The Ultimate Scary Movie & Cocktail Pairings Guide

October nights are tailor-made for two things: the thrill of a scary movie and the satisfaction of a strong drink.

What's your idea of horror? A masked killer lurking outside the window, a haunted hotel, a possessed kid, or maybe a bunch of gorgeous vampires playing baseball in a thunderstorm? The right cocktail can elevate your movie night to a whole new level.

So dim the lights, lock the doors, grab the good glassware and whatever you do, don't investigate that mysterious creaking noise coming from upstairs.

From horror classics to campy slashers and modern favorites, here's the ultimate scary movie and cocktail pairing guide for your next Halloween movie marathon.

Scream + Red Sangria

The Movie: Scream

The Drink: Red Sangria

Love scary movies?

If the answer is yes, Scream is the perfect place to start - the 1996 slasher managed to be genuinely scary while tongue-in-cheek poking fun at just about every horror movie rule out there.

For something equally fun, crowd-friendly and very, very red, whip up a pitcher of sangria on movie night.

Combine red wine with brandy, orange liqueur, sliced oranges, apples and berries and let everything mingle in the fridge until the big night, then add a splash of lemon-lime soda before serving - gets you some fizz in there.

It's not just a great fit for the blood-red color - but the fact that it's made in a pitcher is a real benefit too. No more constant trips to the kitchen while Ghostface is on the prowl.

Movie Night Snack: Popcorn with a dash of spicy seasoning.

The Shining + REDRUM Old Fashioned

The Movie: The Shining

The Drink: Old Fashioned

Too much work — and not enough cocktails - makes movie night a pretty dull affair.

Stanley Kubrick's The Shining calls for something classic, dark and high-end – and an Old Fashioned is just the ticket.

Pour bourbon or rye whiskey, simple syrup and aromatic bitters over ice in a rocks glass. Stir until it's chilled and then garnish with an orange peel and a cocktail cherry.

The whiskey gives you all the warmth you need for a movie set in a snowed-in hotel, and the drink is simple enough that you can make another without missing too much of Jack Torrance's descent into madness.

For Halloween, give the cocktail a dark twist with a dark cherry garnish – REDRUM.

Movie Night Snack: Dark chocolate and roasted nuts

Halloween + Spiked Apple Cider

The Movie: Halloween

The Drink: Spiked Apple Cider

You can't have a proper scary movie marathon without the faceless Michael Myers.

John Carpenter's Halloween is practically a must-see every October - so its cocktail pairing should be equally seasonal.

Which is exactly where Spiked Apple Cider comes in.

Warm apple cider with cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange slices, then add some bourbon, dark rum or spiced rum. Serve it up hot in mugs and garnish with an apple slice or a cinnamon stick.

It's all cozy and comforting, which is a big help when there's a masked guy silently standing across the street.

Bonus points if you drink it on Halloween night.

Movie Night Snack: Caramel corn

A Nightmare on Elm Street + Espresso Martini

The Movie: A Nightmare on Elm Street

The Drink: Espresso Martini

Whatever you do - don't. fall. asleep.

Freddy Krueger attacks his victims in their dreams, so we're fighting back with some serious caffeine.

The Espresso Martini combines vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso into a rich & frothy cocktail that might just help you make it through your horror marathon without dozing off.

Shake everything with ice until it's frothy, strain it into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish with some coffee beans.

Will it actually keep you safe from Freddy?

We can neither confirm nor deny that one.

But staying awake is a pretty good place to start.

Movie Night Snack: Chocolate-covered espresso beans - because, why not?

The Exorcist + Devil's Margarita

The Movie: The Exorcist

The Drink: Devil's Margarita

When the movie is called The Exorcist, you know where this is going.

The Devil's Margarita takes a classic cocktail and gives it a sinister twist by combining tequila, lime juice and simple syrup with a dramatic float of red wine on top.

Shake the tequila, lime and syrup with ice and strain into a glass. Then carefully pour a little red wine over the back of a spoon so it floats at the surface. The result is brilliant, sharp, and tequila-forward - topped with a blood red layer that actually looks ominous.

Movie Night Snack:

Chips, salsa and guacamole.

Psycho + Dry Martini

The Movie: Psycho

The Drink: Dry Martini

There are horror movies that are just as crisp, cool and expertly put together as Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.

The cocktail equivalent? A Dry Martini.

Gin or vodka - just one or the other. Dry vermouth. And if you're feeling fancy a lemon twist or olive. The less frills, the better.

Stir the ingredients until they're ice-cold, then strain into a chilled martini glass. It’s elegant enough for the Bates Motel - but trust us, finish the drink before you take a shower.

And it’s probably best if you don’t book Room 1.

Movie Night Snack: Marinated olives and salty chips.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre + Spicy Ranch Water

The Movie: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

The Drink: Spicy Ranch Water

You can’t just get a Texas horror classic without a Texas drink to go with it.

For The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, we’re going simple - a Ranch Water with a bit more kick.

Mix tequila and lime juice over ice, top with sparkling water and add a few slices of jalapeno for heat. Garnish with a lime wedge.

It’s just what you need for a Texas October - when the days say autumn but the weather says otherwise.

Just don’t take any dinner invitations from strange folks after the movie.

Movie Night Snack: Spicy chips and queso dip.

