I love a good horror movie. They’re engaging, they have character, they have emotion and if done right, they can be so much fun.

My favorite movie experiences are watching horror movies with friends. That mild trauma can be so fun to share , but I love watching horror movies alone just as much.

Around Halloween, I’ll watch as many horror movies as I can fit into my free time, ranging from classics that I love to new releases that I know nothing about. If you are in need of some recommendations,here are three that I believe are worthy of your time.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is one of my favorite movies ever made. It’s terrifying, it’s suspenseful, and it perfectly executes a simple concept that any horror fan can get behind. Teens are driving through a small town in Texas and they run out of gas in an area that just so happens to be home to a family of cannibals. That’s straightforward, yet still gives a deeply disturbing and engaging viewing experience that is unlike any other.

Many believe this film to be disgusting, violent and gory, but it is surprisingly tame. The gore is mostly implied, but the atmosphere is so tense and the setting and style are so repulsive that people remember this movie as being much more violent than it is. It’s often misunderstood as being cheap and hacky when it’s far more complex than that in reality.

On top of being a great example of a tense and terrifying slasher, it has deeper tones woven throughout it about class inequality, the ethics of the meat industry, and the war in Vietnam. This film is so much more than its reputation.I highly recommend it.

“Evil Dead II” is a completely different kind of masterpiece. It is as goofy and campy as it gets, but it knows it. It’s a genre bend of horror and slapstick comedy that gives a funny yet engaging horror viewing experience unlike any other movie I’ve seen. 

This movie is downright weird and much of that uniqueness comes from the direction by Sam Raimi and the amazing performance by Bruce Campbell in the lead role. 

You don’t even need to watch the first “Evil Dead” movie because the first 20 minutes of this film is basically a remake of the first movie. This movie is perfect for a light, not-too-intense Halloween horror experience.

If you’re looking for a newer film, or one that’s currently in theaters, the best choice by far is the new James Wan movie, “Malignant.” This movie is made for fans of the genre and if you enjoy the supernatural horror found in movies like “The Conjuring” or “Sinister,” you’ll love this movie.

I don’t want to give too much detail about this movie because I went into it not knowing anything about it, and it was so nice to not have any aspects of the plot or scares spoiled for me. This movie isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you are a horror fan, I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I did.