Music N' Other Drugs

2025 has been the darkest year of my life, so it makes sense that I’d be drawn to the horror genre even if Halloween wasn’t a week away. Fear has a variety of effects on the human mind and body, and Lord knows I’ve needed a distraction lately.

Because what someone finds scary is entirely subjective, there will be no explanation or sophisticated spiel accompanying any of these selections. I’m not trying to convince you that our choices are superior to others. I’m just encouraging you to watch for yourself and report back if you feel compelled to do so.

“The Blair Witch Project” – Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez

“The Descent” – Directed by Neil Marshall

“Candyman” – Directed by Bernard Rose

“Midsommar” – Directed by Ari Aster

“Videodrome” – Directed by David Cronenberg

“Jacob’s Ladder” – Directed by Adrian Lyne

“Audition” – Directed by Takashi Miike

“Magic” – Directed by Richard Attenborough

“The Changeling” – Directed by Peter Medak

“The Thing” – Directed by John Carpenter

Cooper’s List

“The Haunted Mansion” (2003) – Directed by Rob Minkoff

“Under Wraps” (2021) – Directed by Alex Zamm

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” – Directed by Tim Burton

“R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead” – Directed by Jem Garrard

“Goosebumps” – Directed by Rob Letterman

“Something Wicked This Way Comes” – Directed by Jack Clayton

“Beetlejuice” – Directed by Tim Burton

“Spirit Halloween: The Movie” – Directed by David Poag

“Bride of Boogedy” – Directed by Oz Scott

“Poltergeist” – Directed by Tobe Hooper

Honorable Mentions – “Mr. Boogedy,” “Ghostbusters,” “Nosferatu,” “Halloweentown,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”

Harry’s List

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” – Directed by Henry Selick

“Ghostbusters” – Directed by Ivan Reitman

“Bride Of Boogedy”- Directed by Oz Scott

“Hocus Pocus 2” – Directed by Anne Fletcher

“Casper” – Directed by Brad Silberling

“The Werewolf of Fever Swamp” – Directed by William Fruet

“Hotel Transylvania” – Directed by Gennedy Taratkovsky

“The Addams Family” – Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

“Muppets Haunted Mansion” – Directed by Kirk Thatcher

“The Haunted Mansion” (2023) – Directed by Justin Simien