hospital and returns to Haddonfield to kill again. John Carpenter’s seminal slasher sparked an entire franchise as well as the Golden Age of slashers.
Halloween (2007)
Rob Zombie’s remake sees Michael Myers escaping from his mental institution and returning to Haddonfield to find his sister, Laurie Strode. A Halloween set massacre ensues.
Halloween (2018)
Michael Myers escapes once more to kill again on Halloween night, four decades after the events of the first film. Laurie Strode is ready to confront her boogeyman this time. This sequel ignores all sequels after the original.
Halloween II (1981)
Picking up directly after the first film, Sheriff Bracket and Dr. Loomis are searching for Michael Myers while Laurie in transported to the hospital. No one is aware that the killer is hot on her trails.
Halloween II (2009)
Laurie Strode is coping with the trauma and aftermath of the previous film’s events, while Michael Myers prepares for another fateful reunion with his sister. Rob Zombie’s follow up doubles down on the bloodshed.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Silver Shamrock masks are the hot ticket item of the Halloween season. Too bad there’s a sinister and deadly plot attached. Only Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins) can stop it. The first and only Halloween film without Michael Myers.
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Ten years after the events of the first film, Michael Myers returns to Haddonfield once more to slay on Halloween. This time he’s targeting his young niece Jamie. Only Dr. Loomis stands in the way.
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
A year later, after the events of part 4, Michael Myers returns to Haddonfield for a rematch against his niece Jamie, now mute and traumatized from her first encounter.
Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
Six years later, Michael Myers continues his pursuit of Jamie, now grown and with a newborn. It’s the newborn that Myers, and the mysterious cult behind him, desperately wants. It’s up to Dr. Loomis and a grown Tommy Doyle to thwart their nefarious plans.
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
Laurie Strode has relocated and changed her name as a means to hide from her past. But Michael Myers finds her anyway. Laurie must once again battle for her life, as well as her son’s, against the boogeyman.
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Michael Myers confronts his sister once more, then returns home to Haddonfield. Too bad there’s a group of erstwhile reality tv stars currently filming in his house on Halloween.
Halloween Hell (2014)
From the director of The Brain comes a low budget horror comedy that sees reality show contestants trapped on set with a Devil Doll and a bizarre horror host that thinks he’s Dracula.
HalloweeNight (2009)
A bullied college student creates a Frankenstein like creature to enact revenge on those who wronged him. He plots a Halloween massacre at a college bash, and only one other student stands in his way.
Haunt (2019)
On Halloween night, a group of college kids attend an “extreme” haunted attraction that promises to use their fears against them. They soon realize that the stakes are much higher when the body count starts piling up.
Hellbent (2004)
Four friends roam the streets of West Hollywood for a Halloween festival on Halloween night, and soon find themselves stalked by a serial killer dressed as Satan.
Hell House LLC (2015)
Five years after a strange event leaves 15 staff members and attendees dead on opening night of a Halloween haunted attraction, a documentary crew travels back to the scene to find out what happened. Really bad things, that’s what.
Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel
Eight years after the Hell House tragedy, investigative journalist Jessica Fox assembles a team and enters the hotel in search of answers thanks to an anonymous tip. They find much more than they bargained for, of course.
Hell Fest (2018)
A horror themed amusement park over Halloween becomes the playground for a masked serial killer. The killer terrorizes a group of friends, picking them off one by one, but the park’s patrons think it’s all part of the show.
Hell Night (1981)
Four college kids are forced to leave the comfort of their costumed Halloween party and spend the night at a deserted old mansion, rigged with tricks to spook them. No one realized that the place is still inhabited by the monstrous survivor of a family massacre many years prior.
Hellions (2015)
A group of creepy trick or treaters with evil intent come knocking at the door of a teen dealing with a personal crisis. It turns her Halloween night into a harrowing fight for survival.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
The new teen in town struggles to fit in, and as a result he inadvertently awakens a trio of witches on Halloween. Now he has Halloween night to stop them before they drain all of the souls from the town’s children. Requisite holiday viewing.
Holidays – “Halloween” (2016)
A horror anthology that celebrates the most notable and beloved holidays. Kevin Smith takes on Halloween, which sees the tables turned on an abusive Internet sex service employer.
The Hollow (2004)
The last blood relative of Ichabod Crane is lured back to Sleepy Hollow, where he must face off against the Headless Horsemen if he wants to save his girlfriend, friends, and the town.
