1

Michael Myers from Halloween

Image: norbert velescu

Who better to start this Halloween list than the main villain from Halloween ? John Carpenter’s iconic horror film not only marks the debut role of beloved actress Jamie Lee Curtis, but it also introduced the world to the terrifying Michael Myers , a murderous mental patient with a thirst for blood.

One of Michael’s most terrifying traits is his blank and unfeeling expression, provided by his chilling rubber mask. Interestingly enough, the mask itself probably wouldn’t be as scary on its own; it is a mask of Star Trek actor William Shatner , only painted white and with some traits changed in order to make it scarier.

2

Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street

Image: Enrique Guzmán Egas

The 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street is considered by many to be the quintessential slasher horror film of the ’80s, and with good reason: Wes Craven had the genius idea to turn our slumber into one of the scariest environments ever. If, for whatever reason, you feel inclined to thank the character responsible for turning our dreams into nightmares, then you can send your regards to Freddy Krueger.

Freddy’s look is definitely unforgettable: Who can overlook that stripped sweater, black fedora, and, perhaps more menacing, that sinister-looking bladed glove? This killer’s menacing image certainly sent shivers down our spines and made most of us dread going to bed.

3

Jason Vorhees from Friday the 13th

Image: Justin Campbell

Michael Myers is not the only masked menace to make it onto this list! Jason Vorhees made his first appearance in the 1980 slasher Friday the 13th , which depicted a group of campers meeting their end at Jason’s hands in the fictional Camp Crystal Lake. This towering, murderous revenant hunts teenagers at night, armed with his trusted machete and his now-iconic hockey mask.

Jason has appeared in many different films, including an entire franchise reboot in 2009. Not only that, a 2003 film pitted him against another king of the slasher genre, Freddy Krueger. Without spoiling the ending, we can honestly say that both of these horror giants prove their mettle.

4

The Thing from The Thing

Image: Robert Haverly

Don’t let this slightly vague name fool you: The Thing is one of the scariest horror characters in history. John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece introduced the world to this mysterious alien creature, able to shapeshift into any object imaginable.

What’s probably most terrifying about this shadowy being is that we never truly see its true form; therefore, this alien can be as terrifying as our imaginations allow it to be. However, don’t let this statement imply that we are discrediting Carpenter’s groundbreaking visual effects, as anyone who has seen any of his amazing creations can testify.

5

The Fly from The Fly

Image: Pedro Miguel Aires

Who knew that a little housefly could be so terrifying? While the original 1958 film is incredibly advanced for its time, David Cronenberg’s 1986 rendition of The Fly left an indelible mark on an entire generation with its uncanny special effects and chilling story.

In this film, Jeff Goldblum plays Seth Brundle, an eccentric scientist whose DNA gets fused with that of a fly after an experiment goes wrong. The resulting hybrid monster’s appearance is truly a remarkable tribute to the talent of this film’s makeup department, which earned them a well-deserved Academy Award.

6

Rachel McNeil from The Exorcist

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Many consider The Exorcist to be the best horror film ever made, and with good reason: not only is it bone-chilling, but it is also a wonderfully crafted film that has led it to be selected by the U.S. National Film Registry for preservation.

A big part of what made this film so incredibly terrifying was the contrast between the sweet and innocent 12-year-old Regan McNeil (wonderfully portrayed by Linda Blair) and the dark demon that possesses her. Legendary Swedish actor Max von Sydow also shines in this film, playing the titular exorcist, Father Lankester Merrin.

7

Chucky from Child’s Play

Image: Erik Mclean

This is a toy you don’t want to see lying around your house! Directed by Tom Holland, the 1988 slasher film Child’s Play features Chucky , a seemingly harmless doll possessed by the soul of a serial killer. While this might not seem particularly menacing, Academy-nominated actor Brad Dourif’s portrayal of this plastic killer truly terrified an entire generation.

The first movie was such a success that it spawned an entire franchise that’s still relevant today, with a TV series premiering in 2021. However, most fans agree that no film will ever surpass the original Child’s Play , an undisputed gem of the slasher genre.

