The Best Cult Horror Movies To Watch This Halloween

The Best Cult Horror Movies To Watch This Halloween


October 28, 2025 | Quinn Mercer

The Best Cult Horror Movies To Watch This Halloween


 You’ll Sleep Fine… Probably

When October rolls in and the air gets crisp, it’s time to dive into the weird, the eerie, and the unforgettable. These cult horror films have earned their stripes by creeping into the mind, lingering long after the credits roll, and making you double-check the shadows. Whether you’re watching solo or with friends, turn off your phone, bring a blanket, and prepare for chills.

Culthorrormovies-Msn

Advertisement

The Wicker Man (1973)

This British folk horror masterpiece follows a police officer who visits a remote island to investigate a missing girl, only to discover a community steeped in pagan rituals. Strange songs, unsettling rituals, and an ending that still shocks make this film a must for Halloween nights when you want something weirdly beautiful and disturbingly strange.

Screenshot from The Wicker Man (1973)British Lion Films, The Wicker Man (1973)

Advertisement

Night Of The Living Dead (1990)

A remake of Romero’s classic, this version amplifies the gore, the tension, and the social commentary. A group is holed up in a farmhouse with creepy zombies closing in, but the real horror might just be the people inside. It’s perfect for the holiday because it gets the undead, the isolation, and the fight for survival just right.

Screenshot from Night of the Living Dead (1990)Columbia Pictures, Night of the Living Dead (1990)

Advertisement

Don’t Look Now (1973)

Set in rainy Venice, this psychological horror follows a grieving couple as they navigate strange sightings, mysterious figures, and sorrow-tinged terror. The film’s dreamlike atmosphere and shocking visuals make it feel less like a jump-scare ride and more like a slow descent into dread—ideal for an autumn evening when everything outside seems to whisper.

Screenshot from Don’t Look Now (1973)Paramount Pictures, Don’t Look Now (1973)

Advertisement

The Birds (1963)

Alfred Hitchcock turns nature’s normal into nature’s nightmare. A small coastal town is invaded by birds, in escalating, inexplicable attacks that defy logic. With sparse music and long-building tension, it creates the kind of chilling effect that lingers under blankets long after the movie ends.

Screenshot from The Birds (1963)Universal Pictures, The Birds (1963)

Advertisement

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

A young woman becomes pregnant, something weird is happening, and the people around her might not be who they seem. Roman Polanski’s horror-thriller layers paranoia, isolation, and creepiness into a film that hits home. The horror grows from subtle whispers to outright conspiracy.

Screenshot from Rosemary’s Baby (1968)Paramount Pictures, Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Advertisement

The Omen (1976)

A satanic kid moves into an American household, weird deaths happen, priests warn, winds howl. This film delivers classic cult horror with a sense of scale, portent, and old-school flair. It’s great for when you want something ominous, dramatic, and still strangely enjoyable with popcorn.

Screenshot from The Omen (1976)20th Century Fox, The Omen (1976)

Advertisement

Suspiria (1977)

Italian director Dario Argento drenches this witch horror in neon reds, haunting score, and dream-logic scares. A dance academy, missing students, bizarre rituals, and a sense of inevitable doom: it’s perfect as the sun sets, just as the colours outside fade and you start wondering “what if?”

Screenshot from Suspiria (1977)Atlas Consortium Productions, Suspiria (1977)

Advertisement

Possession (1981)

A married couple unravels into violence, mystery, and something otherworldly. This one mixes relationship breakdown with supernatural terror in a way few films dare. The result is raw, unsettling, and weirdly hypnotic—a cult horror piece for when you’re in the mood for something deeper than jump scares.

Screenshot from Possession (1981)Gaumont, Possession (1981)

Advertisement

IT (1990)

Stephen King’s big scary clown monster gets a chilling TV-miniseries makeover with an ensemble of kids discovering fear, friendship, and the weirdness beneath small town life. Creepy, nostalgic, and full of that holiday-haunted vibe, it’s a perfect pick for Halloween nostalgia nights.

