Films to Watch this Halloween (Made by USC Alums!)
By Anna Lipscomb ‘19
Looking for scary Halloween movies to binge-watch tonight? Check out these ones made by Trojans!
There’s no better way to spend Halloween than watching Halloween! This slasher-horror film will keep you on the edge of your seats (and give you another reason to fear clowns). John Carpenter (director) and Tommy Lee Wallace (editor) both attended USC.
2. Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Horror? Check. Humor? Check. Zombies? Double check. Prepare to be scared (and entertained) by this horror-comedy film directed by Dan O’Bannon, who also attended USC. Did you know? He and John Carpenter (Halloween) met at USC and ended up collaborating on the film Dark Star (1974).
If horror films aren’t your favorite but you still want to get into the Halloween spirit, this is the film for you! Not only does it have Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler, but it was also produced by David Kirscher, an SCA grad!
Who doesn’t love friendly ghosts? This classic, light-hearted Halloween film is a mix of fantasy and comedy, and features music by James Horner who went to USC.
5. Supernatural (2005-present)
If you’re in the mood to binge-watch a TV show tonight, then Supernatural is for you. The director is Erik Kripke (SCA) and one of the composers is Christopher Lennertz (Thornton). There are 12 seasons, so if you don’t finish them all tonight, you can continue to enjoy the thrill of horror beyond Halloween!
Enjoy not one, but FOUR scary storylines in this movie produced by SCA alum Bryan Singer! Prepare to see what could happen if you break Halloween tradition…
As the 12th film of the Friday the 13th franchise, this movie is sure to keep you wondering who the next victim will be. The screenwriters, Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, met at USC.
8. Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
This supernatural horror film is the prequel to the first Paranormal Activity (2007), and may scare you for the rest of the night! Luckily, there are five other films in the franchise, so you can keep watching them until morning. Michael R. Perry (SCA) was one of the writers.
9. The House on Pine Street (2015)
What would you do if you were convinced that your new house was haunted? Five USC alums who worked on this independent horror film: Austin Keeling, Aaron Keeling, Monique Thomas, Jeremy Lamb, and Nathan Matthew David.
Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! This 2016 film is a reboot of the beloved original, and features four female leads that fill the screen with comedy, laughter, and ghosts! The director, Paul Feig, and the cinematographer, Robert Yeoman, both graduated from the School of Cinematic Arts.
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