Horror Movie Recommendations Halloween Season 2022

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1. Color Out of Space (2019)


What touched this place cannot be quantified or understood by human science.

Based on the Lovecraft short story of the same name, it's no wonder this is a story about the concept of the unfathomable. When a meteor crashes down to Earth, the surrounding land and its inhabitants begin to change. Stylistic and deeply unsettling, Nicholas Cage gives a performance that really gives this movie a certain special something. Although I wouldn't call this a particularly intense horror film, I will emphasize that the turning point in this film centers around extreme body horror involving both children and animals and therefore might not be for the more squeamish of audiences.

2. Trick 'r Treat (2007)


Let's carve a scary face this time.

This anthology is a bit of a sleeper classic, where more people have seen the iconic child monster, Sam, than the movie itself. A set of short tales following different characters within the same town on Halloween night, there's something here for everyone. Serial killing, vengeance, monsters, and coming-of-age, Trick 'r Treat has a comedic undertone that doesn't sacrifice its spooks. The only real warning I'd say is needed is child death, though no gruesome scenes of violence involving children or animals happen explicitly on screen. Overall, this is a fun romp of a horror film that revels in its own campiness and flips a few tropes in the process.

3. Censor (2021)


You can be surprised what the human brain can edit out when it can't handle the truth.

A censor for "video nasties" finds a mysterious connection to her longtime missing sister in this British psychological horror. Aside from a short instance of attempted sexual assault, there isn't much to warn for. This is a film that relies atmosphere to ramp up tension and stakes as the main character is pushed to a stressful breaking point. Both an examination of censorship policies and the effects trauma, Censor takes the viewer on a wild ride to an ending that's sure to stick with you.

4. NOPE (2022)


It Was A One-Eyed, One-Horned, Flyin' Purple People-Eater.

Okay, so it's Jordan Peele, and everyone's been raving about this movie so it's a bit of a cop-out to put it here. I just enjoyed this one so thoroughly I had to include it. As Hollywood horse trainers try to keep their business afloat, they notice some strange happenings that ultimately lead them down a dangerous path as they resolve themselves to take an impossible photograph. Just as fun as it is a terrifying, high-stakes journey, NOPE is definitely appealing to a wide audience. Although generally not shown directly on camera, there are instances of animal death both featured and alluded to.

5. You Are Not My Mother (2021)


That's not your mother up there.

Steeped in superstition, this supernatural Irish folk horror is an intensely spooky slow burn. When misfit teenager Char's troubled mother goes missing one day, her entire world is turned upside down. It isn't until the woman reappears just as suddenly, however, that the real problems begin. As Char struggles to form relationships with her classmates she must also decide what to believe about her mother's new and frightening behavior. An excellent dive into the complicated relationship between a mother and daughter, this isn't one to sleep on. No particular content warnings to note for this one.

6. Gremlins (1984)


Never feed him after midnight.

One part comedy, one part Christmas film, this creature feature is a fun romp for the whole family. When our protagonist is gifted a very special creature named Gizmo, he's given a specific set of instructions to follow regarding its care. Naturally, the rules get broken and chaos ensues as a series of destructive and murderous gremlins are set loose throughout the city. Meant to be generally safe for a younger audience, the only particularly graphic scenes of violence happen against the film's monsters which don't look realistic enough to feel like much of a trigger.

7. House/Hausu (1977)


The one thing that never perishes is love.

A bizarre, psychedelic ride, this Japanese cult classic is as strange as it is beautiful. A group of close friends on a summer trip find more that they bargained for when their vacation home begins to devour them one by one. Panic! At the Disco's Brendon Urie was clearly inspired by this film when creating the music video for Viva Las Vengeance and it's easy to see why. This movie is an absolute treat in its style and its inexplicable madness. Although all the violence featured in this movie is incredibly campy and there are no particularly dark themes, I will warn for a slight amount of sexualization of teenage girls when a few of them lose their clothes during the house's haunting. Overall, I wouldn't call this particularly egregious and is easy enough to slide past while viewing.

8. Monster House (2006)


Do you want to get eaten alive?

