Usually a TOP selection consists of 5 or 10 but, seeing as we are drawing ever closer to the 31st October, it seems fitting that we play on the number 6.

VHS

Let’s start with a film that is sure to get your skin crawling. Explicit, gory, bloody and strong senses of sexuality, V/H/S follows a group of misfits who are requested by an unknown source to break into a house and retrieve a mysterious V/H/S tape. When temptation gets the best of them, they watch the videotape and get much more than they’d hoped for. Featuring the talent of 10 notorious directors, V/H/S literally has something for every horror film fan as it weaves in and out of horror genres. Peeping through your fingers is a must.

The Possession

Nothing revs up horror-tinged emotions like that of a film based around a family fighting against an ancient evil spirit. Focussing on the father-daughter relationship of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Clyde, and Natasha Calis, Em, this spin on the Exorcism genre sees a family pulling together in their effort to save their daughter from the malicious spirit. You can see influences of Korean and Japanese horror have been put to very good use here, giving us a sad horror film that is sure to play on your hearts strings as well as on your mind.

Paranormal Activity 4

It’s back. They are saying that everything has led to this moment, the fourth and maybe final instalment of a movie franchise that brought the old school notion of ghosts back to the fore front and the fear of possession back into our minds. Paranormal Activity 4 is brought to you from the guys behind the 3rd feature and also the documentary Catfish, which followed the story of a woman and her use of the internet. PA4 isn’t going to give us anything new, we know the format and the thrills that are involved but the action here is back to basics, like that of the original. Perfect popcorn jumps.

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D

Videogame styled gore, is that what you’re after this Halloween? Well, Silent Hill is back for another round of demonic nurses, terrifying disfigured human-esque beings and bleak futures. Sean Bean is also back in on the fun, playing the missing father of Heather Mason, played by Adelaide Clemens, who must enter the dark and terrifying world of Silent Hill in order to uncover its secrets and save her dad from a place that has haunted her dreams, since she was a child. Over the top video game fun.

Sinister

A horror film that is being hailed as a must see this Halloween is Scott Derrickson’s Sinister. He is the man responsible for The Exorcism of Emily Rose and the sketchy remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, starring Keanu Reeves. Well, it looks like he’s been putting some thought into his horror ideas as Sinister is one hell of a ride. Ethan Hawke plays a true-crime novelist who, along with his wife and kids, move into a house that belonged to family that was murdered. His research into their demise leads him to the discovery of supernatural entity that goes after his family until it gets what it wants. Be ready to close your eyes with fear!

Smiley

And last but not least, a return to the Slasher genre which was made famous by films like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. This Halloween sees Smiley hit the screens, a supposed urban legend of an online killer who can only be seen on the web and kills people that type ‘It’s all about the lulz’ three times. Of course, being curious, the movies leading character Ashley tries it out and… well you can guess what happens. But the question is, is it all real or is she going crazy? An decent slasher flick that shouldn’t be missed.

So, 6 films to get you frightened this Halloween. 

If you are wanting something with a classic edge to them, check out the Top 10 Italian films that Swide shared with you.

Written by Ben Taylor