Guillermo del Toro “masterfully blends genres using supernatural elements to explore trauma and war” in Devil’s Backbone, according to one local filmmaker. Credit: Sony Pictures Classics
Even with the flood of content on streaming services, it can be hard to avoid recycling the same few horror movies once spooky season comes around.
To that end, we asked a few San Antonio horror filmmakers to recommend some of their favorite fright flicks. So, grab some popcorn, dim the lights and get ready for a nightmare-inducing movie marathon.
Max Booth III (Writer of We Need to Do Something)
The 2014 film The Guest features one of the coolest haunted house set pieces I’ve ever seen in a movie. It’s unhinged, stupid and a total blast – plus, that score! I came to the 1988 horror-comedy Elvira: Mistress of the Dark kind of late, but my God, it’s perfect. I don’t understand why it isn’t considered a Halloween classic. Nobody is cooler than Elvira! I rewatch one movie every Halloween night, and that movie is Ghostwatch. Bonus points if you check it with someone unaware of its context. Ghostwatch has my heart forever.
Colin Bressler (Director of The Mummy Murders)
I love the ’80s horror/sci-fi classic The Thing so much. It creates an incredible atmosphere — freezing temps and isolation. Even before the creature appears onscreen, the audience is locked in. Jordan Peele’s 2019 film Us is underrated and very creepy. The horror really comes from the intense acting. The cast sends chills through me every time I watch it. Good Boy is a recent film that shows the world from a dog’s point of view. It unfolds in a very scary way.
Jess Castro (Director of Get the Hell Out)
Chaos ensues in the 1985 horror movie Demons when the titular plague inexplicably comes to life from a Euro theater screen, eye-gouging and hair-pulling moviegoers to gory deaths. College kids and punk coke fiends don’t stand a chance as they fight for their life amongst a backdrop of hair metal and synth rock music. A young monster-movie nerd becomes a hero in the 1983 film The Deadly Spawn after slug-like aliens invade his home, eat his parents and terrorize old ladies at a Jell-O party. Chock full of indie filmmaking spirit, this one’s an innovative bloody blast made with heart. Terror in the Aisles from 1984 is a spectacular horror-clip show that features the best bits from all-time classic horror films. It oozes with late-night sleazy grindhouse vibes.
Sam Lerma (Director of Squeezebox)
I love M. Night Shyamalan’s 2015 film The Visit,because it was his comeback after several flops. It’s a dark, found-footage film filled with creepy moments, a creepy “grandma” and some great dark humor. Another film that uses found footage is the 2007 Spanish film [REC]. It follows a camera crew trapped in a building after a deadly virus outbreak. I love the fresh take on the undead as the crew makes its way to the top floor. The 2005 British horror film The Descent is about a group of girlfriends who get trapped in a cave and are stalked by amphibious humanoid creatures. There’s always something lurking in the darkness.
Rob Mabry (Director of The Legend of El Chupacabra)
The 2010 film Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is a tale of backwoods buddies who are mistaken for a couple of deranged killers by college campers. It’s a sharp parody of slasher films that doesn’t hold back on the gore, even if it’s played for laughs. The 2015 movie The Final Girls is an ’80s meta-slasher comedy about a group of high school students who must survive a machete-wielding psycho with their wits and knowledge of horror movie tropes. Does the world need a film about a murderous pair of designer jeans? If you’re into absurd horror-comedy that takes aim at corporate greed and the drudgery of working in retail, 2020’s Slaxx might be the movie for you.
Marcella Ochoa (Writer of Madres)
Sinners is my favorite movie of the year. I love how it blends genres and uses horror as a commentary on historical and cultural issues. Director Ryan Coogler and actor Michael B. Jordan are a winning combination, and the visuals, performances and music are beyond incredible. Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s beautifully haunting 2001 ghost story The Devil’s Backbone is one of my favorite films. It masterfully blends genres using supernatural elements to explore trauma and war. The original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre also is a great watch for Halloween with its intense claustrophobic feel, great cinematography and awesome sound design. And, of course, it’s set in Texas!
Bryan Ortiz (Director of Doctor S Battles the Sex Crazed Reefer Zombies: The Movie)
John Carpenter’s The Fog from 1980 offers a perfect blend of eeriness and tension, making it one of the best cozy horror movies out there thanks to a slow-burn ghost story set in a misty coastal town. The haunting score combined with its minimalist horror creates a sense of unease that’s more comforting than frightening. The 1997 film Event Horizon is a mind-bending, otherworldly nightmare that terrified me as a kid by blending sci-fi with pure cosmic horror. It’s a terrifying journey into the unknown which delivers both psychological dread and visceral imagery. The 2024 film Cuckoo is a hypnotic dream that slithers between reality and nightmare, wrapped in an atmosphere thick with dread and mystery. Mix its haunting Alpine setting and unnerving soundscape for a movie that will deliver the ideal spooky mood for Halloween.
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