Movies and series to watch this Halloween

With Halloween approaching, you might feel like watching a horror movie or series, even though Brazil doesn't have as strong a tradition of celebrating this date as it does abroad. To help you choose what to watch, we've put together a list of six horror productions with different styles and themes that are available on streaming services. Get your popcorn ready and watch out for the scares!

The Haunting of Hill House (2017)

Starting the list with a quiet binge-watchable miniseries, 'The Haunting of Hill House' is a great indication. Created by Mike Flanagan, who directed films such as 'Doctor Sleep'' and 'Dangerous Game'', the series is a Netflix production and tells the story of a family who, after moving into a house inhabited by spirits, become haunted by them.

The story is partially based on the book 'The Haunting of Hill House'by Shirley Jackson, having references to the original work mainly in regards to the “living house” that torments the residents, but brings a lot of family drama added by Flanagan that does not exist in the book. The miniseries perfectly balances fear with drama, not relying on scares to immerse the viewer in the story, with the relationships between the characters being essential to build the atmosphere of the show.

The miniseries is part of an anthology, followed by 'The Haunting of the Mansion Bly', based on the novel 'The Turn of the Screw', by Henry James, and a third miniseries that, according to Flanagan, will be inspired by the short story 'The Fall of the House of Usher'by Edgar Allan Poe.

Psycho (1960)

For those who like classic films and stories about crimes and psychopaths, 'Psychosis' is essential. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the film is based on the book of the same name written by Robert Bloch, which in turn was inspired by the case of the murderer Ed Gein, who used parts of the corpses of women who resembled his deceased mother to make women's clothing and accessories.

Even though it was released in 1960, 'Psychosis' has not been damaged by the passage of time and remains one of the most important works in the history of horror cinema. Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins, who manages to make Bates seem fragile and scary at the same time, is one of the most memorable characters in cinema. The film is available in Brazil on Telecine Play.

In addition to sequels that were not as well received, 'Psychosis' most recently gave rise to the series 'Bates Motel', starring Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga, which tells the origins of Norman before the events of the film.

REC (2007)

'REC' It's a Spanish film in the style found footagethat is, a film recorded as if the characters themselves were filming the events. In it, a reporter and her cameraman are filming a story where they follow the work of the firefighters, so when they receive an emergency call from a building, the reporters follow the group. However, when they get there, an infection seems to be spreading through the place, which is closed by the authorities to be kept under quarantine.

The film builds the tension of the characters trapped in a confined space with crazy, angry people transformed by a contagious virus very well. The feeling of claustrophobia is transmitted to those watching and the final sequence is terrifying. Many people don't like it. found footagebut 'REC' is a good way to try to give the style a chance. The film is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Midnight Mass (2021)

The latest release from Mike Flanagan, creator of 'The Haunting of Hill House, does not disappoint fans of his previous projects. In 'Midnight Mass' we follow the changes that occur in a small island community in the USA, well isolated from the coast, with the return of Riley (Zach Gilford), a former resident, after serving time in prison and the arrival of a new and charismatic priest, played by Hamish Linklater.

Strange, and apparently biblical, events begin to happen in the small town and the personal issues of each person come to light and come into conflict with the religion, which is very strong in the place. Just like 'Hill Residence', 'Midnight Mass'' brings a supernatural element, but we don't know what it is at first and this mystery, together with the tensions between the characters, create an atmosphere of suspense that keeps the viewer hooked until the end. 'Midnight Mass' It is also a Netflix production and is available on the platform.

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Extermination (2002)

One of those responsible for the revival of zombie films in the 2000s, 'Extermination' takes place in an England devastated by an epidemic that spreads through the population after just 28 days. The virus is transmitted through saliva and blood and basically turns those infected into zombies (and zombies that run, not the classic ones that walk slowly). We follow the story from the point of view of Jim (played by a young Cillian Murphy), who wakes up in the hospital from a coma without knowing what is happening outside.

If the beginning of Jim's story sounds familiar it's because 'Extermination' directly served as inspiration for the comic strips of 'The Walking Dead', with protagonist Rick waking up from a coma during the zombie apocalypse just like Jim. Combining the horror of a destroyed world, the fear of zombies and also the collapse of society, 'Extermination' manages to balance horror and drama well. The film is available in Brazil on the Star+ streaming service.

Halloween (1978)

'Halloween' is a good choice for those who like slashers, classics and want to binge-watch a franchise. Directed by John Carpenter, the film features the killer Michael Myers escaping from the psychiatric hospital on Halloween night to return to his hometown and stalk and kill a group of young people. A success, 'Halloween' ended up giving rise to a franchise of 12 films, not all of them direct sequels to each other.

Recently, the last two films in the franchise released were sequels to the first two films starring Jamie Lee Curtis: 'Halloween' and 'Halloween Kills: The Terror Continues'. Both bring Curtis back to the franchise and should have their story concluded in a third film. Both the first two films in the franchise and the last ones involve John Carpenter, although he only directed the first film. A good indication, since Carpenter is one of the biggest names in horror, having directed 'The Thing from Another World' and 'On the Brink of Madness'two horror films with a Lovecraftian atmosphere. 'Halloween' is available on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

These were the tips to get into the Halloween spirit without having to leave the house, good popcorn and good scares!

Featured Photo: Janet Leigh. Reproduction/Twitter.