Films to watch this Friday the 13th

Fall break is finally here, and will begin with Friday the 13th, a day some consider bad luck.

However, some horror movie fans instead see it as a holiday to celebrate all things scary.

For those who like scary films and need something to do this Friday, check out one or more of these five films released on a Friday the 13th.

1. The Funhouse (1981)

With Tobe Hooper (known for the 1974 classic “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”) behind the camera, this film follows four teenagers who decide to spend the night in a carnival funhouse. However, after witnessing a murder, they find themselves trapped and on the run from a mysterious man in a Frankenstein’s monster mask. While “It” may be making people afraid of clowns this year, this movie might make viewers afraid of carnivals.

2. Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

What would Friday the 13th without a film from the series that shares its name? Almost all of the franchise’s movies share a similar story: Jason Vorhees, a mask-wearing killer presumed to have drowned as a boy at Camp Crystal Lake, comes back for revenge against its campers and counselors. “Part III” reveals how he got his now-iconic hockey mask. However, be aware the director shot it as a 3D film, so there might be some odd moments that look like the movie is trying to break through the screen. If you happen to not like this one, do not worry, as there are 11 other films to choose from.

3. Disturbia (2007)

Before “Transformers” hit theaters, audiences saw actor Shia LaBeouf in a darker film that Rotten Tomatoes called “a tense, subtle thriller.” LaBeouf stars as a high school student who begins spying on his neighbors. However, the observations take a dark turn when he sees what he believes to be evidence of a murder at one neighbor’s house. LaBeouf tries to solve the mystery, but becomes a part of a sinister plan he could not have expected.

4. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Not all scary movies only have to fall under the horror genre. This film, which features Joss Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and 2012’s “The Avengers,” as the director, is evidence of this. A seemingly-cliché story of five teenagers visiting a cabin in the woods takes an interesting turn as they encounter monsters of all kinds. Where are they coming from? The answer itself contributes to the movie’s originality.

5. Happy Death Day (2017)

If one’s original plan for this weekend was to see a new movie at the theatre, Friday the 13th might be a lucky day for them instead, as this movie’s release is happening that day. This movie focuses on a college girl who gets to have a birthday every day, but with a twist. A masked killer always murders her, resulting in her waking up the next morning to start the same day over again. Stuck in a time loop, she must figure out a way to escape in this time travel-slasher film combo.