All year round, hip hop is the center of our universe. Yet, some times of year can be so enthralling that we can be swept off of our feet by the seasonal fan fair, put down the headphones for just a moment and trade in our bangers for some indulgent celebration. That’s why, now that Halloween is upon us, it’s hard not to dive into the pantheon of pulse-pounding motion pictures that stimulate the scares this time of year. And while there are plenty (and I mean plenty, like a truly surprising amount) of rappers who have graced the silver screen in a horror movie or two, we here at HotNewHipHop would much rather point you in the direction of good horror flicks to fixate on this weekend.
Like, we could have made a list of rappers who have been in scary movies - but then we would have been responsible for turning your attention to straight up dreadful performances including but not limited to LL Cool J as an aspiring porno screenwriter in "Halloween H20," Sticky Fingaz in the relentlessly offensive "Leprechaun: Back 2 The Hood," and Coolio in "Dracula 3000."
Seriously, these are awful additions to the gallery of horror films.
So, leave those cringe-worthy films in the back of your mind and instead bring these quality ones to the fore. Click along as we give you 13 Must Watch Scary Movies.
The Conjuring (2013)
The aughts haven’t been too kind to the horror movie genre, but 2013 brought about the surprise hit of "The Conjuring." Starring Patrick Wilson (Watchmen) and Vera Farmiga (The Departed) as real-life supernatural investigators looking into a house that is, well, pretty dang supernatural. The scares are legit and don’t rely on gore-core like so many scary movies often do.
The Evil Dead (1981)
The original installment of the cult classic trilogy that has since spawned a reboot and television series, The Evil Dead is equal parts fun and frightening. It’s 80’s origin certainly gives it some inherent campiness, but its irreverence makes up for it. See where all the hype began by checking this Sam Raimi (Spider-Man Trilogy) directorial effort out.
The Ring
11. The Ring (2002)
Based on the foreign "Ringu" film, "The Ring" set our expectations for the 2000-2010 decade delivering quality horror way too high. Truly frightening stuff, with a cast that actually can act! Naomi Watts leads this freaky flick about a haunted videotape that’ll really mess up your week.
Silence of The Lambs (1993)
Get straight-up freaked out in what is arguably the best villainous performance of all time, in the form of Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter. There have been many takes on this haunting character. The "Hannibal" TV show, while short-lived, was successful. "Red Dragon" was a pretty okay addition to the Hannibal anthology. Yet, it’s still "Silence of The Lambs" that has us hooked.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Step aside, "Paranormal Activity"! This is the original grand-daddy found-footage flick that, in 1999, had everyone freaking out. Nothing can match the pre-internet world wondering about the authenticity of this handheld horror flick. Relive the magic this Halloween.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Rebooted to lukewarm success in 2010, the original Freddy Krueger film is still the best. Nothing will remove the claw-gloved, face-melted dream-terrorist from my memories, played expertly by Robert Englund. Oh, it also features the first on-screen performance by Johnny Depp. I won't spoil you on his fate, but let’s just say he’s not the main character.
Halloween (1978)
The original Halloween film is still the best. It’s really a matter of preference, but the '70s & '80s rejuvenated the horror genre by giving us new movie monsters in the form of Freddy, Jason, and Michael Myers. Myers and his creepy William Shatner face mold debut here, and he’s been giving Jamie Lee Curtis trouble ever since.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
This movie is maybe the most important horror movie of all time. Not only did it catapult the zombie sub-genre into the pop-culture forefront, but it was the first horror movie to cast a black man in the lead role. In the heat of the civil rights movement, the fact that a black actor was given a role this substantial in Hollywood and the movie was a box office success makes Night of the Living Dead a true cinematic milestone.
It’s scary, too.
Scream (1996)
I think that the only reason that this movie isn’t heralded as one of the best of all time is because it dances between genres in such a meta way, that some people have trouble putting their finger on it. "Scream" is an ode to all things horror, comedy, and cinema on a whole. Watch it and get mind blown during its final act this Halloween season.
Carrie (1976)
Stephen King has been the source for spooky cinema for years. Don’t pay any mind to the clumsy reboot of this movie starring Chloe Moretz. Instead, spend this holiday with the original Carrie and be scared into not being mean to your class-mates ever again.
Psycho (1960)
After you finish binging on "Bates Motel" on Netflix, catch up with the masterpiece that started it all. "Psycho" has also been victim to a horrid remake, but the original’s legacy lives strong. Alfred Hitchcock is a master of suspense and scares, and his deft directorial hand is on display in full force here.
The Shining (1980)
Spooky twins, a little kid with a malevolent imaginary friend, Jack Nicholson going ape-shit. "The Shining" is the source of all of these things that have become movie cliches at this point. That doesn’t take away from it being a cinematic masterpiece and also truly terrifying. Here’s Johnny!
Exorcist
1. The Exorcist (1973)
"The Exorcist" is the scariest movie of all time. Period. Don’t tempt the devil by neglecting to give this movie a few hours of your time this Halloween. If you do, before long you will be stabbing yourself with a crucifix screaming “FUCK ME!”
Trust me, it ain’t a good look.