Contributed by Info Guru Oliver VanDervoort

Putting together a list of the best Halloween movies is more than simply coming up with the greatest horror movies of all time.

It is also more than simply putting together a list of movies that are centered on the spooky holiday. While some movies on the list certainly will center around Halloween, others are simply spooky enough that they should be watched on that night, or evoke the feeling of that time of year. Ghosts, goblins, homicidal maniacs and even one misguided skeleton make up the top ten great Halloween movies.

10. Sleepy Hollow

Johnny Depp stars in the movie based on one of the quintessential Halloween stories. In this telling Ichabod Crane is an inspector who believes that science can solve all mysteries until he runs into the Headless Horseman. Stars like Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson and a cameo by Christopher Walken put this firmly on the list of great Halloween movies.

9. The Others

Not technically a Halloween movie, this flick starring Nicole Kidman still has that feel. The creepiness factor is to the extreme from the beginning and the twist is one viewers really won’t see coming until very late in the movie. Watch this at night with all the lights off and you’ll be a late autumn chill even if you’re viewing it in July.

8. An American Werewolf in London

Another flick that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The great thing about this movie though, is that there is humor mixed in with the scares and gore. Sounds perfect for the Holiday … right?

7. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so this movie must be great. There have been sequels and remakes all over the place but the original (1974 version) is the one that makes the list of great Halloween movies.

6. Candyman

Candyman makes this list because this is not the scariest movie ever made, but the creep factor certainly fits right in with the Holiday. Tony Todd has managed to make a career off of this iconic, tragic and terrifying figure. The incorporation of some of the worst parts of inner city Chicago were a stroke of genius.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Is this a Christmas movie? Is it a Halloween movie? Is it both? This flick makes the list because while it’s certainly not scary or spooky, it is great and it is definitely an iconic Holiday film. Great performances and great animation makes this also one that bends the genre.

4. Child’s Play

Numerous sequels took this franchise from spooky and fun to damnright dumb but that doesn’t mean the original wasn’t pretty darn good. There really is nothing creepier than a doll that can think and wants to kill. This is one of those movies that just instills the spirit of Halloween without mentioning the Holiday directly.

3. A Nightmare on Elm Street

The 2010 remake wasn’t awful, but we’re talking about the original as a great spook fest. Freddy Krueger managed to make millions of children around the world not want to go to sleep for very good reason. The movie gets near the top of list because of the iconic sweater alone.

2. Trick R’ Treat

The newest movie on this list and perhaps the most obscure. This series of scary, and gory vignettes centered around one Hallow’s Eve has some serious star power including a rather surprising turn by True Blood’s own Anna Paquin. If for some reason you haven’t seen this flick, check it out, but wait for October 31st to do so.

1. Halloween

Admit it, you knew this was coming. The quintessential genre and Holiday movie of our time. Much like Nightmare and Texas Chainsaw there have been sequels and remakes, but the original is the best and the brightest. If you have somehow haven’t seen the 1978 version, then you really need to. Hope you like sleeping with the lights on!