With Halloween right around the corner, the Amherst Wire staff list their top three choices for the best movies to watch this Halloween season.

Cass Salot, Editor-in-Chief

1. “Halloween” – This is my all time favorite Halloween movie. It is the perfect amount of thrilling and scary for anyone I believe. This film also encapsulates everything a horror movie should be, it is suspenseful and simple. The low budget on this film also lended a positive hand in the movies place in history, at least my opinion. Even though the more recent films out of the Halloween franchise haven’t been great. The classic one is simply one of the best.
2. “Nightmare on Elm Street” – I remember watching this movie and thinking Freddy Krueger was sitting in my closet. A film, I think I watched too young but still renders itself as one of the best horror films ever made.
3. “Coraline” – I don’t even think any “cartoon” horror movie can come close to the eerie yet comedic feeling that Coraline comes too. I remember watching this movie with my friends a ton when we were younger, it seems to always be a film I circle back to at least once or twice a year regardless of the season.

Gabby Burdick, Managing Editor

1. My top favorite horror movie is “The Silence of the Lambs.” I think the movie is the perfect balance of psychological thriller and traditional horror. I’m not the biggest fan of blood and gore, and The Silence of the Lambs never crosses the line for me when it comes to the shock and violence aspects of the film. 
2. “The Blair Witch Project” is a movie that I’ve watched every Halloween season for as long as I can remember, and I’ll never get tired of it. The documentary-style, found-footage filming is what makes the film feel so chilling and eerie, without it being too gory.
3. Finally, I have to mention “Scary Movie.” I love a good comedy “horror” that won’t keep me awake all night after watching. While there are on-going debates about the best movie in the franchise, I will always believe the first movie reigns supreme. 

Hayden McLaughlin, Sports Editor

1. “Get Out” – I should preface this list by saying I am not a big fan of horror movies. However, Get Out is my favorite by a long shot. The suspense of how the movie will play out and the tension between characters are superb. Even today it remains Jordan Peele’s best film and one we will still talk about for decades to come.
2. “The Mist” – The film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is excellent on many levels. The characters are well written and filled with emotional depth. The ending is one of the best twists I have ever seen in a film.
3. “Lake Mungo” – If an Australian found footage documentary about a family being haunted sounds up your alley then this movie is perfect for you. Of the films on this list this one feels the most “real” due to strong performances from a relatively unknown cast. In my opinion this is the most nerve wracking movie on this list.

Olivia Osterman, Creative Writing Editor

1. “Corpse Bride” – This is my all time favorite Halloween movie, I love the animations and how the storyline is the perfect balance between sweet and a little spooky.
2. “Coraline” – Another favorite, I grew up watching it every year on my birthday and just simply love the story and animations.
3. “Hocus Pocus” – I grew up watching this movie with my entire family and just find it very nostalgic, especially since I grew up around Salem!

Alexandra Norton, Social Media Manager

1. “Halloweentown” – This is a really nostalgic movie for me from childhood. I will always put it on around fall time to get in the Halloween spirit.
2. “Gremlins” – When I was little my dad forced me to watch Gremlins which scarred me at the time, but is now a funny memory when I watch the movie.
3. “Hotel Transylvania” – This was one of my favorite movies growing up and will still put a smile on my face when watching every October!

Dan McGlynn, News Editor

1. “The Thing” – John Carpenter’s horror masterpiece was my first R-rated watch when I was 7. 
2. “It Comes at Night” – Psychological zombie thriller. Wacky stuff.
3. “Young Frankenstein” – Great comedic take on Frankenstein by Mel Brooks.

Paige Rawson, Entertainment Editor

1. “Bones and All” – I first chose to watch this movie on a whim in theaters, not knowing what it was about, and it immediately became a personal favorite of mine. With the amount of care and development this movie puts into its story and characters, you may sometimes find yourself forgetting you’re watching a cannibalism horror film.
2. “American Psycho” – The combination of satire and societal commentary behind this serial-killer classic automatically makes it a favorite for me!
3. “Nope” – While all of Jordan Peele’s horror films have impressed me, I had the most fun watching “Nope.” I am not normally a fan of sci-fi horror, but Peele’s sci-fi/western fusion was refreshing to see. If you’re looking for a visually spectacular film that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I definitely recommend this one!