Five Fantastic Horror Movies For A Great Night In

Bates motel
Photo by jlmaral

One fantastic way to spend an evening with friends, regardless of your age, is by watching a few horror movies. Popcorn, laughter, and screams will make for a great time, especially if you have a home theater system.

Many amazing classics have been re-released in high definition on Blu-ray discs, but there are also many available online. You can even create a list and let your friends choose the movies for the evening. Most televisions have internet access, allowing you to watch the movies directly on the TV. Alternatively, you can connect a projector to your PC and create your own mini theater in your living room.

These five movies are a perfect choice for a classy evening of horror films. They are a selection of titles produced over the last half a century, proving that top-notch horror movies never go out of style. These films are not only great scary movies, but they were also highly rated and in some cases, even nominated for awards or won awards. These are five movies that every film lover should see at least once.

The first film on the list should be Alfred Hitchcock’s classic, “Psycho.” Released in 1960, it is still as shocking and eerie today, thanks to the outstanding performance by Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. Bates Motel is worth a visit, unless you’re Janet Leigh. Avoid the mistake of watching Gus Van Sant’s remake, which featured Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates and is not nearly as good. The original “Psycho” was nominated for four Academy Awards.

In 1973, William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist” hit the big screen. Ever since then, it has been scaring people all over the world. This story of the possessed teenager, played by Linda Blair (who was nominated for an Academy Award for her role), is guaranteed to send chills down your spine. “The Exorcist” won two Oscars for Best Sound and Best Writing, and received eight additional nominations.

Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” became an instant classic when it was released in 1975. It may have some dated special effects compared to more modern films, but it is still as frightening as ever. “Jaws” won three Academy Awards, including one for the original score by John Williams.

Choosing a movie adapted from a Stephen King novel is always a good choice for a scary evening. And not many are better than 1990’s “Misery,” which saw Kathy Bates playing an obsessed fan who rescues an injured renowned author, played by James Caan, after a car crash. Bates won the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes.

With six Oscar nominations in 1999, “The Sixth Sense” is a modern masterpiece. While many of M. Night Shyamalan’s other films have fallen short of perfection, he hits all the right notes with this one. Haley Joel Osment delivers one of the best child performances ever as the boy who sees dead people, and Bruce Willis and Toni Collette support him brilliantly.

If you haven’t watched these movies yet, do it now, as they are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the horror genre. Of course, if you love horror, you’ll know that there are thousands of other films available, from Japanese classics to independent gore flicks.

Manuel Marino

Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME