The other day, a customer was in the Bookstore looking for recommendations for a good horror movie. At first, I told him I didn’t care much for scary films. And then I realized, wait, I do. I mean, I’m not into slasher flicks, but I enjoy a good zombie film now and then. Given the time of the year, here are five Halloween appropriate films for your viewing pleasure:

CLUE

As absurd as it sounds to base a movie on a board game (or, y’know, a Disney ride), this one’s a classic: six strangers are gathered at the haunting Hill House, where they learn their host is actually the man blackmailing them, and the mansion’s staff? His informants. As the night progresses, the body count climbs until butler, Wadsworth, pieces together the clues and names his suspect. Clue is a hilariously campy film which I first saw as a kid, and watching it for the first time many years later, I was shocked at how much dialogue made sense, now that I know about, y’know, sexual innuendo and stuff. Although it’s got comedic moments, the film can be quite scary at points — Professor Plum’s reply to Miss Scarlet’s question as to why his car stopped once they got a view of Hill House, “It’s scared”, is dead on — Hill House is fucking terrifying. And, in point of fact – suspect? Singular? There are three endings for the film, so everyone’s got equal shot at being a suspect.

THE WICKER MAN

Forget the Nick Cage crapfest remake of the film, the original remains the best. Here’s how I describe the film: “It’s soft-core porn, a musical, and it’s got Christopher Lee, so I guess it’s a horror film, too.” But it doesn’t feel like a horror film — not until the very end, and even then, it isn’t gory, you won’t jump out of your seat and scream, but what happens on an island populated by pagans to the protagonist, Edward Woodward as Christian moralist and police officer Sgt. Howie, will stay with you long after the credits roll.

THE OTHERS

Of the five films here, this one is by far the scariest. No, really, it’s terrifying. And great.

THE EXORCIST

Look, especially if you live in DC, there’s no excuse not to see this horror flick, set in Georgetown, and making famous a fairly steep stair on M Street. I myself only saw this for the first time earlier this year, having previously finished the novel, and I will say this: I watched the film, at night, with every single light in my apartment on. You think I’m exaggerating: I am not. Every single light fixture I had was on, and I had two flashlights and an old police baton close at hand. Really, though, the horror in the film comes from the acting and the characters’ reactions to the developing situation: how terrifying to have such a force in control of your daughter, and every resource available worthless? While there are a few “Holy Shit OMG” moments in the film, the F/X are so out dated (and the film so well lampooned in pop culture) that you’re hard pressed to be terrified. Scared? Yes: there’s something really creepy about a 12-year old guy telling a priest what she wants to do to him sexually, and in such vulgar terms.

SHAUN OF THE DEAD

Last, certainly not least, this film is a romantic comedy — with zombies. Or, it’s a zombie film with a romance. Either way, you’ve got good talking points to get your significant other to sit down and watch it. Shaun is a London slacker, whose life got away from him: his relationship is crumbling, his job sucks, and he’s got a rocky living situation. Things only get worse when his girlfriend ends their relationship, and the living dead rise up and begin decimating the population. Armed with records and a cricket bat, Shaun is intent on rescuing the woman he loves (and his mother) from the undead hordes.