8

The Ghostface Killer from Scream

Image: Nik

Speaking of the slasher genre, we would be remiss if we didn’t include Wes Craven’s iconic 1996 film Scream . This movie is not only terrifying, but it is also a true love letter to the entire genre: In fact, one of the first deaths in the film occurs after a character gets a question about horror trivia wrong.

A huge part of what made Scream so frightening is its antagonist. The Ghostface Killer’s main strength is that he is not a supernatural creature by any definition of the word. Not only that, this mysterious character’s presence adds a layer of intrigue to the film, as the reveal of his true identity becomes a definitive turning point in this masterpiece.

9

Pennywise from It

Image: Nong

Much like the monster from The Thing , the audience never witnesses the true form of this chilling Eldritch monster. However, the main antagonist of Stephen King’s classic novel It often dons the disguise of Pennywise, a scary clown hell-bent on terrifying the town of Derry, Maine.

To date, Pennywise has been portrayed on the big screen on two separate occasions: first by Tim Curry in the 1990 miniseries and later by Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård in the 2017 film adaptation and its 2019 sequel. In both cases, these actors were able to bring a fascinating layer of horror to a colorful figure usually associated with making people smile.

10

The Shark from Jaws

Image: Marcelo Cidrack

Granted, calling Steven Spielberg’s Jaws a horror film is probably not entirely accurate. However, we can comfortably state that the shark antagonist of this 1975 thriller truly terrified moviegoers around the world.

It is pretty hard to state the impact that this shark had, suffice to say, people at the time were incredibly scared to go back into the water due to this movie. Fun fact: Did you know that the shark has a name? Well, a nickname at least: it was called "Bruce" by the film crew, after the name of Spielberg’s lawyer.

1

Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N’ Roses

Image: Kyle Buss

Fans of Guns N’ Roses will tell you how fast "Sweet Child O’ Mine" was written. In under an hour, the band developed the accompaniment for a melody one of them had come up with—a hand-warming riff that guitarist Slash was playfully improvising. That same riff, by-now famous guitar melody, opens the song.

Hearing the result, Axl Rose wrote lyrics inspired by his then-girlfriend, Erin Everly, whose smile, it seemed to him, reminded him of childhood memories. Remarkably, he completed the poem in a single day. Later, while recording in the studio, the band made another on-the-spot call: they decided to include a sung line that Axl Rose had been repeating while searching for an ending to the song, "Where do we go now?"

2

Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

Image: Call Me Fred

Michael Jackson didn’t shy away from saying that he always knew "Billie Jean" was going to be a hit. While writing it, he was aware that he had hit material in his hands, and he worked on it accordingly. Thanks to his rigorous daily vocal training during the production of Thriller , Jackson recorded the main vocal in a single take. The song was mixed 91 times , while he and producer Quincy Jones strived for perfection. In the end, they settled on mix number two—the version we know today.

But here is the most impressive anecdote behind "Billie Jean." Jackson was driving his Rolls-Royce between recording sessions, obsessed with finding the best ideas for his song. He was so absorbed that he didn’t notice the underside of his car had caught fire —until a passing biker alerted him.

3

You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi

Image: Benjamin Farren

Can you imagine the iconic opening vocals of "You Give Love a Bad Name" belted out by any other voice than Jon Bon Jovi’s? A female voice, perhaps? Surprisingly, the melody was originally written by hitmaker Desmond Child for Bonnie Tyler . Her version, titled "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)," featured different lyrics, and was released earlier that same year in 1986.

Dissatisfied with the final result of Tyler’s song, Child decided to take the same seed of an anthem and team up with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora to rework it. The result was a powerhouse anthem that propelled Bon Jovi to the top of the charts. It also marked a radical change in the band’s career, which veered from then on to a more radio-friendly, arena-rock sound that would define their style.

4

Don’t Stop Believin’ - Journey

Image: Kristina Chuprina

If you strip this '80s rock anthem of its drums, bass, guitar, and even its melody, you’re left with a simple yet powerful plea: "Don’t stop believing." Those words have a heartfelt origin. When Jonathan Cain was invited to join Journey, he started working on a song, first deciding that he was going to name it after the words his father would repeat to him over the phone while he was still a struggling musician in L.A.: "Don’t stop believing or you are done , dude."

