Flicks for Chills

Now that your Trick or Treating has concluded, it's time to settle down with a warm bowl of popcorn and candy corn and enjoy a scary, chilling flick. Here is The V Log’s guide to chills for Halloween 2025

This is Halloween, this is Halloween, Pumpkins scream in the dead of night

(1982) - The Thing

[Horror/Sci-Fi]

The Thing is a masterclass in paranoia and isolation horror, set against the stark backdrop of a remote Antarctic research outpost. The film follows a group of scientists who encounter a shape-shifting alien entity that can perfectly imitate any living organism, including their teammates. As the body count rises, trust deteriorates, leading to intense suspicion and fear within the group.

This chilling film achieves its status through suffocating tension, pioneering practical effects, and a pervasive atmosphere of dread. In contrast to typical horror films that rely on jump scares, The Thing delves deep into psychological terror, suggesting that when the enemy could be among you, survival depends on both physical strength and mental resilience.

John Carpenter's The Thing serves as a slow-burning nightmare, leaving viewers to contemplate the unsettling implications of identity, trust, and fear long after it ends. It will leave you feeling colder than the outpost where they are stationed.

I dunno what the hell's in there, but it's weird and pissed off, whatever it is.

(1996) - Scream

[Horror/Mystery]

Scream revitalized the slasher genre by turning it inside out, and then making you scream anyway. Set in a sleepy California town rocked by a masked killer, the film follows high-schooler Sidney Prescott as she and her friends try to survive a murderer who seems to know every horror-movie rule ever written. But awareness doesn't equal safety, and Scream proves that even when characters think they know the playbook, terror still finds new ways to cut through.

What makes Scream chilling is its razor-sharp balance of tension, self-aware humor, and genuine fear. Ghostface isn't supernatural; he's human, unpredictable, and disturbingly real, constantly keeping you on your toes and guessing at every turn.

The phone-call sequences, the constant distrust among characters, and the brilliantly timed brutality create a lingering anxiety that keeps you on the edge of your seat, always anticipating the next scare. Scream doesn't just scare you, it keeps you in a state of constant tension, reminding you that the horror genre knows you, too… and it knows how to get under your skin.

A clever, chilling, and meta-slasher that not only sends shivers down your spine but also makes you laugh, creating a unique blend of fear and humor that will have you looking over your shoulder with a smile on your face.

I'll send you a copy." BAM! Bitch went down. "I'll send you a copy." BAM! Sid! Superbitch!

(1978) - Halloween

[Horror/Crime]

Halloween is a magnum opus in instilling dread. This film demonstrated horror's power to terrify without elaborate monsters, just the right shape lurking in the shadows. Set in the serene suburb of Haddonfield, the narrative unfolds as Laurie Strode becomes the prey of Michael Myers, a seemingly emotionless killer who escapes a mental institution and returns home on Halloween night. There's no motive, no warning, no mercy. Just the chilling notion that true evil can be silent, patient, and right behind you.

What makes Halloween a must-watch for a chill is its masterful use of atmosphere. The film leverages simplicity to its advantage: long, still shots, slow camera pans, minimal blood, and that iconic score that creeps under your skin like a heartbeat you can't escape. The terror isn't just in what you see, it's in what you don't. The quiet streets, the still daylight, the subtle movements in the background… they all contribute to a tension that feels disturbingly real.

Michael Myers, the central character of Halloween, is not just a killer; he's the very personification of fear. The film effectively conveys the unsettling feeling of being watched, proving that sometimes, the scariest thing is the knowledge that you're not alone.

Halloween, a haunting and suspenseful classic, continues to leave viewers checking their windows before bed.

It's Halloween. Everyone's entitled to one good scare.