Firmly in the spooky-not-scary category, Monster House is a very fun, kid-friendly horror film with a unique animation style and even more unique story. When the neighborhood curmudgeon is taken away in an ambulance, the young boy that lives across the street finds that his spirit has begun to haunt him from the empty home. Much more to the story than meets the eye, three kids team up to get to the bottom of things before trick or treating begins and the home threatens to gobble up anyone who dares approach the front door. With no content warnings required, the story is smart and funny, promising to be a good time for viewers of all ages.

9. The Black Phone (2022)


Your arm is mint.

A heavy hitter for the year based off of Joe Hill's novel of the same name, this is a supernatural thriller surrounding several missing boys from the same town. When a sixth boy goes missing, his young sister uses her clairvoyancy to try and find him before its too late. But she isn't the only one helping, as our protagonist receives help from his kidnapper's previous victims to end the cycle of abuse and murder. Ethan Hawke is unbelievably creepy in his role as the masked, unnamed Grabber, and it probably goes without saying that the plot centers around the abuse and murder of children. If you're sensitive to that topic, maybe skip this one. Otherwise, the scares come predominantly from the high stakes environment, and the violence isn't too difficult to stomach.

10. Creep (2014)


This is going to be a good day.

By now, this is a title that's started to make the rounds as a highly recommended found footage-type feature. When the lead responds to an ad by a man requesting to film a documentary, he quickly begins to regret taking what had promised to be a simple job. Living up to its title, his client becomes progressively creepier the longer the day ears on...but unfortunately, it seems escape might not be so easy. If you enjoy this one, definitely check out the sequel, Creep 2, as well. With spooks that don't rely on blood and guts or any particularly troubling themes, no notable content warnings are necessary for this one.

11. Midsommar (2019)


Does he feel like home to you?

Folk horror at it's finest, this deeply unsettling film is a feast for the eyes. Although there are some gruesome scenes of body mutilation the biggest warning I'd give is the opening scene featuring suicide that launches you into the story on a viscerally grim note. Following a terrible family tragedy, our main character is invited to join her boyfriend and his friends on their planned trip to Sweden. What they believe is going to be a fun and educational time participating in a village's Midsommar festival quickly spirals into the sinister when they discover that the traditions celebrated within are somewhat unconventional. Incredible in its visuals and atmosphere, Midsommar weaves a colorful tapestry that details one woman's journey through her own grief.

12. Glorious (2022)


You said I was different.

In this existentially dark comedy, the main character finds himself trapped in a public restroom with an Eldritch entity during a particularly low point in his life. He has a chance to save the world, but can he stomach going through with what this unfathomable creature asks of him? It can be difficult to keep an audience interested when the setting never changes and the bulk of the movie features only one character, but Glorious does a great job. One scene of self-surgery is a little hard to stomach, but otherwise not enough violence or gore to feel warning worthy. This was a film that honestly surprised me, finding a way to turn the tables on both its protagonist and its audience right up until the credits roll.

13. Pilgrim (2019)


Are you grateful for what you have?

Thanksgiving definitely is a horrible holiday, but that doesn't mean that one usually associates it with horror movies. Pilgrim is a delightful horror comedy in which a group of re-enactors are brought into the home of a dysfunctional family under the misguided hope of inspiring togetherness. Spoiler alert: does not go as planned, and these actors have their own idea of what constitutes authenticity. Although the acting is a little over-the-top at times, there are moments of genuine heart in this off-the-wall comedy. Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of murder to really bring the family together. Mostly devoid of any particularly noteworthy triggers, this film does contain one scene of cannibalism and some bloody vomit.

14. Dead Shack (2019)


You can’t shotgun what you can’t see, dumbass.

A family getaway quickly becomes a nightmare when the kids witness the woman in the next cabin over luring men in as good for her undead nuclear family. When their drunk father gets stuck inside, it’s up to them to find a way to break through the hoard and get him out to safety. Although it’s not the best or most original zombie horror comedy out there, Dead Shack has a fun set of characters that make this one worth the watch. While the other zombie films on this list have more of a whimsical and ultimately uplifting nature, this one stands out in its much more sobering atmosphere. Perhaps that’s appropriate, considering the rampant display of alcoholism featured throughout most of it.

15. The VVitch (2015)


Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?

Although pretty well known for its character, Black Phillip, VVitch still bears recommending for the genuine discomfort it brings forward in an unsettling, bleak environment. After an exiled family of settlers lose one of their infants to a witch in the woods, paranoia and distrust ripples through them like a plague. They’re cursed both by magic and by their own beliefs in this grim, unflinching period horror. As madness takes over their dying homestead, our protagonist is given the ultimate choice…but at what cost? Infant death, child death, and animal death are all featured in this one.

