The month of October is underway, and with October comes a slew of horror movies on both television and on the silver screen.

The horror genre has been around since the beginning of film. It has survived many ups and downs and shows no signs of dying off. As with any genre, it has the movies that made it what it is.

Here is my list of the greatest horror films ever made. Let us start the show.

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10. Poltergeist (1982):

While many of the effects are dated, Poltergeist is a gripping and horrifying film. This is not because the movie is gruesome or gory, but because the characters are captivating. By building this film around an average family, it makes any slight attack toward them riveting. It proves a great horror film does not have to be rated R.

9. Night of the Living Dead (1968)/ Dawn of the Dead (1978):

This was a difficult decision. One of the many things I thought about with every choice was its impact on the genre. Both of these films changed the genre forever. “Night of the Living Dead” created the zombie movie, while “Dawn of the Dead” perfected it. Without these movies, it does not exist. To deny one and elevate the other would be film critic blasphemy. Both movies are also examples of how to effectively use horror as social commentary.

8. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974):

This film is a gritty masterpiece. It does something many horror movies only dream of, something many try to emulate, but most do not achieve. It seems real. This movie seems like something straight from the tapes of the Manson family. You feel like you are watching a snuff film and know nothing good can come from watching it.

7. Halloween (1978):

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John Carpenter is an odd director. While mostly known for his campy, stylized takes on things, he is also an outside-the-box thinker. “Halloween” is just one of the many examples of this. While “Halloween” did not create the slasher genre, it helped push it into the mainstream. It uses minimalism to its best capacities. We know next to nothing about Michael Meyers or why he kills, and that is half of the fright.

6. The Silence of the Lambs (1991):

Silence of the Lambs is the only horror movie to win an Oscar for Best Picture. That alone should be reason enough to be on this list. While many do not consider it horror, it is hard not to see the horrorific elements it contains. The movie is example of a psychological horror as opposed to jump scares. It is not a particularly gory film, relying more on what the characters Hannibal Lector and Buffalo Bill bring to the film.

5. Jaws (1975):

This film helped legitimize the genre but is never looked at as a horror movie. “Jaws” is a movie that nears perfection in general. Introduce dynamic and relatable characters then pit them against the problem. This a sure fire way to get the viewers on the edge of their seats. Not to mention, the villain is rarely seen. The climatic scene with the famous line, “You’re going to need a bigger boat,” is beyond heart-pounding.

4. Alien (1979):

Alien is the high mark and standard for sci-fi horror. Look at any sci-fi horror film since 1979. The design of the titular Alien is something of nightmares. This film also uses its surroundings as another character. At times, the space station is claustrophobic and there is never enough room for Ripley and the crew of the Nostromo to move. Other times, it is a labyrinthine in length.

3. Psycho (1960):

As any horror aficionado will know, Psycho did not create the slasher genre. What Psycho did do was sensationalize and define the slasher film. Without it, there is no “Halloween” or even “Nightmare on Elm Street.” Alfred Hitchcock did more for the thriller and horror genre than anyone else. “Psycho” is just another piece of evidence toward that.

2. The Shining (1980):

This film is the epitome of a psychological horror movie. This Stanley Kubrick film is part of our social conscience and for good reason. The bloody elevator and the contents of room 237 still haunt us today. It hits largely on the fear of being alone, in a frightening situation. It is a high mark for Jack Nicholson’s career and a must-see for any film lover.

1. The Exorcist (1973):

The Exorcist is a film horror movies should strive to be. While it did not win Best Picture, it won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film taps into fears everyone can empathize with, even if you are a non-believer: Questioning faith, destruction of family and evil that can be measured. These are fears people battle every day, and this movie capitalizes on them with relatable and riveting characters.

Jacob Pierce can be reached at on Twitter @JacobPierce1_DE or at 536-3311 ext.273