5 scariest movies about ghosts and the paranormal to watch in 2023

Wellington Paranormal -- "Demon Girl" -- Image Number: WPN101_0002 -- Pictured (L-R): Erika Camacho as Bazu'aal of the Unholy Realm -- Photo: Stan Alley/New Zealand Documentary Board Ltd -- © 2021 New Zealand Documentary Board Ltd., All Rights Reserved
Wellington Paranormal -- "Demon Girl" -- Image Number: WPN101_0002 -- Pictured (L-R): Erika Camacho as Bazu'aal of the Unholy Realm -- Photo: Stan Alley/New Zealand Documentary Board Ltd -- © 2021 New Zealand Documentary Board Ltd., All Rights Reserved /
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Get ready for the spookiest time of the year as the leaves turn crimson, the wind grows colder, and the scent of pumpkin spice fills the air. Halloween season is here, and there’s no better way to embrace the eerie atmosphere than by settling onto your favorite sofa with an array of snacks and a lineup of scary movies. Fortunately, we’re living in an era where streaming platforms take this season seriously, and 2023 has brought us a wealth of new horror films that will send shivers down your spine.

If you’re curious about which ghostly and paranormal scary movies to watch in 2023 to truly get into the Halloween spirit, you’re in luck! We’ve curated a list of the five scariest movies in the genre that you won’t want to miss. But first, let’s get some Halloween festive fun out of the way!

Halloween, with its roots dating back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, is a holiday that originated over 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland, where it was celebrated to mark the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter.

The Celts believed that the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead was especially thin during Samhain, allowing them to communicate with the deceased. This belief is considered the earliest known root of our modern Halloween traditions and is where the holiday gains its “haunted” connotations.

Which is the best horror film of all time?

While we understand that the definition of “scariest” can be subjective, there’s one film that unquestionably occupies the top spot for us: The Exorcist (1973). This iconic horror movie not only terrified audiences but also made cinematic history as the highest-grossing R-rated horror film at the time and secured a groundbreaking nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars.

Carving pumpkins for Halloween is a beloved tradition that allows people to express their creativity and craft spooky or whimsical designs. The practice has its origins in Irish folklore, where carved vegetables were used to ward off malevolent spirits during the holiday. People would originally carve turnips, potatoes, and beets to ward off the evil spirits.

Now, let’s get into the spooktacular fun with our list of the five scary movies about ghosts and the paranormal to watch in 2023!