Forget about all the Halloween cliches right now. We’re not going to go out trick-or-treating. And if you are, maybe you need counseling or something. You want a good scare, right? Or at the very least, to be creeped out.

So in the not-so-friendly spirit of Halloween, here are seven movies to keep you awake at night and trembling beneath your covers.

“A Nightmare On Elm Street” (1984)

Despite becoming a laughable caricature in numerous sequels, there is nothing even remotely funny about Freddy Krueger’s film debut.Director Wes Craven’s story of a child molester murdering children from beyond the grave will certainly leave audiences with many nightmares.

“Jaws” (1975)

With the mechanical shark always breaking-the production’s biggest problem-director Steven Spielberg used the lack of visuals to maintain an aura of unseen terror throughout the movie. It still works to this day.

“Halloween” (1978)

John Carpenter not only directed this landmark horror film, but he also co-wrote the screenplay and arranged the chilling musical score. It is Carpenter’s tour-de-force as a filmmaker, and spawned a new horror genre: teen-slasher films.

And for the few of you out there who don’t know, Michael Myers’ mask is really a William Shatner mask spray-painted white.

“Seven” (1992)

Showcasing the superior acting skills of Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and Brad Pitt, director David Fincher’s misanthropic marvel of the ’90s should be studied and analyzed for years to come.This film is a perfect combination of all the cinematic essentials. Even putting aside its exemplary qualities as a well-crafted film, “Seven” remains one of the decade’s most diabolical thrillers, with an equally devilish finale.

“Psycho” (1960)

The master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, did something unimaginable in making this movie. He killed off his leading lady half way through the film (the shower scene).

Hitchcock’s masterpiece still influences filmmakers today, always drawing comparisons and contrasts. For example, scary movies, or movies with a twisted character, often have some film critic chiming: “(insert movie title) will do for (insert place or thing) what ‘Psycho’ did for showers.”

“The Thing” (1982)

John Carpenter’s adaptation of the short story “Who Goes There?” uses the isolated setting of an Antarctic research station to further emphasize panic, paranoia and mistrust among the men stationed there.Most of the special effects in the movie hold up after all these years. Because of the setting and story, this movie manages to remain timely.

“The Exorcist” (1973)

Truly the scariest film ever, this movie depicts the ongoing battle between good and evil with a strict attention to detail and structure. The genuine scares are served and enhanced by the film’s theological point-of-view.

‘The Exorcist’ is one of the scariest movies of all time. (Warner Bros.)