Halloween, at its core, is supposed to be a fun-filled occasion. Timeless traditions like costume parties and trick-or-treating have made it one of the world’s most highly anticipated celebrations every year.
Besides the frights and festivities, Halloween is also home to horror films that have given us goosebumps since they debuted at the cinemas. New scary stories emerge, while old ones resurface, and before you know it, you’ve spent all of October curating a Halloween movie night itinerary with your friends and family.
If you’ve always been curious about the horror genre, especially every Halloween, we’re here to help you find the perfect horror film for your watch list.
Photo: TBA Studios, Netflix Philippines, Focus Pictures, ABS-CBN Star Cinema/YouTube
Horror films aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But once you get acquainted with the genre’s various storytelling methods, you’ll soon learn that horror has far more to offer than just jump scares, suspense, and gore. Once you see past these scaring techniques, you might even find a story that deeply resonates with you, leading you to similar narratives within the horror realm.
Every must-watch horror film strikes a remarkable balance between compelling narratives and spine-chilling scenes that will give you nightmares. If you want to get into the Halloween spirit this year, here’s everything you need to know about the different kinds of horror films and their diverse themes:
Supernatural Horror
This horror subgenre has it all: lingering ghosts, vengeful spirits, power-hungry demons, paranormal entities, curses, you name it. Most supernatural horror films see humans facing dreadful apparitions that invade their lives on earth.
Supernatural horror films explore numerous themes related to religion, folklore, cultural traditions, and superstitions. These subjects are either universal or specific to certain countries. In the Philippines, for instance, mythical creatures like the aswang, manananggal, and mangkukulam come to mind.
Here are a few supernatural horror films you can check out:
- The Conjuring franchise (2013-2025)
- Feng Shui (2004)
- The Healing (2012)
- The Exorcist (1973)
Psychological Thrillers
Psychological thrillers love to mess with your mind. They make you think you’re following one perspective until they flip the script entirely, and that’s when the sheer terror kicks in. Though the scares aren’t as shocking and the stories move at a slower pace than usual, psychological thrillers will leave you deeply disturbed as you helplessly watch each character spiral into endless grief and existential dread.
Here are a few mind-bending thrillers you can check out:
- Nocebo (2022)
- Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara (1995)
- Bliss (2017)
- The Shining (1980)
- Psycho (1960)
- Get Out (2017)
Body Horror
You’re only supposed to watch most body horror films once, and never again—unless you want to feel gross, sick to your stomach, and in need of a cold shower for days on end. These movies literally crawl under your skin and stick to it like an angry rash. You’re in for a ton of blood, guts, and insanely painful physical transformations that you can’t look away from.
Here are a few body horror films you can check out. But do watch them at your own risk:
- The Substance (2024)
- Together (2025)
- The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
- Shake, Rattle, and Roll XV: Ulam (2014)
Found Footage Films
Found footage films are told through raw, unedited first-person video recordings, giving the subgenre a highly realistic look and feel. It’s like watching a true story unfold as the lines between reality and fiction start to blur. Just be careful if you’re prone to motion sickness. These movies’ shaky and unsteady filming style will give you an instant headache.
Here are a few found footage movies you can check out:
- Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)
- Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital (2024)
- The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- Paranormal Activity (2007)
Slasher Films
If you prefer fast-paced horror movies with high stakes, slasher films are right up your alley. They revolve around mysterious killers, often in signature disguises that match their aliases. No one can resist the thrill of connecting clues and creating theories on who these anonymous killers may be as you await their dramatic reveals.
Here are a few action-packed slasher films you can check out:
- Bloody Crayons (2017)
- Scream (1996)
- I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Home Invasion Films
Home invasion films feature intense stand-offs between homeowners and ruthless burglars who’ve broken into their residences. Smarts and strategies are put to the test in these suspenseful fights for survival that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Here are a few heart-stopping home invasion films you can check out:
- The Purge (2013)
- Hush (2016)
- The Strangers (2008)
Romantic Horror Films
Ghosts and ghouls deserve true love, too. These hilarious and heartfelt films showcase the ups and downs of their journeys to find their soulmates and navigate the emotional complications of relationships. Romantic horror stories tone down the freakish energy to make room for all the feels that will help you develop a soft spot for the monsters you once feared severely.
Here are a few romantic horror films you can check out:
- Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
- Your Monster (2024)
Apocalyptic Horror
Horror, action, and science fiction join forces in these tragic and harrowing films set before, during, and after an apocalypse. In these stories, humanity is overrun by zombies, aliens, and other unidentified creatures. No one can be trusted, almost all of mankind is wiped out, and survival gets more challenging by the minute.
Here are a few apocalyptic films you can check out:
- Block Z (2020)
- Outside (2024)
- Shake, Rattle, and Roll Extreme: Rage (2024)
- A Quiet Place (2018)
- 28 Days Later (2002)
ALSO READ: 5 New Filipino Horror Films That Have Taken Over the Big Screen This Year
What’s your favorite horror film subgenre? Share your picks with us in the comments below!
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