Seeking Cinema’s Best Scares: Comparing Five Beloved Halloween Movies
Bordering between nostalgically reminiscent of childhood stories and hauntingly somber, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” remains an immortal classic for all audiences.
October 30, 2019
From jumpscares to nightmares, horror movies have become an integral part of Halloween culture. With Oct. 31 around the corner, children and adults alike are searching for the creepiest and most horrific films to watch late at night. Ranked from worst to best, here are five of the most popular Halloween movies.
5. “Monster House” (2006)
“Monster House” does a wonderful job with development, infusing each character with witty lines and a distinctive personality. That being said, the overall character design is nothing to be impressed by. Unfortunately, the plot also fails to meet expectations; there are many scenes, especially toward the end, where the story borders on nonsensical, making the movie difficult to follow.
4. “The Ring” (2002)
From the lulling music to the darkened lighting, “The Ring” keeps audiences on edge right from the start. However, the film does a poor job with characterization, making it difficult to empathize with any of the characters. Luckily, audiences can overlook these aspects in favor of the movie’s gradual reveal: as the story progresses, viewers become closer to understanding the true horrors of the disturbing antagonist.
3. “Coraline” (2009)
With an animation style unlike any other, “Coraline” impresses audiences with its gorgeous, yet disturbing visuals and vibrant colors. Its plot, which starts off unassumingly, slowly develops into a spine-chilling story that provokes imagination and elicits fear. While “Coraline” is undoubtedly thrilling, most of the horror occurs late into film, forcing audiences to wait through an extended period of little action.
2. “The Sixth Sense” (1999)
Unlike most horror movies, “The Sixth Sense” does not rely on jumpscares; instead, the film is horrifying in its suspenseful build-up to the climax and cathartic storytelling. All throughout, audiences will marvel at the superb acting of lead actors Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis and become speechless over the unexpected plot reveals.
1. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
Deemed by many as the quintessential Halloween film, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” frightens and delights audiences with its whimsical animation style, reminiscent of a bedtime story. Haunting in its own right, the plot breaks boundaries by introducing a perspective of Halloween that is both playfully nostalgic and uncomfortably dark.
To all who watch these movies, happy haunting!
![Art Fair participants from various clubs and art courses had the opportunity to sell handmade creations to students at stands near the ASB room during lunch from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. “I feel like its just a good way to connect with the rest of my peers, the artist community [and] the student body while also giving back to the school because its given me so many opportunities where I can flourish in the creative arts,” artist and junior Alexander Torpus said.](https://portolapilot.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_6896-1-600x400.jpg)
