Not going out? Can’t hack the jump scares of a traditional horror film? You can still mark the season and get into the Halloween spirit with one of these Halloween films that aren’t scary.

Place your bets now as to how many Tim Burton movies made it onto the list…

Beetlejuice (1988)

First Tim Burton film up on the list. A new born ghost couple seek ‘bio-exorcist’ Beetlejuice’s help to scare off the new occupants of their house.

Corpse Bride (2005)

Tim Burton’s stop-motion spooky story following groom Victor, who stumbles upon the corpse bride Emily, who’s desperate for love.

The Addams Family (1991)

Follow the much-loved kooky characters, and a plot to steal their wealth.

Addams Family Values (1993)

A sequel well worth the watch. This one features Wednesday getting up to her own tricks at summer camp.

Practical Magic (1998)

Witch sisters, played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, deal with a curse on their family that dooms any man whom the witches fall for.

Ghostbusters (1984)

It’s a classic for a reason. 

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Musical comedy of a florist who finds a carnivorous plant that thirsts for human blood, and pressures it’s keeper into committing some less than favourable acts…

Roald Dahl’s The Witches (2020)

A remake of The Witches, starring Anne Hathaway. An orphaned boy has to find a way to stop the child-hating witches who’ve arrived in town, all whilst scampering around as a mouse.

Zombieland (2009)

Comedy set in a newly Zombie infested America. Learn college student Columbus’ (Jesse Eisenberg) rules for staying alive in Zombieland.

Dark Shadows (2012)

Another Tim Burton but with more of a comedy feel. Barnabas is cursed by a witch in 1760, turning him into a vampire. After being buried alive by the town, he awakens centuries later to find himself forced into navigating a very different world, in 1972. 

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Satirical black comedy where ageing actress, played by Meryl Streep, finds the answer to immortality in order to continue her career.

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Rounding the list off with one last Tim Burton film. A suitably darker retelling of Alice and Wonderland, where Alice returns to wonderland as a young woman and finds herself at the centre of the war between the Red Queen and White Queen.

Alternative, if you do like a bit of a scare… 8 of the best horror films to watch this Halloween

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post 12 Halloween films that aren’t scary (well, not too much) appeared first on Silver Magazine.

By definition, fear should be an unpleasant experience. It is our body’s natural response to danger, and it works to keep us safe through vigilance and distress. But many of us find ourselves deliberately engaging with stuff that scares us – and loving it. So why do we enjoy fear?

From horror movies to rollercoasters to unsettling Halloween décor, why do we indulge ourselves in things that create fear?

Our body’s reaction

Our minds register perceived threats through a part of the brain known as the amygdala. The amygdala tells our body it needs to prepare for danger, causing us to enter the so-called fight, flight or freeze response.

In this state, our bodies produce increased levels of adrenaline to either fight off or escape from whatever is making us scared. This adrenaline spike causes the classic physical signs of fear, such as sweating, shaking and an elevated heart rate. And once the rush is over, we’re often left feeling exhausted.

Read more: why feeling a sense of awe is good for you

The feeling of fear

Nearly everyone experiences this impulse of fight, flight, or freeze in response to fear. What varies from person to person is how we react after the feeling of fear kicks in.

Screaming, laughter and crying are among the many ways people react to fear

According to Helen Reade, a positive psychologist, the way we react to fear is personalised to our lived experiences. If we associate horror with spending time with friends, for example, we’ll have more positive reactions to stimuli such as happiness or excitement. This can explain why scary things or situations cause drastically different responses in different people. Screaming, laughter and crying are among the many ways people react to fear.

For some, being afraid is a genuinely fun experience. It all comes down to how our brains react to a scary situation. Not every perceived threat elicits a fight-or-flight response from us – our brains are smart enough to recognise that something scary in a movie can’t hurt us, for example. After the amygdala recognises a threat, our hippocampus and prefrontal cortex work together to ascertain whether or not the threat is real or imagined. If we know it’s imagined, it’s generally much easier to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Can you learn to like being scared?

