It’s that spooky time of year again and we encourage you to make the most of this Halloween season by watching, reading, or listening to something that will make your skin crawl!

Whether you’re with friends, or by yourself, we have compiled a list of scary films, books, poems, and stories to keep you entertained. This list is done in order of extremity, with number 1 being the mildest and safest story, and 11-15 being the scariest and most disturbing. Be sure to read the warnings and age ratings carefully and be wary of how much you can handle before enjoying these works. However, if you love all things horrifying (as I do), then grab some popcorn or a cup of tea and get ready to sleep with one eye open!

Mild horror:

1. Coraline | Book and Film

Coraline (Directed by Henry Selick) is the story of a young girl who has just moved to her new home at the Pink Palace apartment complex. While exploring her new home, she comes across a small door, behind which is an alternate world closely mirroring her own in many ways, but is so much better. However, upon visiting this world she realizes that the people there want to keep her there; they want to change her and never let her go! Coraline must use all the resources and bravery she has to make it back to her old life and family.

I personally love this book and its film. Neil Gaiman's writing is entrancing and impossible to look away from, and the stop motion animation in the film is eerie and unique! I would recommend this Tim Burton-esque film and book to anyone who wants to enjoy a mild horror story with some creepy twists with the whole family! While the book and film do differ in many ways, it’s a pretty faithful adaptation and is perfect for a late-night watch or read. Coraline will certainly leave you looking a little closer at your home and the doors within it!

2. Corpse Bride | Film

Corpse Bride (Directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson) is the musical, fantasy story of Victor and Victoria’s families, who have arranged their marriage. Though they like each other, Victor grows increasingly more nervous about the ceremony, and while he is practising his vows in the woods, he disturbs the grave of Emily, a deceased bride who now wants to marry him. He gets dragged down into the underworld and must find a way to escape to the living world before Victoria marries the villainous Barkis Bittern! The dramatic colour scheme of this film is spooky enough as it is; add in the haunting musical numbers with dancing skeletons and pale corpses, and you’ve got the perfect family Halloween film!

I would recommend this film to anyone who loves Tim Burton films. As this weird and wonderful stop motion film unravels, we learn more about the characters and their motives, making for a captivating and haunting watch!

1. The Raven | Poem 

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe is a short and sweet poem following an unknown narrator as he sits on a dreary night in December and reads “Forgotten Lore” beside a dying fire, awaiting the death of his beloved Lenore. However, suddenly, comes tapping at his chamber door! This poem's haunting language and symbolic imagery leaves enough to the imagination and is certain to spook you out on a rainy evening this fall.

I personally love the contrast between the dark, lonely night and the bright and sizzling fire. The suspense is built up just enough to keep you engaged but also nervous, and I was holding my breath without even realising it! I would recommend this poem to anyone looking for a quick read with a long-lasting impact. This poem is a classic example of the “It was a dark and stormy night…” trope in the best way possible!

1. The Green Knight | Short story and film

Next up we have The Green Knight (Directed by David Lowery), or Sir Gawain and The Green Knight (the author remains unknown) if you’re reading the story. This story follows King Arthur’s headstrong nephew as he embarks on a quest to confront the Green Knight, a mysterious giant who appears at Camelot. Risking his head, he sets off on an epic adventure to prove himself before his family and court. The original source material’s author remains unknown, but it was written in Middle English somewhere in the early 17th century. However, a translation can be read online!

I personally love the camera work in this film, some of the shots are so haunting and beautiful, especially in the opening minutes and towards the middle of the film. This film requires a great deal of focus to truly understand its meanings; however, with patience, the story unravels in some very original ways and is unlike any other Arthurian legend I’ve encountered before. I would highly encourage you to read the story as well, as its descriptions of clothing and scenery are incredible and many of the smaller details are left untouched in the film. Due to its length, the film alters and expands many of the story's elements in order to make it feature-length. However, both are amazing and I would recommend this to anyone who wants to really engage with a story and doesn’t mind things being left up for viewers' interpretation. 

WARNING: This film contains some mild violence, and medium sexual content and nudity. The written story contains medium sexual content and medium violence. The official age rating for this film is R-15. 

1. Carrie | Book and film

This short and sweet Stephen King novel has been adapted twice for the screen, once in 1976 (Directed by Brian De Palma and Katt Shea) and then again later in 2013 (Directed by Kimberly Peirce). For this recommendation, I will be talking about the newer Carrie film and the book. This story follows the withdrawn and sensitive teen Carrie White as she faces taunting and bullying at school, as well as abuse from her mother at home. When strange occurrences start to happen around Carrie, she begins to suspect she may have supernatural powers. When she is invited to the prom by an empathetic Tommy Ross, she begins to try and let her guard down. However, things soon take a dark and violent turn. Carrie is one of Stephen King's most famous books and for good reason: the book is fast-paced and suspenseful and is sure to keep you engaged. The film is also very entertaining, with great acting performances and cool effects.