16. It Follows (2014)


It could look like someone you know or it could be a stranger in a crowd.

Much like it’s unique monster It Follows is a slowly creeping tale of a curse transmitted through sex. As it comes with the territory, this movie does contain instances of sexual situations involving teenagers, but is always sure to present this without glamor or fetishization. This is an artistic horror concerning trauma that leaves its ultimate interpretation up to the audience. Haunting and thoroughly individual, every ramping moment leaves you wondering when and where and in what form the monster will reappear.

17. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)


Don't worry, I won't hurt you.

A stunning Persian vampire movie, this is a romantic horror that's worth watching for its singular sense of style. Completely filmed in black and white, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night brings a young man on an unlikely path when he makes a fateful encounter with the film's central monster. Drug addiction and the way it effects those surrounding it plays a big part in this film as the main character struggles to protect his addict father. Aside from this, this is definitely a film more about providing a haunting atmosphere over scares.

18. Ginger Snaps (2000)


I'm a goddamn force of nature.

A tale of two sisters, Ginger Snaps follows a pair of misfit teens with a special bond and a mutual fascination with death. When one of them starts to turn into a werewolf, though, their lives become infinitely more bloody. Ultimately one will have to decide just how far she’ll go to maintain the bond she has with her newly murderous sibling. A great deal of gory fun, there are instances of animal death to watch out for in this one, even if the display is somewhat campy.

19. Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)


We have had a real doozy of a day.

When a group of college kids go out for a camping trip in the woods, they have no choice but to fight for their lives against a pair of frightening hillbillies out for blood. At least, that’s what they think is happening, and the results are a bunch of violent hijinks as said hillbillies just try to enjoy themselves a simple fishing trip. It’s misunderstandings galore in this horror comedy that takes plenty of tropes and turns them upside down. Aside from some notably graphic death sequences, Tucker and Dale is an excellent choice for getting into the spirit of the season without about anything too thematically intense.

20. Re-Animator (1985)


Who's going to believe a talking head?

This grotesque romp centers around a mad scientist who has created a serum that can reanimate the dead: at the cost of certain violent and monstrous proclivities. Not quite a zombie film and certainly leaning into a comedic absurdity, Re-Animator isn’t shy with its depictions of bodily mutilation and gore. Although it’s all pretty campy by today’s standards, it still bears mentioning that animal death (and re-death) occurs in one scene as well as a genuinely uncomfortable scene of sexual assault near the end. If you can manage to overlook that glaring blot, this movie has become a cult classic for very good reason.

21. Circle (2015)


In here we can't trust anyone.

When a group of strangers wake up in a mysterious situation. they're presented with a single task: kill or be killed. An unknown force kills one of them at exact intervals, allowing them the power to choose which one of them it takes. Armed with nothing but their own words, everyone must rely on their own methods of reasoning to try and make it to the end. Child death is involved, but no blood shed as characters drop off one by one.

22. Lake Mungo (2008)


I believe something bad has already happened.

A documentary-style horror story surrounding a family that experiences a haunting in the wake of a tragic drowning, Lake Mungo is a spooky-not-scary ghost story. Although it does feature brief imagery of a decaying corpse, this Australian film is very tame, detailing the fallout of loss. The story follows the family as they struggle with grief, finding different methods of coping and ultimately coming together stronger than ever as they find the closure they need to say goodbye to someone taken far too young.

23. They Live in the Grey (2022)


Sometimes I get so cold.

Although it has its faults and runs a little longer than it particularly needed to, The Live in the Grey gets my recommendation for its well-crafted and deeply heartfelt story of a woman struggling to overcome the tragic death of her young son. When a clairvoyant social worker gets a case involving an apparently violent haunting she's forced to overcome the fears she has of her own power. With shades of The Sixth Sense and other classic ghost movies, there's an immediate attempted suicide as the opening scene to watch out for, as well as an overarching theme of child abuse and death prevalent throughout, though mostly shown off-screen.

24. Beetlejuice (1988)


I, myself, am strange and unusual.

