Halloween: Check out themed and scary movies to watch on Halloween

One of the most terrifying nights, for some, or fun, for others, is coming. This Monday (31) is Halloween.

Popularly known by the English term halloween the word is a shortened version of the sentences All Hallows’ Eve or All Hallows’ Eveningwhich means “All Saints Eve”, or “All Saints Night”, in the Portuguese translation.

The tradition of Halloween as we know it comes from an ancient pagan festival celebrated by the Celts over 2,000 years ago.

On the date that marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere, they believed it was a night when dead spirits could walk among the living. As a way to scare them away, the Celts used to leave skulls, bones and pumpkins in their homes.

Traditionally, on this date, children and teenagers dress up and go from door to door addressing the neighbors: “Sweets or Treats?”.

Costume parties are also popular this time of year. Witches, vampires and movie characters are some of the top choices.

For those who are not going to participate in the celebrations, you can get in the Halloween mood by streaming or in theaters.

Check out 5 movies that will give you goosebumps

Chain of Evil (2014)

Jay leads a normal life for a teenager: he goes to school, walks on the lake in his town and flirts with boys. However, after having sex with one of them, the boy shows that he has an evil force inside him that has now been passed on to her.

While running away from strange creatures that want to kill her, and invisible to the eyes of others, Jay has to decide whether to carry this curse or pass it on.

It’s a teen horror with a much deeper and less moralistic message than you might think.

Cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto

Available on Netflix.

We (2019)

After “Run!” and before “No, Don’t Look!” which opened in theaters this year, Jordan Peele scared everyone with “We” .

The film tells the story of the Wilson family who decide to spend a relaxing weekend at the beach. However, right at the beginning of the trip, a group of people invade the family’s house and take them hostage, the scariest thing is that this group has the same appearance as the Wilson family members.

Functioning as a metaphor for fear itself and providing a social commentary on American racism, it is the director’s most terrifying film.

Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss

Available for rent or purchase on digital platforms.

What’s Left Behind (2020)

Rial and Bol Majur, two immigrants from South Sudan, are fleeing the war and manage to reach Britain in search of asylum. The government then installs the couple in a somewhat old but manageable house.

However, the residence soon transforms and becomes a nightmare. Through the walls, an entity begins to haunt them both, bringing back trauma from the past. It’s a social terror that tackles issues like immigration, war and mental confusion.

Cast: Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, Matt Smith

Available on Netflix.

Maglino (2021)

From the principal James Wan (“The Conjuring” and “Saw”), “Malignant” tells the story of Madson who starts having dreams of people being brutally murdered. Later, the dreams turn out to be visions of crimes that actually happen.

Madson then discovers that they are murdered connected to an entity from his childhood called Gabriel. She needs to connect with her past traumas to save the city.

The film is based on “cinema giallo”, an Italian style of making horror, with a lot of blood and mystery.

Cast: Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young

Available on HBO Max.

Halloween Ends (2022)

Proclaimed the last film in the franchise “Halloween” which had its first production in 1978 and already has 12 films, “Halloween Ends” brings the final confrontation between Laurie Strode and Michael Myers.

Four years after their last date, Laurie is living with her granddaughter and trying to finish her memoir. However, a local murder unleashes a cascade of violence and terror, forcing her to face the evil she cannot control.

The Far is part of the trilogy directed by David Gordon Green, composed “Halloween” (2018) and “Halloween Kills: The Terror Continues” (2021).

Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, Will Patton

Available in cinemas.

For those who are not a horror fan, see themed productions from other genres.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

The brainchild of Tim Burton, “Edward Scissor Hands” tells the story of an artificial youth created by an inventor who died before finishing the work, leaving him without hands. In their place he has huge scissors.

Isolated in a mansion, his life changes when a cosmetics saleswoman enters his house and finds him completely abandoned. With pity, she ends up taking Edward to live with her and her family.

Edward’s arrival in town causes a stir in the neighborhood and he ends up becoming a certain kind of celebrity. However, while some adore him, others persecute him.

Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest

Available on Disney+.

The Addams Family (1991)

Plot responsible for one of the main Halloween costumes, “The Addams Family” tells the story of a family that is deceived and loses its wealth.

A man claiming to be Funerius, the missing brother of Gomez Addams, arrives at the family home. However, he cannot remember details of his life and Morticia begins to suspect that the alleged brother-in-law is a fraud.

Funeral manages to get the Addams clan evicted from their home with help of attorney Tully Alford. Gomez realizes that the two men are plotting to steal his family’s fortune.

Cast: Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, Raúl Juliá

Available on Netflix and HBO Max.

The Strange World of Jack (1993)

The movie that passes the Halloween baton to Christmas preparations, “Jack’s wierd world” it is the perfect mix between the two celebrations.

Skeleton Jack, the Pumpkin King, is bored with the same old routine of screams and scares in Halloween Town, a place full of deformed monsters, ghosts, goblins, vampires, werewolves and witches.

He accidentally opens a portal to Christmas Town, where he sees the joy of the Christmas spirit. Upon returning to his city, not having understood what he saw, he begins to convince citizens to kidnap Santa and make their own Christmas.

Available on Disney+.

Mean Girls (2004)

While not scary at all, the Halloween night scene from “Mean Girls” resonates to this day.

After moving to a suburban town in the United States, Cady begins attending public school and receives a quick introduction to the popularity laws that divide her peers. Unintentionally, she ends up in the middle of an elite group of students dubbed “the mighty ones”.

At the Halloween party, she opts for a gruesome costume while her classmates use the occasion to dress however they want and not be judged.

Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey

Available on Prime Video.

Death Gives You Congratulations (2017)

from the same director of “Paranormal activity” , “Death Gives You Congratulations” mixes suspense and humor in the right tone and results in a witty work, bringing slasher horror back.

On her birthday, Tree is murdered by a masked person. However, she wakes up in her bed and relives that same day over and over again. As she lives on loop that day, she tries to find out who killed her and why.

Two years later, the production gained a sequel.

Cast: Jessica Roth, Rachel Matthews, Phi Vu

Available on Prime Video.

Abracadabra 2 (2022)

Sequel to the 1993 smash hit, “Abracadabra 2” debuted this year with the original cast.

It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th century sisters, and they want revenge.

Now, three teenagers must stop the ravenous witches from unleashing a new kind of chaos in Salem before Halloween is over.

Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy

Available on Disney+.