By: Caroline Larson

Halloween is coming, so that means it’s time to pop the popcorn and put on some scary movies. There are hundreds of horror movies to choose from – some scarier than others, some having better plot lines, or some even being disappointing. Here are the top five horror movies to watch this Halloween.

#5 Ouija: Origin of Evil: This movie takes place in Los Angeles, 1967. A widowed mother, Alice Zander, unwittingly invites evil to her home while adding a new stunt to her séance scam business. The merciless spirit takes over her youngest daughter, Doris, after acting as if it were her father. The family must confront their fears to save her and send the possessor back to the “other side.” The movie is rated PG-13 and has an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

#4 Happy Death Day: Tree Gelbman is a self-centered college student who wakes up in the bed of a student named Carter. As the day goes on, Tree gets the feeling that someone is following her. After a masked killer brutally takes her life, she wakes up in Carter’s bed once again, unharmed. Now, Tree must relive the day over and over again until she figures out who her killer is. This movie is rated PG-13 as well and has a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes.

#3 A Quiet Place: If they hear you, they hunt you. A family must live in silence in order to survive from being attacked by mysterious creatures who hunt by sound. Knowing that the slightest bit of noise can bring death, Evelyn and Lee are determined to protect their children while finding a way to kill these creatures. The movie is rated PG-13 and has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This movie brings suspense to whomever watches it. With very little dialogue and scenes that bring you to the edge of your seat, A Quiet Place deserves a spot in the top three.

#2 Halloween (2018): It has been 40 years since Laurie Strode survived a vicious attack from the crazed killer Michael Myers on Halloween night. Myers manages to escape from being locked up in an institution when his bus transfer goes horribly wrong. Laurie now faces a terrifying fight when Michael returns to Haddonfield – but this time, she is ready. This movie is rated R and has a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie, both gruesome and terrifying, follows the plot of the first Halloween movie and leaves the audience with a cliffhanger, earning it a place in the top two.

#1 It: “Hiya Georgie! What a nice boat. Do you want it back?” Seven outcasts are about to face their biggest nightmare – a shape-shifting evil that emerges from the sewer every 27 years to prey on the children within the town. Banding together throughout the course of the summer, the friends must overcome their own personal fears and battle the murderous and inhuman clown known as Pennywise. The movie is rated R and has an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It is not only scary overall, but plays on the deep fears of children. Bringing out the fears of children, along with a shapeshifting evil taking the form of a clown, the movie has a solid ranking at the number one spot.

Eisenhower student Heather Sydlik also suggested some horror movies that are part of her top favorites. “I would recommend the Conjuring 1 and 2. Both movies have a level of scare that even I find freaky.” She also adds, “Both the movies are based on true stories. So knowing that something like that actually happened makes the movie even more terrifying.”

If you like to feel spooked and aren’t sure where to start, try watching one of these top five scary movies this Halloween. Even if you watched them before, sometimes re-watching them can frighten you all over again. Turn off the lights and cozy up for a night of Halloween frights!