Screenshot from IT (1990)ABC, IT (1990)

Advertisement

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Found-footage meets forest nightmare. Three filmmakers vanish in the woods while investigating a legend. What you see is raw, shaky, ominous, and the unknown is the star. This film rewrote the rules of horror and still works when you want something immersive and unsettling.

Screenshot from The Blair Witch Project (1999)Artisan Entertainment, The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Advertisement

The Shining (1980)

An isolated hotel in winter, a caretaker losing his mind, weird twins, and that tricycle scene: Stanley Kubrick brings high-budget horror craft and psychological dread together in a cult triumph. It’s perfect when you want a film that lingers in corners of your mind long after it ends.

Screenshot from The Shining (1980)Warner Bros., The Shining (1980)

Advertisement

The Amityville Horror (1979)

With a haunted house, real-world legend, creepy kids, and shifting rooms, this film brings supernatural dread into domestic spaces. It’s spooky, 70s styled, and remains a staple for Halloween watchers wanting ghostly chills.

Screenshot from The Amityville Horror (1979)American International Pictures, The Amityville Horror (1979)

Advertisement

Psycho (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock’s classic changed horror forever. With a woman on the run, a creepy motel, a screeching shower scene that still echoes, it’s stylish, chilling, and cleverly constructed. Perfect for Halloween when you want a masterclass in horror disguised as a slick thriller.

Screenshot from Psycho (1960)Universal Pictures, Psycho (1960)

Advertisement

The Ring (1998)

This is the Japanese horror that terrified a generation with mysterious videotape, seven days, creepy girl in a sweater. It’s atmospheric and full of the kind of quiet dread that makes you sleep with lights on.

Screenshot from The Ring (1998)Kadokawa Future Publishing, Ringu (1998)

Advertisement

Blood And Black Lace (1964)

This one is pure Italian giallo: fashion models, murders, masked killer, and bold colors. It was a precursor to many slasher tropes. If you want something where the horror meets glamour and the unexpected hits, this is a cult gem worth the watch.

Screenshot from Blood and Black Lace (1964)Emmepi Cinematografica, Blood and Black Lace (1964)

Advertisement

The Innocents (1961)

Based on Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw, this haunting film about a governess and two strange children in an old house is loaded with atmosphere and subtle terror. It’s black-and-white, slow-burn, and uncanny; a cult pick for when you want something elegant and eerie.

Screenshot from The Innocents (1961)20th Century Fox, The Innocents (1961)

Advertisement

Carrie (1976)

A teen girl with telekinetic powers navigates high school cruelty, prom disaster, and revenge. It’s iconic, emotional, and hits the horror-coming-of-age formula so well it still scares and stings.

Screenshot from Carrie (1976)United Artists, Carrie (1976)

Advertisement

The Vanishing (1988)

This one’s a Dutch psychological horror about a man obsessively looking for his missing girlfriend. There’s no jump scares, plenty of tension, dread building in silence. It’s a different flavor of cult horror: quiet, creeping, and effective. It’s perfect when you want something more mind-warp than monster.

Screenshot from The Vanishing (1988)Golden Egg Films, The Vanishing (1988)

Advertisement

Nosferatu The Vampyre (1979)

Werner Herzog’s homage to the silent original adds poetic dread, creeping shadows, and Klaus Kinski’s intense Dracula. It’s gothic, stylish, and slow-burn—ideal when the wind is howling outside and you want your horror to feel like a midnight dream.

Screenshot from Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)20th Century Fox, Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Advertisement

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962)

This one features Old-Hollywood stars trapped in a house, bitter rage, and psychological horror disguised as melodrama. You can’t go wrong with Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and a weird sibling rivalry that turns into something horrifying. It’s a cult classic for the uncanny side of horror, when glamour meets decay.

Screenshot from What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)Warner Bros. Pictures, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Advertisement

Scream (1996)

This was meta-horror before meta-horror became a thing. A masked killer picks teens off in a small town, characters talk about horror movies while being in one, and Wes Craven shows us how to be scary and self-aware. It’s fun, witty, and perfect for a Halloween movie marathon.

