Turn Out the Lights: Top 13 Horror Films to Watch with the Lights Off
Joshua Macmillan
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4) Hellraiser (1987)
Starring: Ashley Laurence, Doug Bradley, Claire Higgins, Andrew Robinson; Directed By: Clive Barker
There is not much that I can say that hasn’t been said already. This is a perfect film to watch in the dark with or without a few friends around. The make-up effects are remarkable, and the dialogue is instantly quotable. This film is highly enjoyable even after multiple viewings and still holds up to this day. It is another based on written fiction; The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker is pretty much one of the best horror novellas that you can read. The film is a little different than the book, but that’s what you will typically get with any adaptation; however, for the most part it follows the novella to the letter.
3) The Strangers (2008)
Starring: Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman, Glenn Howerton; Directed By: Bryan Bertino
This is one of the most frightening films released after 2000 and is typically the go-to example for the home invasion sub-genre. We follow a young couple who are having issues within their relationship and become the random targets of three masked individuals. This film drips with tension and will leave you begging for more. The Strangers is one of my all-time favorites and scares me every time. This is definitely a film to watch with the lights out!
https://youtu.be/P8O5Vd2VxDM
2) Halloween (1978)
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasance, Nick Castle, P.J. Soles, Nancy Kyes; Directed By: John Carpenter
In Halloween, arguably Carpenter’s best film, we follow the story of high school good girl Laurie Strode as she and her friends are stalked by a masked psychopath. This film is beloved by horror and film fanatics all over the world and is a must-watch during the fall. It is incredibly suspenseful and gripping. I’m sure that everyone reading this list has seen the film, but if by some chance you haven’t, then you need to stop what you are doing and put this one on RIGHT NOW!
1) The Exorcist (1973)
Starring: Linda Blaire, Ellen Burstyn, Max Von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Jason Miller; Directed By: William Friedkin
This is a quintessential film for any horror fanatic. From the subject matter to the actual events that take place within the film, The Exorcist is the perfect movie to throw on late at night with all the lights turned off. It has an incredibly compelling story and is shockingly terrifying. The acting and effects in this film still hold up to this day, making it THE go-to film to view with the lights out! Be sure to watch this one on your next stormy night.
