Halloween is approaching FAST and it’s time to fill the remaining days on your October calendar with FRIGHT! We know, we know not everyone enjoys a spooky thriller film, but if you do, this one’s for you!
There is a certain appreciation that we thrill seekers share for gore, psychological twists, jump scares, and those scenes that really leave a mark on you.. even days later. It’s like the train wreck theory, it may be disturbing but it’s in our human nature to stop and stare. Speaking of psychological twists, those are our FAVORITE thrillers to experience while stoned. We here at Moonwlkr find it’s easier to conceptualize and theorize open-ended films when your creativity and imagination is at its full potential – and trust us, a gummy or a pre-roll will do just that!
So grab your comfort plushy and maybe a fright night friend to keep you company and help you fight off any bad guys. Just kidding! There’s nothing under your bed other than some dust bunnies. Relax and take a stab (hehe) at our favorite spooky cinema picks!
Disclaimer: NONE of these films are PG nor even near PG-13. They are rated R or unrated and they ARE horror movies.
Pearl (2022) Horror/Drama 1h 42m
This film is so beautifully done from the story line, to the way each murderous endeavor is filmed, and the intensity within the acting itself. Mia Goth stars as a girl named Pearl who lives on an isolated farm with her mother and ailing father. She experiences strict rules from her cold mother and has to care for her father who essentially no longer has any motor functions. Amongst her repression she is obsessed with the idea of becoming a star on the big screen. Pearl’s life and longing to experience opportunities outside the farm drive her into complete madness and eventually leads her into a further rage that does not end well for, well anyone. If you LOVE good raw feminine rage – this is IT.
Smile (2022) Horror/Mystery 1h 55m
Smile is particularly relatable for those who have experienced trauma – which let’s be real, that’s a very high percentage of folks. This film displays how unresolved trauma can haunt you for the rest of your life, even to your own demise. Dr. Rose Cotter is a therapist that witnesses a traumatic and truly disturbing incident with one of her patients. After this occurrence, she is donned with terror and overwhelming visions OR an entity that is following her and causing these manipulations – the perspective is completely up to the viewer. That’s why we mentioned these psychological thrillers are the BEST for high horror movie nights because they will stimulate your brain and you can question the plot itself.
Talk To Me (2022) Horror/Supernatural 1h 34m
If you truly believe in the supernatural, Talk To Me will hit you much harder as it is a story that seems much more realistic than your average slasher film. A group of teenage friends are passed down a relic of sorts – a ceramic or embalmed hand that allows them to conjure spirits on the other side. Of course, being teenagers they turn the rush of – well being possessed or letting an entity enter their body – into a party game. This adrenaline addiction to something that holds power far beyond the norm eventually goes too far. The main character’s mother passed away and she still carries unanswered questions about her death, what better opportunity to contact her deceased mother right? WRONG!
This film has hauntingly disturbing scenes that will leave you feeling scared and somewhat sad to be truly honest. When a horror movie includes the downfall of children / teenagers due to their pure curiosity or peer pressure – it is sure to ensue feelings of empathy or sympathy for someone who has so much life left to live.
Midsommar (2019) Horror/Mystery 2h 28m
Where to begin!? Midsommar is a cinematic masterpiece – in our opinion. There are so many scenes that are visually striking and are sure to leave a lasting impression. Dani is a young adult who loses her immediate family (keep in mind that the loss of her family is another theory you can question once you make it through this lengthy film). Her boyfriend guilt invites her to come on a trip to Sweden that he and his college mates have planned to experience the Midsommar celebration on his friend’s family compound.
When they arrive they begin microdosing and are continually dosed throughout the film – even nonconsensually. The secrets behind this family compound unfold as people start to go missing. Dani realizes that the culture and “religion” of sorts includes sacrifices and odd practices to keep the growth of their “family” continual. Now, ladies and gentlemen, there really are some disturbing scenes and according to articles written after the release of this film, there is a lot of accurate information portrayed about this Nordic / pagan belief system. The end is an absolute shocker and you may need some quiet time to process the entire display after. There is also some controversy spoken on since the release and we LOVE a good conversation starter.
Pro tip: Pair a microdose gummy with this one and after you watch this insane film, take a deep dive into the Midsommar reddit threads.
