They’re the things that go bump in the night. Or that cool breeze that crawls up your neck when you least expect it. Sometimes its that shadow that you notice right out of the corner of your eye: Ghosts! It’s one of the most popular movie themes since the beginning of cinema. People just loved to get scared. Wither they’re comedy, horror or classic these are a few great ghost movies to give you the chills this Halloween.
Ghostbusters
This supernatural comedy finds three unemployed parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service. And then the rest is film history! For 30 years Ghostbusters has been one of the best movie from the 1980s. With an all-star cast and some of the best writing and effects to this day. Ghostbusters is a must watch every Halloween.
The Conjuring
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. I still can’t sleep after watching this. It’s fantastic from start to finish. Great acting effects and story. A great modern movie made with old fashion effects for that extra scariness.
Poltergeist
Still one of the best and scariest ghost movies ever made. After a family’s home is haunted by a host of ghosts, nothing for them will ever be the same. A modern day masterpiece of filmmaking: The effects are still talked about to this day as being some of the best. From the tree, pulling your faceoff and the clown: There’s just so much to keep you up and night.
The Woman in Black
A young lawyer travels to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals. A classic gothic ghost story told with modern day filmmaking. Wonderful acting, great effects and some damn good lighting that every scene gives you a spooky feeling. Over all, just a great movie from beginning to end
Beetlejucie
A look into the mind of Tim Burton as he gives us a look into after life: A couple of recently deceased ghosts contract the services of a “bio-exorcist” in order to remove the obnoxious new owners of their house and all hell breaks lose. The shows us a real first look at the world that Burton can create. Creativity on a massive scale, wonderful make-up effects, costumes, sets, music and acting all gather to be one movie that is still talked about to this day as one of the best.
13 Ghosts (1960) and Thir13en (2001)
In the William Castle original from 1960, a family inherits what proves to be a haunted house, but a special pair of goggles allows them to see their ghostly tormentors. In the 2001 remake: When Cyrus Kriticos, a very rich collector of unique things dies, he leaves it all to his nephew and his family: including his house, his fortune, and his malicious collection of ghosts. Both movies have their good and bad moments, but equally share a wealth of creativity and fun.
High Spirits
When Peter Plunkett’s Irish castle turned hotel is about to be repossessed, he decides to spice up the attraction a bit for the ‘Yanks’ by having his staff pretend to haunt the castle. The trouble begins when a busload of American tourists arrive, along with some real ghosts. Among the tourists are married couple Jack and Sharon. Sharon’s father holds the mortgage on Castle Plunkett, so she’s hoping to debunk the ghosts. Jack, on the other hand, after meeting the pretty ghosts Mary, he is very eager to believe. Can there be love between a human and ghost? Jack and Mary are going to try and find out. Actually quite funny with a great cast: Peter O’Toole, Steve Guttenberg, Daryl Hannah, Beverly D’Angelo, Liam Neeson and Jennifer Tilly.
House of Haunted Hill 1959 and 1999
Both films have the same basic plot about the money and spending the night in a scary place. A millionaire offers allot of money to five people who agree to be locked in a large, spooky, house overnight with he and his wife. In the remake the house is an old asylum and has some amazing visuals. Both are fun and have their good and bad qualities.
Topper 1937 and Topper Returns 1941
Cosmo Topper is stuffy, stuck-in-his-ways banker who unfortunately has the ability to see ghost. In 1937: A fun-loving couple, Cary Grant and Constance Bennett, finding that they died and are now ghosts, decide to shake up the stuffy lifestyle of a friend of theirs. And in the sequel, 1941: A sassy girl finds herself dead after trading bedrooms with her heiress friend. Her ghost seeks aid from banker Topper to find out why and by whom. Both are classic comedies with some grant dialogue and slapstick that is still hilarious to this day.
Ghost Ship
A salvage crew that discovers a long-lost 1962 passenger ship floating lifeless in a remote region of the Bering Sea soon notices, as they prepare to tow it back to land, that “strange things” happen. Pretty basic, but has some fun scares and decent effects.
Burnt Offerings
Haunted house chiller from Dan Curtis has Oliver Reed, Karen Black and Betty Davis as summer caretakers moving into gothic house with their young son. The catch? The house rejuvenates a part of itself with each death that occurs on its premises. Some amazing performances from Bette Davis and Burgess Meredith. This is very scary and really F**ked up for the 1970s.
The Frighteners
After a tragic car accident that killed his wife, a man discovers he can communicate with the dead to con people but when a demonic spirit appears, he may be the only one who can stop it from killing the living and the dead. From the mid of Peter Jackson and great acting by Michael J. Fox, John Astin, Dee Wallace, Jeffery Combs and Jake Busey. Totally worth a watch.
So there you are. Some of the best, worst and classic ghost movies that you can watch to give that Halloween vibe you so need this Halloween season. So grab that popcorn and pumpkin ale and stay in tonight and watch a movie!