Looking for some scary movies to watch this October? We got you.

From the paranormal to slashers to psychological slow-burns, the horror genre has it all. It’s fun to be spooked, you get the adrenaline going, cozy up under the blankets, it’s even a little cathartic maybe. Well, what better time to get scared than now during the cool October month?

If you’re feeling brave and in the Halloween spirit than you have to check out these great horror films below.
 

Hereditary

This one is an absolute must-watch. Not only is it terrifying but it deals with dark, complex themes that makes you think. There’s nothing light or happy about this film, you feel each character’s struggle and it draws you in emotionally. With excellent acting, artistic camera shots, and phenomenal directing, this one will have you thinking about it long after it’s over.
 

Candyman

Released just last month, Candyman is an inventive take on the 1992 horror story. The premise follows a ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand haunting a Chicago neighbourhood. Co-written by Jordan Peele, the film is not only frightening but unsettling on many levels.
 

Halloween

What would this list be if the iconic 1978 Halloween film wasn’t included? This is a mandatory must-watch during October. From John Carpenter’s legendary score to Jamie Lee Curtis’ sweet portrayal of Laurie, this film is an instant classic for the spooky season.
 

The Conjuring

Set in 1970, paranormal investigators and demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren are brought to the Perron family home in a secluded farmhouse. With an unwelcome supernatural presence, events soon escalate in horrifying fashion, especially after the history of the home is discovered. Centering on the alleged real-life exploits of Ed and Lorraine, there’s a reason why this movie has two more films in the franchise.
 

Get Out

If you haven’t seen the 2017 psychological horror Get Out, now is the perfect time. Jordan Peele’s directorial debut automatically became a must-see as it was both a critical and commercial hit. The plot follows Chris and his interracial relationship with Rose. The two head upstate so Chris can meet Rose’s family for the first time but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries leads him to an unthinkable truth.
 

Terrifier

Clowns are already scary as is, but Terrifier takes it to a whole other level. On Halloween night, an extremely disturbing clown stalks and preys on three women in a sketchy old apartment building. This incredibly graphic slasher is not for the weak.
 

Cabin In The Woods

Five college kids retreat to a remote forest cabin for vacation where things go terribly wrong. The film is partly a satire on stereotypical slashers but the scare factor remains strong. You’ll never see the major plot twist coming.
 

Goodnight Mommy

Goodnight Mommy is an Austrian psychological horror that is awfully unnerving. The film, spoken in German, follows twin boys and best friends as they grow suspicious of their mother’s identity. Just watch the trailer and tell me you’re not totally freaked out. Recently, there has been discussion of Naomi Watts staring in an American remake.
 

The Babadook

The Babadook follows a struggling single mother who is grieving from her late husband while also dealing with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house. Soon she uncovers a sinister presence all around her. The film is definitely worth-watching; it currently has an impressive 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
 

Insidious

This film is paranormal done right – haunted house, possessed little boy, creepy music! If you’re looking for a good scare without the blood and the graphics, this film will not disappoint.
 

The Visit

Two kids, Becca and Tyler, plan a week-long visit to meet their grandparents for the very first time. As the week progresses, the children discover that the old couple are involved in deeply disturbing activity. It’s a slow-burn that is equally tense, creepy and frightening. The two kids are incredibly likeable characters with a wholesome relationship. It makes you feel even more for them as you watch them live through a nightmare.
 

Saw

For those unafraid of the blood, guts and gore… Saw has a clever concept, which is how they’ve successfully made 8 Saw movies following. The films revolve around the serial killer known as Jigsaw who traps victims and forces them through tests to survive. The film is dark, gruesome and quintessential Halloween horror.
 

Hush

This movie will literally have you on the edge of the seat the entire time. The film follows a deaf writer who lives a solitary life in the woods but is disrupted when a masked killer appears in her window. With more silence in the movie than noise, a tense, uncomfortable amount of suspense is constant from beginning to end.
 

Lead photo courtesy of Universal Pictures.