Melissa Stihl/Foghorn Scene editor Melissa Baron is excited and terrfied for a Halloween filled with horror flicks.

Horror movies and Halloween: a perfect pair. While many people have seen the basics, “Nightmare on Elm Street” or “Poltergeist,” there are many more movies in the richly terrifying genre to explore, from monsters to slashers to possession to the paranormal. Here’s a list of some horror movies you may not have seen. Don’t feel like going out on Halloween? How about turning off the lights, getting a bag of candy and watching some of these movies with your friends?

“Suspiria” – Dario Argento’s 1977 Italian horror film tells the story of an all girls dance school. As girls are murdered around the school we quickly discover that the school is just a front for something much more terrifying. The aesthetically beautiful film with an eerie soundtrack by Goblin has some of the more gruesome horror film deaths and a stomach-churning scene with maggots.

“Cemetery Man” – In this 1994 Italian horror film directed by Michele Soavi, Rupert Everett plays a cemetery caretaker. At a funeral Everett falls in love with a young widow, but their affair is cut short when her husband returns from the grave. With his love gone and the dead turning into zombies, Everett must figure out what to do.

“Dead Alive” – Released outside the states with the name “Braindead,” Peter Jackson’s 1992 low budget comedy/horror is a blood bath similar to his films “Meet the Feebles” and “Bad Taste.” Main character Lionel’s domineering mother is bitten by a poisonous rat/monkey hybrid that turns her into a zombie. Lionel tries to keep mom alive and fight off the zombies she creates.

“Phantasm” – In Don Coscarelli’s 1979 low budget cult film, brothers Jody and Mike must face the horror they find in a funeral home. The brothers attend a funeral for a friend and notice a tall man working at the mortuary. Mike sees the tall man effortlessly lift a loaded coffin and suspicion kicks in. The brothers quickly find themselves in a terrifying mess. Highlights include Mike bringing home the finger of the tall man still moving and covered in what seems to be mustard and later in the film, the presence of angry dwarves.

Others to check out: “Zombi,” “Creepshow,” “Tales from the Crypt,” “The Howling” and “The Omen.”

Last 5 posts by Melissa Baron

• Melissa's Mix Tape: A Seasonal Mix: Fall - November 11th, 2009
• Melissa's Mix Tape: Getting Down With Hip Hop - November 4th, 2009
• Melissa's Mix Tape: Halloween Party Jams - October 30th, 2009
• Staff Picks: Favorite Past Costumes - October 29th, 2009
• Melissa's Mix Tape - October 21st, 2009