10 Halloween Films Every Aspiring Actor Should Watch

Halloween... The season of jump scares, spooky shadows, eerie lighting and not to mention horror films... but in recent years, the horror genre has evolved far beyond screaming damsels and predictable ghosts.
Once seen as lowbrow and slightly cheesy entertainment, horror films are now celebrated for their storytelling, performances and ability to explore the depths of psychological and social themes. From The Exorcist to Get Out, the genre has grown into one of the most artistically daring and performance driven forms of cinema. 
Today horror films dominate streaming platforms and box offices, and no longer just during spooky season! What's more, many actors who began their careers in horror such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Florence Pugh and Daniel Kaluuya credit the genre for sharpening their craft. Horror requires range, it requires a depth and vulnerability that pushes actors to their extreme, with primal human emotions such as fear, grief and survival, actors must balance all of this, all whilst keeping the audience hooked. 

So, as an aspiring actor, Halloween is the perfect excuse to cosy up, get some popcorn and study the genre that has become a proving ground for excellence. Below are ten films that will not only keep you entertained and your family/ friends favourite for recommendations... but also give you an insight into powerful and transformative acting. 

1. Psycho (1960) – Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
A cornerstone of the genre. Psycho remains one of cinema's most influential films. The chilling film was one of (if not) the first to push the boundaries of horror and is credited for introducing psychological  thrillers to mainstream audiences. Janet Leigh's performance as Marion Crane is a masterclass in the power of nuance and subtlety. Her fear, her guilt and her emotional arc is believable and authentic even with each twist and shock. Anthony Perkins' Norman Bates demonstrates the power of restraint; he builds dread not with aggression, but with quiet unease and fragility building the suspense.

• What makes the performances in Psycho so effective? Less is often more, both Perkins' and Leigh's performance show that horror doesn't need exaggerated, cheesy emotion but the stillness and vulnerability is what makes psycho truly chilling.

2. The Shining (1980) – Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Jack Nicholson's famous decent into madness remains influential in cinema, a rare example of something so unique that no one has been able to truly replicate it...only reference. The film is simultaneously scary, suspenseful, and psychologically intriguing. Shelley Duvall’s performance grounds the story in vulnerability and realism, amplifying the psychological tension of Nicholson’s mania.

• What can actors learn from Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall’s performances in The Shining? Commit fully, but stay truthful. Nicholson’s performance walks the line between theatrical and believable, something every actor can study when exploring extremes. Meanwhile, Duvall’s emotional authenticity reminds us that real terror comes from vulnerability, not volume.

3. Scream (1996) – Directed by Wes Craven
Scream revived the horror genre in the 90s. One of the most popular films of it's time, Scream cleverly satirises its predecessors, whilst keeping genuine scares. The teenagers of the 90s were bored of traditional horror movies, Wes Craven's Scream toys with this and has made Neve Campbell's portrayal of Sidney Prescott one of horrors most iconic heroines. Her resilience and intelligence aid the story whilst maintaining that authenticity of grief, fear and emotional depth. A truly outstanding performance. 

• What makes Neve Campbell’s performance in Scream so believable? Play the truth of the moment, even in heightened genres. Campbell grounds the absurdity with realism. For actors, it’s a reminder that horror works best when it’s emotionally authentic...audiences connect to the person, not the premise.

4. Get Out (2017) – Directed by Jordan Peele
Creepy, unsettling and frankly outstanding. Jordan Peele’s Get Out isn’t just a modern horror classic, it’s a cultural milestone. It redefined what the genre could be, weaving social commentary and psychological tension into a terrifying yet thought-provoking story. Daniel Kaluuya’s performance is extraordinary; he carries the film with subtlety and restraint, creating one of the most haunting portrayals of fear in recent memory. His stillness, micro-expressions, and gradual descent into panic make every moment feel painfully real. Get Out proves that horror doesn’t have to rely on jump scares; it can disturb through truth. Beneath its supernatural premise lies a deeply human story about vulnerability, manipulation, and identity.

• What can actors learn from Daniel Kaluuya’s performance in Get Out? Subtext is everything. Kaluuya plays terror with restraint, using his eyes and breath more than words. His control over every reaction and glance shows how much power can exist in restraint. 

5. Hereditary (2018) – Directed by Ari Aster
Few modern performances have stunned audiences like Toni Collette’s in Hereditary. Her portrayal of a grieving mother unraveling under supernatural pressure is raw, layered, and utterly fearless. She moves from quiet despair to uncontrollable rage and hysteria without ever losing emotional truth. Hereditary builds dread through atmosphere and tension rather than sudden scares. While there are a few startling moments, the film's scares are primarily psychological and unsettling, focusing on disturbing imagery and a sense of dread that builds over time.  

• What can actors learn from Toni Collette’s performance in Hereditary? Fear and grief are close cousins. Collette’s performance is a masterclass in emotional authenticity. Aspiring actors can study how she channels real human emotion into a heightened, fantastical context, making the unbelievable feel heartbreakingly real.

6. A Quiet Place (2018) – Directed by John Krasinski
In a film where silence means survival, acting takes on a new challenge. Emily Blunt and John Karsinski deliver deeply emotional and powerful performances, often without saying a word. They're ability to connect with each through their silent performances showcase real love and fear, even if married IRL, is outstanding and creates atmosphere that draws the audience in.

• What can actors learn from the performances in A Quiet Place?  Physical storytelling and non-verbal communication. This film is an incredible exercise in reacting, listening, and conveying thought through stillness. It demonstrates that performance doesn’t always rely on dialogue, it relies on intention, emotion and expression.

