Arts and Entertainment

RedEye’s horror movie calendar

Norah Wulkopf, Kate Benton
October 2, 2019

This October, get into the Halloween spirit with RedEye’s horror movie calendar.

Oct. 1, “The Blaire Witch Project”

Year released: 1999

Director: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez

“The Blair Witch Project” kickstarted the found footage horror genre, so it’s fitting that it kickstarts our Halloween calendar. Marketed as a real documentary, audiences flocked to see it. It’s the perfect scary film for the Halloween season!

Oct. 2, “Misery”

Year released: 1990

Director: Rob Reiner

“Misery” is exciting and keeps you on edge the whole time, trying to get inside the heads of author Paul Sheldon and his nurse-turned-captor Annie Wilkes.

Submitted by Peyton Mahan

Oct. 3, “Coraline”

Year released: 2009

Director: Henry Selick

It is hard to oversell “Coraline.” It’s playful and gorgeous yet twisted and traumatic. Selick masterfully translates Neil Gaiman’s novel into a whimsical world of claymation. Who wasn’t scared out of their mind by “Coraline”?

Oct. 4, “The Conjuring”

Year released: 2013

Director: James Wan

“The Conjuring” is based on the real-life paranormal cases of Ed and Lorraine Warren during the 70’s. Led by Vera Farmiga’s stellar performance, this series’ visceral scares and technical filmmaking elevate it above other horror movies.

Submitted by Akhila Nadimpalli

Oct. 5, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”

Year released: 1993

Director: Henry Selick

Doubling as a Christmas movie and a Halloween movie, you can easily get in the Halloween spirit with some creepy animations, yet still feel all warm and fuzzy because of the Christmas cheer. Its music is catchy, and its scares are genuinely scary.

Submitted by Akhila Nadimpalli

Oct. 6, “Midsommar”

Year released: 2019

Director: Ari Aster

While “Midsommar” isn’t particularly frightening, it’s lots and lots of fun. In most cases, despising almost every character in a movie would ruin the experience; however, this makes characters’ brutal demises all the more enjoyable. At times, “Midsommar” feels more like a summer romp than a spooky Halloween flick, but once all the pieces fall into place it’s truly horrific.

Oct. 7, “The Ring”

Year released: 2002

Director: Gore Verbinski

Though this certainly isn’t a “prestige” horror movie,”The Ring” is pure, horrific fun. Filled to the brim with jump scares, it’s a great movies to watch with friends.

Submitted by Akhila Nadimpalli

Oct. 8, “Shaun of the Dead”

Year released: 2004

Director: Edgar Wright

It’s a fun movie with zombies and has one of the best scenes with “Don’t Stop Me Now”, and I love it for that. “Shaun of the Dead” rips apart zombie movie tropes while being a heartfelt story of friendship and survival.

Submitted by EP Presnell

Oct. 9, “Alien”

Year released: 1979

Director: Ridley Scott

Because oldies are goodies!

Submitted by Tyler Lericos

Oct. 10, What We Do in the Shadows

Year released: 2014

Director: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi

The director of “Thor: Ragnarok” presents a mockumentary about the vampire community in New Zealand. As I’m sure you can expect, it’s hilarious.

Oct. 11, “The Shining”

Year released: 1980

Director: Stanley Kubrick

It’s simply amazing. You’ve definitely heard of it; you’ve definitely seen the “Here’s Johnny” part, but have you watched it? The moment you start, you know something is off. Everything is eerie and off until it reaches a crescendo of terror. What’s not to love about a psychological thriller turned supernatural turned family drama?

Submitted by Akhila Nadimpalli

Oct. 12, “Pet Sematary”

Year released: 2019

Director: Dennis Widmyer, Kevin Kolsch

“Pet Sematary” is the second film adaptation of Steven King’s 1983 novel. Dealing with similar themes as “The Monkey’s Paw,” Steven King considers “Pet Sematary” his scariest work.

Submitted by Payton Carns

Oct. 13, “Frankenstein”

Year released: 1931

Director: James Whale

It’s black and white, over the top, and abosolutely amazing. I love old movies. They’re absolutely delightful and campy in a way that lots of movies just aren’t anymore. I highly recommend Frankenstein.

Oct. 14, “It”

Year released: 2017

Director: Andy Muschietti

“It” is an intense ride carried by a group of extremely talented child actors. Sure, it’s spooky, but the kids are what make it stand out. It’s a horror movie with heart.

