Molly Jefferson
Staff Writer
Not to fear, there are no spoilers here.
There is nothing like cozying up in pumpkin pajamas and getting into the Halloween spirit with a movie. From cult classics to new releases and everything in between, here are my top five spooky films of all time.
- Sinners (2025)
This film brought a tear to my eye. It follows two twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, who open a juke joint in Mississippi. The night gets heated when a group of mysterious people attempts to enter the joint. This summary does zero justice to the movie whatsoever, but every detail means something so significant that I would be spoiling it by saying more.
The cinematics are beautiful, its constant motif of the power of music is reflected throughout, and it weaves its power through shedding light on racial injustice. The entire film is a Southern gothic masterpiece that is not getting enough credit.
- Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Why take in an old Steve Reeves movie when you could watch “The Rocky Horror Picture Show?”
If you know anything about the cult classic musical, you pretty much know it all. This film follows an innocent couple stumbling upon a residence that will change their lives. The castle is home to a scientist named Dr. Frank-N-Furter. He has been making a man (with blonde hair and a tan) who will later spark the downward spiral of the people over at Frankenstein Place. To say anything else about the premise would be doing a disservice to the movie. Going in blind is the best way to experience it. Ah, the antici…pation.
- The Sixth Sense (1999)
“I see dead people.”
If the first thing you thought about was Kendrick Lamar, you need to do your homework. The iconic line “I see dead people” originated from this film. It follows traumatized psychologist Malcolm Crowe and his child client Cole. As Cole exhibits similar signs to one of Dr. Crowe’s former clients, Crowe’s determination to help him leads to one of the most iconic twists in cinema history.
This is a two-time watch. After the twist at the end, it will leave you wanting to go back and notice the things that support it all throughout.
- Backrooms (2026)
Now for the film that divided internet-dwelling Gen Zers.
“Backrooms” follows a therapist named Mary and one of her clients, Clark, who owns a furniture store. When Clark begins to explore an impossible space in the basement of the store, the lives of those nearest to him will never be the same.
If you have not watched Kane Parsons’ “Backrooms” series on YouTube, I strongly recommend doing so before watching this film. As he is the director, it follows his interpretation of what the Backrooms are. He does an incredible job of integrating both classic cinematic perspectives and found-footage elements that the Backrooms are notorious for.
Although Kane Parsons’ YouTube series has an order, he created “Backrooms” (2026) to be a standalone film for curious minds. So, if YouTube series are not your thing, no worries.
- The Blair Witch Project (1999)
“The Blair Witch Project” is by no means among my favorite horror movies, but I needed to put it on this list. This film broke me when I first watched it. Every minute keeps you on your toes, wondering what a noise was, or pondering the disturbing implications of a frame.
“The Blair Witch Project” follows three students making a documentary in the Black Hills Forest about the alleged Blair Witch. In exploring the forest, the group gets lost despite using a map and compass, and they are forced to camp out. Needless to say, things get… interesting.
To put you at ease, regardless of what your pesky friends might convince you to believe, the “Blair Witch Project” is not footage of a real occurrence. That being said, the filming style adds to the charm of the movie. The no-name actors were essentially thrown into the woods with cameras and told to trust the process. They improvised their lines, actions, and felt real fear as a result of the crew quietly pushing the film forward with gory props and eerie noises.
So, come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab. You have some homework to do this spooky season.
