Horror movies hit in a way that few other genres can — the eerie sound effects, subtle details, uncanny visuals, and unraveling chaos keep them lingering in your mind long after you've watched them. And that's what makes them so thrilling — you never just watch a horror movie — you experience it as if it were taking place in your own home. Every creak feels like it's around the corner, and every shadow could be in your peripheral vision.
But what's a movie night without a little weed? Watching horror movies high heightens your senses and elevates the experience in more ways than one — tension thickens, visuals become more vivid, subtle paranoia sets in, and your ears suddenly detect even the quietest of creaks.
Pairing weed with the right horror movie can transform an ordinary Halloween into an unforgettable night. So grab your favorite gummies, dim the lights, and prepare for total cinematic horror immersion.
Here are the 13 best horror films to watch while high.
Psychological
Hereditary (2018)
A top-three favorite among horror movie and Toni Collette fans alike, Hereditary (A24) is known for its clever but creepy details and unsettling shots. The story follows a mother (Toni Collette), her husband (Gabriel Byrne), and their two kids (Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro) as they grieve the death of the children's grandmother. While navigating their loss, the family uncovers disturbing secrets about their past and is forced to confront a fate they desperately want to escape.
The movie is dark, thought-provoking, and visually appealing (miniature house, anyone?). If you want a movie that will hook you in and hold your focus no matter how high you are on Halloween night, Hereditary is it.
The Shining (1980)
One of the most highly regarded psychological horror films of all time, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining follows Jack (Jack Nicholson), a writer who moves his family to an isolated Colorado hotel for the winter to work on his novel. As Jack struggles with writer's block, his mental state begins to deteriorate, while his young son Danny (Danny Lloyd) experiences increasingly disturbing visions. With the family snowbound and cut off from the outside world, Jack's wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) must confront the terrifying reality of her husband's transformation as the hotel's dark forces close in around them.
The dreamlike atmosphere, long tracking hallway shots, intentionally ambiguous plot, and memorable imagery make for a horror film that even the most hazy viewers won't forget.
The Haunting (1963)
Robert Wise's The Haunting is a masterclass in atmospheric horror. Shot in black and white with no gore or cheap scares, the movie follows a paranormal researcher (Richard Johnson) who invites a small group to stay at Hill House, a mansion rumored to be haunted. One of the guests is Eleanor (Julie Harris), a lonely and troubled woman who becomes drawn to the house's malevolent forces. As strange occurrences continue to escalate, the line between psychological breakdown and genuine haunting grows frighteningly thin.
The Haunting relies on sound design, thoughtful direction, and out-of-place shadows to instill dread and panic in its viewers. The creaking doors, pounding walls, and warped camera angles create a troubling atmosphere perfect for a stoned watch.
Midsommar (2019)
From the same director as Hereditary, Ari Aster's Midsommar follows Dani (Florence Pugh), a woman reeling from a family tragedy who joins her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) and his friends on a trip to a remote Swedish commune for their midsummer festival. What starts as an idyllic getaway quickly devolves into panic and confusion as the group witnesses a series of disturbing rituals. Unable to leave, Dani must navigate her fragile relationship and the commune's sinister traditions.
Despite being shot in broad daylight rather than darkness, Midsommar uses slowly building tension and bizarre folk imagery to create unease in anyone watching. The trippy visuals and dysregulating pacing make it a great watch for stoned minds.
Supernatural
The Evil Dead (1981)
The original movie in the Evil Dead series. Sam Raimi's 1981 The Evil Dead is an iconic horror movie known for its practical effects and chaotic camera work. Five friends stay at a cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway, where they discover an ancient book and a tape recorder. When they play the recording, they accidentally unleash demonic forces that possess them one by one. Ash (Bruce Campbell) fights to survive the night as his friends turn into bloodthirsty demons, and the cabin transforms into a nightmare.
There's a reason this one is a cult classic — the unhinged energy and excessive gore bring it to a level of absurdity only a high mind can truly appreciate.
It Follows (2014)
Starring the modern-day scream queen, Maika Monroe, It Follows is about Jay (Monroe), a teen girl cursed by a supernatural entity that slowly follows its victims. The entity can take any form, and only those who are cursed can see it. Jay and her friends must figure out how to survive while being hunted by something that never runs, just walks — but never stops.