Okay, so this is definitely a classic that hardly needs an introduction, and yet somehow I constantly forget about this wonderful spooky time flick. For anyone who hasn't actually ever taken the time to watch this one, you'd be surprised at some of the visual horror elements featured throughout. Full of style and fun, this is definitely the kind of story that got its popularity for a reason. Aside from some moments of crude humor and light body horror, there's nothing particularly to be warned for. Just some non-scary Halloween run!

25. Hatching (2022)


I can be better.

An incredible tale of family dysfunction, Hatching is a Finnish tale of a young girl whose narcissistic mother is obsessed with maintaining an image of perfection. As the woman constantly projects her own trauma onto her well-mannered daughter, the girl's bottled emotions begin to feed a creature that rests inside of an abandoned crow's egg she brings home from the forest. This is a one-of-a-kind monster movie that is sure to resonate with many of its viewers. Aside from some generally uncomfortable themes, it's important to note animal and child death play a big part in the plot. There are also multiple scenes involving vomiting. If you can handle some of the grosser elements of horror, I highly recommend Hatching, easily my favorite film of the year.

26. Little Monsters (2019)


Who wants to play putt-putt golf?

This zombie horror comedy is a little hard to get into due to its completely insufferable main character, but Lupita Nyong'o, in contrast, is so completely stunning that it makes the frustrating opening worth sitting through. Set in Australia, a daycare worker is forced to team up with a couple of deadbeats in order to protect her young students through an outbreak of undead during a field trip. Ultimately a story about growing up and learning to appreciate what one has, this is a feel-good film with a lot of charm. Because this is a zombie story set on a farm, many animals are shown having been slaughtered off camera. Overall pretty tame with its major issue being the crude attitude of the adult male characters.

27. Martyrs (2008)


You never believed me, did you?

A fairly controversial film, this brutal French horror is absolutely not for the faint of heart. Extremely violent and rife with unflinching scenes of abuse, Martyrs follows a young woman deeply troubled from unresolved childhood trauma. This is the kind of movie where one can't fully explain the plot without ruining the twists, but absolutely a worthwhile watch for anyone who can stomach it, though it may leave you empty by the end as you're left to wonder what the purpose of it all truly was.

28. Tigers are Not Afraid (2017)


We have to remember that we are princes, and warriors, and tigers.

Magical realism meets brutal, down-to-earth horror in this very important Spanish film. A group of orphans brave the harsh streets of Mexico while hunted by a powerful drug cartel. In the face of extreme hopelessness, however, the gift of three wishes promises to aid them in their quest for safety. It's important to know that Tigers are Not Afraid contains multiple instances of child death, so may be difficult to watch for many, but steeped in real world issues ultimately presents a harrowing picture that must be told.

29. Sea Fever (2019)


I can't deal with other people.

Superstition meets science in this Irish monster movie where a biological studies major sets out with a seafaring family for some practical experience. When their vessel encounters a dangerous undersea entity, however, a spreading viral infection puts the crew at odds with one another. Very soon the lead must make an impossible choice in order to keep a potential outbreak from reaching the mainland. Eye gore and parasite-based body horror is the biggest source of discomfort in this movie, but otherwise finds its biggest scares in the ramping tension and distrust between the isolated cast.

30. Birdboy: The Forgotten Children (2015)


Blood is our law.

Dark, haunting, and beautiful, this Spanish animated feature is an adaptation of a graphic novel of the same name. In a post apocalyptic society, a group of teenagers try and set out for new land only to find how difficult the task truly is. At the same time, the titular Birdboy runs from police as he battles his demons and tries to foster a new hope for the people he loves. The stunning animation alone makes this a worthwhile watch, but be warned for violence against and death of anthropomorphic characters as they battle with themes of drug addiction, abuse, trauma, and mental health.

31. Zombie for Sale (2019)


Are you really a zombie?

This Korean horror comedy is an absolute delight. When a cabbage-loving zombie breaks free from a pharmaceutical laboratory and makes his way to a sleepy village in the middle of the countryside, a family soon discovers that his bite may have the powers of rejuvenation. Nothing turns out quite as anyone expects in this zany feature, but even amidst all the slapstick Zombie for Sale never sacrifices its heart. You really feel for the characters as even a glassy-eyed zombie finds a welcoming spot at the dinner table. Aside from some gore standard for dealing with the undead, this is a feel good horror with no notable content warnings.