(1980) - The Shining

[Horror/Mystery]

The Shining is a psychological horror masterpiece that stands out for its unique elements. It's a slow, icy descent into madness, where the terror doesn't just stalk you… It grows inside you. Set in the isolated Overlook Hotel during a brutal winter, the story follows writer Jack Torrance and his family as they become caretakers of the massive, empty lodge. What begins as an attempt at a fresh start quickly unravels into a nightmare, as supernatural forces and Jack's own unraveling sanity trap them in a maze of paranoia, ghosts, and violence.

The Shining earns its spot not by cheap scares, but by its masterful creation of dread and anticipation. It builds this through atmosphere, symmetry, silence, and the overwhelming feeling that something terrible is coming long before it arrives. The isolation is suffocating, the visuals are hypnotic, and the eerie encounters, from ominous whispers to impossible visions, linger in your mind like a nightmare you can't shake.

The horror in this film doesn't just leap out at you. It settles in, chilling your bones, and watches you from the corner of the room, leaving you with a sense of unease that lingers long after the credits roll.

A haunting masterpiece that blurs the line between supernatural terror and human collapse, and leaves you with a lingering question: could the scariest place of all be your own mind?

Hello, Danny. Come and play with us. Come and play with us, Danny. Forever... and ever... and ever.

(2025) - 28 Years Later

[Horror/Thriller]

28 Years Later takes us back to a world still dealing with the fallout from the Rage Virus, seen in previous installations. Instead of finding healing, time has twisted humanity in some unexpected ways. The story is set on a small island where a tight-knit community believes that isolation is their only path to safety, shutting themselves off from a world that's gone mad.

When a father and his young son venture out beyond their sheltered shores, they encounter horrors far beyond the infected. They're faced with the remnants of a society where trust, compassion, and hope have been worn away over the years.

This film weaves together intense terror and deep emotions. While the infected bring relentless scares, what really leaves a mark is the chilling realization of how far people can fall when survival instinct trumps kindness and empathy.

It delves into themes like generational trauma and the fragility of community ties, raising the unsettling idea that sometimes the most significant threats come from within ourselves, a reflection of humanity's darker potential.

28 Years Later doesn't just revisit a beloved horror franchise; it expands on it in intriguing ways. Fear doesn't always shout; sometimes it simmers quietly, lurking just beneath the surface. The film offers a bleak yet gripping narrative, leaving viewers with a visceral sense of dread that lingers long after the credits roll.

In many ways, it's a chilling evolution of the series, emphasizing that the scariest battles aren't just against monsters, but also against the darker sides of human nature. It tackles psychological horror in a way that challenges our perceptions, creating a sense of unease that sticks around.

Every skull is a set of thoughts. These sockets saw and these jaws spoke and swallowed. This is a monument to them. A temple.

(1984) - A Nightmare on Elm Street

[Horror/Crime]

A Nightmare on Elm Street is another example of a film, outside of the typical slasher genre, that targets one of our most vulnerable states as humans: sleep.

Set in the quiet suburb of Springwood, this film follows teenagers who find themselves pursued by a vengeful killer who strikes where they are most defenseless, in their dreams. Freddy Krueger is not constrained by the laws of reality or physical barriers; he invades the subconscious, warping fears into deadly nightmares that spill over into the waking world.

What makes this film a standout for those seeking chills is its remarkable ability to transform something as commonplace and necessary as sleep into a terrifying battleground. You can lock your doors and avoid the shadows, but you can't escape the need for sleep forever. The dream sequences, coupled with unpredictable horror and the blurring of lines between what is real and what is imagined, foster an atmosphere ripe with unease. Freddy's eerie presence, both menacing and strangely charismatic, lingers well beyond.

A Nightmare on Elm Street makes sure of a haunting fear that lingers, forcing you to question the safety of your dreams. This classic reveals that our greatest fears often stem from our imagination, leaving us to wonder if we can ever truly escape them.

Whatever you do... don't fall asleep.

Thats a Wrap on Halloween 2025

Let us know what your favorite Chilling Halloween flicks are your favorites, using #vloghalloween25