Hollow Gate (1988)
A young boy is nearly drowned by his alcoholic father at a Halloween party. An incident that has driven him completely insane. Cut to ten years later, the boy embarks on a killing spree. Happy Halloween!
Home Movie (2008)
A POV movie that documents the Poe family’s descent into psychological terror, relayed over their home video footage. Home videos of major holidays, including Halloween, introduce us to the idyllic lives of mom, dad, and 10-year-old twins. But it doesn’t take long to notice that something is very, very wrong with the twins. Can mom and dad save them from their inner darkness, or is it too late?
House II: The Second Story (1987)
Jesse has just inherited his family home, a sprawling mansion with a ton of hidden secrets. Secrets that include a mummy grandpa, baby dinosaurs, demons, and Aztec warriors, all of whom are looking for a powerful crystal skull. Luckily Halloween and a costume party helps Jesse cover up what’s going on.
House of 1,000 Corpses (2003)
Two young couples combing the backwoods of Texas for urban legends find themselves caught in the cross hairs of one sadistic, serial killing family on Halloween night. Rob Zombie’s feature debut was initially conceived while he was designing a haunted attraction for Universal Studios.
House of Fears (2007)
The night before a Halloween haunt opens up for the season, a group of friends sneak in for a night of fun. They find themselves trapped with no way out, and it becomes unclear what’s real and what’s not as the death toll rises.
The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
When Lewis Barnavelt is orphaned and sent to live with his uncle, he discovers his uncle and neighbor are wielders of magic. But the house harbors a clock with the ability to bring about the end of the world. Directed by Eli Roth, this one is based on a children’s book of the same name by John Bellairs.
The Houses October Built (2014)
In the days leading up to Halloween, five friends set out to visit America’s scariest haunted houses. Their intent is to record their experiences and interview the scare actors, which leads to disturbing discoveries. The friends find themselves stalked by strange people as a result.
The Houses October Built 2 (2017)
After surviving their ordeal from the first film, the friends decide to face their fears head on by embarking on another haunted house filled road trip. But the mysterious people who stalked them may not be through with them after all.
I Am Not a Serial Killer (2016)
John Wayne Cleaver is a diagnosed sociopath with homicidal tendencies. In addition to keeping his own dark impulses at bay, he must track down and kill a supernatural killer on the loose. Set over the fall, look for a high school Halloween dance to factor into the plot.
I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)
A troubled teenager is used as a guinea pig by a hypnotherapist that has developed a serum. A serum that turns the teen into a werewolf, of course. The teen gets particularly vicious at a Halloween bash.
Idle Hands (1999)
A teen slacker’s parents wind up dead. When a couple of his friends are found slaughtered too, he realizes the murderer behind it is his possessed right hand. This horror comedy is the ultimate Halloween set slacker movie.
The Invasion (2007)
A fungus-like alien lifeform controls people who come into contact with it when they enter REM sleep. It quickly becomes an epidemic. A psychiatrist unearths the origin, and discovers her son might be the key to stopping it. The narrative takes place around Halloween, with a key scene at a Halloween party.
Jack-O (1995)
On Halloween, an evil pumpkin-headed demon known as Jack-O is accidentally resurrected. It seeks to destroy the descendants of the family who buried him in the first place. Linnea Quigley stars.
Lady in White (1988)
On Halloween day in the 1960s, a young boy is bullied and locked in his classroom closet overnight, where he witnesses the murder of a little girl. It kickstarts a haunting, and a murder mystery that tears his small town apart.
Livid (2011)
When Lucie and her friends learn that the former owner of a prestigious dance academy has hidden treasure somewhere inside her sprawling home, they sneak in on Halloween night to find it. But that treasure might be nothing more than a deadly trap. Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo’s follow-up to Inside still hasn’t made its way stateside.
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane(1976)
13-year-old Rynn is celebrating her birthday alone on Halloween when a nosy landlady and her perverted son come knocking. Atmosphere and thrilling mystery unfolds when it becomes clear Rynn is hiding something in the basement; and she’s determined to keep it a secret.
May (2002)
May is a shy, lonely woman desperate to connect with people around her. When her attempts are rebuffed one time too many, May is sent into a tailspin that results in murder. Halloween plays a major role in this one.
The Midnight Hour (1985)
A lighthearted Halloween movie that sees a group of teens unwittingly raising the dead when they perform a ritual. But it’s not just zombies that have come to crash their Halloween dance; vampires, werewolves, and all things bump in the night have come to party as well.
