31 horror films you need to watch this October

Beetlejuice

The Plot

After their car takes a plunge off a bridge into a river, Barbara and Adam Maitland wake up back at home with no memory of how they got there, and soon realize they’re actually dead. When they open their own front door they’re faced with a wasteland full of huge sandworms, where time seems to have no meaning; it soon becomes clear they’re stuck in the house for good. But when a new family moves into their house and starts some truly hideous remodeling, Barbara and Adam seek out paranormal help to oust their annoying living pests from their home. When they see an ad for the “bio-exorcist” Betelgeuse, they think their problems with the living are solved; but their problems with the dead have only just begun.

The Breakdown

One of the best things about Beetlejuice is its awesome take on the bureaucracy of the dead; it’s a twist on the haunted house narrative, where the ghosts are the protagonist and we see their attempts to get the new family moving in from the other side of the equation. And Michael Keaton as Betelgeuse is a sleazy, manic delight, bringing every scene to life the moment he steps into it.

The Scare Factor

This is a great Halloween movie if you’re looking for a laugh that will also keep you caring about the story and characters. It’s inventive, imaginative, and hilarious; practically science-fantasy in how deeply it explores its own concept. It’s an iconic movie, and definitely one worth checking out this Halloween season.