Here’s 20 suggestions, some of which are obvious and some of which are not.

The Essentials

What would Halloween be without watching Halloween (1978)?  And, just to make clear, I’m talking about the John Carpenter Halloween and not any of that David Gordon Green crap.  John Carpenter’s Halloween continues to be one of the most effective horror films ever made and it’s also the rare example of a slasher film in which the victims are just as memorable as the killer.  I love Donald Pleasence’s performance as Dr. Loomis.  Halloween can be viewed on Shudder.

Halloween II (1981) picks up right where the first Halloween ended.  Jamie Lee Curtis doesn’t really do much in this version, other than spend her time limping through the hallways of Haddonfield’s nearly deserted hospital.  However, that just means that we get to spend more time with Dr. Loomis!  Halloween II is nowhere near as effective as the first film but it still introduced some really interesting ideas, like Samhain and Laurie being Michael’s sister.  David Gordon Green decided all of that unnecessary.  I disagree.  Halloween II can be viewed on Peacock.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) does not feature Michael Myers or Laurie Strode or even Dr. Loomis.  However, it does feature the Silver Shamrock theme song, Tom Atkins yelling like a badass, and Don O’Herlihy explaining the true meaning of Halloween.  “….and Happy Halloween.”  Halloween III can be viewed on Peacock.

The Exorcist (1973), William Friedkin’s masterpiece and the first horror film to ever be nominated for Best Picture, is one of the few horror film to remain frightening even after repeat viewings.  I will add that you don’t have to be Catholic to get The Exorcist but it definitely helps.  The Exorcist can be viewed on HBOMax. 

Suspiria (1977) remains Dario Argento’s best film, a dizzying masterpiece of horrific pop art that mixes blood, ballet, witches, music, and names that start with S.  From the moment that Jessica Harper (giving a great performance) steps into the rainy night to the shocking double murder at the red apartment building to the mind-bending climax, Suspiria is a brilliant mix of suspense and horror.  Do not see the remake.  (What is the deal with pretentious schmucks remaking brilliant horror films?)  The original is all you need.  It’s on Tubi.

Inferno (1980) is one of Argento’s more unfairly overlooked films.  A loose sequel to Suspiria, Inferno is a masterpiece of both horror and paranoia.  Irene Miracle’s opening swim is one of Argento’s most haunting set pieces.  The killer kitties are adorable.  The ending features effects work from none other than Mario Bava.  Sadly, the making of Inferno was not a happy experience for Argento and it temporarily soured him on working in America.  This brilliant film is on Tubi.

After his bad experience with Inferno, Argento returned to his giallo roots with Tenebrae (1982).  A series of murders in Rome are connected to an American writer.  Argento reportedly did not get along with star Anthony Franciosa but he still got a good performance out of him.  The wonderfully quirky supporting cast includes John Saxon, Daria Nicolodi, Christian Borromeo, John Steiner, Lara Wendel, Ania Pieroni, and Giuliano Gemma.  This film features several frightening and suspenseful set pieces.  The relentless dog still freaks me out.  Tenebrae can be viewed on Tubi.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) — again, the original and not the remake — holds up surprisingly well.  Whenever I watch it, I’m shocked to be reminded of just how scary Freddy Krueger actually was in his first film appearance.  This Wes Craven shocker is available on HBOMax.

Poltergeist (1982) — the original, not the remake — also holds up well.  JoBeth Williams finding the strength after being thrown around her room to limp down that ever expanding hallway to save her children continues to be both horrifying and inspiring.  Craig T. Nelson’s over-the-top delivery of “YOU LEFT THE BODIES!” continues to make me smile.  Poltergeist can be viewed on HBOMax.

It’s not Halloween without Bruce Campbell and Evil Dead (1981) — the original, though the remake isn’t bad — is available on Tubi.  Though it lacks the humor of the sequels, the first Evil Dead holds up very well and one can definitely see why not only Bruce Campbell but also Sam Raimi went on to have active and successful career afterwards.

In my previous entry, I listed several Vincent Price/Roger Corman collaborations.  Somehow, I failed to include The Masque of the Red Death (1964), which is the best of them all.  Vincent Price is wonderfully evil.  Roger Corman’s direction is appropriately intense.  Nicholas Roeg’s cinematography is beautifully ominous.  It can be viewed on Tubi.

The Wolf Man (1941) — the original, even though I like the remake — is one of my favorite Universal horror films, even if it does leave me wondering how Lon Chaney, Jr. could possibly be the son of Claude Rain.  In future films, Larry Talbot would become a bit too whiny for his own good.  In this one, your heart breaks for him and his father.  The Wolf Man can be viewed on Peacock.

White Zombie (1932) is considered to be first feature-length zombie film.  It’s a bit creaky but it does feature one of Bela Lugosi’s best performances.  One should see it for its historical significance, if nothing else.  It can be viewed on on Tubi!

Odds and Ends

One can debate whether or not Targets (1968) should be considered a horror film or a thriller but it features what is perhaps Boris Karloff’s best performance, playing an aging horror star who fears that his old movies can’t compete with reality.  For once, Karloff is the hero, bravely confronting a madman who starts shooting at the people attending a showing of one of Karloff’s old films.  Targets can be viewed on Pluto TV.

The Dead Pit (1989) is a personal favorite of mine.  An amnesiac (energetically played by Cheryl Lawson) finds herself in an insane asylum where she spends a lot of time running around in her underwear while a doctor performs experiments and the dead rise.  Lawson’s committed performance and director Bett Leonard’s atmospheric direction elevate the entire film.  This is 80s, low-budget horror at its best and it’s on Tubi.

Night of the Demons (1988) asks the question, “Is it really a good idea to have a party in a deserted house?”  Night of the Demons is enjoyable in its shameless and demented way.  Linnea Quigley and Angela Kinkade throw themselves into the role of the two girls throwing the party.  The film is energetic, surprising, witty, and occasionally even scary.  It can be viewed on Tubi.

From the same director as Night of the Demons, Witchboard (1986) is the ultimate film about why one shouldn’t mess with a Ouija board.  I relate to Witchboard because it’s about a redhead who never curses.  Beyond that, though, this is a good horror film that features Stephen Nichols getting upset when everyone fails to take his Ouija board seriously.  This film actually has its share of very real jump scares.  It can be viewed on Tubi.

Wishmaster (1997) is well-remembered for Andrew Divoff’s creepy intensity as the Djinn but the cast is actually a who’s who of horror royalty.  Robert Englund, Tony Todd, George “Buck” Flower, Kane Hodder, Reggie Bannister, Joe Pilato, they all made appearances.  I like the fact that no one ever chooses their words carefully when speaking to Wishmaster.  The film is on Tubi.

Dead and Buried (1981) features strange things happening in a coastal town.  This film feels like a particularly gruesome episode of The Twilight Zone and features a strong performance from Jack Albertson as the coroner with a secret.  It’s on Tubi.

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) has a terrible reputation that is largely deserved but I have to admit that I find it to be strangely fascinating.  It’s such a misfire that you really can’t look away and it takes an all-star cameo approach to its story that feels so wrong that it leaves you wondering whether John Boorman was intentionally going for a parody or not.  Richard Burton doesn’t waste any time with being subtle.  See if you can figure out what’s going on during the flashback scenes.  It’s on Tubi and I dare you to watch it.

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