Four iconic horror movie characters gathered around a campfire and silhouetted against a dark background. From left to right is Michael Myers (“Halloween”), Freddy Krueger (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”), Leatherface (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre Franchise”), and Jason Voorhees (“Friday the 13th”). Graphic by By Mari Al Tayb '26.
By Sarah Berger ’27
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Although horror is most associated with fall, anyone on summer break will know that summer has plenty of scary elements as well: bugs everywhere, sleepless humid nights and the creeping feeling of dread that you’re wasting your time. Besides, summer also provides various opportunities to get outside: the best place to watch a horror movie! Here are eight summer horror movies you need to add to your summer watchlist.
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1. “Jaws” (1975)
Does “Jaws” even need a description? It’s about a shark. Beyond providing dozens of iconic scenes and references, it is a wonderfully accurate depiction of life in a coastal town. One of the movie’s main conflicts comes from town officials’ refusal to close down beaches, despite the imminent threat to swimmers from shark attacks. It’s an interesting commentary on tourist economies as well as simply being a good movie. Even nearly 50 years later, it’s still a thrilling watch. As the trailer says, “See it, before you go swimming.”
2. “Friday the 13th” (1980)
Summer camp is rife with opportunities for mayhem. There are no adults, no escape, only confined grounds with lots of nooks and crannies. “Friday the 13th” is the ultimate camp thriller, masterfully exploiting every opportunity for murder. It follows a group of teenage summer camp counselors as they’re stalked and picked off, usually as they’re engaging in morally questionable acts.
3. “Jennifer’s Body” (2009)
“Jennifer’s Body” might be a stretch since it technically takes place over a school year, but if you’ve ever seen the trailer, you’ll know exactly why it’s included on this list. It focuses on two girls, Needy and Jennifer, whose friendship dynamic changes after Jennifer becomes a succubus. Even in the winter scenes, it has an explicitly summer-y feeling, with leafy plants, strange wildlife, and lots and lots of sweating.
4. “The Craft” (1996)
Even if you haven’t heard of “The Craft,” you’ve definitely heard one of the many viral soundbites it produced. The movie centers on Sarah, a new student who falls in with a clique of wannabe witches. When Sarah proves to be the missing link that gives them real magic, they have to learn responsible use of their powers. It’s a beautiful movie. And the outfits! “The Craft” could serve as a Mount Holyoke lookbook. It’s worth watching for the clothes alone.
5. “I Know What You Did Last Summer”
There are three movies in this series, including “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” and “I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer.” They’re completely bingeable, although the first movie is the best. Each centers on four teenagers being punished by a vengeful masked madman. It’s a fun spin on the “hook hand” urban legend and Jennifer Love Hewitt makes a compelling heroine, even if she and her friends probably deserve a little slashing.
6. “The Cabin in the Woods” (2011)
The premise of “The Cabin in the Woods” is relatively boring. Five archetypical friends arrive at a remote vacation spot where they find a basement full of strange and haunting artifacts. After they awaken an evil pioneer family, they have to try and escape back to normalcy. But things aren’t always as they seem, and you’ll have to watch until the end to find out the true scheme taking place within the cabin.
7. “The Evil Dead” (1981)
The “Evil Dead” franchise has had a revival in the past decade, beginning with the 2013 remake and continuing today with “Evil Dead Rise.” However, none of the recent films can compare to the original, which centers on a group of college students and the misfortunes that befall them on a rural vacation after they accidentally awaken an evil entity. It’s surprisingly scary, with gore and special effects that rival the best of what CGI has to offer.
8. “The Descent” (2005)
Most of the movies on this list are relatively light watches, but “The Descent” certainly isn’t. It focuses on a group of friends who reunite after a tragic accident to go caving. After a mishap leaves them stuck in the cave, they’re forced to battle against a lack of resources, their own mistrust and conflict and whatever is living in the cave. Fans of 2014’s “As Above, So Below,” should know that it borrowed several iconic motifs from “The Descent.” It’s claustrophobic, sweaty, and definitely one to watch with the lights on.
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There are dozens of movies that could have made this list, and honorable mentions go to “Cabin Fever,” “Shutter” and “Jeepers Creepers.” If you end up turning any of these on, this writer, for one, would love to hear your thoughts.
Karishma Ramkarran ’27 contributed fact-checking.