This depends on what kind of fear is at play. Some causes of fear, such as trauma or genuine phobias, can make enjoying fear much harder or even impossible.

If you’re able, and you want to build up that horror movie immunity, it comes down to two simple things: safety and control.
A big reason why some people love to be scared and others hate it is our risk assessments of scary situations. Take skydiving as an example. Those who often take the leap are familiar with the risks and safety of the situation – the pros and cons. They can then weigh these up in their minds more quickly and easily than someone who has never skydived.

The same is true of horror movies. If you watch tons of scary movies, you’re more used to the fact that nothing from them is real – after all, none of the monsters have ever actually come after you. This makes you more capable of enjoying the movie than someone who barely watches horror and is likely to be more on edge if you whip out the old Freddy Kruger videos.

To enjoy fear, do you just need to scare yourself more?

The short answer is kind-of! There’s a method, known as flooding, which helps your brain to reassociate scary stuff with safety. Reade explains this as a way to move past potential panic in a safe space. To keep with the horror movie example, you can ‘flood’ yourself by watching a bunch of horror movies from somewhere safe, maybe curled up on your sofa while hiding behind a pillow.

…it’s all about your mind’s associations with the source of fear… this is what decides your relationship with fear.

By linking the scares with a safe place, your mind can slowly begin to understand that you have nothing to fear. You may then be able to start reassociating this kind of fear with more positive things.

This means you can engage in enough scary stuff so that you grow to like it – it’s all about your mind’s associations with the source of fear. Does your mind associate a rollercoaster with a fun thrill or with uncontrollable speeds? This is what decides your relationship with fear.

Still not a fan of scary? Why not try something a little more zen

Not so scary now? Some readers want to improve their scare tolerance, while others just want to finally understand what thrill-seekers are on about.

Regardless, keeping ideas of safety and control in your mind can help you better manage your response to fear – at least recreationally. So whether you plan on trying out flooding, or you are just taking pointers for your next Halloween movie night, remember that your relationship with fear is yours to control. Why not take fear by the horns and see where it takes you?

Aiden Winn

Aiden is an editorial and production staffer at Title Media. He’s constantly looking for opportunities to have fun and get creative, whether it be art, baking, storytelling… you name it!

The post Some of us love the scare, but why do we enjoy fear? appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Throwing a party for the spooky season but want to steer clear of anything too cheesy? An upmarket and sophisticated Halloween party doesn’t have to break the bank. With a touch of creativity and a dash of charm, you can orchestrate a party they’ll never forget.

1. Invitations with flair

Set the tone for your event with elegantly designed invitations. Go for classic black and gold, or deep, rich hues that evoke an air of mystery. Electronic invitations are not only environmentally friendly but also budget-friendly, meaning you have more to spend on the party itself.

2. Hauntingly chic decor

You can easily make your Halloween party upmarket without going overboard on the decs. A great way to do it could be a mono colour scheme with black, gold, and deep reds. Elegant candles in vintage holders and carefully placed pumpkins and turnips can add a touch of sophistication. Think about repurposing items you already have, such as old books and vintage frames, to create eerie table centrepieces. Hit the charity shops for props.

3. Opulent table settings

Transform your dining table into a sophisticated masterpiece. Use fine china, glassware, and vintage silverware to wow your guests. Dark, rich linens can lend an air of luxury. Incorporate elements like black and gold place cards for a personalised touch.

4. Haute cuisine

Crafting a high-end menu doesn’t have to be extravagant. Embrace seasonal ingredients, but keep it natural. A charcuterie board with a selection of artisanal cheeses and cured meats can serve as a stylish appetiser. Consider serving a signature cocktail that echoes the theme, such as a blackberry-infused gin concoction, or a blood orange spritzer.

