Halloween is just around the corner which means it’s the perfect time to marathon movies about serial killers. While there are many great horror films out there, I am a firm believer that the best scary movies came out in the ’70s and ’80s. Iconic killers including Michael, Jason and Freddy, haunt our screens each year and never cease to frighten. Below, I’ve selected my top five favorite horror films that every movie buff should see.

Carrie (1976): Not only does this film have one of the scariest endings ever, it also teaches an important lesson about bullying. On top of that, it also has a young John Travolta in one of his first movie roles.

Halloween (1978): The name says it all. Halloween is a film that instantly comes to mind whenever someone mentions the horror genre. The movie made a star out of “Scream Queen” Jamie Lee Curtis, and gave life to one of the most iconic killers in the history of film: Michael Myers.

Friday the 13th (1980): This may be an extremely slow-paced film but it is frightening nonetheless. I mean, a killer terrorizing teens that are stuck in the woods? Yikes! Though, it beats the alternative of having to be a camp counselor… 

Pet Sematary (1989): Many would argue that the only thing scary about this movie is the acting. While you may find me on the agreeing side of that argument, I still feel this is a quality horror film, simply due to the fact of just how creepy it is. However, Rotten Tomatoes users are not impressed…

Scream (1996): The exception to my ’70s/’80s stance. Not only is this one of my favorite horror films, it is also one of my favorite films, period. Wes Craven’s teen slasher-flick is equally parts scary and hilarious. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could have a Scream-A-Thon with all four installments.