It’s almost Halloween, you know what that means? Pumpkins, candy, costumes, and most importantly, scary movies. Which brings up a HUGE problem that a lot of people have- finding ‘’good’’ movies on Netflix and other streaming services. We all know there’s a ton of different options, and subcategories, and actors and directors and writers, but actually finding those films is where things tend to get tricky.

From Nazi zombies, to possessed children, to sharknados, Netflix is full of joys and horrors to delight every film fan, but how exactly do we find “The Right Movie”? There’s a million and one different ways, but over the course of the years, I’ve found that just surprising yourself works (almost) everytime. Ignoring the previews and images, ignoring reviews, going with your gut, and just guessing all work just as well.

I realized that whenever I’m trying to find something to watch, I spend more time trying to find a movie than I actually spend watching stuff, so there’s a point where you just need to pick something at random and see what happens. Usually it’ll go pretty well, and you could find a director or style that you never thought you’d like. Typically, we want to watch movies we know, but that makes it really hard to find something new. Movie posters, images, and previews also usually completely misconstrue the plot. While they can all be super helpful, it’s best to go with your gut feeling. Does a plot sound interesting? Do you like that specific actor/actress? Does that genre excite you? Then try out the film. Some of my absolute favorite movies have terrible trailers, and I’m incredibly grateful that I didn’t watch the trailer until after the movie, because it more than likely would’ve kept me away from the film.

There’s a lot of sub genres and film sagas that have been labeled as ‘’No-No’’ genre’s, or ones that a lot of people stay away from, which is another thing keeping people from seeing some fantastic horror movies, most notably the Saw franchise. All of us- or most of us, have heard of them, and there’s a lot of people who’ve stayed away from them because the fear of gore and violence, but when you actually watch the films, in my opinion, they’re all much deeper than that, and not nearly as graphic as some other mainstream horror flicks. Not to say gore is bad, but the fear of it has hidden a lot of little gems.

On the note of sub genres, what even is a Halloween movie? I’ve heard  a Halloween movie is a movie taking place during Halloween, a movie focused around Halloween, a monster flick, or just a general horror movie, and I’m not entirely sure which I agree with. Personally, horror is a year-round genre love of mine, but when I think ‘’Halloween”, horror movies immediately tie in. I think the mix of humour and horror is fantastic, and for Halloween, the blend works even better, but it’s also a matter of personal taste.

I put together a short list of horror films that are great for Halloween, the week of Halloween, and any time of the year, and are also great starting points to expand upon. Happy streaming, Happy Halloween, and Stay Spooky.

Movie: Re-Animator (1985)

Summary: A medical student, Herbert West, is less-than-normal, and concocts a fantastical serum that he uses to bring the dead back to life. It’s all fun and games until, y’know, the dead come back to life.

But why?: Re-Animator is pretty much the epitome of ‘80s Cult Horror Film. It’s gory, it’s humorous, it’s funny, and it’s a joy to watch. From the first shot, you know the film is going to be something new, and it definitely doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. If you’re a fan of H.P. Lovecraft, 1980’s style horror and gore, cool stories, and hilarious practical effects, it’s definitely something to check out.

Movie: Zombeavers (2014)

Summary: A group of college rascals head out on a weekend lake trip. All is well until the zombie beavers show up.

But Why?: I mean, this movie is literally about a bunch of zombie beavers terrorizing some kids. It’s got the absolute perfect mix between fun summer/scary movie, and actual horror movie. It’s funny, scary, and great for any time of the year, but I think horror comedy and Halloween just fit together.

Movie: Would You Rather? (2012)

Summary: Eight strangers are all invited to a dinner party, all they have in common is the need of money for medical reasons, personal reasons, or another necessity. Oh, and another thing, they’ve gotta play a deadly game of Would You Rather in order to win the money. Also, once you’re in, there’s no getting out.

But Why?: I’m not gonna lie, I was a little wary going into this. It screamed ‘’good concept, poor execution’’, but by the time I finished it I was thoroughly impressed. The plot is super strong, the effects are fantastic, and the end result makes you stop where you are and re-evaluate everything. It’s definitely a Halloween movie, and it’s definitely something I suggest.

Movie: Wolfcop (2014)

Summary: An alcoholic cop wakes up after a blackout with little recollection of what happened. That is, until he turns into a werewolf.

But Why?: Werewolves=Halloween, right? Again, hopping onto the horror comedy train for Halloween movies. There’s a good amount of scares, and a good amount of humor (for one, he’s a wolfcop), and it’s still well-enough done that you don’t feel like the idea is completely ridiculous.

Movie: The Houses October Built (2014)

Summary: Five friends, one of which is a filmmaker, set out on a road trip to go to the most haunts they can before Halloween. As they go on, they pass through mazes, independent haunts, big names, and finally settle on a goal- find the most intense haunt that they can. Bobby, the filmmaker in the group, films the entire thing in a mockumentary-style, planning to document their Ultimate Halloween Experience. With a mix of actual news clips, real stock footage, and then the faux ‘’found footage’’, there’s  a great blend of realism and fantasy.

But Why?: I could go on and on and on for hours about this film, but at the end of the day, it does an amazing job of portraying the story and using found footage to do so. There’s a lot of talk about this film, and it’s pretty 50/50 for people who love it, and people who really, really don’t. It uses a lot of actual news footage, and tackles the subject of haunted houses that a lot of people talk about- how far is too far, and what’s too real? There’s a ton of twists and turns, and there’s some parts that are genuinely disturbing, AND it’ll make you think different about Halloween and haunted houses and the world around you, which makes it even better.