Cain wrote the emotional chorus first before sharing the project with the band to complete it together. That’s why it’s said that the song was written "backward ." The arrangements were carefully crafted to build up to the climactic final chorus. If you pay attention, this one doesn’t appear until near the end of the song—a structure that sets it apart.

5

We Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel

Image: David Clode

119 significant events are mentioned in the famous 1989 song by "Piano Man" Billy Joel. A rapid-fire history lesson, covering science, sports, music, politics, cultural icons, movies, and so many more, is uttered to assemble an image of the 40 years the artist had lived until then—from 1949 to 1989. The story of how he stumbled upon the idea for this musical whirlwind is just as fascinating.

Legend has it that Joel was in the studio one day when Sean Lennon, John Lennon’s son , visited with a young friend. The 20-year-old started complaining about the hardships of growing up in the ‘80s, and Joel replied that the ‘60s weren’t exactly easy either. This sparked a discussion where each mentioned world-relevant events they had lived through. Inspired, Joel jotted down the events and began piecing them together, eventually crafting the iconic song.

6

I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton

Image: Wes McFee

"I Will Always Love You," immortalized by Whitney Houston ’s rendition for The Bodyguard (1992), was actually written 18 years earlier by Dolly Parton. Although it became a romantic power ballad in the voice of Houston, the original version hadn’t been written with romance or heartbreak in mind—it was a heartfelt farewell.

In 1972, after having become a performing regular in The Porter Wagoner Show , Dolly Parton decided it was time to leave and pursue her own path. Her deep appreciation for Wagoner and her love for her colleague drove her to write a sweet, sincere song to express her feelings. Explaining that, despite needing to move on, and regardless of where life took her, she would always love him. Touched by the song, Wagoner loved it and asked to produce it himself.

7

Maniac - Michael Sembello

Image: David Monje

"Maniac," made famous for its inclusion in the Flashdance (1983) soundtrack, is another example of a song that started with a very different theme. Its original name was still "Maniac," yes. But it wasn’t originally about a passionate dancer—it was about a serial killer.

Dennis Matkosky, the song’s author, had seen in the news a story about a psychotic criminal and conjured in his mind a song that warned of his deeds . Together with his friend Michael Sembello, they finished that version for their own amusement. The demo ended up being one of the songs used in the set of Flashdance for being upbeat, catchy, and danceable. Director Adrian Lyne grew so fond of it that he asked Matkosky and Sembello to rewrite the lyrics to better suit the film. The reworked song became a global hit, reaching the top 10 of pop charts in multiple countries that year.

8

Shout - The Isley Brothers

Image: Brett Sayles

If hearing the song "Shout" by The Isley Brothers makes you think of a festive event where a band interacts with a dancing audience, it means the song retained its original spirit. The iconic phrase "Jump up and shout now" was part of a series of playful instructions the band improvised during a live performance. At the time, they were covering "Lonely Teardrops," a Jackie Wilson hit, and went off on a tangent building on the climax of that song.

The band began shouting ad-libbed lines , encouraging the crowd to participate. That responsorial dynamic became the foundation of "Shout," and evolved further through subsequent performances. Once the song was written down and recorded, it became a timeless classic. Today, this 1959 hit remains a staple at celebrations around the world.

9

You’re So Vain - Carly Simon

Image: Dinielle De Veyra

A song with the famous line "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you," has sparked decades of speculation about who inspired it. Mick Jagger, James Taylor, and Warren Beatty were all rumored to be the subject behind Carly Simon’s famous song. The singer and songwriter delighted in keeping the identity of any precise man a secret, and at some point declared that it had been written about a type of man in general.

However, in 2003, for a charity auction organized by Martha's Vineyard Possible Dreams organization, Simon decided to offer one big treasure to the highest bidder: The truth behind the song. Her friend Dick Ebersol paid $50,000 for the revelation. Under sworn secrecy, Simon revealed the person to Ebersol. He kept the secret, only telling the public that he found the answer "very surprising."

