According to Celtic legend, Halloween is the day where all kinds of evil spirits—ghosts and ghouls, witches and werewolves—return to roam earth’s surface. Unfortunately, we humans don’t have this privilege this year, due to the raging pandemic. Dressing up in costumes to go trick-or-treating or attending a party is out of the question. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun! Get into your most comfy outfit, microwave a bag of popcorn, and settle down to watch some horror movies. To help you get into the Halloween mood, we’ve prepared some film recommendations that will guarantee to chill your bones.

Vivian Fan (Editor, Culture Div.): Hereditary

Check out Hereditary for a two-hour long unsettling experience. Marked as one of the scariest films that has graced the horror industry, the story features a haunted family with a history of deaths caused by genetic mental illnesses. Hereditary’s horror creeps in when you start seeing figures in the sinister corners of the screen—things that have been there from the start, hidden in plain sight. Tragedy-ridden and filled with disturbing moments, I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout the entire film. Weeks after watching Hereditary, I had nightmares, thinking that I was seeing an old lady standing in the corner of my room...

Oh Jeong-geon (Editor, Campus Reporting Div.): Us

“Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them” (Jeremiah 11:11). Jordan Peele’s latest film makes frequent allusions to this biblical verse, which is fitting because evil in Us is dizzyingly multifaceted and yet startlingly human. The Tethered—doppelgangers of the protagonists, as well as every other person in America—are horrific for their twisted parody of emotion as well as their brutal, seemingly gleeful approach to violence. But for all that they terrify us, the things that differentiate the Tethered from the audience are all chillingly relatable; wealth, class, opportunity— “it’s us.”

Oho Yun-seo (Photo Div.): It  (2017)

It is one of the most memorable movies I’ve seen. Not only is it based on Stephan King’s best-selling novel, but the cinematography, directing, and musical score all come together into a masterpiece of a film. The plot revolves around “It,” a cosmic being that eats and terrorizes children; this creature is simultaneously terrifying and funny in a charming way. Despite my usual hate for films that use frequent jump scares, I still enjoyed this movie. I recommend watching it with earphones, just to amp up the tension. If you’re anything like me, It  will probably keep you up at night.

Lee Jong-min (Reporter, Culture Div.): The Wailing

The Wailing begins as a murder-mystery and develops into a psychological thriller. The story unfolds when a police officer arrives at Gokseong, a small village in the countryside, to investigate a murder case. Rumors quickly begin to circulate among villagers; they suspect that the offender was under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms. More people show symptoms of this virus, and a series of mysterious deaths follow. Despite the 150-minute running time, the director succeeds in keeping the tension throughout the film. I recommend The Wailing for those who are tired of typical jump-scare horror movies.

Kim Chae-yoon (Current Issues Div.): Antichrist

Despite the questionable politics of its director, Lars von Trier, Antichrist is one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve ever seen. The film is about a couple who are struggling to overcome their child’s death, caused by their negligence. The film features a lot of abstract shots capturing the woman’s unstable psychological state. Although some may argue that Antichrist technically falls into the thriller genre, I think that the film inspires enough terror of the unknown to count as horror. The movie also raises a lot of questions about religion and psychoanalysis, which I personally enjoyed discussing with my friends after watching the film.

Jung Da-il (Reporter, Photo Div.): Insidious

Insidious follows a seemingly happy family that moves into a haunted house. Due to the troubled childhood of the characters, they face all sorts of demented spirits. Although the family is able to overcome the demons through the power of religion, they are yet again overwhelmed by the evil spirits. What makes the ride through this movie so uneasy, is that the protagonists are rendered impotent in the face of an unknown evil force—not even family or religion can overpower it. The story resonated with me, especially because it tells a story that is so convincing and could very well be real.