Horror can be a polarizing genre. Some love it, some are horror-averse, and particularly when thinking about a romantic date night (Halloween or otherwise), it can be daunting to sift through the many tropes that horror presents. As a result, here are selections that feature something for everyone: from the enigmatic to the eccentric, classic to campy.
Carrie (1976)
Directed by: Brian De Palma
Starring: Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, Betty Buckley
An adaptation of Stephen King’s 1974 novel, Carrie White, a withdrawn 16-year-old who is mocked at school and ruthlessly critiqued by her religious mother. When she discovers how to harness telekinetic powers, she exacts revenge on those who have wronged her.
The Fly (1986)
Directed by: David Cronenberg
Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Geena David, John Getz
If on the hunt for something that leans more science-fiction-horror, The Fly tells the story of an eccentric scientist Seth Brundle who, after an experiment goes awry, turns into a human-fly hybrid. When he meets and falls in love with science journalist Veronica "Ronnie" Quaife, the implications of his risky experiment become more significant.
Death Becomes Her (1992)
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Meryl Streep, Bruce Wilis, Goldie Hawn
In this campy horror-comedy Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn star as rivals who fight for the affections of the same man, and drink a dubious potion that promises eternal youth.
The Love Witch (2016)
Directed by: Anna Biller
Starring: Samantha Robinson, Gian Keys, Laura Waddell
A young witch, Elaine, is set on finding love, and from within her gothic apartment she makes love potions and casts spells. However, when her spells work too well, her desire to be loved drives her to the brink and yields disastrous results.
Us (2019)
Directed by: Jordan Peele
Staring: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss
From Jordan Peele, a horror that follows Adelaide and Gabe Wilson, and their children, when they are attacked by a group of menacing doppelgängers. They soon realize that these doppelgangers are in fact genetic clones, called "the Tethered” as they share a soul with their lookalike counterparts, and they have come to "untether" themselves.
