When it comes to classic horror films, few are as iconic and influential as John Carpenter’s 1978 slasher masterpiece, Halloween. The terrifying tale of Michael Myers stalking babysitters on Halloween night spawned a hugely successful franchise and inspired countless imitators. If you’re a fan of Halloween and looking for more movies that deliver similar scares, suspense, and masked killers, here are 18 of the best films to add to your watchlist.
1. Black Christmas (1974)
Often cited as one of the earliest slasher films, Black Christmas predates Halloween by several years but laid the groundwork for many tropes the subgenre would become known for[8]. The plot revolves around a group of sorority sisters who are stalked by a deranged killer over the holiday break. With its POV shots, unseen villain, and terrified female leads, Black Christmas is a must-watch for Halloween fans looking to see how the genre evolved.
2. Friday the 13th (1980)
Following on the heels of Halloween‘s success, Friday the 13th kicked off another majorly influential slasher franchise. The first film tells the story of camp counselors getting picked off by a mysterious killer. While the franchise would later become synonymous with the hockey mask-wearing Jason Voorhees, it’s his mother who’s the villain in the original. Friday the 13th has a grittier feel than Halloween but delivers plenty of gruesome kills and jump scares[4][8].
3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street introduced one of horror’s most iconic boogeymen: Freddy Krueger. Unlike the mostly silent Michael Myers, Freddy was a wise-cracking, sadistic killer who stalked teens in their dreams[8]. The film’s imaginative premise and shocking visuals make it a standout, and Robert Englund’s performance made Freddy a genre icon on par with Michael Myers in the slasher pantheon.
4. Scream (1996)
Wes Craven deconstructed the slasher genre he helped popularize with the clever and self-referential Scream. The film follows a group of horror-savvy teens who find themselves living out a real-life slasher plot, complete with a masked killer known as Ghostface. Scream breathed new life into the genre, updating it for a new generation while still paying tribute to classics like Halloween[4][8]. The snappy dialogue, likable cast, and genuine scares make it essential viewing.
5. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre remains one of the most disturbing and influential horror films ever made. The raw, low-budget film follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals, including the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface. While it’s light on plot, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre creates an almost unbearable sense of dread and features shocking moments of violence[4]. It’s a key influence on Halloween and the slasher genre as a whole.
6. Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
An anthology film that weaves together four interconnected stories, Trick ‘r Treat is a loving tribute to Halloween and the horror genre. The segments feature various monsters and ghouls, but the most memorable is Sam, a creepy trick-or-treater in a burlap mask who punishes those who break Halloween traditions[1][8]. With its autumnal atmosphere, dark humor, and reverence for the holiday, Trick ‘r Treat is perfect viewing for fans of Carpenter’s classic.
7. The Strangers (2008)
This effective home invasion thriller sees a couple’s stay at a vacation home turn into a nightmare when three masked strangers show up to terrorize them[9]. With its simple premise, The Strangers wrings scares from the sheer randomness of the violence, making it feel like it could happen to anyone. The villains’ unsettling masks give them an inhuman quality similar to Michael Myers[5].
8. Hush (2016)
Hush puts a spin on the home invasion setup by making its protagonist a deaf writer living in a secluded house in the woods. When a masked killer begins stalking her, she must fight to survive using her remaining senses[8]. Director Mike Flanagan wrings maximum tension from the premise, and the mask worn by the killer is eerily understated but effective[9]. Hush is a masterclass in suspense that Halloween fans should appreciate.
9. It Follows (2014)
It Follows takes the slasher concept of teens in peril and gives it a supernatural twist. After a sexual encounter, a young woman finds herself stalked by a malevolent entity that can take the appearance of anyone as it slowly pursues its target. With its synth-heavy score, suburban setting, and steadily building dread, the film feels like a lost Halloween sequel from the 1980s. It Follows is a modern indie horror gem that genre fans need to seek out.
