As the leaves bronze over, the air grows crisp and the nights overshadow the rays of daylight, October’s arrival tips off the upcoming Halloween season. What better way to embrace the spooky spirit than by curling up with a good fright? Whether you’re a fan of the classic horror, a psychological thriller fanatic or enjoyer of the occasional light-hearted scare, this article has something of interest to you.
Here’s a glance at the top five Halloween movies, including a notable entry from Hong Kong, that are sure to send shivers down your spine and set the hair-raising mood for the season.
The Babadook
The Babadook is a modern horror film that has garnered popularity for its unsettling ambiance and keen psychological depth. It follows Amelia, a mother struggling to cope with the death of her husband and plagued by the challenges of raising her difficult child, Samuel, as a single parent. When the mother-son duo discovers an eerie book about a monster called the Babadook, their lives spiral into chaos at the hands of the creature.
“The Babadook is really not what you expect it to be, it is so much more. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an affinity for complex themes and family drama,” shared Aron Ma, a horror movie fanatic attending his third year at the Hong Kong university of Science and Technology.
The story ventures beyond the typical cheap thrill of jump scares and explores themes of grief, mental illness, and the unforgiving conditions of single motherhood. Directed by Golden Lion winner, Jennifer Kent and emboldened. by the artistic performance of Essie Davis, the actress who plays Amelia, make it a must-watch.
Get Out
Crowned by the Academy Award for the Best Original Screenplay, Get Out was released in 2017 as director Jordan Peele’s debut film.
Masterfully creating a melange of horror and distinct social commentary, Get Out follows Chris Washington, an African American man who travels with his white girlfriend, Rose, to meet her family at their plush, secluded estate in the midst of the woods. Initially shown as welcoming, her family’s unnerving behavior gives way to a dark undercurrent of sinister motives.
“There’s something so scary about how accurately the film portrays racialisation in America. It’s scary but so well made,” commented Pamela Henriquez, a Brazilian full-time student at the University of Hong Kong.
As Chris navigates a series of weird events, including eerie interactions with the family’s black servants, he begins to uncover a horrifying secret that turns their idyllic retreat into a psychological nightmare.
The Shining
The Shining, was directed by Stanley Kubrick and earned several awards, most notably the 1981 Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. It follows Jack Torrance, an aspiring novelist who becomes a winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel, along with his family, consisting of his wife Wendy and son Danny, who possesses psychic ability.
While he initially views the job as a chance for a fresh start at life as he lived it, as winter sets in and isolation overcomes, Jack’s mental state begins to deteriorate, especially, under the influence of supernatural forces haunting the hotel.
Based on a novel by Stephen King, the connoisseur of psychological suspense, the Shining’s psychological thrill interwoven with supernatural elements creates an immaculate and gripping viewing experience.
A Quiet Place
Directed by and starring the iconic John Krasinski and his talented wife Emily Blunt, A Quiet Place is set in post-apocalyptic times where sound-sensitive, blind creatures hunt and feast on any living source of noise.
This film expertly builds tension and engages viewers, maintaining a standard of thrill while also exploring themes of parenting, love, and unity against insurmountable odds.
It follows the Abbott family, consisting of young children and a pregnant mother, who are condemned to eternal silence to survive this plight. As they navigate their daily lives with caution and many near clashes with death, the stakes rise due to the impending birth of the youngest child, which is bound to endanger their hard-earned safety.
The Eye
Directed by Hong Kong’s very own, Danny and Oxide Pang, The Eye was nominated for Best Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards. It is a chilling supernatural thriller that follows the story of Mun, a young woman who is blinded by a childhood accident.
After receiving a miraculous corneal transplant, she regains her sight but begins to experience disturbing visions of ghosts, leading her to a horrifying realization about a new ability she has accessed with her renewed vision. The visuals of the film are haunting and beautifully crafted.
Mun’s journey into traversing the ups and downs of her ability and her struggle to discern reality from the supernatural creates an ironclad, gripping tension and instils a sense of dread. The Eye adeptly emphasises the tumultuous emotional and psychological journey of the protagonist.
“The Eye is about more than just jump scares; it instils a lingering sense of fear that stuck with me long after watching,” shared Ma.
The film has received international acclaim for its unique narrative about the consequences of tampering with fate.
From psychological scares to spine-chilling tension, each of the aforementioned movies offer a little something for everyone. So grab your snacks, settle in, and let the spooky season unfurl, these movies will make your Halloween a little more memorable- happy haunting!