One of the best parts of Halloween, at least for me, is the movies. Recently I watched three Halloween movies, and in this article, I will be giving my brutally honest opinion on whether or not these movies live up to their hype. 

*Disclaimer – all three movies on this list are rated R*

Scream – Slightly underrated 

The original Scream is undoubtedly one of the most iconic Halloween movies ever. Set in an unsuspecting and seemingly picturesque California suburb, the movie wastes no time to set the tone. Beginning with what seems to be an innocent phone call, the movie immediately takes a less innocent turn, paving the way for 2 hours of a murder mystery that provides the perfect combination of entertainment with a complex plot that will always leave you on the edge of your seat. Scream is a must-watch for me when it comes to Halloween movies.

Terrifier 2 – Overrated

As the title suggests, Terrifier 2 is easily the most terrifying movie on this list. Of all of the slasher films I have ever watched, this movie is without a doubt the most gruesome. Introducing a new level of horror into mainstream media, this movie’s ambition is commendable and evident from the jump. While it may be a little over the top, for the most part, Terrifier 2 is entertaining. Despite this, I do feel that the movie’s reliance on violence and excessive visuals hurt some of its other aspects, making it a somewhat forgettable watch when you look past its initial shock value. For these reasons, I would consider Terrifier 2 to be overrated.

The Shining – Slightly overrated

Being the oldest and most critically acclaimed movie on this list, I would be lying if I said my expectations weren’t high for The Shining. For starters, I think the acting in this movie is amazing. Incredible performances from Shelley Duval and Jack Nicholson were the highlight of this movie for me. Telling of the nature of the film, it became clear while watching this movie how it could have taken a toll on the actors, most notably Shelley Duval. According to Guinness World Records, Kubrick currently holds the record for the most retakes for a scene with dialogue during a scene in The Shining (which took him a whopping 148 times!) Aside from Kubrick’s questionable approach to creating this movie, the cinematography was amazing, as is the case with just about every other film directed by him. However, I would argue that its pacing is slow at times and in some ways, it lacks entertainment. So, while I do like this movie a lot, I would consider it slightly overrated.