I would recommend this film and book to anyone with a slightly higher tolerance for blood and gore but who is not looking to be significantly disturbed. If you love teen drama, supernatural forces, and satisfying revenge stories, then Carrie is sure to tick all the boxes and maybe even make you question some of your friends and their intentions…

WARNING: This film contains medium violence and gore, and the book contains medium language and violence. The official age rating for the film is PG-12.

Medium horror (Grades 9 and up):

1. A Quiet Place | Film 

A Quiet Place (Directed by John Krasinski) follows the story of a family that is forced to live in silence to avoid a mysterious creature that hunts by sound. Knowing that even the slightest footstep or whisper could bring death, Evelyn and Lee are determined to keep their children safe while searching for a way to fight back. This film is quite unique in that it turns a usual monster film into a very suspenseful and mystery based horror film. This slow-burn yet suspenseful film is sure to keep you silent as you hold your breath.

I would recommend this film to anyone looking for a family drama with empowering and, at times, frustrating characters who are fighting an unknown force while completely alone. The added element of isolation that this film brings is a great touch!

WARNING: The film contains medium violence and gore, medium language and visible character struggling. The official age rating is PG-13.

1. 13 Chairs | Book 

Dave Shelton’s 13 Chairs follows the story of Jack. After summoning the courage to open a creaking door in an old spooky house Jack finds himself in a candlelit room with 12 strangers seated around a large table. Someone brings him a chair and thus begins an evening of storytelling as one by one the strangers tell haunting tales, each extinguishing their candle when done. Will Jack have the courage to listen, and maybe even tell his own tale? This is a great book to read gradually, you can pick up a new short story whenever you feel like it. On your commute to school, before you go to sleep, etc. They are pretty self-contained and short! The artwork that is featured at the beginning of each story is so beautiful and the brushwork is extremely creepy.

I would recommend this book to anyone who may not have time to sit down and pay attention to a long book consistently and instead is looking for something creepy to read this October. I guarantee that everyone can get something out of this book!

1. Bird Box | Film 

Ready Or Not is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. This film follows Grace as she is getting ready to marry the man of her dreams at his family's luxurious estate. There is one twist, though: she has to hide from midnight till dawn inside the estate while her new in-laws hunt her down with guns, crossbows, and other weapons. As Grace desperately tries to survive the night, she soon finds a way to flip the game on her crazy relatives! This film is a purely entertaining and often quite humorous gory horror flick. The family bickers with each other as they realise how unprepared they are for the game and many of the scenes are cheesy in the best way! I would highly recommend this film to anybody who wants a suspenseful horror flick that will gross you out but not necessarily stick with you. The gothic mansion, interesting weapon choices and amazing costumes are iconic and are very atmospheric!

WARNING: This film contains high violence and is very gruesome. It contains death, suicide, etc. Characters struggle, and there is mild sexual content and strong language. The official age rating is R-15.

9. Ready or Not | Film

Ready Or Not is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. This film follows Grace as she is getting ready to marry the man of her dreams at his family's luxurious estate. There is one twist, though: she has to hide from midnight till dawn inside the estate while her new in-laws hunt her down with guns, crossbows, and other weapons. As Grace desperately tries to survive the night, she soon finds a way to flip the game on her crazy relatives! This film is a purely entertaining and often quite humorous gory horror flick. The family bickers with each other as they realise how unprepared they are for the game and many of the scenes are cheesy in the best way! I would highly recommend this film to anybody who wants a suspenseful horror flick that will gross you out but not necessarily stick with you. The gothic mansion, interesting weapon choices and amazing costumes are iconic and are very atmospheric!

WARNING: This film contains heavy gore, drug use, strong language and characters struggling. The official age rating is R-15.

10. IT Chapter 1 and 2 | Book and film

Stephen King's iconic novel has been adapted twice for the screen, with the 1990s miniseries (directed by Tommy Lee Wallace) and now the 2017 and 2019 film duology (Directed by Andrés Muschietti). I will be recommending the book and the newer film duology! Stephen King's IT follows seven young outcasts in Derry, Maine, who are about to face their worst nightmare: a demonic, shape-shifting evil that emerges from the sewers every 27 years to feast on the fear of the town's children. In the first film, the children band together over summer to defeat this evil entity known as Pennywise the clown. In the second instalment, the seven outcasts, now adults, are called back to Derry to finish what they started 27 years ago. While the book switches between time frames regularly, the films are split into two main times, making it a lot easier to follow. These films are some of the best book-to-movie adaptations I've seen, and while the first one is certainly done better, both of them are equally entertaining and very well acted.

I would recommend the book to anyone who wants a fully immersive reading experience because while this book is very long (1138 pages), it does pack in a lot about the town's history and has a wide range of characters. However, I would recommend the films to anybody who is looking for an engaging and fantastical experience that has great pacing and awesome characters.