Mischief Night (2013)
Emily suffers from psychosomatic blindness after a car accident that took her mother’s life. On Halloween, she must dig deep to protect herself and her loved ones from a creepy intruder.
Mischief Night (2014)
The night before Halloween, a babysitter is stalked by a masked killer. A tale as old as time (or 1978), right? Except this time, the babysitter and killer might be developing romantic feelings for one another.
The Monster Squad (1987)
You can bet the group of young monster fanatics at the center of this childhood favorite would be gearing up to trick-or-treat if they weren’t too busy saving town from Count Dracula and his monsters. This fall-set horror movie is the perfect Halloween treat for the young and old alike.
Murder Party (2007)
A lonely man finds an invitation to a Halloween shindig and decides to attend, not knowing that it’s a ruse by art students looking to commit murder in the name of art. What transpires is more comedy of errors, though, resulting in a hilarious and bloody wave of mishaps and deadly mistakes.
Neon Maniacs (1986)
There’s a group of murderous monsters living beneath Golden Gate Bridge. They go on the prowl at night, looking for victims to slaughter. When one teen escapes their wrath, no one believes her that monsters are on the loose. All of that changes at her high school’s Halloween dance.
Night of the Demons (1988)
Teens decide to set up their Halloween party at an abandoned funeral parlor. An old evil is awakened in the process, locking the teens in and turning their night of fun into a demonic hell. Angela sure knows how to throw a party.
Night of the Demons 2 (1994)
Six years after the events of the first film, Angela’s body was never found. Her parents commit suicide, leaving Angela’s sister Melissa alone at a boarding school. When her bullies are banned from the school’s Halloween party, they drag a group with them back to Hull House, where the demons are awakened once more.
Night of the Demons 3 (1997)
A group of delinquents run afoul of some cops, and hide out in a nearby abandoned house to avoid arrest. What they don’t know is that they’ve entered Hull House, and it just so happens to be Halloween. Which means the demonic Angela is ready to host a new party.
Night of the Demons (2009)
In this remake of the Halloween horror favorite, a new group of Halloween party goers find themselves fighting for their lives against demons. This update gets a brand new mythology behind the demonic presence, but look for a cameo by original ballerina gal Linnea Quigley.
Once Bitten (1985)
A 400-year-old vampire Countess must drink the blood of virgin males three times before Halloween each year to retain her immortality. By mid-1980 in Los Angeles, hopes of maintaining that immortality seem impossible. Until she meets Mark Kendall (Jim Carrey).
ParaNorman (2012)
A boy with the ability to see and talk to ghosts takes on ghosts, zombies, and even adults in his quest to save his town from a 300-hundred-year-old curse. Set in a New England town around Halloween.
Pay the Ghost (2015)
Professor Mike Lawford (Nicolas Cage) takes his young son to a local carnival on Halloween night. While distracted, Mike’s son goes missing. Cut to a year later and his life is in shambles, but he feels as if his son might be communicating with him from the spirit realm.
Pet Sematary (1989)
Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, a father discovers a mystical burial ground behind his house with the ability to resurrect the dead. When tragedy strikes, the father makes one fateful decision out of grief. Set over the fall, Halloween doesn’t factor in as much as it does in the novel.
Pet Sematary (2019)
A new adaptation of King’s classic that sees the Creed family altered in very different, horrifying ways by the burial ground behind their new home. Halloween plays a bigger part in this take, namely in a pivotal scene involving Ellie’s cat Church.
Pet Sematary Two (1992)
A teen and his father, still grieving over the sudden loss of his mother, move to her hometown. They too encounter the burial ground that destroyed the Creed family, and the horror begins anew. Halloween permeates this sequel.
The Pit (1981)
A creepy and solitary boy makes an equally creepy discovery in the woods, and then uses it to seek revenge on those who make him angry. Seriously disturbed boy aside, this small town tale is set over the fall. Corn fields, football, and of course Halloween parties.
Poltergeist (1982)
The Freeling family has just moved into a brand new neighborhood. They soon discover that their shiny new home is haunted by multiple spirits, and they’re most interested in youngest daughter Carol Anne. Even though the movie is set over the Halloween season, you can’t tell at first glance- the sunny Southern California sun doesn’t scream “fall.”
The Predator (2018)
Young Rory, a bullied autistic boy, finds Predator armor tucked away in the basement and decides to use it as a Halloween costume. It attracts the attention of more Predators, and Rory’s father must band together with a group of misfit ex-soldiers to prevent the destruction of humankind.
