Our Favourite Horror Films

Halloween is just around the corner. More and more Brits are celebrating this spooky autumn season. From pumpkin spiced lattes to horror themed pick and mix, October is really starting to ramp up to be the second biggest holiday season of the year.

I asked our ITK team what their favourite horror movies were and why they enjoyed these particularly gruesome fright fests.

Cait

The Wicker Man (1973)

This 1973 film was based on David Pinners’ 1967 novel Ritual and it centres on Police Sergeant Neil Howie as he searches for a missing girl. At the time, it was described as the ‘Citizen Kane of horror movies’. Cait likes the film due to the creepiness of this folk style horror tale, which appeals to her more than traditional jump scare movies. It stars Christopher Lee as one of the titular protagonists.

Guy

Insidious (2010)

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is Guy’s favourite horror film, as it’s the only one he’s ever watched. Written by Leigh Whannell, the plot features married couple Josh and Renai Lambert and their sons, Dalton and Foster. Dalton has an accident and slips into a coma; after three months, the family begins to experience paranormal events. They decide to move, believing the house to be haunted. However, the supernatural activity continues, as it’s tied to Dalton.

Brett

The Conjuring (2013)

The Conjuring, written by Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes, is a 2013 American horror film that’s set in 1971. We see married couple Roger and Carolyn Perron move into a farmhouse with their five daughters: Andrea, Nancy, Christine, Cindy and April. Paranormal events occur within the first few nights in their new home. Dark forces latch onto the family, which see paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren try to help the besieged family. Brett likes this film because it doesn’t rely on jump scares, and, he says, it’s one of the only films where you can see yourselves as the people.

Greg

Orphan (2009)

A 2009 psychological horror-thriller film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and written by David Leslie Johnson. Orphan is (apparently) loosely based on the story of Barbora Skrlova, a 33-year-old woman who pretends to be ‘Adam’, a 13-year-old boy. Greg’s love of the film comes from its dedication to a chilling storyline, which is well thought out and builds tension throughout. It also doesn’t rely on jump scares to make it horrifying.

Connor

Alien (1979)

Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O'Bannon. Most people already know the story: the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, who, after coming across a mysterious derelict spaceship on an undiscovered moon, find themselves up against a deadly alien who systematically murders the crew. Connor thinks the film is a masterpiece of cinematography; it builds tension with the right amount of suspense, horror and jump scares. It also made a megastar out of lead actress Sigourney Weaver.

Diane

Tremors (1990)

Diane is aware that few people would suggest Tremors when thinking of a horror film; however, the movie is classed as a horror-comedy, and it’s a cult one at that. In a very small American town, weird subterranean creatures called Graboids begin to cause havoc, pulling some residents to their death below ground and eating others on the surface. More gore than hardcore horror, the film was one that main star Kevin Bacon was embarrassed to lay claim to, but it appears he’s softened in recent years, perhaps given how strong the franchise has become and how many fans the premise has.

Paul

Event Horizon (1997)

Event Horizon is a 1997 science fiction horror film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and written by Philip Eisner. It stars Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan and Joely Richardson. Often refered to as a Haunted House movie in Space, Event Horizon's is a great mix of all the usual horror troupes, such as jump scares, suspense and gore. In fact the original edit was so gory, test audiance members fainted.

I highly recommend you check out these horror classics this Halloween.