Halloween is almost here, and there’s nothing quite like settling in with a classic monster movie.
Growing up, I was fascinated by horror movies involving wild animals, mysterious creatures and monsters lurking in remote places. Some were genuinely frightening, while others were just plain fun.
That childhood fascination with monsters and mysteries helped fuel my lifelong curiosity about wildlife and the natural world.
In fact, I recently wrote a book about those experiences.
A Special Halloween Treat!
My new book, I Was an ’80s Horror Kid, takes readers back to the glory days of monster movies, horror magazines, creepy VHS covers and growing up fascinated with all things spooky.
It also explores my firsthand experiences surviving the Satanic Panic and the journey that eventually led me to faith.
Through October 31, I’m offering personally signed copies for just $17.95, including shipping!
Click here to order your signed copy of I Was an ’80s Horror Kid!
This is a preorder special. Books are expected to arrive by October 25, with orders expected to begin shipping shortly afterward.
Now, let’s get to five of my favorite wildlife-related horror movies that are perfect for Halloween.
1. Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is the ultimate wildlife horror movie.
The story of a massive great white shark terrorizing a New England beach community changed cinema forever and helped create an entire genre of animal-attack films.
As someone who has spent years studying and promoting the conservation of great white sharks, I have a unique appreciation for this movie.
The shark in Jaws is a fictional monster, but the real animals are infinitely more fascinating. Unfortunately, the movie also helped create misconceptions about sharks that conservationists are still working to overcome.
Nevertheless, it’s a masterpiece of suspense and one of my all-time favorite films.
2. Wolfen (1981)
This is one of the most underrated horror movies of the 1980s.
Starring Albert Finney, Wolfen follows a series of mysterious killings in New York City that appear connected to an extraordinary group of wolf-like predators.
What makes this movie special is its atmosphere and the way it blends urban decay, Native American spirituality and the mystery surrounding predators.
Unlike many animal horror movies, Wolfen presents its creatures as intelligent beings with their own place in the world.
It’s a fascinating film that deserves more attention.
3. Grizzly (1976)
If Jaws made people afraid to go into the water, Grizzly tried to make them afraid to go into the woods.
The film follows a gigantic grizzly bear terrorizing visitors to a national park, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Released during the wave of animal-attack movies that followed Jaws, this one is pure 1970s drive-in entertainment.
The bear is ridiculously oversized, the attacks are over the top, and the whole thing is a lot of fun.
Real grizzlies are magnificent animals deserving of respect, but Hollywood certainly knew how to turn one into a monster.
4. Razorback (1984)
Now here’s a movie that deserves a much bigger following.
Set in the Australian Outback, Razorback features an enormous, terrifying feral hog that attacks people and wreaks havoc across the countryside.
The movie has a surreal visual style, with haunting landscapes and a creature that looks like something out of a nightmare.
Having spent considerable time investigating and writing about wild hogs, I find this one especially entertaining.
Feral hogs can be formidable animals, but the beast in Razorback takes things to an entirely different level.
If you’ve never seen this Australian cult classic, put it on your Halloween watch list.
5. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
We can’t have a list like this without one of the greatest movie monsters of all time.
Universal’s Creature from the Black Lagoon introduced audiences to the Gill-man, a mysterious amphibious humanoid discovered during an expedition into the Amazon.
The underwater sequences are still remarkable, and the creature design remains one of the most iconic in horror history.
What I’ve always loved about this film is the sense of exploration and discovery.
The idea that something extraordinary might be lurking in a remote, unexplored body of water captures the imagination in a way few other movies can.
For a kid fascinated by wildlife, monsters and mysterious creatures, this movie was pure magic.
Hollywood Monsters and the Real Wild
One thing all these movies have in common is their ability to turn our fascination with wildlife into suspense and excitement.
Of course, the real animals that inspired many of these stories are not monsters. Sharks, wolves, bears and wild hogs all have fascinating natural histories, and understanding their behavior is far more rewarding than simply fearing them.
But there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good old-fashioned creature feature.
So this Halloween, grab some popcorn, turn down the lights and revisit one of these classics.
And if you have a young person in your life who loves animals, monsters or mysterious creatures, encourage that curiosity.
You never know where it might lead.
Happy Halloween!
— Chester Moore
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Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.