By Ana Costanzo

Cackling witches, deranged undead, murderous villains, otherworldly creatures—who doesn’t love Halloween? Hollywood certainly embraces the celebration, an easy money-grabbing strategy to lure teens and adults alike. Whether cult or blockbuster films, audiences are apt to succumb to a comatose state because of the lure of creeps and chicks. Below is an ode to commemorate the ghouls and gals which make audiences cackle, summon shadows, and scream for life.  

Suspiria (1977)

Ghoul: Witch

About the Gore: A giallo slasher film, director Dario Argento follows an aspiring dancer (Jessica Harper) attending a German ballet school who begins to unravel secrets once investigating the headmistress’s affairs. Accompanying the storyline, rock band Goblin collaborated with Argento to create one hell of a soundtrack. Watch for the mystery, stay for the chorus. 

The Shining (1980)

Goul: Psychopath

About the Gore: Based on a Stephen King novel (in itself, a guarantee for horror gold), the film explores the intricacies of writer’s block seen through Jack (an at-his-craziest Jack Nicholson) and the level to which family may push a man to the brink of insanity. And with Stanley Kubrick, every scene is a spectacle into the human soul. Just keep family away from isolated hotels in the mountains. 

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Ghoul: Zombie

About the Gore: Depicting black-and-white suburban dysfunction through the man-eating dead, director George A. Romero bred a cult classic which still emanates doom and gore. Anyone venturing into almost-home-movie-style films, this one’s for you. 

Nosferatu (1922)

Ghoul: Vampire

About the Gore: Gothic and eerie, this German expressionist film remains an influential horror film not just for the creature of the night, but so too for its visual style and substance without sound or color. Acting as a backdrop, Transylvania remains as stark and dreary as Bram Stoker’s depiction in Dracula (1897). Fantastique! 

Repo Man (1984)

Ghoul: Alien

About the Gore: Campy perhaps isn’t what is expected from this list, but this one is a keeper. Emilio Estevez is a punk rocker teen who begins working for the repo men who steal cars, their main objective to obtain an otherworldly vehicle which is murdering civilians in the back of its trunk. If the premise isn’t resonating, the Iggy Pop soundtrack undoubtedly intrigues audiences—it’s a hellfire ride.