Do you love scary Halloween movies and classic haunted house party films? We do too! Nothing beats a crisp fall evening with a scary movie to set the mood and hide with a blanket on the couch.
Our team loves horror films so much that we put together this list of the best classic scary movies for you to pursue and enjoy. Let us know what movies we’re missing and we’ll add your fav to the list!
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
House on Haunted Hill is a classic scary movie about a very wealthy man who invites guests to a big haunted house party where survival is worth a fortune, and your life!
Directed by William Castle, and featuring Vincent Price and Carol Ohmart, film goers were treated to some of the best interactive experiences of its kind that William Castle called “Emergo”, where a skeleton on wires would fly over the audience in theaters.
House on Haunted Hill (1999)
If you want a modern, gory remake of the House on Haunted Hill with sadistic twisted and gruesome visual effects, then you’re ready to watch this scary movie.
Directed by William Malone, and with a cast lead by Geoffrey Rush, Famke Janssen, Taye Diggs, and Ali Larter, this scary movie is sure to impress. One fun fact about the film is that Geoffrey Rush’s eccentric millionaire character was actually modeled after Vincent Price.
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The Shining (1980)
In the iconic horror film, The Shining, Jack Torrance becomes a caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel, where terrible supernatural forces drive him into sheer madness.
The Shining was directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick, and features a star studded cast lead by Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers, to name a few. The Shining movie is pure scary gold, and “Here’s Johnny!” scene really hits home because it actually took 3 days and 60 doors just to film it. That’s the Stanley Kubrick dedication to getting the shot.
The Conjuring (2013)
If you like scary movies that are based on true stories, then you should watch The Conjuring. The Conjuring is actually based on the true case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who experience terrifying hauntings in their farmhouse that will keep you up at night.
Directed by James Wan, and starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, and Lili Taylor, the movie is so real, that when the real Perron family visited the set, they reported strange activity during filming.
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
The Conjuring 2 is about the Warrens traveling to London to investigate the infamous Enfield Poltergeist case, where things take a turn for the worst.
Directed by James Wan, and starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, and Madison Wolfe, who all did an amazing job at recreating many scenes based on the real recordings and photographs from the actual 1970s case to make it even more authentic.
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The Haunting (1963)
The Haunting is about a group of strangers investigating Hill House, a haunted mansion with a dark past. The fear and terror builds as the house itself seems to come alive.
Directed by Robert Wise, and starring Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn, The Haunting is the perfect scary movie for your halloween movie night in or haunted house party in Portland. It’s so good that even the legendary Martin Scorsese called it one of the scariest films ever made.
Poltergeist (1982)
The scary movie Poltergusit is about a suburban family that is terrorized when spirits invade their home, stealing their young daughter through the TV.
Directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by Steven Spielberg with a stellar starring cast line up with JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O’Rourke, Poltergeist brings new meaning to scary haunted house movie night because the film itself is rumored to be “cursed” due to several tragic deaths of cast members.
The Others (2001)
The Others is about a mother and her two children who are sensitive to light, and begin to believe their home is haunted.
Directed by Alejandro Amenábar, and starring Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, The Other film won eight Goya Awards in Spain for its classic Gothic ghost story approach.
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13 Ghosts (1960)
In the classic scary movie 13 Ghosts, there’s a family that inherits a mansion, but little do they know that it comes with 13 terrifying ghosts.
Directed by William Castle, and starring Charles Herbert, Jo Morrow, and Martin Milner, 13 Ghosts was one of the first big scary movie hits that was released with “Illusion-O” glasses so audiences could “see” the ghosts on screen.
Thir13en Ghosts (2001)
Thir13en Ghosts is the modern, bloody reimagining of the original 13 Ghosts made in 1960, with even more elaborate ghost designs.
Directed by Steve Beck, and starring a cast including Tony Shalhoub, Embeth Davidtz, Matthew Lillard, and Shannon Elizabeth, some say the remake is better than the original. The movie is so good, that many forget that each ghost has its own detailed backstory, many of which were never fully revealed in the movie, so you’ve got to watch for the easter egg clues.
IT (2017 & 2019 – IT: Chapter Two)
IT is one of the scariest movies of all time, especially because I do not like scary clowns. IT is based on Stephen King’s novel, which tells the chilling story of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, a supernatural entity that terrorizes the children of Derry, Maine. The first film focuses on the Losers’ Club as kids, while Chapter Two reunites them as adults to face their worst nightmare once again.
Directed by Andy Muschietti and starring Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, and Bill Hader, with a portrayal of Pennywise that was so disturbing, several of the child actors on set were genuinely frightened during filming, and I was, too.
Thanks for reading. Comment what movies we should add to the list and we’ll check them out! Sleep tight.
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About the Photos
Photos by Lance Reis of Kickass-Designs, featuring Beard Balm aftercare products (post makeup removal) by Daily Grind Co for male talent seen here. If you look closely, you will see that our IT talent has a beard that is covered with makeup for the shoot. When you clean off the makeup, or use makeup remover, your skin can become dry and it strips your hair of it’s natural layer of protective oils. Daily Grind Beard Balms and Oils help to moisturize skin, and strengthen the hair follicles naturally, so you look at feel your best no matter what.
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