5. Classy costumes

Encourage guests to get involved by ramping up the theme – and therefore their costumes. Think masquerade masks, vintage-inspired attire, or literary characters. Hosting a costume swap among friends before the event can add an element of fun without the expense of buying new outfits.

6. Spooky snaps

Create a DIY photo booth with a vintage-inspired backdrop and a selection of classy props. This provides entertainment while adding an elegant touch to the event. Include some elegant Halloween props for the shots – and again, the charity shop is your friend. Velvet hats or capes, large picture frames, antique books or mirrors, candles, wigs, or veils would make for fun photos. Get creative!

7. Entertainment

Craft a playlist that blends haunting melodies with classic tunes, and get all your guests to add to it ahead of the party. On the night, host a murder mystery game or a dramatic storytelling. How about a spooky treasure hunt, or pin the broom on the witch!? Or apple bobbing? Lots of ways to offer some fun that won’t break the bank.

8. It’s all about the light – and dark!

Set the mood! Ditch the overhead lights and throw veils and wraps over side lights. The flickering glow of candles can create an enchanting vibe – but maybe make sure open flames are in lanterns or pitched somewhere safe. If you have fairy lights or string lights, weave them through the table centrepieces for an ethereal effect. Just make sure you turn that top light off.

9. Haute party favours

Send guests home with elegantly packaged treats. Small boxes of decadent dark chocolates or homemade spiced cookies tied with a red satin ribbon can be the perfect parting gift.

Read article: 6 reasons you should be eating dark chocolate

A classy Halloween soiree doesn’t have to bankrupt you.

Hosting an elegant Halloween party doesn’t have to mean a lavish budget. By focusing on the details, embracing DIY elements, and playing with rich colour schemes, you can create a truly unforgettable event. With a pinch of creativity and sprinkle of elegance, your budget-friendly soirée will leave a lasting impression on your guests. Leaving you free to head back to your coffin for another long sleep at the end of it.

Aiden Winn

Aiden is an editorial and production staffer at Title Media. He’s constantly looking for opportunities to have fun and get creative, whether it be art, baking, storytelling… you name it!

The post 9 ways to host an upmarket Halloween party on a budget appeared first on Silver Magazine.

There is a sadness, as well as a terror, about ghost stories: we may not want to be haunted, but we may want to haunt. Is an unappeased afterlife better than total annihilation?

Haunting a draughty castle with your head stuck under your arm may not sound like much fun, but it beats non-existence (for the non-Buddhist among you) or Hell (for the Catholic among you).

Ghost stories are best enjoyed at the liminal times of year: where autumn slips into winter; when the dark starts to last longer than the light; when the portal between the living and the dead worlds flickers into existence.

The most anarchic of customs occur around this time, the other time being April 30th, or Walpurgisnacht, when a similar inversion tales place. The ghosts seek closure, or vengeance, or just recognition. Don’t we all?

Be careful what you wish for

As a child, and I cannot be alone in this, I both craved to see a ghost and craved not to see one. Scooby-Doo cartoons taught us that they did not exist, but that the fear of them was powerful. Ghosts now are more of a metaphor than an actual fear; like quicksand.

The great-grandfather of Scooby-Doo, of course, is The Hound of the Baskervilles, in which the spectral hound is – spoiler alert – just a bloody big dog with luminous paint all over it. It’s the first modern anti-ghost story, and I like to think that Scooby himself is an ironic nod to Conan Doyle’s creation.

But we still like being scared by them, and this is the time of year to do it, when darkness falls. The most famous ghost story of all was composed during the particularly miserable summer of 1816, “the year without a summer”. Mary Shelley, staying with Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley at the Villa Diodati in Switzerland, came up with a monster.

Frankenstein and other classics

Frankenstein’s monster

Frankenstein not a ghost story? Well, it may not be a conventional ghost story, but a ghost story was what Byron had asked everyone to come up with. And it is, after all, about a kind of survival of life after death. Not to mention that its very composition conforms to the classic way such stories continue to be told, right up to the days of The Simpsons: around a fire, and extemporised.

