In anticipation of Halloween, Convent of the Sacred Heart students spend chilly October nights watching chilling horror movies. While some favor paranormal encounters over mysterious murder tales, this list features films fit for everyone’s tastes. Choose between the creepy classics or more recent thrillers to get in the spirit of the ghostly holiday.
Silence of the Lambs (1991)
In the 1991 horror movie, a young FBI agent, Clarice Starling, is asked to find a missing woman who she believes is a victim of serial killer Buffalo Bill. She interrogates another murderer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, to learn more about Buffalo Bill’s disturbed psyche. The film’s twists and turns are only outdone by a shocking ending. Warning: viewers might have trouble sleeping for the next few days after watching this spooky story. 
Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
The remake of the 1984 classic, this 2010 film follows Freddy Kruger’s pursuit of four chosen victims who he attempts to harm in their dreams. A masked and finger-bladed man plagues the teenagers’ dreams. As a result, they attempt to constantly stay awake to avoid Kruger’s wrath in their sleep. Although we are all exhausted from the first trimester, let’s try and stay awake. And alive.
Jaws (1975)
For surfers and tropical vacationers alike, the 1975 classic Jaws has had viewers second-guessing their safety in open waters. The movie begins with the occurrence of two shark attacks on the tourist beaches of Amity Island. While the mayor refuses to acknowledge the presence of a man-eating beast within his island’s waters for fear of driving away visitors, the unseen shark continues to inflict casualties within the crowded waters. Fed up with the mayor’s inability to protect his people, a team of fishermen head out to the ocean to put an end to the havoc. The men face several violent encounters with the three-ton monster and realize it is stronger than any shark they have ever come across. As the highest-grossing film in history at the time of its release, Jaws remains a horror classic.
When a Stranger Calls (1979)
In this thriller, a young high school student, Jill Johnson, is forced to babysit because she exceeded the amount of cell phone minutes that her parents allowed. A unknown number repeatedly calls her throughout the night. Jill becomes terrified after the lives of the children are threatened, and instinctively calls the police to have the calls traced. As it turns out, the call is coming from inside the house…
The Call (2013)
A fairly recent film, The Call exploits the fear of twenty-first century parents as it chronicles the kidnapping of a young teenage girl, Casey. After a trip to the mall, Casey walks obliviously around the crowded parking lot unaware of the psychotic serial killer watching her. The man grabs Casey and shoves her into the trunk of his car before anyone hears her calls for help. Although she is able to call 9-1-1 from the trunk, the story keeps its viewers’ hearts racing as her kidnapper realizes she has contacted the police and takes action to ensure that it does not happen again. Unlike scary movies that use gory monsters to instill fear in viewers, The Call uses a scenario that is far more realistic. Casey resembles the average naïve teenager, which adds to the panic of many teens who watch the film and fear that they may be next.
The Shining (1980) 
This movie is a recreation of the original 1977 Stephen King novel. In the film, writer Jack Torrance takes a job at the isolated Overlook Hotel. His son is able to see things from the past and the future. One day, his son begins to see ghosts in the hotel. After Jack begins to lose his mind, his behavior becomes erratic and results in a nerve-wracking twist of events.
Blair Witch Project (1999)
This 1999 documentary-style movie follows the disappearance of three young filmmakers who ventured deep into the woods of Burkittsville, Maryland to verify the local legend of the Blair Witch. The trio set out to interview locals about the mysteries surrounding the local woods, and learn about the gruesome fates of the few who have dared to enter the witch’s territory. One inhabitant recounts that the only girl to return unharmed from the woods could not stop talking about “an old woman whose feet never touched the ground.” Due to the film’s low budget, scenes were shot with second-rate equipment. Yet this inadequacy ultimately works in the film’s favor as it adds to the idea that the entire documentary was shot by the three students themselves. The inconclusive ending leaves viewers terrified.
Insidious (2011)
The 2011 film tells the haunting tale of a young boy, Dalton Lambert, who inexplicably falls into a coma-like state and becomes a vessel for ghosts and demons. Upon moving to a new home, mysterious sounds and apparitions begin to jeopardize the Lambert family’s safety and well-being. Dalton’s parents desperately reach out to paranormal investigator, Elise, who reveals that their son is not actually in a coma but born with the ability to mentally travel to the astral plane. The story bears strong resemblance to the classic Poltergeist (1982) and uses demonic imagery to frighten its audience. 
– Maddie Caponiti and Priscilla Valdez, Co-Arts and Entertainment Editors