For once, Halloween happens to fall on the weekend. It opens up so many more possibilities for celebration: some people may want to go out and party, while others may simply want to stay home and marathon some horror films. For those looking for something that's actually scary on Halloween, the movie marathon may be the best bet - not to say that parties aren't fun, but a scary movie on a dark night is just so much more personal. Thankfully, Netflix exists, and with enough searching, there are some great horror flicks to be found. So, if you're looking for something to watch this Friday, this list is for you.

Carrie
Rel. 1976

Directed by Brian de Palma

Carrie is one of the absolute classics of the horror genre. It was such a departure from what was popular at the time, and that's exactly what made it stand out. For the entire film, viewers are rooting for Carrie, a young girl who's picked on quite a bit at school. Rarely do horror movies make us relate to the villain so much; it was a fantastic twist on the then-popular slasher genre. Carrie only really becomes the villain during the finale, and even then, it's hard not to be sympathetic with her - and that's what makes the film so great.

The Human Centipede: First Sequence
Rel. 2009

Directed by Tom Six

There are few movies that can even hold a candle to the first Human Centipede film in terms of flat-out gross-ness, but instead of losing the film to its gore, Human Centipede manages to find a balance. There are problems with the film, yes, but the core concept of being sewn to another human is so terrifying on its own that it doesn't really matter, and the film's final shot only solidifies this horror. It's certainly not a movie for those with a weak stomach, but if you can handle it, Human Centipede makes for some great horror.

Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn
Rel. 1987
Directed by Sam Raimi

A lot of movies try to juggle multiple genres at once, but few succeed like Evil Dead 2 does. Unlike the first film, Evil Dead 2 is a perfect blend of both comedy and horror. Sure, there are moments in the film that are supposed to be played up for laughs, but even in the same scene, the movie can go from hysterical to unsettling to outright scary. The effects do look incredibly dated at this point (there's some pretty strange stop-motion on display here), but that doesn't make it any less fun to watch. It's not the straight-up horror flick that the 2013 remake was, but Evil Dead 2 is worth watching simply for Bruce Campbell alone.

Mimic
Rel. 1997

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Warning: do not watch this movie if you don't like bugs. Literally, the entire film is about giant, mutated cockroaches that can imitate human beings. For those who aren't afraid of the creepy crawly side of life, it might simply be a B-horror special effects showcase, but for those who hate the little creatures, the basic concept behind Mimic is scary enough on its own. Regardless, film buffs should check the film out simply because of its director: before Hellboy and Pacific Rim, Guillermo del Toro was making giant bug prosthetics and filming entire movies in sewers. Rarely does a director evolve in such a grand fashion from movie to movie, and looking back on early del Toro is just a treat for movie nerds.

Scream
Rel. 1996
Directed by Wes Craven

Scream is easily the least subtle homage to a genre that's ever been created. Even so, it's considered by many to be the ultimate example of the slasher flick. And seeing as how it was envisioned to be a recreation of the horror films of the '80s, it makes sense. The creator of Freddy Krueger himself, Wes Craven, directed the film, and if there's one thing Craven knows how to do, it's building villains. Despite being around for half the time of his counterparts, 'Ghostface' became a horror icon on the same level as Jason or Michael Meyers. On top of that, unlike its sequels, Scream can actually be pretty frightening. That being said, the film's tongue is never too far from its cheek.

Fright Night
Rel. 1985
Directed by Tom Holland

There was a time where vampires didn't sparkle. In fact, there was a time where vampires were depicted as actual monsters, not just pretty boys who occasionally bite someone's neck. If there's any one film that's a perfect example of vampires as true villains, it's Fright Night. The story is nothing new - it's basically Rear Window with monsters - but once the movie gets going, it becomes a special effects masterpiece. The ending sequence alone is more than enough reason to take a look. Not to sound cliche, but they simply don't make movies like this anymore.

House on Haunted Hill
Rel. 1959
Directed by William Castle

It's impossible to write a list like this without including Vincent Price. Along with Peter Cushing, the man dominated the entire horror film genre for most of the '70s, and House on Haunted Hill was one of the roles that kickstarted Price's horror career. While the remake completely missed the point and forgot to put actual horror in the film, the original maintains a sense of unease, even in light of extremely outdated visual effects. It's a much more slowly-paced film, and might not be for everyone, but watching Vincent Price is an absolute delight every time.

Darkness Falls
Rel. 2003

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman

Quite easily the sleeper on this list, Darkness Falls was a little horror film from the early '00s that seems to have been forgotten. It falls into the gimmicky monster trend that surfaced around the time, and while the 'Tooth Fairy' is an incredibly stupid name for a monster, the idea of not being able to see without getting violently murdered is still a powerful type of scare. It's funny: the film's idea of not being able to see predates the current video game trend by nearly a decade. So, while it may not be the best film in the world, it's still worth a look - and hey, it's not even an hour and half long, so it's not like you'll have to dedicate much time to it.

Day of the Dead
Rel. 1985
Directed by George A. Romero

Halloween just isn't the same without zombies...unfortunately, there's not much to choose from when it comes to Romero zombie films on Netflix. The streaming service may not have his best all-time work, but Day of the Dead is more than good enough for a horror movie marathon. While it may not have the notoriety of Night of the Living Dead or Dawn of the Dead, the film has one of the best villains ever in a zombie film. On top of that, it's got one of the best deaths in any horror film ever - if you're a fan of zombie movies, Day of the Dead is a must-watch.

Hellraiser
Rel. 1987
Directed by Clive Barker

'Twisted' is really the only suitable word to describe Hellraiser. The film was iconic for its 'Cenobite' villains, but many people forget that most of the film is horrific even without the otherworldly creatures. That's not to say the Cenobites aren't scary, they most certainly are, but the movie only gets worse following their debut. The whole film is about twisting and tearing and giant hooks in skin, and while one may expect that from a film about human sacrifice, it doesn't make it any easier to watch. Like The Human Centipede, this is not a film for the faint of heart: the special effects are absolutely amazing, but they're still extremely gory. If you're the type of person that can handle it, Hellraiser is definitely something to watch alone with the lights out.

HONORABLE MENTION:
Axe Giant: The Wrath of Paul Bunyan
Rel. 2013
Directed by Gary Jones

The title of this film alone makes it worth watching. Go watch this movie now.

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