Hereditary (2018) Horror/Mystery 2h 7m
You could say this is a family film, but not a feel good family film for a wholesome get together. The Graham family begins to uncover truly sinister obscure details about their ancestry. This film is SCARY but it also can be considered a sad one as it represents a mother and her children facing the hard truth that they cannot escape their family genes and history – it is a part of their being. They begin to uncover a longline of cult activity from the matriarchal head of the family who recently passed. For the sake of not spoiling this film we’ll keep it vague – the family – specifically the deceased grandmother – has groomed and planned the perfect host for a patriarchal demon Paimon to possess. Amongst his journey to the host body the most disturbing events unfold. The best part about this film is that it is another horror feature with so many questionable theories that allow you to dig deeper after the film.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) Horror/Crime 1h 23m
We’re throwing it back to one of the originals that has shaped the horror genre and paved the way for the expansion of serial killers and terror. Why this one? This is one of the greats that still holds weight and proves that the recognition it’s received even to this day has truly been earned. Amongst all the other old school horror movies, Texas Chainsaw Massacre will still always instill fear and adrenaline in viewers – rather than the unrealistic and somewhat corny slashers made on a similar budget at the time.
Sally, her brother, and some friends head out to their families farmhouse where they discover a gruesome and terrifying group of people residing next door. One of which wears a mask and you guessed it – carries a chainsaw. In traditional slasher fashion, he stalks and attacks the group of friends while they fight for their lives to escape to freedom. It’s gritty, it’s gross, and yet the end is actually pretty refreshing.
Got some time to dive into a movie marathon? Well we’ve got 13 films for you – the entire Halloween franchise!
Halloween (1978)
Halloween II (1981)
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Halloween (2007)
Halloween II (2009)
Halloween (2018)
Halloween Kills (2021)
Halloween Ends (2022)
Insane right? That’s A LOT of freaking movies about one man that runs around killing people. We won’t stab into this description too deeply as Michael Myers is a household name these days. But one thing is for certain – that dude is one tough cookie. This franchise is historic at this point, it is meaningful to the horror cinema community and it’s the perfect representation of famous slasher films that have die hard, lifelong fans and an everlasting story line. And can we just mention the dedication Jamie Lee Curtis displayed for this franchise by reprising her role throughout many of these films?
You’ll get a lot of different points of view and cinematic expression as each movie is directed by a different mastermind. If you’d like to just try a couple – the 2007 and 2009 releases were directed by Rob Zombie and he has a great repertoire of horror films.
Side note: consider adding some more Rob Zombie films to your list of terror such as: House of 1000 Corpses (2003) and The Devil’s Rejects (2005). Bear in mind that Rob Zombie’s originals are raunchy, disturbing, and well… different?
Another great movie marathon option for you thrill seekers is the SAW franchise.
SAW (2004)
SAW II (2005)
SAW III (2006)
SAW IV (2007)
SAW V (2008)
SAW VI (2009)
SAW: The Final Chapter (2010)
Jigsaw (2017)
Spiral: From the Book of SAW (2021)
SAW X (2023)
Protip: You can watch the first 7 SAW films consecutively, then watch the most recent number ten. The 8th and 9th movies are not necessary BUT if you find yourself to be a big fan, go for all of them!
The SAW movies are psychological, gore, and underlying messages all wrapped into one long series. People are handpicked for their mistakes and sins in life to be trapped in twisted puzzles and games where they must do unquestionable tasks before time runs out. By time runs out, we mean before they are brutally murdered in the most insane ways. There are so many mind boggling scenarios where you can question what you would do if you were in said situation. These are another great conversation starter for you and some friends to get high and discuss who you think could solve the puzzles and survive. We hope you don’t see Jigsaw in your dreams 😉
Inland Empire (2006) Thriller/Mystery 3h
Okay, we’ve got one last movie for you. We saved this one for last because it truly expedites you into the dark corner of Hollywood that IS horror cinema. It’s abstract, a complete work of art from thee David Lynch who also directed Twin Peaks: Fire Walks with Me (1992) which is another INSANE movie to digest.
Inland Empire is a hefty 3 hours. The visuals and audio alone are eerie and set the tone for you to be horrified. An actress named Nikki is hired for a role in a film in which she becomes trapped and has to relive a horrific storyline. Themes of jealousy, infidelity, and of course.. murder unfold as you are encapsulated by the most uniquely odd filming and scenic representation.
Fun fact: the entire movie was filmed with a hand-held digital video camera. You could say it’s hauntingly beautiful or just straight up hauntingly disturbing – to each their own!
If you’re having trouble sleeping after conquering any movie on this horrifying list, you may be interested in a bottle of sleep gummies to assist you back into a peaceful slumber – maybe also consider a night light until the serial killers are purged from your memory. We really hope you find a gem on our list of terror and enjoy a good scare this spooky season! Until next year.. Or maybe we’ll see you in your dreams. 😉
