Halloween is a truly exciting time of the year, and in the many mediums of representation, the movies of the season are frankly something. From heartwarming classics to gripping horror and tense thrillers, the season has something for just about everyone.

Throughout these iconic genres, I decided to watch three films to fully experience the season. “The Great Pumpkin”, “The Silence of the Lambs”, and “Saw”.

“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is a must-watch that truly encapsulates the feeling of the childlike joy of Halloween. Charlie Brown, Linus, and Lucy’s antics are not ones to miss as they go through the motions of Halloween and Linus’s obsession with the elusive Great Pumpkin.

“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is a classic for the Halloween season, and it’s not uncommon for families to watch it annually to truly get into the holiday season. Throughout its short 25-minute runtime, the Peanuts cast is constantly exciting as we witness some of the most iconic moments in cinematic history.

“The Silence of the Lambs” is a crime thriller that follows Clarice Starling, an FBI agent in training, as she attempts to assist in finding a serial killer named Buffalo Bill. She uses the help of a renowned serial killer, Hannibal Lecter, to find him as they interact from his cell.

The movie’s settings, characters, and dialogue create a lingering feeling of discomfort as we follow Clarice’s interactions with other characters. Hannibal’s introduction only exemplifies this idea, as his comments towards Clarice establish an idea of underlying ulterior motives from Hannibal and other members of the cast.

Right from “Saw”‘s opening, it presents a dingy and grim atmosphere that would be carried throughout the film. The movie follows two characters, Dr. Lawrence Gordon and Adam Steinheight, as they wake up together chained in a fluorescent room and make their attempts to escape while recalling previous events.

As one of the most iconic horror series of all time, “Saw” truly makes a name for itself as one of the most tense horror films to date. For fans of horror movies, it’s a must-watch, just maybe not before bed.

While these films may only be a small part of Halloween’s vast culture, their place in many people’s hearts are undeniable as anyone can certainly remember their experience with movies such as these.