My 2025 Halloween Season Movie Watching list (Part 1)
It’s October 1st, and that means it’s officially time to get your Halloween movies going! Like many, my wife and I love dedicating the entire month to revisiting our favorite horror and scary films. If you’re looking for recommendations on what to watch, this is Part 1 of my Halloween season list.
I quickly realized that if I tried to put everything into one post, it would turn into a massive read — so I’ve decided to split my list into multiple parts. These aren’t ranked in any particular order—just movies I think are worth checking out if you’ve never seen them, or revisiting if it’s been a while. I’ll be posting Part 2 very soon (tomorrow or Friday), so keep an eye out for more recommendations.
Table of Contents
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
I can’t go through the season without this one. Halloween III is one of my personal favorites—not just a Halloween film, but a fascinating “what could have been” moment in horror history.
John Carpenter originally envisioned the Halloween franchise as an anthology series, with each new entry telling a different spooky tale. But the studio pressured him into bringing back Michael Myers for the sequel, and by the time Season of the Witch came out, audiences weren’t ready for the change.
Me? I got it completely. I love the standalone story, the eerie atmosphere, and especially the music. The “Chariots of Pumpkins” theme remains one of my all-time favorites. In fact, I loved it so much that I recorded my own cover of it!
And speaking of music—before we go any further, a little shameless plug: my Original Motion Picture Score for the short film Dead Love releases tomorrow, and yes, my cover of “Chariots of Pumpkins” is included on it.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
Dead Love: A Fever Dream of Terror
Since I just mentioned it, let’s go ahead and make Dead Love my next pick. This short film is an eerie, emotionally driven story that explores grief, ritual, and descent into the unknown. It’s not a long film, but it lingers with you — the kind of unsettling experience that feels perfect for a Halloween watchlist.
What makes this one especially close to my heart is that I had the honor of composing the Original Motion Picture Score. Creating the music for Dead Love was a chance to stretch into darker, more atmospheric territory — weaving in tension, mystery, and unease in ways that matched the film’s imagery.
And here’s the exciting part: the Dead Love Original Motion Picture Score releases this Friday — just two days from now! The album also features my cover of John Carpenter’s classic “Chariots of Pumpkins,” making this film feel right at home on my Halloween list.
👉 You can pre-save and listen to Dead Love here: http://owtt.lnk.to/deadloveWE
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls (yeah, I might be a little biased on this one 😅)
The Conjuring Universe (All Films in Chronological Order)
Next up isn’t a single movie, but an entire connected universe. My wife and I just wrapped up another full watch-through of The Conjuring films, and it’s always a highlight of the Halloween season for us.
I suggest watching these in chronological universe order instead of release order — it really helps you see the threads connecting each story, especially with recurring characters and the demon Valak. For me, the only two weaker entries are The Nun II and The Curse of La Llorona, but overall this is one of the strongest horror franchises ever made.
Here’s a breakdown, film by film:
The Nun (1952)
This Gothic horror story kicks everything off. A priest and a novice are sent to a Romanian abbey to investigate a nun’s suicide, only to uncover the true evil at work — Valak, the demon nun. While the film has its flaws, the atmosphere is fantastic. I love the visuals of the abbey and the way it introduces Valak as a central figure in the universe.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
Annabelle: Creation (1955)
The origin of the cursed doll. A dollmaker and his grieving wife open their home to orphaned girls, only to unleash something they cannot control. This one surprised me the first time I saw it — it’s emotional, tragic, and honestly one of the best-crafted films in the series. The scares are sharp, but it’s the story that sticks.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
The Nun II (1956)
Sister Irene returns to face Valak again, this time in France. There are some strong moments and visuals, but it doesn’t have the same staying power as the first Nun film. For me, it felt a little scattered, though it does expand Valak’s mythos.
Rating: 💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
Annabelle (1967)
Set in California, this one follows a young couple terrorized after bringing the cursed doll into their home. It leans hard into cult themes and possession. It’s creepy, though not quite as effective as Creation. Still, it ties the doll firmly into the larger world of the Warrens.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
The Conjuring (1971)
The movie that started it all (in release order) and still the strongest entry in my opinion. Ed and Lorraine Warren are called to help the Perron family at their farmhouse in Rhode Island. This film nails atmosphere, pacing, and tension like very few modern horror films do. Every October, this is a must-watch for us.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
Annabelle Comes Home (1972)
This one takes place right after The Conjuring and focuses on the Warrens’ infamous artifact room. With the couple away, their daughter Judy and her babysitters end up facing all the objects trying to break free. It’s chaotic, creepy, and also a lot of fun. I like how it gives the artifact room — which has always been teased — a real showcase.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
The Curse of La Llorona (1973)
This film borrows from Latin American folklore about the “Weeping Woman,” a ghostly mother who preys on children. It’s linked to the Conjuring world through Father Perez (from Annabelle). While the legend is fascinating, this one didn’t resonate as strongly for me. It felt more disconnected from the core series.