10

Walk the Line - Johnny Cash

Image: Simon Migaj

"I Walk the Line" was Johnny Cash's declaration of commitment and faithfulness, a song written for his first wife, Vivian Liberto. As he prepared to embark on long tours, Cash penned this song as a vow to assure her that he would remain true to her.

Beyond the inspiration for the lyrics, the song showed an array of singularities that made it stand out back in 1956. For example, each iteration of a verse is sung in a different key, a unique technique that can be heard in the gradual shifts of Cash’s voice. The low hum before each verse is Cash’s preparation for singing in each corresponding key. He also innovated by attaching a piece of paper to his guitar’s end which he would hit while playing, simulating the sound of a snare drum that can be heard in the song.

1

McKenzie River Scenic Byway, Oregon

Image: Atanas Malamov

Oregon is famous for its stunning landscapes, and autumn months are no exception. The McKenzie River Scenic Byway stretches from the vineyards of the Willamette Valley to the forests of the Cascade Mountains .

The best time of the year to visit if you want to enjoy the vibrant colors is mid-to-late October.

2

Charlottesville, Virginia

Image: Mitchell Kmetz

The endless forests and rolling hills of Virginia, especially in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, create breathtaking landscapes painted in red, orange, yellow, and green during October and November.

3

French Lick West Baden, Indiana

Image: Adam Bouse

Nestled in the hills of Hoosier National Forest, French Lick West Baden is a resort town that showcases some amazing views when it comes to fall foliage . The best time to visit is from mid-October to early November.

4

Mississippi River Valley, Minnesota

Image: Josh Hild

The Mississippi River Valley in southern Minnesota is home to vibrant forests, steep hillsides, and picturesque river towns , waiting to be explored by those eager to make the trip.

The best time to see the foliage change is from late September to mid-October.

5

Breckenridge, Colorado

Image: Thomas Morse

Breckenridge, Colorado, bursts into vivid colors every late September, with the changing leaves of the aspen trees creating a gold, red, and orange rainbow in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

6

Northwoods, Wisconsin

Image: Dave Hoefler

Thousands of lakes and vast forests that stretch across five counties can be found in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. From mid-September to early October, visitors are treated to some of the best foliage in the region, with vibrant shades of orange, red, yellow, and purple.

7

Highlands, North Carolina

Image: Wes Hicks

Imagine a lush rainforest with waterfalls, rivers, and lakes to explore, combined with the typical colors of the leaf change season. Such a place exists in North Carolina. The mountain town of Highlands, perched at over 4,100 feet on the Highlands Plateau in Nantahala National Forest, offers breathtaking fall foliage, with the best viewing time in mid-October.

8

Whidbey Island, Washington

Image: Toan Chu

Washington’s ultimate road trip, the Cascade Loop, winds along the Puget Sound via the Whidbey Island Scenic Byway . Peak fall colors along this drive commonly occur between late September and mid-October showcasing brilliant shades of gold, orange, and red.

9

Tunnel of Trees, Michigan

Image: AJ Yorio

A place known as the Tunnel of Trees will hardly disappoint visitors who come during the foliage change season. This 20-mile scenic route follows the historic Michigan 119 highway between Harbor Springs and Cross Village . The canopy of gold, orange, yellow, and purple leaves is typically on display from late September to mid-October.

10

North Lake Tahoe, California & Nevada

Image: Ben Carless

The stunning Lake Tahoe is framed by the peaks of the Sierra Nevada range on its north shore. Its hundreds of hiking trails wind through diverse tree species that display vivid red, orange, and yellow foliage from mid-September to late October.

11

The Ozarks, Arkansas

Image: Derek Livingston

The Ozark Mountains are most famous for their neighboring lake of the same name, but the amazing autumn colors are a spectacle that deserves all the attention during October. The palette of bright golds, reds, and oranges is especially stunning in the Buffalo National River area near the small town of Ponca.

12

Anchorage to Kenai drive, Alaska

Image: Derek Livingston

Alaska is nothing short of breathtaking, and fall is no exception. Its vast landscapes come alive with vibrant shades of red, purple, yellow, and orange from late August through September.

One of the best ways to experience the season is on the 160-mile drive along the Seward and Sterling highways from Anchorage to Kenai, following two National Scenic Byways.