10. The Funhouse (1981)
Tobe Hooper followed up The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with this slasher set at a seedy carnival. The Funhouse sees a group of teens spending the night in the titular attraction, only to be hunted by a deformed killer. The carnival setting gives the film a creepy ambiance, and Hooper delivers some memorable set-pieces as the teens try to survive the night. It’s a solid, old-school slasher with a unique backdrop.
11. Terrifier (2016)
Terrifier is an unapologetically nasty slasher that follows a psychotic clown named Art as he torments three young women on Halloween night[1]. The film is light on plot and heavy on gory, drawn-out kill scenes that push the boundaries of good taste. What Terrifier lacks in subtlety it makes up for in sheer audacity, and Art the Clown is a memorably menacing villain who can stand alongside Michael Myers in the slasher rogue’s gallery. Not for the faint of heart.
12. The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976)
Based on a real string of unsolved murders in 1940s Arkansas, The Town That Dreaded Sundown is sometimes cited as a proto-slasher. The film follows a Texas Ranger trying to track down the Phantom Killer, who wears a hood over his head as he stalks lovers’ lanes[6]. While it’s a bit rough around the edges, the film features some suspenseful sequences and its villain’s look would go on to inspire Jason Voorhees’ original appearance in Friday the 13th Part 2.
13. Candyman (1992)
Based on a Clive Barker short story, Candyman stars Tony Todd as the hook-handed title character, a murdered slave who returns to haunt the Chicago housing project where he was killed. The film blends slasher elements with supernatural horror as grad student Helen Lyle investigates the Candyman legend. Candyman is a cut above many slasher films of its era thanks to its social commentary, Gothic atmosphere, and Tony Todd’s commanding performance[8].
14. You’re Next (2011)
You’re Next breathes new life into the home invasion thriller with its clever twists and subversive sense of humor. When a wealthy family comes under siege by masked killers during a reunion, it’s up to an unlikely heroine to fight back using her survivalist skills. You’re Next delivers bloody kills and satisfying comeuppances while poking fun at genre conventions. It’s a witty, suspenseful slasher that never fails to entertain.
15. My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Set in a small mining town, My Bloody Valentine sees a pickaxe-wielding killer in mining gear cutting a bloody swath through the local population. The film was heavily cut for violence upon initial release but still delivers suspenseful stalk-and-slash sequences. The miner killer’s mask has an iconic look, and the film’s blue-collar setting gives it a distinct flavor[9]. My Bloody Valentine is an underrated entry in the slasher golden age.
16. The Burning (1981)
After a summer camp caretaker is horribly burned in a prank gone wrong, he returns to take bloody revenge on a new group of campers in The Burning. Notable for being an early showcase for future stars like Jason Alexander and Holly Hunter, the film delivers grisly Tom Savini effects and an intense performance by Lou David as the disfigured killer Cropsy. The Burning was overshadowed by Friday the 13th upon release but has since developed a cult following.
17. Hell Fest (2018)
Hell Fest embraces the Halloween spirit by setting its slasher action in a sprawling horror theme park. A group of friends attending the park on Halloween night find themselves stalked by a masked killer who hides among the performers. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, Hell Fest is an entertaining, old-school slasher that makes great use of its setting. The mask worn by the killer has a simple but creepy design that calls to mind Michael Myers.
18. Haunt (2019)
From the writers of A Quiet Place, Haunt follows a group of friends who visit an “extreme” haunted house on Halloween, only to discover that the scares are very real. The film delivers suspenseful set-pieces as the characters try to survive the deadly attractions, and the masked actors turned killers have memorably disturbing looks[8]. Haunt is a solid Halloween-set chiller that does right by the holiday.
These 18 films embody the spirit of Halloween and demonstrate the breadth of the slasher subgenre it helped popularize. Whether you prefer supernatural killers, home invasion tension, or self-aware thrills, there’s a Halloween-esque film for every horror fan to enjoy. So dim the lights, lock the doors, and settle in for a spooky movie marathon. Just don’t answer the door if you hear a strange noise outside…
