Halloween Binge: 7 Movies That Will Actually Scare You, Not Just Spook You

The scariest time of the year is almost here. And if on this All Hallows Eve, instead of going to a party full of pink Barbie costumes, you feel like getting in the spirit of the holiday and staying home to watch horror movies, here are a few hair-raising flicks guaranteed to make the night unforgettable.

Be careful. These films are for real and may scar you for life.

The Strangers (2008)

This psychological thriller follows a couple whose vacation in a remote cabin is interrupted by the appearance of three masked men with evil intentions. The story is so shockingly realistic that many viewers who saw it years ago still avoid renting isolated houses and opening their doors to strangers.

Threads (1984)

The story of a medium-sized town caught in a full-scale nuclear exchange premiered almost 40 years ago, but it still scares the hell out of viewers. The movie is so drenched in despair and horror that it is hard to sit through.

Misery (1990)

On a lighter but still terrifying note, this iconic adaptation of the Stephen King novel is bloodcurdling in its own way. The kidnapping and imprisonment of a popular author by a psychotic fan is so realistic, thanks to Kathy Bates' incomparable performance, that you can't help but put yourself in the victim's shoes.

Martyrs (2008)

The story full of gore and torture scenes may seem slow-burning and pointless at first, but the ending really gets under your skin (pun intended) and messes with your head. All the bloodshed and suffering leads to a surprisingly deep reflection on the meaning of existence.

Event Horizon (1997)

The iconic sci-fi horror film about a rescue crew investigating a long-lost spaceship that suddenly reappears in orbit is filled with gory violence and moments of awe, but that is not what is most disturbing. It is the foreboding atmosphere that grabs the viewer and stays with them long after the movie is over.

Hereditary (2018)

Ari Aster's psychological horror has two layers, and both are unnerving. The story of a grieving family tormented by a demonic entity is presented through some highly disturbing scenes and scares, but at its core it is about the family trauma that you can never really escape.

Fire in the Sky (1993)

This movie about an encounter with aliens is not that scary, but it builds up to one of the most horrific, vivid and graphic scenes ever committed to celluloid. The abduction scene near the end of the movie ruined many childhoods and continues to haunt people into adulthood.