The constant sense of paranoia and dread that It Follows evokes makes it a great watch while high — the wide shots that pull you in and escalating tension that never seems to end will combat any couchlock and have you on the edge of your seat.
Sinister (2012)
Frequently referred to as one of the scariest movies of all time, Sinister is about a true-crime writer, Ellison (Ethan Hawke), who moves his family into a house where a violent murder took place, hoping to write his next bestseller. While going through the attic, he discovers a box of disturbing home movies that reveal a series of murders spanning decades and all connected by one sinister entity. As Ellison digs deeper, he realizes his hopeful relocation may have put his family in a hopeless battle with evil.
The found-footage elements, creepy score, and horrifying scenes earn Sinister its “scariest movie” label and a spot on this list of the best horror movies to watch high.
Horror comedy
Cabin in the Woods (2011)
What starts as a standard slasher — a group of college friends at a remote cabin in the woods — quickly transforms into a meta-commentary on horror. Cabin in the Woods follows five 20-somethings (Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams) as they're manipulated into horrific situations by a mysterious organization during their weekend getaway for reasons that become increasingly dark and equally comedic.
The film is funny and freaky and pays homage to the horror genre. When you watch it high, the layers of satire and third-act chaos make for a scary, fun watch.
Scary Movie 3 (2003)
Normally, we wouldn't recommend watching a sequel first, but luckily, the Scary Movie movies are self-contained, so you can watch them in any order you want. Scary Movie 3 is a horror-comedy parody that pokes fun at popular horror movies of the late '90s and early 2000s — most notably, The Ring and Signs. The story follows Cindy (Anna Faris), a news reporter investigating a mysterious videotape that kills anyone who watches it. Meanwhile, a former priest (Charlie Sheen) discovers crop circles on his farm. As the characters navigate the unfolding events, the movie jumps between spoofing major horror plots and ridiculous humor.
The over-the-top gags, casting, and nods to the classics make this horror movie a must for your high Halloween marathon.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead is a zombie comedy that balances laughs with genuine scares. Shaun (Simon Pegg) is a directionless slacker whose life is falling apart — his girlfriend dumped him, his best friend is a mess, and his stepdad hates him. When a zombie apocalypse hits London, Shaun finally gets motivated, hatching a plan to rescue his loved ones and hole up in his favorite pub until it all blows over.
The witty writing and perfectly timed gags make Shaun of the Dead one of those movies you can watch over and over. When you watch it high, you'll catch more of the background jokes, foreshadowing, and clever editing that make this film an icon of the horror-comedy genre.
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil takes the “hillbilly horror” trope and turns it upside down. Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine) are two friends who visit their rundown cabin in the woods for a relaxing weekend. When a group of college kids mistakes them for deranged killers, a series of misunderstandings ensues, with the kids accidentally killing themselves in absurd ways while Tucker and Dale desperately try to help.
The movie is unique and clever. When you watch it high, the gore and adventures become even more ridiculous.
Found footage
Hell House LLC (2015)
Hell House LLC is a found-footage horror film that follows a documentary crew investigating a Halloween haunted house attraction where fifteen people died under mysterious circumstances. Through interviews and recovered footage, the film reveals what really happened to the crew who set up the attraction in an abandoned hotel with a dark history. As the footage unfolds, it becomes clear that something malevolent was lurking in the building long before opening night.
The unsettling practical scares and eerie found-footage style create genuine tension. When you're high, the creeping sense that something's always just out of frame will have you on edge from start to finish.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The OG found-footage film, The Blair Witch Project, follows three student filmmakers — Heather, Josh, and Mike — who venture into the Maryland woods to document the legend of the Blair Witch. As they become lost, tensions rise and strange occurrences begin to plague them. The shaky-cam footage captures their terror as they realize they may not make it out alive.
The cinematography and raw performances make it feel disturbingly real. Watching it high makes the ambiguity of what's happening and the mounting paranoia feel more immersive and deeply unsettling, especially if you're watching with the lights off.
Need weed for your movie night? Order flower, concentrates, and other cannabis products from a dispensary near you for pickup or delivery.
...happy Halloween, folks.
Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
