Friday the 13th. For reasons beyond my comprehension the 13th day of a month is likelier to land on a Friday than any other day; however, it’s still rare that this spooky date lands in October.
So when it does come around, it’s best to honor the day by watching a horror movie with friends ー or alone if you’re particularly brave. Below you’ll find 13 horror movie recommendations from your dear Tricorne adviser, me, Mr. Kersh. My hope is that there’s something here for everyone, whether you’re an avid horror fan or someone who avoids scary movies at all costs, but feels like indulging in the season.
So if you’re seeking a scary movie to watch with friends after the football game this evening, or are in need of a horror recommendation for later on in October, I hope you’ll find something enjoyable from my picks.
Watch responsibly,
Mr. Kersh
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Three young filmmakers set out into the woods to create a documentary about a local folk tale in this low-budget gem. You probably shouldn’t watch this after you’ve just filled your belly with three servings of crispitos, because the shaky camera style of one of the original (and best) found-footage films can be a little disorienting.
Free on Paramount+, $4 rental on Amazon
The Thing (1982)
A shapeshifting parasite attaches itself to a team at an isolated research facility. Paranoia becomes as deadly as the creature itself. You’ll find some of the best practical effects in John Carpenter’s masterpiece! Just make sure you’re watching the original and not 2011’s remake!
Free on Peacock and AppleTV, $4 rental on Amazon
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Hilarious. Gross. Creepy. Creative. Another brilliant horror flick from Sam Raimi that somehow mixes oddball, gross-out humor into scenes of genuine suspense and terror. A loan officer seeking to get a raise refuses to extend the loan of a desperate old woman. In short, this was a mistake.
Free on Amazon
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
This is the zombie film. Strangers take shelter in a farm house when reanimated “ghouls” begin to feast on the living! It’ll show some of its age, but “Night of the Living Dead is both timeless and essential, as it basically created the modern zombie as it is known.
Free … pretty much anywhere! The film is not copyrighted so you can even find it in its entirety on YouTube.
Get Out (2018)
Jordan Peele’s satirical thriller became an instant-classic when it hit theaters. “Get Out” may come in a little light on typical horror-movie scares, but the concept is plenty terrifying and is, for me, a one of the best modern horror flicks.
Free on Netflix and Peacock, $4 rental on Amazon
The Mist (2007)
As a dense, mysterious mist pervades a small town, its residents are forced to bunker up in a local grocery store. As fear and tension grow in the supermarket, the survivors are forced to make a choice between the human horrors inside or the mysterious horrors of the mist.
This one doesn’t have your typical horror scares and may fly a little closer to sci-fi at times, but some strong performances push the escalating tension between the townsfolk, and the ending is probably the most controversial on this list. I, for what it’s worth love, love the ending.
Free on Peacock and Fubo, $4 rental on Amazon
Zombieland (2009)
An unlikely foursome traverses a zombie-swarmed United States and learns to “enjoy the little things” (Rule #32) in this horror comedy. Romance, laughs, Twinkies, zombie Bill Murray: this film has it all! This is definitely light on the horror for those of you looking for something a little more manageable.
Free on Peacock and Fubo, $4 rental on Amazon
Train to Busan (2016)
With “Parasite” winning the Oscar for best picture in 2020 and “Squid Game” captivating a massive,global audience last year, Korean film and TV have been getting their due credit in recent years, but the country’s been churning out excellent movies and shows for many years now.
“Train to Busan” is one such title and is an action horror movie that features fast zombies, tight quarters, plenty of suspense and a dash of humor. This one is gory, but isn’t terribly scary! Just make sure you don’t watch the dubbed version. If (some) of the characters can survive a horde of ravenous zombies, you can survive 90 minutes of reading subtitles, I assure you.
Free on Amazon, Peacock and Tubi
Scream (1996)
It feels like “Scream” resurrected the slasher genre that hit its peak in the 80s by bringing us Ghostface, the masked killer terrorizing a group of high school friends. Ample twists in the story keep it interesting, and the movie never takes itself too seriously. There’s also a nice meta element of film references to add to the fun.
And hey, if you enjoy this one you can then watch Scream 2, then 3, then 4, then the fifth installment which is also titled Scream, and then this year’s Scream 6!
Free on Max, $4 rental on Amazon and AppleTV
The House of the Devil (2009)
A cash-strapped college student takes a dubious baby-sitting job that proves too good to be true.
This one has a slow build up to the proceedings, but it’s done well so it’s never boring. Plus, I think the baby sitting element adds a nice touch of relatability, even if it is set in the 80s.
Free on Peacock and Tubi, $3 rental on Amazon
Halloween (2018)
The legendary series was rebooted in 2018 with this first of a new trilogy, and this “Halloween” feels like the best of the more contemporary movies in the series. Serving as a direct sequel to the events of the original film, 2018’s “Halloween” focuses on an aging Laurie Strode who is still haunted by her previous run-in with Michael Myers. The opening sequence kicking into the iconic theme song is one of my favorite single moments in recent horror movies.
If you’re a fan, you can follow it up with “Halloween Kills” and “Halloween Ends,” but those two films garner mixed reviews from passionate horror fans.
Free on Peacock and Fubo, $4 rental on Amazon
Lights Out – Youtube Short (2013)
Yes, this short is on YouTube! It’s a feat to so effectively establish terror AND pull off a couple of great scares in two minutes, but that’s exactly what “Lights Out” accomplishes. This short film became so popular that the creators were actually funded to create a full length feature of the same name.
While you could open another tab and watch this right now, you probably shouldn’t. “Lights Out” deserves the be watched under proper conditions ー in the dark, with some quiet and on a larger screen than your phone if you can. There are some great lighting effects that just don’t work well if you’re watching this on your phone while in the car or something.
Any Friday the 13th movie
Why not? While they’re not my personal favorites, the Friday the 13th series are hallmarks of the horror genre. There’s like 12 of them, and they start to get pretty absurd after the first few. I’d suggest you stick to something early in the series where Jason Voorhees is butchering the irresponsible counselors of Camp Crystal Lake!
But really, any of them will do, particularly if you’re watching them on the titular evening!
Most of them are free on Max
