Halloween is a day dedicated to bringing ourselves closer to the scary. As you’re dressing up and offering tricks and treats to the local kiddos, take some time to celebrate the terrifying. This year we’re doing that by binge-watching five of our favorite fear-inducing outdoor flicks. Which will you choose to watch this Allhallows Eve?
Free Solo (2018)
Imagine climbing 3,000 feet to the top of one of the world’s most iconic rock faces. Scary. Now imagine doing it without a rope. Terrified yet? We are. Alex Honnold’s nearly unbelievable feat will put you on the edge of your seat in this feature-length film. While your palms are sweating, you’ll also be blown away by the beauty of filmmaker Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin’s depiction of the challenge. Don’t miss it. The documentary is even in select theaters now.
North Face (2008)
Based on a true story, this film tells the tale of a competition to climb one of the most dangerous rock faces in the Alps. Set in 1936, you’ll see alpinists attempting to master the moves on the unclimbed north face of the Eiger. The climbers risk their limbs and their lives to summit, and face a series of catastrophic accidents. This epic journey will get your blood pumping.
Touching the Void (2003)
This documentary tells the tale of two climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, who seek to climb the previously untouched West Face of Siula Grande in Peru. When Simpson breaks a leg on the descent, they’re forced to attempt a daring self-rescue. Darkness falls as Yates accidentally lowers his partner into a crevasse. He’s forced to cut the rope, right before he was pulled to his own death. It’s impossible to look away or catch your breath.
Man on Wire (2008)
Aug. 7, 1974: Philippe Petit of France danced along a wire illegally strung between the New York World Trade Center’s twin towers. Six years of meticulous planning led up to the moment. After the feat, he was arrested, required to undergo psychological evaluation and jailed before finally being released. This documentary shows his historic crime in excruciating detail.
Everest (2015)
This film is based on the true story of two commercial expeditions that were challenged by a snowstorm near the top of Everest, the world’s tallest mountain at 29,029 feet. The story is set in 1996 when two expeditions joined forces to try and get a group of climbers to the summit. The tale of the two teams’ struggle when a blizzard strikes will leave you on the edge of your seat.