Ahead of last years Horror Conference Nightmare ’24 – the first international research conference hosted by our school – Reader Dr David Edwards sat down with North East Cultural Magazine NARC to discuss the conference and his top five horror films. Scroll to read his five favourite recommendations to watch this Halloween!

Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

This is the film that has inspired the whole Nightmare 24 conference at The Northern School of Art. A forgotten gem that explores psychological fragility as Jessica believes a woman she has allowed into her house is a long-dead vampire. The story is expertly paced and has a genuine sense of dread and Jessica believes her madness is enveloping her once again.

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

The classic zombie film. Everything about it just clicks, from the brilliant cast, to some classic zombie characters and the amazing legacy of different cuts and soundtracks. Romero was a cinematic genius and this film shows that. If only Bub from Day of the Dead was in this film too it would be better than perfection!

Halloween (1978)

In Michael Myers, John Carpenter created the epitome of evil. Faceless, motiveless and prowling a suburban locale not unlike our own. Jamie Lee Curtis gives a genuinely great performance as she moves from high school girl to Final Girl in ninety minutes. It is the ending though, as Michael transforms into The Shape and disappears into the streets that truly terrifies.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

This is the film where everything clicked for Jason. The iconic mask, Tom Savini back doing the effects and a really good cast. This is pure cosy horror, from the locations to the kills to Crispin Glover’s incredible dance moves. This is the eighties slasher.

The Stepfather (1987)

Terry O’Quinn gives an incredible performance as Jerry Blake, a mild-mannered real estate salesman who is in fact a serial killer who, when his family disappoints him, murders them and moves on to the next. Much like John Fowles’ The Collector, you find yourself almost rooting for Jerry, wanting this family to be the one but, inevitably, it all comes crashing down and Jerry realizes he must kill his family and disappear again. All the more terrifying when you discover this film is based on the true case of American murderer John List.

Read the full article on NARC here.