Oct. 15, “The Corpse Bride”

Year released: 2005

Director: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson

Another Tim Burton classic for the calendar! The characters are surprisingly well-developed, the music is jazzy, and it’s not too scary. It’s the perfect amount of spooky to help remind you that it’s Halloween season.

Submitted by Kate Benton

Oct. 16, “Scream”

“Scream”

Year released: 1996

Director: Wes Craven

“Scream” is a tongue-in-cheek slasher that hates horror movies. Goofy is the best word to describe it. Sure it gets serious, but at its core “Scream” does everything it can to satirize 80s horror. Not only are characters aware of horror tropes, they are obsessed with them, creating the most meta of narratives.

Oct. 17, “The Sixth Sense”

Year released: 1999

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

M. Night Shyamalan and Bruce Willis bring their A-game to this movie. It’s a fun movie with a good twist.

Submitted by EP Presnell

Oct. 18, “It Follows”

Year released: 2014

Director: David Robert Mitchell

“It Follows” is a slow but steady anxiety filled ride. Forcing characters to make a harsh moral decision, “It Follows” works as both a horror movie and a cautionary tale.

Oct. 19, “Hereditary”

Year released: 2018

Director: Ari Aster

“Hereditary” is horrific in every possible way. Paranormal forces lurk in every scene, quietly haunting the Graham family as tragedy after tragedy befalls them. A mother’s desperate search for some sense of closure tears her family apart even more than it was before. No matter how hard she tries, she was doomed from the beginning. They all were.

Oct. 20, “The Silence of the Lambs”

Year released: 1991

Director: Jonathan Demme

Considered one of the greatest psychological thrillers of all time, “The Silence of the Lambs” is a timeless movie.

Oct. 21, “The Omen”

Year released: 1976

Director: Richard Donner

Because oldies are goodies!

Submitted by Tyler Lericos

Oct. 22, “Child’s Play”

Year released: 2019

Director: Lars Klevberg

It’s a cheesy love letter to 80s horror starring Mark Hamill having the time of his life. “Child’s Play” fully commits to being pure, unadulterated fun. It knows what it’s doing and you have to give it credit for that.

Oct. 23, “The Babadook”

Year released: 2014

Director: Jennifer Kent

If you want a movie that’s going to mess you up then this is it. There is nothing more terrifying than watching the aforementioned Babadook come back again and again and again. You should watch this and take the losing of your mind.

Submitted by Mandala Gupta VerWiebe

Oct. 24, “Halloween”

Year released: 1978

Director: John Carpenter

Credited for solidifying the final girl trope, “Halloween” is the iconic slasher movie. Its theme and iconography are unmissable, and for good reason. “Halloween” is a masterpiece.

Oct. 25, “Psycho”

Year released: 1960

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Sure you’ve heard the screeching strings and seen the blood in the shower drain, but don’t you want to know the rest of the story? “Psycho” presents a truly terrifying murder mystery full of twists and turns. There’s a reason this is considered a classic.

Oct. 26, “Insidious”

Year released: 2010

Director: James Wan

This focuses on a family’s struggle with the paranormal world when their son’s ability of astral projection goes too far. Not only is “Insidious” plain horrifying, it also has a unique story and a great twist!

Submitted by Akhila Nadimpalli

Oct. 27, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”

Year released: 1974

Director: Tobe Hooper

Every second of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” seeks to make you unsettled. In just the first 20 minutes an ominous horoscope, a disastrous run in with a hitchhiker and a gas station with an empty pump seal the fates of the characters. The uncomfortableness of the first act builds and builds and builds, culminating in a downright terrifying conclusion.

Oct. 28, “The Exorcist”

Year released: 1973

Director: William Friedkin

“The Exorcist” is a creepy and provocative throw back. Taking inspiration from a real possession, it was highly controversial when first released and even banned in some countries. Though it may not make you faint like some audience member did during its theatrical run, it will certainly shake you to your core.

Oct. 29, “Poltergeist”

Year released: 1982

Director: Tobe Hooper

Because oldies are goodies!

Submitted by Tyler Lericos

Oct. 30, “Get Out”

Year released: 2017

Director: Jordan Peele

This sharp social commentary on the commodification and fetishization of blackness in modern America deserves all the praise it got. “Get Out” gets better upon each viewing, a testament to Peele’s filmmaking. If you’ve already seen “Get Out”, give it a rewatch, and if you haven’t, get ready for a wild ride.