5 must-see classic Halloween films you have to watch before the 31st

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

George A. Romero’s zombie classic is a lesson in what happens when a budget is limited. There are numerous books and audio commentaries discussing how Romero pulled everything off, from using chicken and chocolate syrup as body parts to his decision to film everything on 35 mm black-and-white film stock even though most movies had already transitioned to color. The result is a creep-tastic journey into the heart of darkness, and that’s not counting the zombies.

After the dead start rising from the grave, a group of people hole up in a Pennsylvania farmhouse to await rescue.

Much of what’s made Night of the Living Dead endure is both Romero’s ability to mine fear out of a limited budget and the film’s heart-wrenching ending. Duane Jones’ performance as Ben, the lone person of color, led to audiences’ identifying and even rooting for him. His demise in the film’s final frames reminded those living 1968 about the frustration and real-life horrors confronting African-Americans living in America. Horror has always been a fertile ground for social commentary, but it wasn’t as blatant as it is here.

How to watch: Stream it now on Amazon Prime, Starz, Kanopy, Vudu, FIlmStruck, and Shudder.

Which of these horror classics are you looking forward to watching first (or over again)? Let us know in the comments!