Carly Mallenbaum
USA TODAY
Published 2:08 PM EDT Mar 12, 2020
Superstitious folk, the day you’ve been fearing has arrived.
As if you don’t have enough to be worried about already, March 13 falls on a Friday this year. So what should you do about it?
Scare the bejeezus out of yourself with a horror movie, naturally!
What should you watch on this unlucky day, other than the obvious “Friday the 13th” franchise? There are plenty of horror options from the last century, and even from the past year. But we’ll limit this list of picks to 13 films, in no particular order, that are worth watching on the 13th through scared, squinted eyes.
1. ‘The Hunt’ (2020)
What is it? President Trump has tweeted disapprovingly about this controversial and satirical horror film about a cabal of liberal “elites” who hunt and kill kidnapped conservative “deplorables.”
What will it make you afraid of? Polarizing political ideologies.
How can you watch? The film’s release was delayed in the wake of mass shootings, but it’s finally heading into theaters on Friday.
2. ‘It Follows’ (2015)
What is it? After a sexual encounter, a college-age woman is followed by a haunting, supernatural presence. The low-budget flick had big box-office success.
What will it make you afraid of? The indie horror film cautions against sleeping with strangers, like many slasher films have before.
How can you watch? Amazon Prime, iTunes, Vudu
3. ‘Get Out’ (2017)
What is it? “Get Out” is the award-winning film about a black man who meets his white girlfriend’s family, and learns there’s something sinister going on.
What will it make you afraid of? Plenty of things, including people running at you, sets of china and fake smiles.
How can you watch? YouTube, Amazon Prime, Vudu, iTunes, Google Play, Hulu
4. ‘It’ (2017)
What is it? The Stephen King adaptation still has the biggest horror opening weekend of time. Set in 1989, the film features the infamous evil clown Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard) who scares kids. It’s better than the 2019 sequel.
What will it make you afraid of? Clowns, duh. As if you weren’t already.
How can you watch? YouTube, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Google Play
5. ‘Ouija: Origin of Evil’ (2016)
What is it? A follow-up to the far inferior “Ouija,” this movie with a breakout performance by its young star (Lulu Wilson) is about a family that promises clients communication with the dead, and inadvertently invites evil into their home.
What will it make you afraid of? That Ouija board game that you probably played with your friends in middle school.
How can you watch? YouTube, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Hulu, Vudu, Google Play
6. ‘Insidious’ (2011)
What is it? “Saw” and “Paranormal Activity” filmmakers team up for the first of the “Insidious” movies about parents who suspect there are bad spirits in their new home, where their son falls into a coma.
What will it make you afraid of? Going to sleep. Also: moving houses.
How can you watch? Netflix, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Vudu, YouTube, iTunes
7. ‘The Lodge’ (2020)
What is it? A disturbing, psychologically brutal film about a future stepmom and the children who want nothing to do with her. They’re stuck in a cabin together, and things go differently than you might think.
What will it make you afraid of? Getting snowed in.
How can you watch? In theaters now.
8. ‘The Witch’ (2016)
What is it? A Puritan family in the 1630s turn on each other after their baby is abducted under the watch of the oldest daughter. Could witchcraft be at play?
What will it make you afraid of? The woods.
How can you watch? Netflix, Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube, iTunes, Vudu
9. ‘The Conjuring’ (2013)
What is it? “Based on the true story” of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.
What will it make you afraid of? Farmhouses, ghosts and dolls.
How can you watch? iTunes, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu
10. ‘The Invisible Man’ (2020)
What is it? The classic movie monster is modernized as the antagonist in this socially conscious thriller about victimization and gaslighting.
What will is make you afraid of? Vindictive exes.
How can you watch? In theaters now.
11. ‘Unfriended’ (2015)
What is it? The movie, told via video chat, looks at what happens when an online conversation between friends is joined by the ghost of the girl they bullied into suicide.
What will it make you afraid of? Accepting a call on Skype.
How can you watch? Hulu, iTunes, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu
12. ‘mother!’ (2017)
What is it? A gory, polarizing, gut-punch horror movie about impending motherhood and marrying a famous man.
What will it make you afraid of? Going out with a celebrity.
How can you watch? Google Play, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu
13. ‘Babadook’ (2014)
What is it? A well-reviewed Australian film about a woman reading a disturbing children’s book to her violent son, who believes he sees the monster from the story.
What will it make you afraid of? It might ruin your love of pop-up books.
How can you watch? Vudu, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes, Hulu
Contributing: Bryan Alexander, Bill Goodykoontz and Brian Truitt
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