Primal Rage (1988)
A scientist experimenting on baboons accidentally creates a rage virus. When a journalist breaks into the lab, he’s bitten and infected, and spreads the infection. Anyone bitten turns homicidal. Look for a Halloween dance gathering to factor into the equation.
The Pumpkin Karver (2006)
On Halloween night, a prank involving a pumpkin face mask results in death. A year later, the trauma still fresh, someone wearing a pumpkin face mask terrorizes a group at a party.
The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999)
This sequel follows Rachel, a teen dealing with a traumatic past and the treacherous social interactions of high school. Her recent discovery of telekinetic powers turns to full blown homicidal rage when the high school jocks push her too far. The film is set over fall, including Halloween, though it doesn’t have much of a presence at all.
The Return of Count Yorga (1971)
A sequel to Count Yorga, Vampire, the vampiric count continues to feed off of the local community. He’s taken up residence in the nearby orphanage and is in search of a new vampire wife. This vampire also makes appearances at the school’s Halloween shindig.
Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (2005)
Part 5 of this franchise is likely for completists only. It follows a college student in possession of a drug, “Z”, to sell at the Halloween rave. Instead, he creates a ton of zombies.
Satan’s Little Helper (2005)
Dougie is a boy obsessed with a video game that has him playing as Satan’s helper. While out trick or treating, he comes across someone in costume arranging a dead body and assumes the costumed person is actually Satan, and asks Satan to send his sister’s boyfriend to Hell. He then becomes the unwitting pawn of a serial killer.
The Scarehouse (2014)
Two years after a freak accident, six college gals are invited to a Halloween haunted attraction. They don’t realize until they’re inside and trapped that their hosts might have something much more sinister planned.
Scary Movie (1991)
A paranoid young man comes to strongly believe that a psychopath has taken up residence in the local Halloween haunted house. Look for a cameo by Eddie Munster actor Butch Patrick.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
A Halloween night prank in 1968 results in the discovery of a book containing spooky tales that brings your worst fears to life. Based on the popular children’s book series by author Alvin Schwartz and illustrator Stephen Gammell.
Silver Bullet (1985)
Paraplegic young boy Marty, his sister, and his uncle must deal with a werewolf terrorizing their small town, beginning in the spring of 1976. Based on Stephen King’s novella Cycle of the Werewolf, the monthly full moon appearances of the werewolf mean the narrative passes over multiple holidays. Our favorite one included.
Sinister (2012)
True crime writer Ellison Oswalt moves his family into a new home, where he discovers a box of super 8 home movies filled with horrific murders dating back to the ‘60s. The more he researches the murders, the more strange things begin to happen around him.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Tim Burton’s big budget take on the Legend of Sleepy Hollow has a skittish Ichabod Crane sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of murders where the victims have lost their heads. The culprit, of course, is the Headless Horseman. And witchcraft.
Slugs (1988)
Toxic waste turns a town’s garden variety slugs into carnivorous, deadly creatures on a rampage. Being that this is directed Juan Picquer Simon (Pieces), the deaths are delightfully gory. The slug rampage happens to coincide with Halloween.
Tales of Halloween (2015)
A horror anthology dedicated solely to Halloween, featuring ten segments set in one suburb that spin spooky tales of murderers, boogeymen, trick or treating revenge, ghoulish pumpkins, and more.
Terrifier (2016)
Art the clown is back. He terrorizes three women on Halloween, along with anyone else who stands in his way. This one is for gore-hounds.
Tormented (2014)
Aka Berkshire County. A bullied teen reluctantly agrees to babysit at an isolated rural home on Halloween. When a boy in a pig mask knocks on the door to trick or treat, the teen enters into a harrowing cat and mouse game that holds no promise of survival.
Trick or Treat (1986)
Teen Eddie is devastated at the news of his metal idol Sammi Curr’s passing. But Sammi had a pact with the devil, with plans to return from the grave on Halloween night at the expense of those around Eddie. Metal, horror, and Halloween. Enough said.
Trick or Treats (1982)
A poor babysitter is stuck babysitting the brat from hell on Halloween night. One that won’t stop playing mean pranks on her. As if that isn’t bad enough, his deranged father has escaped from the mental hospital and wants to visit.
Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
A unique anthology that interweaves five tales of Halloween based horror set on Halloween night. All of which take aim at the rules of the holiday. Keeping an ever watchful eye is little Sam, the most adorable and vicious holiday mascot of all time.
V/H/S – “10/31/98” (2012)
The final segment of this horror anthology is, obviously, set on Halloween. Four friends in costume head out to a Halloween bash, only they wind up at the wrong address. The house they’ve stumbled into happens to be dealing with a very real haunting.
Volumes of Blood (2015)
A horror anthology with a wraparound segment that sees a college student gathering friends at the library on Halloween night to help him create a new urban legend.
Wacko (1982)
This slasher parody is set on Halloween and sees the cops trying to track down and solve the case of the notorious Lawnmower Killer. Emphasis on the comedy. This one stars George Kennedy and Andrew Dice Clay.
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
In this psychological thriller, Kevin’s increasingly bizarre and dangerous behavior terrifies his mother, who tries to love him despite of it. But Kevin’s behavior is only getting worse, and no one could prepare for his horrific final act. Spanning time, Halloween plays a small part.
WNUF Halloween Special (2013)
An off-air recording of faux TV station WNUF’s 1987 Halloween special, which sees a TV personality and paranormal investigators exploring the infamous Webber house, a site of ghastly murders. They find much more than they bargained for. This stylized nostalgic treat comes with commercials, too.
Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines (2012)
In the fifth entry of this franchise, college students set off on a trip to the Mountain Man Festival on Halloween. If you guessed they encounter a deadly clan of cannibals, well, you’d be correct.
College kids, strippers and vampires—those were Donald P. Borchers’ only requirements when he approached Richard Wenk about writing and directing a movie for New World Pictures. As requested, Wenk cooked up Vamp (1986), a tailor-made blend of the decade’s teen movie craze as well as its horror boom.
Grim and earnest stories were still very much a part of the ’80s horror landscape, yet Vamp is something of a comedy. One difference between it and, say, Saturday the 14th, though, is the former avoids using schtick. Wenk’s movie proves that horror comedies also don’t have to subtract thrills from their recipes. Of course, it takes a minute before reaching that point; college antics and culture shocks preface this one macabre misadventure.
Vamp‘s initial setup is apt for a typical college-set, sex-driven comedy; to bribe their way into a fraternity house, two pledges (Chris Makepeace, Robert Rusler) go looking for some adult entertainment. Without wasting time on any further exposition, the characters embark on an all-in-one-night trip that quickly detours into terror.
To procure their elusive MacGuffin—a stripper willing to gyrate for some frat boys—Keith (Makepeace) and AJ (Rusler), plus a third wheel named Duncan (Gedee Watanabe), trade the safety of their remote college campus for the seediness of some unnamed city. The setting is recognizably L.A. by day, but as soon as night falls, downtown, along with the characters, slips into a kind of surreal universe. Director of photography Elliot Davis gave this early entry on his prolific résumé an unusual yet distinctive look; that Mario Bava-esque, magenta-green lighting is omnipresent, so much so that it’s almost its own character.
Chris Makepeace and Robert Rusler in Vamp
The faint comparisons to Martin Scorsese’s After Hours are merited, although not just because of Vamp’s distinguishing nighttime aesthetic. Save for the primary characters, the supporting roles in Wenk’s movie are also quite colorful and transactional in their behavior. The difference here, though, is the additional urge to ruin Keith and his friends at every turn. Some of that harm is humorous and tolerable enough, whereas the moment Vamp dishes out its first fatality, it’s abundantly clear how this movie qualifies as horror.
Vamp falls into that category of horror movie that reveals its genre with a scream rather than a series of whispers. The opening scene can function as a hint of what lies ahead—things are not at all what they appear to be—but otherwise, Wenk is more than happy to hold off on the horror. When that time does come, though, it catches the viewer off guard. In addition to the pure shock value is that sudden decision to upend the movie’s foremost feature. Or so it would seem.
If afraid of major spoilage, those new to Vamp would be wise to stop reading here. There’s just no skirting around the fact that the central fellowship in this buddy movie hits a serious snag when AJ is killed. That development causes the story to become more of a “long, bad night” journey for Keith and his romantic interest. So while Wenk scores points for subverting expectations, there is also a touch of sadness in his decision. Because if Vamp does anything well, it’s making the characters likable.
Something that comes easily to Vamp—and other teen horror movies from this same era—is its ability to invent young characters worth caring about, or at the very least, are interesting and not so immediately off-putting. More impressive is how Wenk did all this without actually fleshing out those characters. Still and all, Keith and his kind are a grade above cookie-cutter, and in some cases, aren’t completely devoid of growth.