There had been ghost stories before: the so-called Gothic novels of the mid to late 18th Century had plenty of ghosts, but they are of debatable quality, i.e. I think they’re rubbish.

You could argue that Hamlet is a kind of ghost story, and indeed some of the elements of all the best ghost stories are contained in it; similarly Macbeth, with Banquo’s ghost scaring the bejesus out of the eponymous antihero. All children, in the days when they were obliged to read these plays, considered the bits with ghosts in them (or witches) to be far and away the best bits. (The other good bits were when people were killed.)

Henry Fuseli – Macbeth, Banquo and the Witches 1793-94. Petworth House collection

Are the parts of The Odyssey set in the Underworld a ghost story? Is Dante’s Inferno kind of a collection of ghost stories? Not really, even if they deal with the shades of the dead; but they do provide a kind of authority or reference point for the more contemporary ghost story.

Proper ghostly horror

But the best ghost stories, of the kind that we now understand as ghost stories, came about in the lateish 19th and early 20th centuries, with the big literary gun among these being Henry James, whose stories “The Jolly Corner” and The Turn of the Screw are still – especially the latter – capable of giving even the jaded modern reader a frisson. Not to mention the fact that students groaning under the wight of James’s epic sentences in his more ‘serious’ works have seized with relief the relative simplicity of his narrative here.

In The Turn of the Screw we have lots of candles being mysteriously snuffed out, and apparitions at windows. And the notion, which had escaped people at the time, that everything was a figment of the governess’s imagination, gives things a surprisingly modern twist.

Before then we had, of course, Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. And even though we have Marley’s ghost clanking its chains, I am not sure it is the kind of ghost story we are after. It is rather didactic and has a soppy ending. I do not think ghost stories should have soppy endings, or even happy ones.

Much more satisfactory is Dickens’s own “The Signal-Man”, whose appearance portends some terrible railway accident. The reason this is such a good story is that Dickens had skin in the game, so to speak. The year before he had been in the famous Staplehurst rail crash, and had been severely rattled, both literally and metaphorically, by it.

Fear of the unknown

But the really big beast in the ghost story canon has to be MR James (no relation to Henry). Here is the genuinely spooky stuff: there are grown men I know, and I am one of them, who come over all queer, in the old-fashioned sense of the term, when they hear or read the very name of his most famous ghost story, “Oh Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad”.

Illustration by James McBryde for MR James’s story “Oh, Whistle, And I’ll Come To You, My Lad”, first published “All Hallows Eve 1904”. As recounted in the book’s preface, James was close friends with the illustrator and its publication was intended as a showcase for the illustrator’s artwork. McBryde died having only completed four plates. If that’s not spooky…

This, to lapse into literary critical jargon for a moment, is the business. It’s got everything you want from a ghost story, and provided the template for much of James’s other ghost stories: an innocent professor of something arcane (Ontography, in “Whistle”’s case, whatever that is) who gets in over his head after discovering an ancient artefact of great malice, and an apparition of great power which is yet also indistinct.

It gives me the heebie-jeebies just to think about it. And if you want to spend the dark months of winter looking anxiously over your shoulder and wondering what that noise was, then I strongly suggest you get hold of a copy of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary right now. You won’t regret it. Or maybe you will.

Nicholas Lezard

Nicholas Lezard has been a freelance writer since God was a boy. He writes the Down and Out column for the New Statesman, and lives in Brighton.

The post Darkness falls across the land – and Nick Lezard is close at hand… appeared first on Silver Magazine.

The misty season is upon us, where darkness creeps in, and the veil is thinnest between this life and the next realm. We all love a bit of Halloween fun, right? But how well do you know your Halloween and Bonfire Night? Find out with Adam Jacot de Boinod’s tricky, treaty quiz…

Big Halloween and Bonfire Night Quiz

Take our spookiest quiz of the year! If you think you know the creepiest holidays of the season...