Screenshot from Scream (1996)Dimension Films, Scream (1996)

Advertisement

Halloween (1978)

Chills are guaranteed with Michael Myers, a quiet suburban night, a babysitter who can’t ignore the dread. John Carpenter’s classic gives you tension, simplicity, and fear of the unknown. And the creeping soundtrack? Iconic.

Screenshot from Halloween (1978)Compass International Pictures, Halloween (1978)

Advertisement

An American Werewolf In London (1981)

Two American tourists are attacked by a werewolf in England, and the aftermath is equal parts funny and horrifying. The mix of humour and terror makes it a cult favourite when you want your horror served with a side of laughs.

Screenshot from An American Werewolf in London (1981)Universal Pictures, An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Advertisement

The Evil Dead (1981)

This may look low budget but it’s full of high gore and pumped-up energy. Featuring a spooky cabin in the woods, demons unleashed, and one hero trying to survive, Sam Raimi’s horror debut became a franchise and a cult hit for a reason. It’s gory, weird, and fun: the perfect cult horror for a Halloween night when you’re ready for full chaos.

Screenshot from The Evil Dead (1981)New Line Cinema, The Evil Dead (1981)

Advertisement

Diabolique (1955)

The silent halls, boarding school, murderous plot, and shocking twist will stay with you long after the credits roll. This French suspense-horror flick keeps things subtle but twisted, proving that cult horror doesn’t always roar—it sometimes whispers. A stylish choice for when you’re in the mood for refinement and creep.

Screenshot from Diabolique (1955)Filmsonor, Les Diaboliques (1955)

Advertisement

You May Also Like:

The Most Terrifying Horror Shows On TV

1970s Horror Movies That Would Still Terrify Any Audience Today

Horror Movies That Were Haunted By Real Paranormal Events On Set

Source: 1


READ MORE

Alicia Silverstone, Batman & Robin
February 17, 2026 Jesse Singer

Alicia Silverstone Didn’t Fall Off—Hollywood Body-Shamed Her Out

When people say Alicia Silverstone “disappeared,” it usually comes with a shrug—like her career just fizzled out on its own. But that version skips over what actually happened. Silverstone didn’t vanish. She was pushed aside, mocked, and quietly punished when Hollywood decided her body was no longer acceptable.
Synchronicity II, The Police
February 17, 2026 Jesse Singer

Forget The Critics: These Are The 50 Greatest Albums Of All Time—Do You Agree?

While there are definitely some great albums on those critics lists, there are some other great ones (even greater ones) that keep getting left off. So, let’s fix that with this 50 Greatest Albums list (in no particular order). And feel free to go ahead and agree or disagree loudly.
Peter Lawford Facts
July 16, 2024 Gabrielle Cohen

Secretive Facts About Peter Lawford, The Man Who Knew Too Much

Peter Lawford was the most charming man in Hollywood—but this beloved actor's endearing grin hid some seriously disturbing secrets.
From Wash. D.C. circa 1998
February 16, 2026 J. Clarke

When Anita Baker fought for her master recordings, she quietly became one of the earliest artists to win control of her catalog.

In an era when artists are loudly reclaiming their work, Anita Baker did it her way—softly, strategically, and without turning it into a spectacle. Long before reclaiming masters became a trending headline, Baker was fighting a battle behind the scenes for ownership of the music that defined late 80s and early 90s R&B.
Donald OConnor Facts
July 24, 2024 Ivan Denomme

Dark Facts About Donald O’Connor, Hollywood’s Tragic Clown

At Donald O’Connor’s farewell party from Universal Studios, the executives gave him a disturbing parting “gift”. When he opened it, his blood boiled.
November 13, 2025 Jack Hawkins

Times That American Cinema Butchered A Beautiful Foreign Film

From “Oldboy” to “The Intouchables,” explore 25 times American cinema butchered a beautiful foreign film. Discover how Hollywood remakes and mistranslations stripped these international masterpieces of their soul, subtlety, and cultural meaning.


THE SHOT

Enjoying what you're reading? Join our newsletter to keep up with the latest scoops in entertainment.

Breaking celebrity gossip & scandals

Must-see movies & binge-worthy shows

The stories everyone will be talking about

Thank you!

Error, please try again.