Grace Jones in Vamp
Vamp appeals with an assorted cast of characters. No two are the same, nor are they operating on the same wavelength. The cinematically extroverted AJ, whose actor conveyed charm and vulnerability in near equal amounts, comes alive when he’s at his most undead. Makepeace then makes the chronically cautious Keith a sympathetic fellow, even as he’s more and more affected by the night’s bizarre events. Meanwhile, Duncan is indeed the designated loser of the whole bunch, but Watanabe still manages to humanize him. As a bonus, the role didn’t require him to pull a Long Duk Dong.
As for Dedee Pfeiffer, she is plain adorable as the mysterious After Dark server nicknamed “Amaretto”. She spends all night fixing her dress strap while at the same time trying to get Keith to remember how he knows her. As their offbeat romance grows, it becomes another highlight of this movie. Whether or not Pfeiffer’s character is really a vampire also creates some welcome tension in the story.
Like a lot of its contemporaries, Vamp went on to become a bit of a cult classic. That current status is determined by several factors, but without a doubt, the casting of Grace Jones is the most considerable. The image of her writhing on that unique-looking chair, a Keith Haring original, springs to mind whenever this movie is brought up.
Chris Makepeace, Billy Drago and Paunita Nichols in Vamp
Prior to that first display of unequivocal horror, local vampire queen Katrina (Jones) took to the stage and delivered a strip show like no other. One would expect nothing less from that renowned model and performance artist. By now reports of Jones’ tardiness on set are no secret, yet it’s also hard to deny her commitment to the part of Katrina. It was, in fact, Jones who took charge of her character’s appearance—on top of Haring painting her body and that now-iconic chair, she had Andy Warhol handle her costuming. And not too many actors could seize a room’s attention without saying a single line of dialogue.
In 2022, Vamp received a retrospective novelization from Encyclopocalypse. This literary union of preexisting source material—Wenk’s original screenplay—and new ideas from author Christian Francis amounts to a more comprehensive visit to the After Dark Club. The basic story there is no different than what’s shown on screen; however, Francis gets creative with the characters’ origins and designs, and he enhances a number of key scenes.
The novelization expands on the urban and social decay of the main setting, and supplies a background for the After Dark Club. Sandy Baron’s character, Katrina’s emcee and familiar, is given ample motivation for sticking around; up until the fiery end, he is loyal to his friend and former business partner “Squeak”, who looks like he was “fed through a combine harvester, and left as nothing more than a heap of mangled remains”. Then there is Billy Drago’s character Snow, the leader of a street gang called The Dragons. His reason for menacing Keith and AJ is more altruistic than in the movie; he and his peers act tough to scare off any potential food for the vampires.
Lisa Lyon in Vamp
If not for all the backstories, Francis’ Vamp would be a hell of a lot shorter. Instead, this tie-in read dives into how AJ met Keith—the orphaned Anthony Joseph hailed from a broken home back in Brooklyn—and how their friendship flourished over the years. Keith’s archership is no longer just an assumed part of his entire being; it’s a confidence-building extracurricular for a boy who got picked on before coming into the protection of the new kid in town. These supplemental, in-depth looks at the protagonists, plus their close connection, are maybe unnecessary. The movie already did a fair and concise job of addressing their platonic intimacy without the need for flashbacks and insights, specifically in that scene where AJ lays it all out as he sacrifices himself.
Where the novelization gets off course is its approach to the minor characters. Intermittently backstorying the likes of Katrina’s indentured servants, Seko (Leila Hee Olsen) and Vlad (Brad Logan), ends up disturbing the flow of the writing. Was it absolutely essential that readers know Vlad was the Grand Duke of the House of Romanov, or how Snow’s accomplice Maven (Paunita Nichols) became so dentally challenged? No, not really. However, one’s mileage with these random biographies may vary.
The novelization is a more substantial experience, but for a movie like Vamp, less is more. And as plentiful as they are, it never simply coasts on its campy charms, either. The character work sits comfortably in that realm between cursory and meticulous, the script is sharper than first realized, and Greg Cannom’s vampire makeup is straightforward yet effective. Most of all, the movie didn’t squander its out-of-the-box concept. Richard Wenk made his vision of a “comic nightmare in which just about anything that can go wrong does” come true, and it is very enjoyable.
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