Start Quiz

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The post Take our big Halloween and Bonfire night quiz! appeared first on Silver Magazine.

The film, directed by David Gordon Green, picks up exactly where the previous film ended in 2018. We caught up to interview the splendid Jamie Lee Curtis at the Venice Film Festival, where we spoke about everything from her first movie role to feminism, and of course discussed the latest instalment in the Halloween series.

Halloween Kills premiered at the 78^th Venice International Film Festival, where Jamie also just so happened to pick up the Golden Lion award for Lifetime Achievement.

Curtis is an artist with that rare ability to turn on the star quality whilst still seeming like someone you’d love to hang out with. We tracked her down at the Festival and had a chance to find out we can expect from the film, as well as discussing the highlights of her impressive career.

Michael Myers in Halloween Kills (2021)

Coming full circle

Jamie’s career began with Halloween, where we met her character Laurie for the first time back in 1978. Her success in the role subsequently earned her back-to-back casting in other horror films, and status as a ‘scream queen’.

She credits her beginnings in the horror scene for her international career spanning six decades, which led to her meeting John Landis. The rest, as they say, is history.

“My performance in [Trading Places] was a gift from John, who by the way met me, weirdly enough, because of horror films. John did a short that he directed called Coming Soon, which is a ‘50s horror film short about those wonderful trailers that you used to see. And he needed somebody to narrate it and who would you call except the young woman who was now in horror movies?

“He met me and … he must have figured out something because the next thing I know, he hired me to be in Trading Places. And because of Trading Places, A Fish Called Wanda happened, and because of A Fish Called Wanda, True Lies happened. I owe a great deal of gratitude to John Landis for having the courage to hire me in that film, which really did change things.”

On top of her impressive filmography, Curtis has lived a rich life. She has two adopted children with her husband Christopher Guest: a daughter, Annie, and a transgender daughter, Ruby. Her marriage to Christopher came five months after she saw a picture of him from the film This is Spinal Tap and told her friend Debra Hill, “I’m going to marry that guy.”

She’s very open about the fact that she is a recovering alcoholic, and was addicted to painkillers. She’s been sober since 1999, and maintains that recovery is the greatest achievement of her life. Jamie was guest of honour at the 11^th annual Women in Recovery gala and fundraiser in 2003, which is a California-based non-profit organisation for the rehabilitation of women in need.

Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween (1978)

All about Halloween

One of the most important things we’ve witnessed is Jamie’s relationship with her character, Laurie. She explained to us how exciting (and unusual) it is to be an actor in the same role for 43 years – particularly as a female actor, and a survivor.

“The beauty of human beings is that we change. We are battered and bruised and we emerge and grow; our bones heal, we move forward, and then we get battered and bruised again,” she muses.

The beauty of human beings is that we change. We are battered and bruised and we emerge and grow

The power of Laurie

She explains that what she loves about Laurie is her relatability. While what we’re seeing within Laurie is scripted for the big screen, the fact is that people can identify. “We are all human, and you relate to Laurie because you are wounded too. You are fighting back against demons in your life. And you somehow look at me and Laurie and say, ‘I am Laurie.’

“There was a moment during my last shot of the 2018 film, where Laurie is alone in her truck watching Michael leave the prison. And it’s written as ‘Laurie is alone in her truck, there’s alcohol, there’s a gun…’ and 40 years of her experience come back to haunt her. There’s no dialogue, it’s just Laurie alone. It was my last shot of the movie and I prepared in my trailer.

“As I approached the set and the entire crew – I’m someone who likes name tags in movies, where it says, ‘Hi, my name is…’ so I can know everybody’s name – and the entire crew were all wearing name tags that said, ‘We are Laurie Strode.’ And what they were saying in the moment was ‘we’re all Laurie Strode, and we are with you Jamie, in this moment, as you face it.’ I must tell you, that was a profound moment for me as an actor, and a profound moment for me as a human being. Because it said that we are all the same, we’re all human, we’re all battered, we’re all bruised, but we’re all still here.”

Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween Kills (2021)

So how did she prepare for the role?

“I scare easily. I know it’s a silly thing to say, but I am an untrained actor. I’ve never been to acting class. I prepare emotionally, but that’s my job. I scare easily. And I hate these movies, I loathe them, I do not like to be frightened. I think that genuine, emotional connection to being afraid… you are watching what is happening in real life, on screen.

“There is no psychological preparation. It’s just… I’ve been traumatised, I’ve had sad things happen, and I’ve had violent things happen. So all of these reactions are just natural manifestations of my own experience.”

Success vs criticism

The Halloween franchise is hugely successful; perhaps one of the most well-known franchises worldwide. How does that feel?

“I think what sets these movies apart is there’s not a lot of deep fake – these movies are real. There’s not a lot of CGI. There are real people in real places, doing scary shit. What I love about Halloween, and particularly Halloween Kills, is that the brutality is real. It’s not a construction. And again, I think that’s why people attach back to them. They’re real and to the point, even the recreation of a dead person is almost real. And I think that’s what also makes these movies all so special, is a little secret sauce.”

I did Trading Places, and I took my shirt off, and I was suddenly what they called legitimate, an A-lister. Now, today, the women’s movement would love Laurie Strode

But with success comes criticism, as is often the case. One of the most significant criticisms of Jamie’s involvement in this franchise is the anti-feminist comments surrounding the first film. John Carpenter – the original director – used to get very frustrated with people calling the film ‘anti-feminist’ or saying it was ‘women-bashing’, mainly because the only one that didn’t die was the virgin.

But Laurie was smart, capable, and John stated: ‘she had no time for boys.’ As a feminist icon, Jamie’s thoughts around this were important to us, and she admitted herself that “the women’s movement kind of hated me.”

Read about Jamie Lee Curtis’ big win: Backstage chat at the Oscars – the big four

But she feels like maybe the this was all back to front, no pun intended…

“I did Trading Places, and I took my shirt off, and I was suddenly what they called legitimate, an A-lister. Now, today, the women’s movement would love Laurie Strode.

But at that moment, it was interesting for me as a young actress, because I’m playing the very thing that we really – I think – respect, particularly about women; their strength and intelligence and ability to, excuse my pun here, shape shift. And, you know, fight back against the adversity that women have done since the beginning of time. And yet, it was sort of anti-feminist. Anyway, I always thought that was funny.”

Trading Places cast
L-R Eddie Murphy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd

An uncertain star

Someone at the Venice Film Festival asked Jamie if she was aware that Trading Places was shown every Christmas Eve in Italy. Of course, it also appears in the UK too. But it seems like the US doesn’t get the full unedited version, certainly not on TV. Jamie is surprised.

“Somebody mentioned that to me today and I said, ‘They show it on television?’ and they said, ‘Yes.’ And I said, ‘They show all of it on television?’ and they said ‘Yes! It’s a beloved film here in Italy.’ And I’m thinking about 14-year-old boys at Christmas seeing my incredibly beautiful 21-year-old self and thinking ‘Wow – that’s very different from America’. I love that movie.”

Now, in 2021, Jamie has received the Golden Lion Award for Lifestyle Achievement. She explained she has mixed feelings about winning this sort of award and was finding it hard to wrap her head around it.

“[That achievement] seems to be sort of closed, whereas I’m working more and more creatively today than I have been since I was born. So it’s odd for me, and yet I am incredibly honoured,” she explains. She thinks of Halloween, A Fish Called Wanda, and True Lies as the three films she’d called her legacy, though explained that of course there were others, work she bluntly refers to as “pieces of shit”. And no, we don’t know what she’s referring to!

