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Nov. 09, 2020 | Tyler Difley

Spooky cinema: five scary movie recommendations for Halloween home viewing

With COVID-19 making all but the smallest get togethers extremely ill advised, an at-home scary movie marathon might be the best way for adults to celebrate Halloween this year. But with so many great horror movies to choose from, both classic and contemporary, it's hard to settle on only a few.

To help with the selection process, here are five recommendations for your Halloween home-viewing pleasure. However, because we are a real estate publication, there's a twist: each movie on this list involves a haunted house (or, in one case, hotel).

The Cabin in the Woods (2012)


https://youtu.be/NsIilFNNmkY

Based on the trailer alone, The Cabin in the Woods looks like a standard slasher flick, packed with a cast of cliché characters. However, beneath the surface is a satirical film that pokes fun at many tropes from the horror genre. The result is a compelling mix of comedy and scares.

Where to Watch: Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Poltergeist (1982)




This supernatural horror film, which is centred on a suburban family's efforts to rescue their daughter after she is abducted by the angry ghosts that inhabit their home, is a classic for a reason.

Where to Watch: Available to stream on Crave Starz or Amazon Prime Video.

Paranormal Activity (2007)




Paranormal Activity, a found-footage film that documents a young couple's frightening experiences with a supernatural presence in their home, generated quite a bit of buzz after its original release. It has since spawned several lacklustre sequels that effectively wiped it from our collective memory. However, the original film is a tense and uneasy affair that proves what you can't see is often much scarier than what you can.

Where to Watch: Not currently available to stream on any Canadian service, but it is available to buy or rent through Google Play Movies, Cineplex, Microsoft Store, YouTube or Apple iTunes.

The Shining (1980)




Directed by Stanley Kubrick and featuring a standout performance from Jack Nicholson, this film adaptation of the 1977 Stephen King novel continues to terrorize audiences 40 years after its original release.

Where to Watch: Available to stream on Crave Starz.

The Others (2001)




A psychological horror film with a great twist ending, The Others is certainly worth revisiting nearly 20 years after its release, if only for Nicole Kidman's performance as protagonist Grace Stewart.

Where to Watch: Not currently available to stream on any Canadian service, but it is available to buy or rent through Cineplex, Microsoft Store or Apple iTunes.

Tagged: Calgary | Calgary Real Estate | Calgary Real Estate News | COVID-19 | COVID-19 | Feature | Film | Halloween | Haunted | haunted house | Horror | Movie | Pop Culture | Scary | Spooky


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