Horror Movie Recommendations from Ghost Hunters!

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

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