WARNING: This film contains mild implicit sexual content, very strong language, bullying, smoking, abuse, gore, and violence. The official age rating is R-15.

EXTREME HORROR (OLDER AUDIENCES):

11. Pet Sematary | Book

I will only be talking about Stephen King's novel in this recommendation. Pet Sematary follows Dr Louis Creed, who, after moving into a new home with his wife Rachel and their two children, discovers a creepy and mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their home that may be supernatural. This book, while dated in many of its themes, is a great Halloween read. Stephen King himself regards this as his darkest novel, and while not overly violent, it will certainly make you look twice at your pets. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a dark and slightly slower novel that builds on suspense and themes, rather than someone who is looking for a quick horror flick.

WARNING: This book contains mild sexual content, dark and heavy themes of loss and death, slight gore, grief, strong language and smoking. The official age rating is R-15.

12. US | Film

Jordon Peele's second directorial work is US, a strange and thematic doppelganger film that comments on the American dream and human nature! Along with her husband, son and daughter, Adelaide Wilson returns to her holiday home where she grew up. Haunted by a traumatic experience from her past, Adelaide becomes increasingly more paranoid that something bad is going to happen. Her fears come true as 4 killers attack the house wearing red jumpsuits and peculiar masks. When they eventually reveal their faces, the family is shocked to find that the attackers each take the appearance of one of them. As more and more doppelgangers emerge to take on their other half, startling and creepy truths are revealed. This film's superb acting is the highlight for me personally, as well as the original and stylistic design of the film, this is a "watch twice" kind of film that will leave many people confused at the end.

WARNING: This film contains gore, strong language, violence, characters' fight and struggle, flames and various other disasters. The official age rating is R-15.

13. The Shining | Book and film

The Shining is based on Stephen King's novel of the same name and is directed by Stanely Kubrik. This famous masterpiece of a horror film follows Jack Torrance as he and his family move into the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado as winter caretakers. Hoping to cure his writer's block and fix his marriage, he sets off along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, who is plagued by his psychic visions and feelings. His writing goes nowhere, and he begins to spiral into a homicidal fit, brought on by the hotel. At the same time, Danny's visions get increasingly more terrifying. Can they survive the Overlook Hotel? While this horror film is not my favourite of all time, it is definitely scary, more so than the book; Stanley Kubrik's version of this story feels very claustrophobic, with isolation being a large theme in this story. The Shining feels like a fever dream of suspense, one that will keep you up all night for sure!

I would recommend this to anyone who wants a more developed story. While this isn't exactly a slow burn film, anyone who is looking to be on the edge of their seat for most of the film will enjoy this!

WARNING: This film contains violence, medium gore, strong language, struggling, mental health issues, substance abuse, and mild sexual content. The official age rating is R-15.

14. The Witch | Film

The Witch was Robert Eggers directorial debut; despite this fact, it has already terrified hundreds with its increasingly uncomfortable atmosphere and hauntingly disturbing soundtrack. The film follows a farmer, and his wife and children, in 1630s New England as panic and despair hit the family when their youngest son Samuel goes missing. The family begin to suspect each other and begin to accuse their oldest daughter Thomalsin of witchcraft. This tests their faith and loyalty to one another as they attempt to uncover the truth and save their family from an awful fate.

I would recommend this to anyone who is up for the weird and crazy. This film is unlike anything I've seen before and it definitely feels like you're watching something you shouldn't be, like a twisted and dark look into a private story. Anyone who doesn't mind things being left up for interpretation will enjoy this film. It is deeply disturbing and oddly captivating.

WARNING: The film contains graphic violence, struggling, talk of sacrifice, witchcraft and the devil, sexual content and dark themes. The official age rating is R-15.

15. Hereditary | Film 

Ari Astler's directorial debut Hereditary has often been called "The best horror film since The Exorcist," and I could not agree more. The director describes it as "A tragedy that curdles into a nightmare." This suspenseful and dark film builds tension to the point where I was holding my breath without knowing why. It leaves you sitting in silence long after the credits roll! Surprisingly, this horror film lacks many jump-scares, relying solely on its built-up terror and withdrawn knowledge to scare the viewer, a choice that, in my opinion, pays off immensely. Hereditary begins after the death of a mysterious woman, and as her children and grandchildren begin to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry, they attempt to outrun the sinister fate they have inherited before it's too late. This film is not only horror but also an interesting and dark family drama allowing many people to relate to it, despite its more fantastical elements, making it all the more horrifying.

I would recommend this film to anyone who is a fan of horror. Going in blind to this film, while certainly a twisted experience, is unlike anything else, and I would be cautious of it if you are more sensitive to horror. However, if you think you can handle it, then this film is a masterfully crafted horror as well as a raw depiction of grief and familial issues.

WARNING: The film contains graphic gore and violence, twisted and dark themes, suicide, death, grief, drugs, strong language, mild nudity, struggling, mental health issues, and violence towards animals. The official age rating is R-15.