1) The Shining (1980) – See this once, and you will forever understand the terror of twin little girls (especially British ones) standing at the end of a hotel hallway, calling, “Come play with us, Danny.” See it dozens of times, and your psychological trauma gives way to adoration for Stanley Kubrick’s treatment of Stephen King’s original material. The full screen aspect ratio (how Kubrick intended it) doesn’t detract from the lush visuals and zany performances. (Hardcore fan recommendation: Visit the Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood, Oregon, where some outdoor scenes were filmed. It’s an incredible place.)

2) Sleepy Hollow (1999) – Probably not the most popular collaboration between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, it’s also not the only one I’d recommend for Halloween viewing (there’s Edward Scissorhands, and the obvious Nightmare Before Christmas.) While the plot is a bit choppy, the film looks and feels like a mature update of the cartoon version we all grew up with, complete with a custom-made 19th century New England village. It’s chock full of decapitation, bleeding trees, and an undead Hessian mercenary (appropriately cast for Christopher Walken).

3) 28 Days Later (2002) – To put it bluntly, 28 Weeks Later — the 2007 sequel which was NOT directed by Danny Boyle — made a mockery of this original film. 28 Days Later takes the zombie movie framework and poses the question, “Is everything fucked? Is life worth saving? Is it possible to fight against such blind rage.” Rage is actually the name of the virus being rapidly spread by bodily fluids. Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up in a hospital room 28 days after the “epidemic” began. He has to find out what happened and how to survive. You have to find out how not to jump, so as to avoid spilling the popcorn.

4) Donnie Darko (2001) – Richard Kelly’s debut would probably also make my “All-time Top 5 Movies” list. But in my opinion, the director’s cut is actually the inferior version, with additions that interrupt the flow and different song cues that don’t fit the story as well. This one will probably go down as the most celebrated cult film of my generation (if there is such a thing). The film timeline is basically a countdown to Halloween during October 1988. The story might never make complete sense, but that’s part of the appeal. And the gnarled, man-sized bunny is enough to spook most viewers.

5) Evil Dead (extended title: The Evil Dead, the ultimate experience in grueling horror, 1983) – The end of the credits say that this was filmed in Morristown, Tennessee and “Detroit, U.S.A.” Apparently there is only one Detroit in the world. Or maybe writer/director Sam Raimi (of the recent Spiderman series) felt that the Michigan State sweater on one of the female cast members was enough of a clue. Either way, this film provides equal parts gratuitous carnage, dream symbolism, and campy humor. And don’t forget Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness. (Random trivia: Donnie and Gretchen go to see Evil Dead in an empty theater towards the end of Donnie Darko. Also, Michel Gondry’s music video for the Foo Fighters song “Everlong” was heavily inspired by Evil Dead, and it takes place in a similarly creepy cabin in the woods.)