Rating: 💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
The Conjuring 2 (1977)
Another highlight of the franchise. This time the Warrens travel to Enfield, London, to investigate one of the most famous poltergeist cases ever. It’s chilling, emotional, and ties Valak deeper into the mythology. For me, this is right up there with the first film — maybe even better in some ways.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (1981)
A darker entry that blends horror with true crime. It’s based on the real-life case where demonic possession was used as a murder defense in court. The courtroom drama angle makes it feel unique in the series, though it’s less focused on relentless scares and more on atmosphere and tension.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
The most recent and reportedly final entry in the mainline Conjuring films. This one jumps between different eras, from the Warrens investigating a haunted mirror in the 1960s to cases in the 1980s, trying to tie together the threads of the entire universe. It’s ambitious and a fitting capstone, though not without uneven moments. Still, it’s worth watching if you’ve made it this far — especially for the sense of closure it brings to Ed and Lorraine’s cinematic journey.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
I probably saw this when I was WAY too young — and honestly, it scarred me in the best way possible. To this day, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remains one of the most horrifying pictures I’ve ever seen.
It’s raw, unsettling, and has a grit to it that makes it feel almost too real. The story follows a group of friends who fall into the path of the Sawyer family, led by the now-iconic Leatherface. Unlike a lot of horror films, this one doesn’t lean on flashy effects or excessive gore — the terror comes from the relentless atmosphere, the grainy documentary-like feel, and the sheer madness of what’s unfolding.
If you’re a slasher fan, this is required viewing. It’s not just one of the earliest and most influential slashers ever made — it’s also one of the most disturbing. Even decades later, it hasn’t lost its power to unsettle.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
Weapons
Holy crap did we love this movie. My gods — it was good.
Weapons is the latest film from writer-director Zach Cregger, who also gave us Barbarian. Much like that one, this movie is hard to describe without giving too much away — and that’s part of its genius. It weaves multiple stories together, slowly revealing connections, and keeps you guessing at every turn.
What I can say is that it’s disturbing, thought-provoking, and lingers with you long after the credits roll. It doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares; instead, it builds dread through atmosphere, shocking reveals, and the unsettling realization that what you’re watching is much bigger (and darker) than you thought.
For me and my wife, this was an immediate “must-watch again” film, and it’s absolutely earned a permanent spot on our Halloween season list.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
The Addams Family Movies (1991 & 1993)
Sometimes Halloween isn’t just about scares — it’s also about fun, dark comedy, and a little spooky family charm. That’s where The Addams Family films come in.
The 1991 Addams Family brought Charles Addams’ iconic characters to life in a modern way, with Raul Julia as Gomez, Anjelica Huston as Morticia, and Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester. It’s a movie that balances creepy with funny, macabre with heartfelt, and it still holds up as a seasonal classic.
Then in 1993 came Addams Family Values — and honestly, I think it might be even better than the first. This sequel leans harder into absurd comedy and satire, while still keeping all the spooky charm intact. The summer camp scenes with Wednesday and Pugsley are legendary.
If you’re looking for something lighter than slasher films or supernatural horror, these are perfect Halloween watches. They bring the season’s atmosphere without the nightmares, and they’re a blast to revisit every October.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
The Fog (1980)
As a huge John Carpenter fan, I couldn’t make a Halloween watchlist without including The Fog. This 1980 classic is dripping with atmosphere — one of those movies where the dread creeps in slowly, like the mist rolling across Antonio Bay.
The story centers on a coastal town haunted by vengeful spirits of lepers who were betrayed and left to die a century earlier. As the fog rolls in, so does their wrath. With Carpenter’s signature score pulsing beneath it all, the tension never lets up.
What I love most about The Fog is its mood. It’s not about over-the-top gore — it’s about ghostly presence, eerie silence, and the feeling that something just isn’t right. Carpenter proves once again that sometimes the scariest things are what you don’t fully see.
If you’re building a Halloween marathon, this is a must for fans of atmospheric supernatural horror.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
Halloween
Well, you didn’t think I would end Part 1 without at least adding the original Carpenter classic Halloween, right?
This is the one that changed horror forever. Carpenter’s tale of Michael Myers escaping from an asylum and returning to terrorize his hometown is simple on the surface, but its execution is what makes it timeless. The quiet suburban streets, the creeping shadows, and that unforgettable score — it all comes together to create one of the most iconic horror films ever made.
For me, this isn’t just required Halloween viewing — it’s the foundation of the modern slasher genre. Even if you’ve seen it a dozen times (and I have), there’s always something chilling about watching Michael silently stalk Laurie Strode through the streets of Haddonfield.
Every October, this one has a guaranteed spot on my list.
Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 Skulls
To Be Continued…
That wraps up Part 1 of my 2025 Halloween Season Movie Watching List. From Carpenter classics like Halloween III and The Fog, to the sprawling Conjuring universe, to unforgettable slashers like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre — and even the lighter spooks of The Addams Family — these are the films that kick off my October viewing tradition every year.
But we’re only just getting started. This list would be far too long for one post, so consider this the first chapter in a multi-part series. I’ll be back with Part 2 very soon (tomorrow or Friday), where I’ll share even more of the films my wife and I love revisiting during the Halloween season.
👉 Would you like for me to share more? Let me know in the comments or on social media — I’d love to hear if you want me to keep building this series through October.
Until then, grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and start your own spooky marathon.
– Keith
Oh and don’t forget to pre-save and listen to Dead Love here: http://owtt.lnk.to/deadloveWE