The start of October marks the beginning of spooky season, and what better way to celebrate the most haunted month of the year with a classic Halloween flick? Whether you’re screaming alongside the final girl or snuggling up with some fun-size candy bars, the Reveille entertainment staff has weighed in on what should make your TV glow this October.

Lexie Ware

“Scream”

In my humble opinion, Halloween is the best holiday, so I consider myself an expert on spooky movies. Though it’s hard to choose just one movie as my favorite, I’ll have to go with “Scream” (1996). I watched it for the first time two years ago on Halloween night, and it was possibly the greatest experience of my life. I did have prior knowledge of who was behind the infamous Ghostface mask(s), but somehow, I was still on the edge of my seat the entire time. I distinctly remember clutching onto my friend’s sweatshirt, screaming at Sidney Prescott to ‘just run!’, and by the end of the movie, there was an embarrassing amount of popcorn on the floor. It remains one of my favorite movies of all time, and I have committed myself to watching it every October.

Sarah Walton

“Nosferatu”

As the chronic vampire connoisseur I am, I would be remiss to not bring an impeccable vampiric tale to the table. “Nosferatu” was released in late 2024, and I stand to believe it is one of the greatest vampire movies to be released in recent years, as well as a perfect Halloween Movie for those that lean towards the gothic persuasion. Robert Eggers has always been an auteur I could stand behind, and “Nosferatu” was an incredibly bone chilling, alluring and epic adaptation of the 1922 silent film. In “Nosferatu,” Ellen Hutter has a strange and intense connection to a vampiric creature that has set out to be with her… or kill everyone around her. With epic cinematography and incredible performances from Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård and Willem Dafoe, “Nosferatu” is the best vampire film for Halloween night.

Paige Cheramie

“Coraline”

With fall settling in and Halloween around the corner, it’s the best time of year to get cozy on the couch and throw on your favorite spooky movie. With smooth claymation and a dark yet whimsical storyline, a movie you must add to your watch list is “Coraline.” It’s a great film to watch if you’re looking for a not-so-scary Halloween movie that’s still intriguing. In a combination of childhood magic and unnerving imagery, the movie pulls you into this idyllic world that slowly cracks before your eyes. My favorite aspect of the film is its attention to detail, with numerous Easter eggs scattered throughout. One watch of the film is not enough to catch all of them, making it super fun to rewatch it to find them all. It has been my favorite spooky movie for some time now, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Savannah Boynes

“Suspiria”

While most horror fans flock to iconic slasher flicks or jumpscare-galore films, the strongest contender for my favorite horror movie has to be Luca Guadagnino’s “Suspiria,” which is the 2018 remake of the renowned 1977 original. In this witchy motion picture, the plot centers around Susie Bannion, an American, attending a dance school in West Berlin. However, the school is not at all what it seems to be. The film includes intricate dance sequences, a winterish setting and themes of guilt and motherhood that take the cake for me. With Dakota Johnson starring, she shares the stage with Tilda Swinton and Mia Goth, who all give beautiful performances in their portrayals of their characters. Despite the vast differences in these characters, they all bring unique interpretations to the table. Beyond just the themes and characterizations, the obscure imagery and camera shots add to the macabre ambience. I have seen many horror films in my 19,000 years of living, but “Suspiria” is unmatched in all categories, from technicality to the overarching messages.

Paul Tibbets

“The Blair Witch Project”

When it comes to the best holiday of the year, nothing gets me more in the Halloween spirit than scaring myself silly. There are plenty of horrifying romps to experience with all the lights off by yourself or with a friend, hiding behind the covers. To me, nothing captures that fear quite like the popularizer of the found footage film, “The Blair Witch Project.” To this day, this movie is still one of the scariest I have ever seen. It is impressive how much these three indie filmmakers were able to do with so little. Horror is all about the mystery and what you don’t see, and this movie does that perfectly. We only ever see as much as what the camera sees, which makes you feel just as trapped as the characters do. Never seeing the witch or what is haunting them puts your imagination of what it could be into overdrive, and these three actors always feel like real people in how they react and talk. People thought this was real when it came out! It is a horror must-watch and the perfect spooky movie to throw on this October.

Laura Allen

“Fear Street Part One: 1994”

I’ll be the first to admit that I am a total scaredy-cat when it comes to scary movies. As such, it makes it pretty tricky for me to find a good movie for Halloween that won’t make me crawl out of my skin at night. That’s why I love “Fear Street Part One: 1994.” For me, this movie is the perfect blend of jump scares and comedic relief to keep me hooked. Not only is “Fear Street” both hilarious and scary, but it also has such a unique concept that draws you in and has you asking ‘what is going on?’ the whole time. However, if you do decide to watch this film for Halloween, make sure you are ready for a cliffhanger. That’s right, this movie is just one of three, so be prepared for a little Halloween movie marathon. Still, I love binging these movies whenever I’m in the mood for a (not so) scary movie, and I can’t wait to rewatch them all again this Halloween.

Mia Hattaway

“ParaNorman”

A staple in my spooky season watchlist has always been “ParaNorman.” This claymotion movie is absolutely timeless, centered on a New England town with a witchy past. Norman, a young boy with the ability to speak to the dead, is ostracized from his community when he begins receiving visions of an evil that threatens to put his town in danger. Though many moments are tense, and this story is certainly spooky, “ParaNorman” is a good alternative to your typical fright night flicks. A tender story of prejudice, community and bravery, this feel-good movie will warm your heart on a crisp fall night.

Lana Lawson

“Twitches”

As a girl who is terrified of the horror genre, my favorite spooky season films to watch are lighthearted and just right for the autumn season. My all time favorite Halloween film would have to be the Disney Channel classic, “Twitches.” As a kid, this movie just spoke to me because of how fun and interactive it was. I think the themes of the movie such as personal identity, family and love still hold value for me in my adulthood. I will admit some of the CGI in the movie did spook me a bit as a kid, but watching it back now is a little silly yet perfectly nostalgic. “Twitches” has such a cute message of family bonding and the representation within the series made it stand out as a Disney halloween movie since there were no other films like it at the time. If you haven’t seen “Twitches,” I think this is a perfect coming of age film that captures the essence of Halloween without being scary. I cannot wait to make pumpkin themed treats and watch “Twitches” this fall season.