10 Halloween Flicks to Watch in the Year of “Camp”

By Lily Sanders

1. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)

The list would not be complete without this 1975 cult classic. “Rocky Horror” is camp at its finest. With a supreme musical soundtrack, outlandish costumes and plot, and stars like Susan Sarandon and Tim Curry, it’s a must-see for the Halloween season. Catch the flick in the comfort of your home, or venture out to a showing at The Reel, either way it is a trip. A fair warning, you may find yourself singing “The Time Warp” over and over again.

Where to Watch: Temple’s Theater, The Reel (details are forthcoming), Amazon Video (Paid)

2. “Carrie” (1976)

This prolific tale of a deeply religious, tortured high schooler named Carrie has become a cultural touchstone. The scene where she gets covered in pigs’ blood at prom is infamous, with celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Dua Lipa mimicking it for Halloween. With moments like what can only be referred to as the opening “tampon scene,” where Carrie gets her period in the gym locker room showers, the film was and is still pushing boundaries. However, as outlandish as it is, Carrie is still very much watchable with an engaging plot.

Where to Watch: Netflix (Free with Subscription)

3. “The Hills Have Eyes” (1977)

Wes Craven outdid himself with this masterpiece. Imagine breaking down in the middle of the Nevadan desert, with the nearest person miles away, or so that was the impression the Carter family got. If a clueless group of travelers fallen into the hands of a group of ravenous cannibals does not seem campy to you, then I am not sure what is. For those that wish to be spooked, but do not wish to have nightmares for the next month, this is the over-the-top thriller for you.

Where to Watch: Youtube (Free)

4. “The Wicker Man” (1973)

One of the lesser-known films on the list, “The Wicker Man” tells the story of a sergeant that goes to a mysterious island off the mainland of Scottland to search for a missing child. Complete with bizarre pagan rituals that revolve around phallic symbols and hilarious costumes, the absurd film truly pans out in the least expected ways. That is the thing about camp, what initially appears to be a rather straightforward mission often morphs into a highly uncanny journey.

Where to Watch: Youtube (Paid)

5. Young Frankenstein (1974)

How could you expect anything less than oddball humor from a Mel Brooks film starring Gene Wilder? Young Frankenstein is a humorous adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel

Frankenstein. Scenes like Dr. Frankenstein’s stage performance of Fred Astaire’s “Putting on the Ritz” alongside his monster perfectly transform a scary plot into something comical, very fitting of the camp genre. Later turned into a musical by none other than Brooks himself, the movie remains a cult classic and a perfect Halloween film for self-professed scaredy cats.

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime (Free with Prime)

6. Heathers (1988)

One of the more modern films on the list, Heathers is your typical teen drama with a less than typical sinister twist. Veronica Sawyer, played by Winona Ryder, is a popular girl at school that finds herself in some trouble when trying to get revenge on her cliquey friends alongside her new boyfriend JD. Watch as popular girl Heather Chandler utters her famous last word(s), “corn nuts!” Complete with multiple highly exaggerated murders, think of it as Mean Girls gone awry.

Where to Watch: Netflix (Free with Subscription), Youtube (Free)

7. Eraserhead (1977)

Fans of Twin Peaks might want to check out this odd horror flick from director, David Lynch. Totally unconventional and with experimental themes, Eraserhead is a film nearly impossible to describe. It’s something you just have to watch.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video (Paid)

8. Death Becomes Her (1992)

While some of the films on this list are critically acclaimed, many camp films are so bad they’re good. This movie features two vengeful ex-friends played by Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep, which in and of itself should be enough reason to watch it. This cheesy flick is best enjoyed on a girl’s night in.

Where to Watch: Hulu (Free with Subscription)

9. Scream (1996)

Another Wes Craven movie, Scream is iconic, the infamous ghoulish mask has a special place in pop culture. The film is probably the scariest on this list, wimps beware. However, the film’s humor and exaggeration (including a serial killer obsessed with horror movies) make it a bit of an atypical horror movie.

Where to Watch: Netflix (Free with Subscription)

10. Beetlejuice (1988)

Many horror films revolve around haunted houses, but most films focus on those who are being haunted, not the ghosts doing the haunting. Beetlejuice humorously flips a tried and true narrative with the help of director, Tim Burton. While this film might be a go-to for many people, it could not be omitted from this list on the off chance someone has yet to watch it.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video (Paid)

Camp is loosely defined and, depending on who you talk to, the definition can vary drastically. However, some major components of camp are exaggeration and theatrics, which are components that also fuel the Halloween holiday.

Camp and Halloween movies are invariably tied. The movies on this list are a great starting point for those looking to dive into the world of camp and familiarize themselves with some kooky yet truly captivating flicks.

Click the links to see Lily’s favorite scene in every movie!