31 horror films you need to watch this October

The Conjuring

The Plot

Shortly after moving into an old Rhode Island farmhouse, the Perron family experience a series of unfortunate paranormal events. From nocturnal presences to demonic clapping, it’s not long before the family has had enough; they call in paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren to help rid their home of its evil presence. It soon becomes clear that the supernatural infestation is not as simple to oust as the Warrens might have hoped, and the house’s malevolent history stretches back far longer than they feared.

The Breakdown

The Conjuring universe focuses around the Warrens, real-life paranormal investigators who were, in reality, proved to be frauds. But though the true material might be smoke and mirrors, the horror in the movies is very real. As suitable for a movie focused around paranormal investigators, the source of the supernatural terror is layered. The characters spend much of the movie attempting to find the source of the evil, from ghosts to curses to witches to demons, and trying to wrangle the Catholic Church into agreeing to let the Warrens help. There’s a great family story at the center of it, interlaced with Ed and Lorraine’s history as paranormal investigators. The characters and the scares are equally solid.

The Scare Factor

The Conjuring is frightening on a dozen different levels. Creepy music boxes, haunted dolls, decrepit basements—it really has something for everyone. The combination of subtle build and effective jump scares means this is definitely a movie you’ll want to think twice about putting the popcorn bowl in your lap for.