10 Friday the 13th-Inspired Horror Movies to Watch on Halloween 2024

With Halloween just around the corner, it's the best time to immerse yourself in scary horror/slasher films. One such film that is synonymous with Halloween is this Friday the 13th Series.

The film was an epic in horror film history at the time, especially as it combined its slasher aspects with a rich summer camp setting. This success sparked a wave of films that repeated the formula of a project about masked murderers and unsuspecting victims, often with exciting plots.

From campsites to loner cabins, these films explore themes and tropes established by Friday the 13th and offer the audience something extremely familiar yet exciting.

These are ten films to watch in this spooky season that recreate the essence of the iconic franchise while taking some exciting twists on the slasher horror genre.

1) The Forest (1982)

The forest is a low-budget horror film that follows the escapades of a group of friends who go to a remote forest for a weekend, where they become victims of mysterious murders with terrible pasts.

The film is typical of most slasher films in that it uses what one would call the tried and tested theme, including eerie locations and suspenseful build-ups, as well as themes of isolation – all reminiscent Friday the 13th.

Although the budget was limited, The forest captures all the atmosphere of the horror films of the early 80s, making it a remarkable addition to the slasher genre.

2) Camp Cold Brook (2018)

Camp Cold Brook is a documentary that captures the entire investigative work at a summer camp terrorized by a famous mass murderer. During their dark investigation into the camp's past, the murderer's evil spirit is somehow awakened.

I try to capture the spirit behind it Friday the 13th– an absolute killer who preys on unsuspecting campers – the film contains footage with traditional horror elements. The otherworldly atmosphere and stressful situations lend themselves well to a camp horror homage.

3) The Night Sitter (2018)

This horror comedy is about a babysitter who has to serve two children on Halloween night while facing a masked murderer. This mix of slasher tropes and humor creates a fun yet frightening atmosphere and is reminiscent of the classic slasher flicks.

As the babysitter tries her best to look after the children throughout the night, she learns that it is full of supernatural twists and elements. It could be because the film combines horror and laughter so skillfully that horror fans and light-hearted viewers could enjoy it.

4) Fresh (2022)

Fresh is a darkly funny horror film that deals with the hardships of modern dating. The protagonist meets a charming and handsome man who has a darker secret: he is a cannibal.

Even if it is more of a psychological horror, all the exciting moments and the theme of being hunted are characterized by fast-paced tension. There's a lot of fear and deception in this film – a bit like the thrills from that Friday the 13th Series, but with a modern touch.

5) The Resort (2021)

Some friends go to an abandoned resort that legend has it is notorious and essentially haunted. As curiosity increases, they experience supernatural powers in a murderer who can't seem to stop killing.

It's a good mix of horror films with slasher and supernatural horror elements that suggest evil and fear. The group's isolation and struggle for survival will make viewers feel like they are watching a movie from the future Friday the 13th Series.

6) Slasher Party (2019)

The film tells the story of a clique of friends who came over for a party, but their stay was severely disrupted by a murderer. As the film desperately tries to discover the identity of their masked pursuer, it plays with conventional slasher conventions like the old “Who will live?” gimmick.

Well, there are great horror moments and dark humor ensures a self-aware approach in some places. The film includes his confident take on slasher films. Thus, it is the horror fan's pleasure to subvert expectations and play with genre clichés.

7) There is someone in your house (2021)

So this teen horror film is about a clique of high school friends being pursued by a masked killer. The killer first delves into the dark secrets of his victims, causing the friends to remember their past and fight for survival.

Being a traditional slasher film, the concepts of peer pressure and hidden identities are revisited and revisited. It brings new life to the genre for modern audiences, but pays respect to its origins in that sense of psychological tension and good slasher thrills.

8) Sleepaway Camp (1983)

Sleeping camp is a cult slasher classic with a plot revolving around a young girl, Angela, who spends her summer at camp with her cousin. The film gradually unfolds through mysterious murders that raise the suspicion that one of the camp participants, Angela, is behind these barbaric acts.

The twist at the end and the final experiment with identity, gender and trauma characterize this film. Ultimately it combines suspense and dark humor. Sleeping camp contains all the typical slasher elements: a secluded environment and a vengeful killer. It's definitely a mark in the history of horror.

9) Malicious Fun (2020)

This is a horror comedy where a film critic accidentally falls into a support group for serial killers, and things continue to be darkly funny and excellent from there. The film cleverly plays with the conventions of the slasher genre and explores the quirks and motivations that work for its characters.

As the protagonist tries to find a way out, tension builds with suspense and humor. This mixes elements of the slasher with an unusual premise, making it something new for the genre and providing some laughs and goosebumps.

10)X (2022)

XSet in the 1970s, it is a horror film in which a group of filmmakers film an adult film in a farmhouse while a masked murderer is on the loose.

The film uses shocking suspense techniques to create tension, but combines slasher tropes with a criticism of the adult film industry as the characters face deadly consequences.

It pays homage to classic horror films while exploring themes of desire and mortality. Although it has a retro look and some shocking moments, it combines elements of the classic slasher film with new ones.