In my research as a paranormal investigator, I've found that one of the most common reasons a disembodied spirit might become earthbound ~ Resulting in a HAUNTING ~ Is because they don't realize they're dead.That's the premise of The Others with Nicole Kidman ~ It's one of my favorite "paranormal" flicks because I think it's one of the most realistic depictions of a haunting in a movie. - Dangerous Linda Lee - Minnesota Regional VP
Horror Movie Recommendations from Ghost Hunters!
American Ghost Walks • October 9, 2024
The Cabin in the Woods - While this isn't the scariest movie on my list, I think it's a horror movie that everyone can enjoy. The premise, cast, music and genre blending elements make it a perfect Halloween movie to add to your annual list.
Josh Hughes - Waukesha Tour Guide
The Ritual - I love this horror movie because of the gorgeous Scandinavian setting playing off the sheer terror dripping off of the characters. The characters are well rounded and wonderfully individual which makes each fatal loss that much harder to bear.
Julee Ketelhut - Boothbay Harbor Tour Guide
Midsommar - it’s the brightest, prettiest, most twisted slow burn horror out there.
Rita Moore - Lake Geneva Tour Guide
I always thought a movie called The Others was interesting. The Amityville Horror was always an intriguing story to me also.
Anthony Szabelski - Chicago Tour Guide
The original The Wicker Man... It's creepy and archaic.
James Lively - Bayfield Tour Guide
Some of my favorites:
• The Witch, with the slow ominous build-up
• The Shining, because I love old creepy hotels!
• Nope (the recent release by Jordan Peele), cool new take on aliens/UFOs
Anna Huffman - Tour Coordinator
When I was a kid, my parents were pretty strict about what I could watch-- none of that 80s slasher stuff. I resented it at the time, but looking back I see that I probably got a college course worth of film history. Now I got a soft spot for the old classics, from the Universal monsters to the Godzilla movies from Toho. I've got a lot of favorites, including Dracula (1931), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), and Rodan (1956), but I think top of the list is The Wolf Man (1941). It's just a beautiful and creepy black and white film, I love the werewolf transformation scenes. Lon Chaney Jr. is great in the lead role, with horror staples Bela Lugosi (Dracula) and Claude Rains (The Invisible Man) in the supporting cast. A howling good Halloween flick!
Tea Krulos - Milwaukee Tour Guide
I am a horror fan.... who mostly dislikes horror movies, so when I do find one I like, I LOVE it!
• Stir of Echoes (Chicago-based, came out in the shadow of The Sixth Sense, so it got overlooked). Also, pretty realistic for a ghost story movie.
• The Eye - the GREAT Asian version, not the so-so American remake
• The Conjuring
• Night of the Living Dead
• Silence of the Lambs
• The Village of the Damned (original)
• I'll always have a soft-spot for 1980s Stephen King movies (It, Children of the Corn, Pet Sematary)
• Trick r’ Treat! Love that underrated horror flick! And I always say that you could put that movie on, Christmas morning and you’d think it was Halloween. They do such a great job of feeling authentically HALLOWEEN within that film. Sets the tone for the season.
Scott Markus - Los Angeles & Chicago, Writer and Tour Guide
OMG, Stir of Echoes is one of my favorites! I also “liked” The Ring. Perhaps “liked” is the wrong word. I gave the TV the side-eye for a week afterward.
Allison Jornlin, Milwaukee Founder, Hawaii and Maine Writer
Rocky Horror is about as “horror” as I go, but also anything Alfred Hitchcock!
Kalia Avery, Hawaii Tour Guide
• The Uninvited - Haven't seen this in years, but my mother loved it and we would watch it together when reruns came on the TV.
• Trollhunter - This is fun. Campy and silly and Norwegian...
• Dead Snow - More Norwegian camp with Nazi Zombies
Deborah Stencel, Milwaukee Tour Guide
The Exorcist, Any of The Conjuring movies, It (BUT I do think the book is far more scary!), Hereditary, Poltergeist, Nightmare on Elm Street
Sheryl Martinec - Woodstock Tour Guide
I love horror movies! And if you’d like some context about a few of my favorites, here are some episodes of the podcast See You On The Other Side, where we delved into the real-life inspirations behind various horror films (and wrote music about it!)
• The Sixth Sense - link to podcast
• The Conjuring - link to podcast
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre - link to podcast
• The Exorcist - link to podcast
• Aladdin - link to podcast (get the real story behind the Djinn, it’s terrifying!)
• Demon House - link to podcast
• The Nightmare - link to podcast (sleep paralysis/night terrors documentary)
Mike Huberty - American Ghost Walks Owner
Experience the haunted history of Alaska on the Ketchikan Ghost Walk. Visit the historic Gilmore Hotel and Annabelle’s, one of America’s most haunted bars, on this chilling guided tour.
Explore the tragic legacy of the Sharon Tate murders, Charles Manson’s twisted cult, and the haunting activity at the Oman House, Hollywood’s most infamous paranormal hotspot, on the anniversary of the crime that shocked the world.
Explore chilling Bigfoot sightings and eerie logging camp legends in Ketchikan, Alaska. Discover why the Tongass Forest may be hiding more than just trees.
A ghostly aviator rises from Lake Michigan in Evanston, Illinois, haunting the shores near Calvary Cemetery in this chilling tale of love, loss, and final rest.
Discover how ghost tours can boost corporate team building through shared experiences, neuroscience, and immersive storytelling. A fun, research-backed way to reduce stress and improve team cohesion.
Discover the haunted charm of the Cannon Club in Old San Juan, where art, music, and a friendly ghost create one of America’s most unforgettable haunted bars.
Discover how a lifelong fascination with ghosts led to the creation of American Ghost Walks, one of the fastest-growing haunted tour companies in the U.S. From early paranormal encounters to a pitch on Shark Tank, this is the story of turning spooky passion into a thriving business.
The Haunted Alaskan Hotel: A Century of Ghostly Encounters in Juneau’s Most Notorious Lodging
Explore the chilling legend of the Wendigo—from Native American folklore to real-life cannibal tales and ghost stories.
Explore the tragic legacy of the Superman Curse—from its creators’ heartbreak to the eerie misfortunes of stars like Reeves, Reeve, Kidder, Brando, and Hackman.