With Halloween fast approaching, it’s time to start getting ready for some Trick or Treating. The holiday is all about celebrating the spooky and eerie, so why not dive right into the world of made-for-TV horror movies? Here are some of the scariest, most spine-tingling films to watch and share with friends and family while you distribute candy and carve pumpkins.
Nothing says terror like Lloyd Kaufman’s Toxic Shock. This classic late-night cable flick was the first of its kind, featuring real-life mutants from nuclear disasters and polluted water sources. It puts on full display the worst of humanity and is sure to leave you trembling with terror. If you’re looking for something with a Halloween twist, check out Trick or Treats, a made-for-TV horror about a group of kids who bring a witch to life one Halloween night. It’s full of cheesy special effects and plenty of thrills, perfect for a family fright-fest.
A personal favorite is the classic Halloween which movies the small town of Haddonfield, IL, as it comes under attack by crazy, homicidal Michael Myers. As one of the first slasher films ever made, Halloween still has the ability to make your skin crawl. For a more modern horror, check out the Scream series, in which a mastermind murderer with a ghost-like mask strikes fear into the small town of Woodsboro. The films are full of jump scares and over-the-top violence, sure to make your Halloween a memorable one.
Scary Movies for Teens and Everyone Else
Teens aren’t left out when it comes to made-for-TV horror films either. Perhaps the most popular of which is the Goosebumps franchise, which was made even more popular when it became a feature film. It follows teenager R.L. Stine on a bizarre journey as he is attacked by monsters from his own books. If you’re looking for something more teen-oriented but still scary, The Final Destination films have you covered. Full of gruesome death scenes and religious symbolism, the films will fill you with unexplainable fear.
For something more lighthearted, but still spooky, there’s the Are You Afraid of the Dark series. It follows the Midnight Society, a group of teens who gather around an old tree stump and tell stories designed to creep out their listeners. If you’re looking for a more nostalgia-filled Halloween, the Goosebumps books have been adapted into a television show, complete with monsters and plenty of thrills.
Thrilling Made-for-TV Movies
If you’re looking for something truly terrifying, there’s always the Nightmare on Elm Street film series. It follows a group of teenagers as they’re stalked by Freddy Krueger, a gruesome killer with a clawed glove and an awful face guaranteed to give you nightmares. And if that’s not enough, check out Friday the 13th, where a group of campers are stalked by the murderous Jason Voorhees. Both films feature plenty of bloodshed and scares, perfect for a group of horror buffs to trade in fright stories.
Of course, there are also plenty of made-for-TV horror films that seek to thrill rather than spook. The Haunting Hour films take a campy, spook-filled approach, full of dark humor and fantastic special effects. If you’re looking for something more family-oriented, The Addams Family and The Munsters comedies are great picks, full of eccentric characters and weird hijinks sure to make kids and adults alike crack up.
Dark Classics and Cult Favorites
For those looking for more classic horror films, there’s the cult favorite Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Both films are full of scares and explore the idea of monsters invading the unsuspecting and unsuspecting alike. If you’re looking for something more supernatural, there’s the classic Poltergeist films, where a family comes face-to-face with lurking spirits from another world.
Finally, for those looking for something truly different, there’s the cult classic Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Starring Darren McGavin as an intrepid paranormal investigative journalist, it follows him as he stumbles upon monsters and mysteries that most people don’t even know exist. It’s full of spooky thrills and edge-of-your-seat suspense, perfect to share on Halloween night.
