Best Halloween Movies
By Miller Rogers
November 6, 2024
Image Credit: Photo by Freestocks on Unsplash
The calendar has turned to October, which means the year's spookiest season has officially begun.
For many students at the University of Maryland, it is their first Halloween season away from home, so look out for these top Halloween movies.
Immersive media design lecturer Yael Inbar recommended a couple of stop-motion animations for this spooky season.
Coraline, directed by Henry Selick, Inbar said offers compelling storytelling, brilliant and grotesque side characters, and wonderful animation and art. Inbar said Stop-motion has a long tradition of making horror films made of real-world materials as opposed to 3D computer-generated animation.
For many students at the University of Maryland, it is their first Halloween season away from home, so look out for these top Halloween movies.
Immersive media design lecturer Yael Inbar recommended a couple of stop-motion animations for this spooky season.
Coraline, directed by Henry Selick, Inbar said offers compelling storytelling, brilliant and grotesque side characters, and wonderful animation and art. Inbar said Stop-motion has a long tradition of making horror films made of real-world materials as opposed to 3D computer-generated animation.
Robert Bailey Jr. and Dakota Fanning in Coraline (2009)
Little Ottik, directed by Jan Švankmajer, blends live-action with stop-motion to produce a uniquely unsettling, chilling effect, Inbar said.
Little Otik (2000)
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, directed by Steve Box and Nick Park and created by Aardman Animation, is the mecha of all stop-motion filmmaking. Inbar claimed Gromit is one of the best-animated characters ever created.
Peter Sallis in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
Paul Conte, a senior English lecturer and an affiliate faculty member in cinema and media studies, also recommended several iconic horror films on the slate for this Halloween.
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) is “A wild ride, but essentially a history of film and theater horror conventions packed into a Dracula movie,” Conte said. He emphasized the need to understand that the acting and filmmaking are intentionally operatic rather than realistic: “If you can get on its wavelength, you'll be obsessed."
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) is “A wild ride, but essentially a history of film and theater horror conventions packed into a Dracula movie,” Conte said. He emphasized the need to understand that the acting and filmmaking are intentionally operatic rather than realistic: “If you can get on its wavelength, you'll be obsessed."
Gary Oldman and Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein (1931/1935): “These two short films function as one cohesive story,” Conte explained. He pointed out how modern audiences often forget the chilling and tragic nature of the original performances, overshadowed by the Frankenstein monster’s later cartoonish representations: “We’re so used to the image in pop culture that the depth of the original is often lost,” Conte said.
With a remake of Nosferatu slated for release later this year, Conte noted that “this is the perfect time to revisit the German Expressionist original.” He praised Nosferatu for its enduring influence on horror conventions still in use today: “Despite all the remakes and tributes, the original has never truly been better.”
With a remake of Nosferatu slated for release later this year, Conte noted that “this is the perfect time to revisit the German Expressionist original.” He praised Nosferatu for its enduring influence on horror conventions still in use today: “Despite all the remakes and tributes, the original has never truly been better.”
Max Schreck in Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)
University of Maryland students shared their opinions on the best Halloween movies to watch.
Ethan Hobbs, a junior criminology and criminal justice and philosophy, politics and economics major, said, “The best movies are Halloweentown, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Monster House.”
Ella Sprague, a freshman public policy major, claimed Scream must be a must-watch because “it’s the best.”
Ronnie Dominguez, a freshman letters and sciences major,, recommended The Conjuring, The Exorcist, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
With so many movies to track, here is a guide to where to watch them.
Ethan Hobbs, a junior criminology and criminal justice and philosophy, politics and economics major, said, “The best movies are Halloweentown, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Monster House.”
Ella Sprague, a freshman public policy major, claimed Scream must be a must-watch because “it’s the best.”
Ronnie Dominguez, a freshman letters and sciences major,, recommended The Conjuring, The Exorcist, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
With so many movies to track, here is a guide to where to watch them.
- Caroline: Tubi TV
- Little Otik: Apple TV
- Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit: Netflix
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992): Pluto TV
- Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein (1931/1935): Peacock
- Nosferatu (1922): Tubi TV
- Halloweentown: Disney+
- The Nightmare Before Christmas: Disney+
- Monster House: Amazon Prime
- The Conjuring: Max
- The Exorcist: Max
- A Nightmare on Elm Street: Max