Christine Illes
Features Writer

Are you looking for a great horror movie to watch this Halloween season? There are plenty of horror movies out there, but it is pretty difficult for us to get scared nowadays. Some recent horror movies are just plain cheesy.

Some classic horror films, however, have a reputation of scaring the audiences of their generation. These films have been listed as some of the best in horror movie history.

“Hello Clarice” was the most used phrase after the movie came out.

5. “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)

Using an incarcerated serial killer to catch another serial killer is just scary thinking about it. This Oscar winner for Best Picture is brilliantly put together and extremely chilling.  According to ign.com, “It’s the scariest movie ever made built around psychology and deduction used as both crime-solving tools and murder weapons.” Not to mention, it brought us one of the most iconic villains in horror film history: Hannibal Lecter, the biggest role of Anthony Hopkins’ career. And of course, we cannot forget about Jodie Foster’s performance as Clarice Starling.

4. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)

This film is one of the goriest of its time. There have been sequels and remakes but none can compare to the horror of the original. Once Leatherface comes onto the screen, get ready for terror. Keeping the light on might be a good idea for this one.

3. “The Shining” (1980)

Jack Nicholson’s character in “The Shining” is considered a masterpiece of insanity.

Anything written by Stephen King is frightening. Anything by Stephen King brought onto the big screen is even scarier. “Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece of execution and claustrophobia still retains the power to frighten audiences out of their wits,” according to ign.com. No one can forget Jack Nicholson’s fantastic performance as Jack Torrence, a man driven to kill his family after caretaking the isolated Overlook Hotel. And who could forget the classic “Here’s Johnny” quote?

2. “Psycho” (1960)

Everyone knows Janet Leigh’s murder scene in the shower. There is no doubt that Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” is one of the most influential films in horror history.  It was made way before its time and it chilled audiences to the bone. Anthony Perkins’ performance as the psychopath, Norman Bates, has been one of the most unforgettable performances.  “Psycho” deserves to have a place so high on the list for its influence alone.

Guaranteed to make you think twice about sleeping in the dark.

1. “The Exorcist” (1973)

This has been number one on almost every horror movie list. “‘The Exorcist’ is most definitely a horror film: though it may be filled with rigorously examined ideas and wonderfully observed character moments, its primary concern is with shocking, scaring and, yes, horrifying its audience out of their wits – does mainstream cinema contain a more upsetting image than the crucifix scene?” (timeout.com) This film has terrified audiences for generations and still manages to give people the chills. If you want to see a good horror movie, this is one of the best. It’s a pure classic.

Haven’t gotten scared yet? Here are some other films that are sure to give you the chills.

“Alien” (1979)

“Friday the 13th  (1980)

“Jaws” (1975)

“Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)

“The Orphanage” (2007)

“Poltergeist” (1982)

“Seven” (1995)

“The Descent” (2005)

“The Thing” (1982)

“Insidious” (2011)

“Saw” (2004)

“The Sixth Sense” (1999)

“Carrie” (1976)

“Night of the Living Dead” (1968)

“The Ring” (2002)

“Halloween” (1978)

“The Amityville Horror” (1977)

“Nightmare on Elm St.” (1984)