Top Five Scariest Movies for Your Halloween Party

The Shining (1980)- Stanley Kubrick's version of the Stephen King novel may have swayed from King's original storyline enough to rile the prolific horror author, but Kubrick's film supplied me with plenty of nightmares to last my childhood years. The eerie music, the pale faced ghosts of the murdered daughters, and the slow, foreboding sense of dread and doom created by the score and cinematography make this film a must for horror film aficionados.

The Omen (1976)- A terrifying journey into the heart of evil as Satan's son Damien is secretly set up to be adopted by a British Parliament member played by Gregory Peck. This is a satanic plot for Damien to grow up and use his adopted father's wealth and power to rule the world while taking orders from his natural daddy. Damien's eyes, and evil impish face, along with the dramatic, chanting musical score helps to maintain a heart pounding sense of apprehension. Perhaps even more frightening is Damien's eventual creepy "babysitter", who is actually a mortal servant of hell who is assigned to protect Damien. She also owns a barghast (demonic dog) to help protect Satan's precious son. Make sure you're clutching a crucifix as you view this film.

Halloween (1978)- Who can forget the John Carpenter horror classic that introduced Jamie Lee Curtis to the world by portraying her as a high school student being pursued by her mentally ill, and that's putting it mildly, brother Michael Meyers who according to Roger Ebert was the literal bogeyman. Without speaking, grunting, running, or even showing his face, Meyers and his inside out William Shatner mask did more to horrify the viewing public than any monster or villain I can think of. Also, there's nothing like hearing Donald Pleasance, who plays Meyer's psychiatrist, give his speeches about pure evil and Meyer's blackened eyes to get you into the Halloween spirit. Also, the scintillating score is a classic that will live on forever. I would recommend seeing the latest Halloween remake which explores the events prior to the original Halloween including the Donald Pleasance character's psychological work with Meyer's inside the psychiatric ward that housed him and his warnings to the board of psychiatry that eventually release him.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)- What can be said about the Tobe Hooper horror classic that hasn't already been said. Loosely based on the true story of the immensely insane cannibal Ed Gein from Wisconsin. The film became a drive-in classic that kept many a teenager too afraid to make-out in their cars during the film. The raw, maniacal horror of the image of the chainsaw wielding leatherface with his mask made of human flesh is still capable of striking fear in the heart of teenagers looking for a terror fix over 30 year's later. For years after I first saw it as a fifth grader, I was always weary of where I would stop on a road trip, fearing what kind of unexpected and unwanted adventure I might find myself in.

The Exorcist (1974) - The granddaddy of all demonic movies. Based on a true story of an allegedly demoniacally possessed boy in the Georgetown district of Washington D.C., this horror classic based on William Peter Blatty's novel literally sent many movie goers to seek psychiatric treatment after seeing it. Although soon to be star Linda Blair claimed she only remembered lying on a bed and being asked to move around, the rest of us could not forget the look on her demonic face attached to a 360 degree swiveling head and her snakelike tongue flickering as she hissed, cursed and spat her way through a vicious battle with two priests. Even after reminding myself that the vomit being spewed was actually pea soup, it's still hard for me to feel safe or sleep soundly after watching this film. Even 34 years later, I have yet to see a film capture the true horror of "The Exorcist."

Sources -

Horror 101: The A-List of Horror Films and Monster Movies by Tom Savini, Aaron Christensen, and Brett Harrison

The Rough Guide to Horror Movies by Alan Jones