TORONTO — There are plenty of horror movies, slasher flicks, and psychological dramas to choose from when trying to get into the spirit of Halloween.
But which movies should you definitely not watch alone? Which movies will keep you tossing and turning in bed? Which movies will have you double-checking your doors and window locks?
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Just in time for Halloween, here is a list of 10 of the scariest movies of all time.
When a Stranger Calls (1979 & 2006)
“Have you checked the children?” Neither the original nor the made-in-Vancouver remake should be viewed by a babysitter.
The Amityville Horror (1979 & 2005)
New home owners may want to avoid watching this scary film, based on the book by Jay Anson. The original spawned a bunch of sequels and a remake. Canadian connection? Margot Kidder stars in the original and Ryan Reynolds stars in the remake.
The Omen (1976)
This scary movie, starring Gregory Peck and Lee Remick, is responsible for making Damien one of the least popular names for baby boys.
The Exorcist (1973)
By any measure, this horror film starring Linda Blair and Ellen Burstyn is a classic. Two priests are brought in to rid a teenage girl of the demons that possess her. The movie, directed by William Friedkin, was nominated for 10 Oscars (it won two) and turned a whole generation off pea soup.
The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick directed Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall in an adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name about a couple who take a job as winter caretakers of an isolated hotel. Nicholson gave the phrase “Here’s Johnny!” a whole new context.
Blair Witch Project (1999)
Presented as “found footage,” this low-budget thriller is about a group of young people who disappeared in the woods while making a documentary about the titular witch. It went on to rake in nearly $250 million at the box office — and earned Heather Donahue a Razzie Award for Worst Actress.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974 & 2003)
Tobe Hooper directed the original tale of a group of friends who are hunted down by a chainsaw-wielding killer. Originally promoted as a true story — it was, in fact, pure fiction — the movie was banned by many theatres due to its graphic violence. The remake was not quite as scary.
IT (1990)
Filmed in B.C., this TV mini-series based on the Stephen King novel is scary for so many reasons — not the least of which is the child-killing clown Pennywise.
The Orphanage (2007)
This Spanish movie about a woman who turns a former orphanage into a home for disabled kids will make you question your child’s allegedly imaginary friends.
Ringu (1998 & 2002)
The original Japanese film by Hideo Nakata, adapted from novel Ring by Kōji Suzuki, spawned an American remake by Gore Verbinski. Little girls have never been creepier.
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