Sometimes, you just have to go back to the classics—especially as Halloween approaches. While planning your spooky movie marathon, here are 10 iconic horror films from the past 70 years, along with what AP writers had to say about them when they first hit theaters. We’ve resurrected excerpts from their original reviews, edited for clarity—let’s see if they’ve stood the test of time.
“Rear Window” (1954)
Alfred Hitchcock pulls off a masterful trick in “Rear Window,” confining his hero to an apartment where he witnesses, among other things, a murder. James Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Thelma Ritter bring this suspenseful tale to life, making it both thrilling and fun.
“Halloween” (1978)
At 19, Jamie Lee Curtis stars in this creepy thriller, “Halloween.” Though it’s an exploitation film aimed at the thrill market, Curtis is proud of her role. The story revolves around a madman who escapes from an asylum and returns to his hometown to murder his sister’s friends.
“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)
This film moves from one nail-biting moment to the next. Director Jonathan Demme leaves nothing out, making the squeamish better off staying home. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins are stellar in their roles, with Hopkins delivering a chilling portrayal of pure evil.
“Scream” (1996)
In this smart and witty homage to the horror genre, high school students are being killed in slasher film-style murders. “Scream” is terrifying, funny, and a clever twist on the usual horror tropes, showing Wes Craven at his best.
“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)
“Blair Witch” takes viewers on an intense ride, blending fiction and reality as three filmmakers vanish in the woods. It’s a stunning, well-executed concept that keeps audiences squirming in their seats.
“Saw” (2004)
“Saw” is consistent in all the wrong ways—badly written, poorly acted, and lacking any real chills. Despite its flaws, the movie fails to deliver genuine scares, making it more unpleasant than frightening.
“Paranormal Activity” (2009)
A decade after “The Blair Witch Project,” “Paranormal Activity” shares its low-budget, found-footage style. Its eerie, nocturnal sequences capture raw fear, proving that subtle suggestion can be as powerful as a full-on horror spectacle.
“The Conjuring” (2013)
Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson elevate “The Conjuring” beyond the typical haunted-house horror. Though it evokes films like “The Exorcist,” it lacks their raw power. Still, it’s a solid piece of genre filmmaking.
“Get Out” (2017)
Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” is a chilling take on racial tension beneath the surface of liberal white America. It’s both radical and refreshing, flipping the typical horror genre conventions in powerful and unsettling ways.
“Hereditary” (2018)
Ari Aster’s debut, “Hereditary,” is relentlessly unsettling, carrying an aura of dread from beginning to end. It’s so horrifyingly good that even if you don’t want to watch, you might find you can’t look away.
