COVID-19 has put a stop to many of our favorite Halloween traditions. Trick-or-treating, haunted houses, and house parties have all been put on hold due to quarantine. However, the Halloween season is still in full swing, and watching horror movies is the perfect activity for a safe night of fun in your own home. Here are five horror movies you probably haven’t seen that are guaranteed to create an incredible horror movie marathon!

1. The Thing (1982), dir. John Carpenter

Though this movie was panned by critics when it first hit theaters 38 years ago, it has since been recognized as an ahead-of-its-time masterwork of terror. This movie uses our instinctual fear of the uncanny and unknown to spin a gut-wrenching tale of isolation and paranoia set in a remote arctic research center. Viewers should be aware that this film contains blood and frightening visual effects; viewer discretion is advised.

Rating: 5/5

2. Train to Busan (2016), dir. Yeon Sang-ho

During his winning speech at the 2020 Oscars, Korean director Bong Joon-ho stated “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” This statement is true of Train to Busan, an incredibly well-made action-horror movie that is widely considered by fans of the genre to be one of the best zombie movies of all time. Much of its horror is created by its setting: the last train out of Seoul, South Korea, full of cars packed to the walls with the walking dead. Viewers should be aware that this film contains blood and frightening makeup effects on the zombies; viewer discretion is advised.

Rating: 4.5/5

3. The Cabin in the Woods (2011), dir. Drew Goddard

Perfect for fans and detractors of the slasher-horror genre, The Cabin in the Woods is a hilarious and wildly creative horror-comedy about–what else?–five teens who go to stay in an isolated cabin in the woods. This movie is a loving and sharp parody of many staples of the horror genre, and its twists and turns will leave fans on the edge of their seats. Viewers should be aware that this film contains blood and frightening visual effects; viewer discretion is advised.

Rating: 4.5/5

4. Perfect Blue (1999), dir. Satoshi Kon

Perfect Blue is notable in that, unlike other movies on this list, it is a fully animated movie. This eerie psychological horror film was a major inspiration for Black Swan, as it delves into the mind of a pop star on the edge of a terrifying discovery. With a stunning color palette and an eerie, bubblegum-pop-star score, Perfect Blue is a cult classic with a loyal fanbase in the horror genre. Viewers should be aware that this film contains animated violence and disturbing themes; viewer discretion is advised.

Rating: 4.5/5

5. Creep (2014), dir. Patrick Kack-Brice

I found this movie because it was available for free on Netflix, and was blown away by its fresh, soft-spoken take on the found-footage-horror genre. This movie, which uses a tiny budget and only two major actors, is the perfect blend of funny, creepy, and downright terrifying that the Halloween season deserves. Its 2017 sequel, Creep 2, is even better than the first, and the two movies are a perfect back-to-back watch on a safely quarantined Halloween night. Viewers should be aware that this film contains violence and a few instances of strong language; viewer discretion is advised.

Rating: 4/5