Favorite five freaky flicks

Consider the scenario: you’re having a Halloween party with your friends. After a night of trick or treating, pumpkin carving, and caramel apple eating, the night progresses with everyone gathering on the couch in front of the TV with a fresh bowl of buttered popcorn and the expectation of watching a movie that truly embodies the spirit of the October holiday- whether it’s dark or light-hearted doesn’t matter, they just want a good flick.

But here’s the problem: you don’t know which film would be most pleasing for your audience. You don’t want to pick a movie with a horrible plot that doesn’t deliver any good scares or laughs and be embarrassed in front of your peers by your poor choice in film.

But don’t fret, because I’m here to prevent such a dilemma from happening by providing you, the reader, with a list of movies in the hopes that you won’t lose sleep over what to watch on Halloween (because we all know how concerned most people are about this issue).

5. “Sleepy Hollow” (1999)

Tim Burton’s gothic take on Washington Irving’s short story stars Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane, a lowly constable sent to investigate a series of murders where the victims are left decapitated.

Burton’s imagination of the legend of the headless horsemen combined with the mystery and body humor are what make “Sleepy Hollow” a strong detective story, while also drabbling with various genres, including romance and horror.

4. “Ghostbusters” (1984)

Although the idea wasn’t unheard of during its release, no movie before it had truly understood and was able to construct a true horror-comedy until its inception.

“Ghostbusters”, with an all-star cast that includes Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver, delivers a thrilling story that is funny enough to be light-hearted, yet peculiar enough to be captivating.

The story of a squad of men whose obsession with paranormal entities eventually leads them to open a business in which they track down and capture rambunctious spirits and demons is still a classic that everyone can enjoy.

3. “Trick ‘r Treat” (2007)

Probably the most unique on this list, “Trick ‘r Treat” tells several different stories that revolve around the spirit of Halloween.

As an anthology it tells fables with the idea that if Halloween tradition is broken, there are severe consequences, as well as bringing to mind the role of fantasy and horror in the holiday.

Stories within the movie include murderous principles, werewolves, and a strange, dark entity named Sam. Odd, different, and unexpected, “Trick ‘r Treat” is a must for any Halloween party.

2. “The Goonies” (1985)

One of the greatest buddy adventure movies out there, “The Goonies,” takes the classic idea of treasure hunting and shapes it into a childhood dream quest with lovable characters that will be remembered forever.

With the threat of foreclosure on their homes, a group of kids who call themselves “The Goonies” embark on a journey to discover the fortune of the infamous pirate One-Eyed Willy after finding a treasure map in a dusty attic.

Booby-traps, a family of escaped fugitives and the sense of adventure are what lay in store for the young adventurers and the journey is worth taking a look at.

1. “Halloween” (1978)

It seems cliché to place a movie with a title like “Halloween” on the number one slot of a top 5 Halloween movies list, but there really is no other movie that can outdo the menacing tale of Michael Myers, the deranged man who as a boy, picked up a kitchen knife, and murdered his sister.

As he stalks the town of Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween night, new techniques that would become the standard for slasher films are present with the ominous chill of terror.

Whether you choose to watch the original or the 2007 remake by Rob Zombie is completely up to personal taste.

I would recommend watching the original first to get the true feel of the franchise, and then watching the remake, which provides a much more extensive background to Myers’ character, as well as appealing to modern-day audiences with more blood and provocative imagery.

Overall, the entire “Halloween” franchise, especially the original, offers not only one of the greatest Halloween movies, but also one of the greatest horror films of all time.