With the month of October rapidly approaching, the Halloween effect is in full swing. There’s no denying that horror movies, whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, are a primary factor in building the fall frame of mind. The problem that falls with recommending horror movies is that they are ultimately left up to taste or what you are in the mood for–some people want a deep psychological thriller, some want a fast-paced slasher, and others don’t care as much about the substance but just want to be entertained and have a good time with friends and family. Whatever your reason may be, below are five horror movies of vastly different styles. In addition to this are a lot of other very-honorable mentions that you should be sure to watch this fall.

1. Sinister (2012)

The movie Sinister is listed as a supernatural horror movie. It follows a best-selling true-crime writer, played by Ethan Hawke, as he’s deep into a writing slump. Struggling to find inspiration, he moves himself and his family into a house that had previously been the host of an unsolved family-murder case. When he finds disturbing snuff films of family murders in his new attic, he begins to draw connections and becomes desperate to put all the pieces together. The thing that separates Sinister from other psychological thrillers is the constant unexpectedness throughout the film. You don’t expect the snuff films, you don’t expect how they all connect, and you definitely don’t expect the plot twist of an ending. While it is a fairly slow-paced movie and is more psychologically disturbing than it is scary, it is definitely a must-watch. But a piece of advice? Don’t watch it alone. 

1. Ready or Not (2019)

Ready or Not is a dark-comedy horror film that borders on the line of a slasher. It follows Grace, played by Samara Weaving, as she marries into an exceptionally-rich family in their colossal and old-money mansion. Throughout the wedding night, the shockingly-cruel secrets of her in-laws come to light, and she finds herself in a deadly game of hide-and-seek, desperately trying to survive the night outnumbered and lost in a seemingly-endless estate. Ready or Not is a perfect movie to watch with your friends or family. It is surprisingly hilarious, to the point where every single character offers something comical. It is fast-paced, full of twists and turns both in plot and characters, has a hard-core leading woman, and, above all else, has the coolest vibe ever. 

1. The Sixth Sense (1999)

“I see dead people” is the infamous line that came out of The Sixth Sense, which is defined as both a supernatural horror movie and a psychological thriller. A young boy named Cole becomes disturbed by his repetitive ability to see and interact with the dead. Despite his withdrawn nature, he opens up to a child psychologist, Dr. Malcom Crowe (played by Bruce Willis). As Dr. Crowe befriends and tries to explain the boy’s situation, he ends up leading himself down a path that is so much deeper and personal than just the lengths of a child’s imagination. The Sixth Sense is one of the most critically-acclaimed and well-known horror films of all time. The ending is viewed by many as one of the best plot twists in horror. It established the director, M. Night Shyamalan, as one of the most praised horror directors and coined him the nickname “The King of Plot Twists.” The Sixth Sense, being an older horror movie, is set at a slower pace and isn’t as witty or entertaining as other thrillers, but it remains an incredible movie that everyone should watch at least once. 

1. Get Out (2017)

Get Out is a recent thriller that rewrote the game for modern horror. It follows a young man of color named Chris (played by Daniel Kaluuya), as he embarks to meet his girlfriend’s parents during a weekend getaway at their house. Throughout the weekend, he can’t help but notice the alarming factors of their location, including the antiquated feel, the isolation of the house, and, for lack of better words, the unsettling amount of old white people. While he was initially concerned that the interracial aspects of his relationship might alarm his girlfriend’s parents, he quickly discovers that race plays a much more prominent and darker role than he ever could have imagined. Get Out has such a shocking and important concept that is executed in both a disturbing and humorous way. It revolutionized modern horror in the sense that it was one of the first successful thrillers that focused on a deeper issue, especially an issue as big and important as racial hierarchy. In addition to entertaining people, its plot twist expanded onto broader and real-world issues that have since inspired a lot of horror directors to do the same. All in all, nothing but praise to director Jordan Peele for this spectacular movie.

1. Scream (1996)

The iconic cult classic and birth of the infamous Ghost Face, Scream, is the perfect example of a slasher film. The movie follows a high-school friend group as their peaceful suburban town becomes the victim of a masked serial killer. As the death toll begins to rise, a teenage girl begins to receive chilling and anonymous phone calls, and the plot unfolds with her confrontations with Ghost Face in an attempt to uncover his identity and how he connects to her past. While the concept seems simple and basic, Scream ultimately revolutionized the way slashers were made in the way it poked fun at the slasher archetypes and characters. It played off the stereotypes in a way that incites humor, and the twist revealing who was hidden behind the mask was also unlike what had been done before. Its quick pace, laughable quality, and pop-culture cast make it a perfect movie to watch with your friends this upcoming season. 

Very-honorable mentions: The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Se7en (1995), The Visit (2015), Misery (1990), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003 remake), The Ring (2002), Anabelle Creation (2017), The Conjuring (2017), Midsommar (2019), and The Shining (1980).