You’ve raided the pound shop for sweets to dish out to trick-or-treaters, you’ve pinned that tatty old paper skeleton to the door, now all that’s left to do is to pick which Halloween film you’re going to treat yourself to this year.
And whether you’re in the mood for terrifying yourself with a recent horror release, delving into a classic of the genre or settling down with a spooky favourite the whole family can get into, NOW TV has got you covered.
Here are 13 of the offerings they’re streaming this Halloween...
‘Halloween’
Let’s start with the obvious, shall we? Largely considered to have got the ball rolling for a plethora of films in the slasher genre, ‘Halloween’ introduces us to Michael Myers, a horror villain who later appeared in a number of sequels.
Once you’ve watched this, take yourself off to see the 2018 follow-up, released 40 years after the original, which once again stars Jamie Lee Curtis.
‘Addams Family Values’
Frequently featured on lists of sequels that are better than the original films, ‘The Addams Family’ has everything you’d want in a Halloween treat, if you weren’t looking for a full-blown horror.
As well as macabre humour throughout and roughly 100 gif-able moments from Wednesday Addams, the whole thing is steeped in nostalgia. And let’s not even get into the high-camp performance from Joan Cusack as Uncle Fester’s gold-digging new bride...
‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’
How do you top the politically satirical, highly topical, all-murdering clown-showcasing ‘American Horror Story: Cult’? Why, by rounding up all the best characters of past seasons ‘Murder House’ and ‘Coven’, throwing in some new additions (and some fabulous wigs, no less) and putting them all in a post-apocalyptic world. Oh, and if that’s not enough, Joan Collins is now in the fold too.
We’re not even at the halfway point yet, and ‘Apocalypse’ is already shaping up to be one of the best in ‘AHS’ history.
‘A Nightmare On Elm Street’
In Freddie Krueger, ‘A Nightmare On Elm Street’ gave the horror world one of its most infamous and, in his own weird way, popular villains of all time.
The character has since gone on to appear in a number of sequels, reimaginings and cross-over films, not to mention the 2010 remake, usually portrayed by original ‘Nightmare’ star Robert Englund.
Let’s be honest, though. When it comes to ‘A Nightmare On Elm Street’, the original is always going to be a tough one to beat, and if you’re yet to see it, Halloween is the perfect time to treat yourself.
‘The Exorcist’
Even if certain aspects of ‘The Exorcist’ now look rather dated 45 years on, it’s still not tough to imagine why many critics at the time claimed it was the scariest horror film of all time, with VHS copies of the film even being banned in the UK for a full decade.
Fortunately, the BBFC has chilled out a bit since then, meaning we can even stream it at home, if we really want a sleepless night this Halloween.
‘It’
Remakes, particularly in the horror world, are very often hit and miss, but the 2017 version of Stephen King’s ‘It’ managed to win over critics, thanks in no small part to its impressive young cast, and the unexpectedly convincing efforts of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the clown.
‘Hocus Pocus’
A Halloween film that’s truly got something for everyone - silly humour and a story that will captivate younger viewers, but also enough going on for parents (or millennials hoping for a trip down memory lane). Plus, there’s a musical number led by Bette Midler. What’s not to love?
‘Psycho’
[high-pitched staccato strings]
Whether or not you find ‘Psycho’ full-on terrifying or more uncomfortable and unsettling (or maybe even darkly humorous, if that’s your bag), pretty much everything about is iconic. The soundtrack, Norman Bates’ one-liners (“a boy’s best friend is his mother”), that shower scene - there’s a reason ‘Psycho’ is so frequently cited as an important piece of cinema, let alone a landmark moment for horror.
‘Psycho’ also holds the prestigious honour of being the first mainstream film in cinema history to feature a flushing toilet.
‘mother!’
Not in any way a traditional horror film, but the closest thing to a real-life nightmare you’re likely to see on screen this Halloween night.
Director Darren Aronofsky was deliberately vague with the details when ‘mother!’ (small “m”, so you know it’s arty) was first released, so we’ll not spoil too much, but let’s just say what starts as an unwanted house guest for Jennifer Lawrence very slowly trickles - and then very quickly snowballs - into a hellish bacchanal involving group massacres, cannibalism and hellfire.
Not a film for everyone, but give it a go if you’re feeling brave.
‘Beetlejuice’
It wouldn’t be Halloween without a bit of Tim Burton, would it? And if what you fancy this year is a good spooky laugh, then ‘Beetlejuice’ more than delivers.
‘Raw’
Rather graphic scenes of cannibalism and general gore mean that ‘Raw’ is definitely not a film to suit everyone’s tastes. But if you prefer your scares more on the realistic side than the supernatural threats and brushes with the occult present in other horror films, we’d give this one a watch. If you’ve got the stomach for it, that is.
‘The Dark Knight’
Maybe this isn’t a film that would traditionally be associated with Halloween, but Christopher Nolan’s dark take on the ‘Batman’ franchise, of which this is the second instalment, makes it perfect for the occasion. And that’s without delving into the particularly fitting cast of characters, from Two-Face and the titular ‘Dark Knight’, to Heath Ledger’s unforgettable spin on The Joker.
‘Get Out’
A horror film that completely changed the game and got everyone talking upon its release last year, thanks to a stellar performance from Oscar nominee Daniel Kaluuya, unique direction from Jordan Peele, and an important and harrowing message about societal racism.
