Halloween 2023: best horror films you should watch for every mood, from Carrie to The Witch

It’s finally spooky season and you’re looking for the perfect film to celebrate. But your streaming services are overwhelming you with their countless (excellent) suggestions.

No fear — we have pulled together a list of the best horror films to suit every mood and viewer, from the rather funny to the downright terrifying.

For a good laugh

You’re not feeling demons or possessed children — no, you fancy something lighter this Halloween. For those searching for a chuckle with their chaos, look no further than the first in the Cornetto Trilogy, Shaun of the Dead. Shaun’s having a hard time — his girlfriend dumped him, work sucks and now, exhaustingly, Crouch End is overrun with zombies.

The 2004 horror comedy is a classic with good reason, so head to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint and wait for all of this to blow over.

For a scare with a good story

You enjoy gore as much as the next person but more than anything, you are looking for a thrilling story: A Quiet Place will have you holding your breath and trying to swallow your screams as John Krasinski and Emily Blunt attempt to keep their family safe from terrifying blind creatures with insane hearing abilities. Negotiating young children and murderous monsters in a post-apocalyptic world where making a sound will kill you is no easy feat.

Then, if you’re looking for something more haunting, watch Robert Eggers’ The Witch: being a teen is hard enough but being a teenager accused of witchcraft takes the biscuit. In her debut film role, Anya Taylor-Joy suffers from the supernatural as her suspicious family begins to turn on her. Dark and macabre, The Witch tells the story of an intense and fearful time in the 17th century that will leave you with goosebumps.

For a teen scream

Sometimes there’s nothing better than seeing teenagers attempt to juggle school and serial killers. While it may have an extremely long title, There’s Someone Inside Your House is a prompt 96 minutes. The tidy Gen-Z slasher has teens confronting their pasts and unveiling their secrets as they’re taken out one by one. The film isn’t destined to be a classic, but it’s great for a few scares as you try to guess whodunnit.

Then there’s Jennifer’s Body, the film which put Megan Fox on the map. While it was slated upon its 2009 release, the teen horror about a cool school girl who eats her boyfriend has become a cult favourite – and it’s not hard to see why. Covering female friendship, the male gaze and, of course, bloody revenge, Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried dance with the devil when a hot new boyband comes to town. Featuring plenty of gore and the best use of a pair of bunny slippers we’ve seen, it’s time to head back to high school.

For a golden oldie

You can’t build on perfection so why bother? Scrap the remakes, we’re talking original edition horrors that stand the test of time. First up, you’re invited to prom with the bloodiest queen there is: Carrie. Sissy Spacek is the perfect mix of vulnerable and terrifying in the 1976 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. The story follows a bullied teen who discovers she has telekinetic powers much to her religious mother’s distress. Her new abilities come to a messy head at the crowning of prom king and queen in a now iconic scene. Grab the fake blood and prepare yourself for a hormonal horror.

Tomas Alfredson’s 2008 adaptation of Let the Right One In by horror author John Ajvide Lindqvist is also another great option. Far superior to its American remake, Let Me In, which came out a few years later, the story is set in a snowy Swedish suburb. We see young Oskar develop a friendship with new and unusual neighbour Eli. Young love is in the air in this intense and unsettling horror: this isn’t a jump-a-minute ride, but something slower, more tender and more traumatising.

For a longer watch

One horror movie won’t do – you want to dive into something for the long haul. Whether you’re rationing an episode a week, or spending the day bingeing trick-or-treater sweets on your sofa, there are plenty of scary shows with dozens of episodes to keep the fear ticking over for longer. American Horror Story, a show that has covered everything from haunted houses and hotels to vampires, witches and cults, is an excellent option, with something in there to frighten everyone. There are no rules when it comes to watching as each series is a standalone masterpiece so pick a season and give it a spin.