The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Hollywood hellraiser Robert Mitchum stars as a demonic preacher who haunts the family of his former cellmate.

Psycho (1960)
This spooky Alfred Hitchcock classic gives whole new meaning to the term “mama’s boy.” The master provides loads of edge-of-your-couch suspense.

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
By the time Rosemary (Mia Farrow) realizes her new neighbours are Satan-worshipping psychopaths, it may be too late. Definitely one of the spookiest and most stylish movies ever—low on gore, high on suspense.

Black Christmas (1974)
If this movie doesn’t make your skin crawl… it’s on too tight! Or so goes the cheesy tag line to this ’70s classic, known in some circles as the best slasher flick ever.

Halloween (1978)
It may be a little dated, but of all the classic sexy-girl-runs-from-mysterious-killer movies, this one’s the best. Be sure to stick with the original (starring a plucky Jamie Lee Curtis). Halloween 2 through 4 don’t exactly measure up.

Ghostbusters (1984)
A giant marshmallow man, Slimer and world-class wisecracker Bill Murray are just three good reasons to re-watch this killer comedy.

Scream (1996)
As fun as it is frightening, this is a true homage to high school horror films (including director Wes Craven’s own A Nightmare on Elm Street). The movie’s spooky spoofs and clever dialogue put teen movies back on the map.

Ringu (1998)
If some of the most terrifying remakes of the last decade are any indication, the Japanese know horror. A reporter investigates a mysterious videotape that brings death to all who watch it. The more recent American version, The Ring, is also worth a rental.

28 Days Later (2002)
A mysterious virus is let loose in the U.K., killing many and turning the rest into ravenous zombies. Sexy Irish thespian Cillian Murphy fights to stay alive against the truly terrifying undead. Definitely not for the pacemaker set. Tip: don’t skip the alternate ending available on DVD.

The Descent (2005)
When a group of feisty female thrill-seekers get trapped in a cave, the bloodthirsty monsters they encounter are no match for their claustrophobia-induced cat fights!