The Silence of the Lambs + Chianti

The Movie: The Silence of the Lambs

The Drink: Chianti

Sometimes a pairing is just too obvious to ignore.

Rather than messing with this one we'll just have a glass of Chianti and let one of horror cinema’s most infamous food-and-wine references do the talking.

Chianti is an Italian red wine made primarily from Sangiovese - offering bright red fruit flavors and a refreshing acidity that makes it a great match for food.

Yes, we know what you're thinking.

No, we don't mean what you're probably thinking - pair it with fava beans & all that.

Instead, throw together a nice Italian-inspired snack board and enjoy your Chianti like a normal person.

Movie Night Snack: A selection of Italian snacks like salami, olives and crostini.

Beetlejuice + Midori Sour

The Movie: Beetlejuice

The Drink: Midori Sour

To be honest, Beetlejuice isn't exactly a scream fest.

On the other hand, it's delightfully offbeat, spooky and a whole lot of fun to revisit around Halloween.

So, it deserves a cocktail with the same quirky charm.

A Midori Sour is the perfect drink - neon green, sweet and sour, and utterly impossible to ignore. Mix it up with some melon liqueur and citrus and serve over ice for a drink that’s just as weird and wonderful as Beetlejuice himself.

Add a black and white striped straw if you really want to go all in on the absurdity.

Just remember: don’t say his name three times.

Movie Night Snack: Sour gummy worms - perfect for the Neitherworld snack bar.

The Blair Witch Project + Blackberry Bourbon Smash

The Movie: The Blair Witch Project

The Drink: Blackberry Bourbon Smash

If you’re going into the woods, it's bourbon and a Blackberry Bourbon Smash that you should be reaching for.

The dark, woodsy atmosphere of The Blair Witch Project is a perfect match for this cocktail - but is decidedly more pleasant than arguing over a map in the woods.

Muddle some blackberries with lemon and simple syrup, add bourbon and ice, and shake the whole thing up. Strain it over fresh ice, add a sprig of mint and some more blackberries just for good measure.

The smashed blackberries give the cocktail a deep purple red color that looks pretty creepy in low-light conditions.

Just make sure you know where you parked your car before you leave.

Movie Night Snack: Trail mix - the only snack you need if you're going on a wild goose chase in the woods.

The Lost Boys + Bloody Margarita

The Movie: The Lost Boys

The Drink: Bloody Margarita

Sleep all day. Party all night. Stay young forever. Never die.

If vampires are your preferred Halloween companions, then The Lost Boys is definitely worth a watch.

Pair it with a Bloody Margarita - made with tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur and a splash of blood orange juice. Shake with ice and serve up over fresh ice with a salted or spicy rim.

It's citrusy, tart and dramatic enough for a gang of 80s vampires with a penchant for bad boys and eternal youth.

Saxophone playing is not required but would be nice.

Movie Night Snack: The works - think spicy chips, queso and a side of blood-red punch.

Practical Magic + Midnight Margarita: Because Who Needs Romance When You've Got Tequila?

The Movie: Practical Magic

The Drink: Midnight Margarita

Look, Practical Magic is a witchy romance not typically classified as outright horror - but that's not really the point. The real reason to add it to your Halloween watch list is for one very simple reason: midnight margaritas.

You know what to do, don't pretend like you're not one of us.

Dive into your liquor cabinet for tequila, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur and ice, then grab a shaker & get to work.

To give it that extra oomph for halloween, add a dark salt rim or garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel - or hell, just throw some edible flowers on there for kicks.

Make a batch, invite your friends over and you've instantly got yourself a movie night worthy of the Owens sisters.

A little dancing in the kitchen is more than encouraged.

Movie Night Snack: Chips & Guac Because, Well, Priorities

IT + Red Rum Punch

The Movie: IT

The Drink: Red Rum Punch

An evil clown deserves a drink that'll make you double take - you know, like "oh, this looks so innocent, I can totally take a sip without any issues"... until it turns out to be a trick.

Red rum punch to the rescue! Light or dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, lime juice and a splash of grenadine. Throw it over ice with an orange wheel and cherry, just for kicks.

It's fruity, easy to make for a group - & that nice red color for Pennywise is just a bonus.

If someone tries to offer you a balloon while you're drinking it? Decline. Just leave.

Movie Night Snack: Circus-Style Popcorn - Because You're Not Having Enough Fun Yet

Hocus Pocus + Witch's Brew: Cauldron-Fermented Frenzy

The Movie: Hocus Pocus

The Drink: Witch's Brew

Because no Halloween party would be complete without a drink that looks like it came straight from a cauldron - am I right? Mix up a Witch's Brew with vodka, melon liqueur, citrus & lemon-lime soda for an electric green drink that's sure to bring a little drama to the party.

You can serve it in a coupe for a classy vibe, or make a big batch for a Halloween bash.

And if your drink starts bubbling on its own? Yeah. Don't drink it.

Movie Night Snack: Halloween Candy Galore

Stock the Bar for a Frightfully Good Movie Night, Then Realize You're Out of Cocktail Supplies & Panic

The movie is picked, lights are low, snacks are ready... but without the drink, it's kinda like having a Halloween party with no candy.

From bourbon to tequila to wine & mixers - Spec's has got you covered.

So grab your faves, queue up a classic & pour something worthy of the occasion.

Because let's face it, the only thing scarier than a good movie marathon?

Running out of cocktail supplies halfway through.