During the month of October, many people get together with family and friends to watch Halloween themed movies, which can be divided into two genres: horror and fun-chill. Students are split approximately 50/50 in preferring one genre over the other.

   Halloweentown is a 1998 fun-chill Disney channel original movie. This film series begins with 13 year old Marnie Piper and her mother Gwen, arguing over why she and her younger siblings can never go out for Halloween. This is because of a secret her mother wants kept from her.

   “For me as a kid and over the years, I would go to my grandma’s house, and when I would turn on the TV anytime it was on, I would watch it,” said Dakota Carrillo-Salser, senior.

   On Rotten Tomatoes overall the film has an approval rating of 80%. Katie Heaney for Buzzfeed called the three-movie series one of the best for Halloween.

   “To me, I saw it as a Halloween classic that just made me feel at home watching it,” said Carillo-Salser.

   Saw is an American horror franchise, consisting of nine feature films. These films primarily revolve around John Kramer, who is known as the “Jigsaw Killer” or simply “Jigsaw.” Rather than killing his victims, Kramer simply traps them in situations to test their will to live through physical and psychological torture.

   “The first few were good,” said Elli Cabello, senior. “However, with the lure and the kills, especially in 3D, it was too much.”

   Saw IV premiered at number one with $32.1 million making it the second highest-grossing Halloween weekend opener.

  A popular American dark fantasy comedy film is 1993’s Hocus Pocus. During this story, brother and sister Thacker Binx and Emily Binx come upon a cottage where they accidentally release three witches, then must find a way to put them back in the cottage.

   “I really liked the movie!” said Monserrat Quintana, sophomore, “It was unique and not like every Halloween movie.”

   Hocus Pocus when released came in fourth place on its opening weekend, grossing $ 8.1 million.

   Another American supernatural horror film is Paranormal Activity, filmed in 2007. It centers on a young couple who are haunted by a supernatural presence in their home. Originally developed as an independent feature, it was shot for only $15,000. It was then acquired by Paramount Pictures with a new total cost of $200,000.

   “Paranormal Activity is 100% up there as one of the greatest horror films of all times!” said Kevin Dunn, Sophomore. “ It reminds me of a more thrilling Blair Witch Project.”

   Based on a critical response from Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall approval rating of 83% with an average star rating of 7.01/10.

   “ Definitely a must watch!” said Dunn.