7. The Babadook (2014) – Directed by Jennifer Kent
The Babadook blurs the line between psychological horror and emotional realism. Essie Davis gives a haunting portrayal of Amelia Vanek, both terrifying and deeply moving, Davis delivers one of the most challenging performances put to screen with total commitment and credibility. The Babadook isn’t for the mainstream horror crowd. If you’re looking for jump scares or monsters, you won’t find them in The Babadook. Instead, the film dives deep into the raw emotion of fear itself, these aren’t things that make you scream; they’re the kind that make you unsettled, disturbed, and deeply human.

• What can actors learn from Essie Davis’s performance in The Babadook? Emotional honesty in chaos. Davis embodies the complexity of motherhood, exhaustion, and mental strain while playing in a heightened, symbolic story. It’s a brilliant example of grounding fantasy in real human struggle.

8. The Witch (2015) – Directed by Robert Eggers
Anya Taylor-Joy's breakout role in The Witch  shows a surprising amount of range and subtlety that heightens her presence. Set in 1630s New England, the film’s restrained pacing and archaic dialogue require complete immersion from its cast. Taylor-Joy’s emotional depth and intensity hold the entire film together. At first glance, the story might sound predictable, another tale of witchcraft and hysteria...but Robert Eggers crafts something far more haunting. Marketed as a “New England folktale,” the film blurs the lines between faith and fear, reality and delusion. It’s both a slow-burning psychological horror and a chilling study of how paranoia can tear a family apart.

• Why is The Witch a masterclass in subtle and authentic acting? The Witch is a masterclass in stillness, restraint, and period authenticity. Taylor-Joy’s performance shows how fear and strength can coexist in a single expression, while the ensemble’s naturalistic delivery proves that even the most stylised material works best when rooted in realism. For aspiring actors, it’s a reminder that horror is most powerful when the audience believes you completely.

9. Halloween (1978) – Directed by John Carpenter
A fitting name for a fitting film, no Halloween watchlist would be complete without it. Jamie Lee Curtis’s portrayal of Laurie Strode not only marked her feature film debut but also set the standard for the now-iconic “Final Girl” archetype. While being the daughter of horror legend Janet Leigh certainly connected her to the genre, Curtis’s performance stands entirely on its own. Her portrayal is intelligent and genuinely inspiring and although her later turn in Scream Queens is phenomenal, it’s in Halloween that she first proved survival doesn’t come from screaming...it comes from strength and sheer willpower, which she does so well. 

• How does Jamie Lee Curtis make Halloween feel so real? Play the ordinary, not the extraordinary. Curtis’s performance is rooted in realism. She never plays “scared”, she plays human. For actors, this is a reminder that horror works best when characters behave as real people would, not as stereotypes.

10. Midsommar (2019) – Directed by Ari Aster
​Another modern masterpiece, Midsommar showcases Florence Pugh’s extraordinary ability to internalise trauma and release it in unpredictable, haunting ways. More artsy in nature than typical horrors, it showcases some seriously stunning cinematography as well as a psychedelic genre-defying horror fable that wins its audience by creeping into our darkest corners of angst, longing, and loneliness. 
Florence Pugh captures isolation and anxiety so vividly that they feel tangible. As Dani, she delivers a performance of incredible range and commitment, perfectly embodying a lonely, desperate soul. Opposite her, Jack Reynor gives a strong, nuanced turn as the detached boyfriend, unlikeable yet complex enough to leave us conflicted.

• How does Florence Pugh transform emotionally in Midsommar? Embrace discomfort and transformation. Pugh’s work here shows how horror can be deeply psychological. Her performance is both devastating and empowering, offering a blueprint for portraying emotional breakdown with precision and truth.

The Evolution of Horror: From Scream Queens to Character Studies
In the early days of cinema, horror often relied on external shock value, jump scares, ghouls and monsters and exaggerated fear. But as audiences became more sophisticated, the genre shifted towards psychological realism. Modern horror explores grief, it explores mental illness, identity, social fear, all of our deepest and darkest fears, making it fertile ground for powerful and boundary pushing acting. 

From Dracula (1931) and Hereditary (2018) we have seen the shift from terrifying audiences through atmosphere to emotion, the shift from external to internal storytelling means actors must dig deeper into the psychology, emotions and intentions of their characters. Horror has become an essential genre for aspiring actors, it demands range, emotional bravery and vulnerability. 

How Horror Makes You a Better Actor

1. Emotional Depth: Horror requires raw, exposed emotion. Fear, grief, panic, loss, all often within a few scenes. Learning to access and control those states strengthens emotional agility.
2. Physical Awareness: From stillness to sudden bursts of movement, horror often depends on body language and spatial awareness. Actors learn how movement communicates tension.
3. Listening and Reacting: Great horror performances depend on reaction as much as action. The audience experiences fear through the actor’s eyes and breath.
4. Improvisation and Authenticity: Even the most surreal stories demand truth. The actor’s job is to ground fantasy in believable emotion.
5. Commitment: Horror doesn’t work without total commitment. If you hesitate, the illusion breaks. This level of conviction translates to all genres.

Why Every Actor Should Watch Horror
Acting in horror isn’t about pretending to be scared, it’s about understanding human fear. It’s about finding truth in chaos, control in panic, and connection in the most unlikely places. The genre has evolved from simple scares to deeply psychological storytelling that allows actors to explore their range, vulnerability, and intensity.
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So this Halloween, when you curl up with a blanket and a pumpkin-scented candle, think beyond the thrill. Study the performances. Observe how each actor sustains tension, how their body reacts before their voice does, and how they anchor extraordinary situations in real human emotion.
Because at its core, horror isn’t about monsters, it’s about us. And that’s exactly what makes it such a powerful teacher for any actor.

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Author

Abbygail Morrison (Ironically easily scared of most of these films!)