This year may have seemed like one long introduction to a horror movie, but of course that would be taking it too far, as while 2020 has been terrible in many aspects, it is still nowhere close to what goes down in many horror flicks. Of course, it has been a stressful and difficult year, and the foreseeable future does not look like being any better either. Thus, it is important to find ways to de-stress and relax whenever possible. Halloween is a great way to do so, but of course this year was significantly different due to the need for social distancing. Thus, many people looked for ways to celebrate while reducing their risk of infection, which led to many online forms of entertainment gaining in popularity. One popular way of joining in the Halloween spirit was to look for and play Halloween themed real money slots and other themed games in online casinos, while another way is to watch horror or Halloween-based movies. Thus, here are some of the best movies to watch during this spooky season, especially if you missed Halloween this year and want to make up for it with as much spookiness as possible.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
What better way to get into the spooky mood than to watch Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of the classic Dracula. This movie actually kicked off a mini-surge of big-budget Hollywood horror movies, but none of them could hold a candle to this production. The make-up, costumes and visual effects were astonishing for its time, while the movie’s over the top musical score was the perfect accompaniment to the action on the screen. Gary Oldman played the titular vampire, while Anthony Hopkins was Van Helsing. Winona Ryder, Billy Campbell and Keanu Reeves are the other notable mentions in the cast, and this one is probably the best adaptation of the Dracula tale on screen.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The modern genre of found-footage horror movies was arguably kicked off by this classic. Its success was hard to predict, given that it featured three virtual unknowns, and was made on a $60,000 budget, going on to gross over $140 million just in the USA. However, apart from the stunning box-office impact, the movie had a huge influence on the genre as well. The entire The Blair Witch Project movie is set up to stay with the viewer long after you have finished watching it, which makes it one of the best horror movies of recent times. There are no special effects or gimmicks, just shaky camera footage which adds to the horror, as a 100-year-old witch hunts the three college kids who have travelled to a rural Maryland town to try and document the local legend of the Blair Witch.
The Conjuring (2013)
This one is probably a modern classic, and has spawned a franchise as well. However, James Wan’s introduction is excellent, and the fact that it is based on true events makes it even spookier. The various techniques that Wan uses, along with the soundtrack and audio effects, are enough to scare the hell out of audiences, and Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson and Lili Taylor’s performances are superb as well, which makes this a must-watch for horror movie fans all over the world.
Candyman (1992)
Even though Candyman is thought of as a slasher movie, it is actually quite a great gothic ghost story. The movie is rooted the history of slavery in America, with Tony Todd playing the role of the ghost who is returning to wreak revenge for all the wrongs that were done to him when he was alive. The movie’s score, as well as Todd’s superb acting and the overall direction, all add up to make Candyman one of the all-time great horror movies.