If you want to try and get ahead before seeing the latest film, it looks like most of the Halloween films are on Amazon Prime, although goodness only knows which order to watch them in! Wikipedia can probably tell you that.

As told to Jenny Davis / edits Carly Pepperell

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The post Getting candid with Jamie Lee Curtis appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Horror enthusiast Peter Appleyard, from Ealing’s MetFilm School, has taken the time to pull together this haunting selection of the century’s most spooky stories. A collection that ranges from iconic classics to unusual thrillers, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

Nosferatu – 1922

This early, unofficial adaptation of Dracula by F.W Murnau still holds every bit of its gothic power almost 100 years after it was made. Its filled with iconic gothic imagery and features an amazing central performance by stage actor Max Schreck as the terrifying Count Orlock (who’s name translates as Max Fear). It also works as a wonderful introduction to silent film for those new to early cinema.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LOOhc2eML4

Frankenstein – 1931

The first Horror blockbuster and the film that made a star of Boris Karloff. Few films can claim to be as iconic as this classic from universal pictures. From the gothic production design to the incredible Jack Peirce make-up for the Monster, Frankenstein feels like the definitive version of Mary Shelley’s morality tale of man playing god.

Dead of Night – 1945

One of the few Horror films produced at Ealing Studios during its golden era, Dead of Night is one of the earliest examples of the Horror Anthology film. Essentially a collection of short films linked together by a wraparound story, the anthology format became a staple of British horror films through to the 70’s and 80’s but rarely was it done as well as here. The scenes of Michael Redgrave being menaced by an evil ventriloquist dummy remain terrifying to this day.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UCJz617E8s

Night of the Living Dead – 1968

With his debut feature George A Romero managed to do some incredible things. First and foremost he re-invented the Zombie film moving away from the voodoo stories of old to the flesh eating ghouls we know and love today. Secondly, he cast the genre’s first black lead actor, the amazing Duane Jones. And finally, Romero managed to hide biting social commentary on the civil rights movement and the US’s role in Vietnam amongst the gore and mayhem. Political horror at its best.

Nightmare on Elm Street – 1984

The horror boom of the 80’s gave birth to a number of new horror icons but king amongst them has to be Wes Craven’s ultimate boogie man Freddy Kruger. A killer who stalks you in your dreams, Kruger was brought to life by the classically trained Robert Englund. Whilst the sequels are imaginative and fun it’s the original film that has all the scares, including a very gory encounter with a young Jonny Depp.

Looking for more fun things to do at home? Try these fun home kits

The Ring – 1999

The late 90’s saw and explosion in new Japanese horror cinema and the most terrifying of all has to be The Ring. The set up is simple, once you have watched the cursed VHS tape you have 7 days to live unless you pass the curse onto another. Blending MR James with Japanese folk law, The Ring is a slow burn of a film with an explosive and horrifying final. Forget the watered down American remake and numerous sequels, the original is the real deal.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Z-MOqAvtY

Raw – 2016

Julia Ducournau’s Raw starts as a coming of age drama about a young woman joining her older sister in a French veterinary school but soon morphs into something more sinister. A strange mix of John Hughes and David Cronenberg, it’s one of the most effective body horror films in recent years and represents a new wave of female directed horror.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFlXVX2af_Y

Host – 2020

The haunted Zoom call film! A great example of what you can do with very limited recourses, Host was written, shot, edited and released during the Covid-19 lockdown. Drawing its influence from other format bending films such as The Blair Witch Project and Ghostwatch, it has more atmosphere, jokes & scares packed into its lean running time than most horror films made for 10 times its budget.

Carly Pepperell

Carly gets to do everything under the sun, including writing, editing, taking photos, creating stories, and swanning around at launches. She can down a glass of Prosecco without pausing for breath, and aims to be the youngest Pulitzer winner ever.

The post 8 of the best horror films to watch this Halloween appeared first on Silver Magazine.