It's scary out there...

Halloween was always my kids’ favourite holiday and truth be told, I enjoyed dressing up to take them trick or treating as much as they did. In honour of All Hallows’ Evening next Tuesday, we present a weekend’s worth of reads about the history of Halloween, scary movies, our fascination with monsters and, also, the most-read story in October produced by The Conversation Canada. I’ll let you decide if that one is a good fit with this weekend’s theme.

And if this isn't enough for you, we've got a few more great Halloween-themed articles coming early next week.

Have a frightful weekend and we’ll be back in your Inbox on Monday.

Scott White

Editor

The best scary movie ever

David Eggers’ “The Witch” is a scary representation of Puritan life in the 17th century. (The Witch, A24 Films, 2016)

Why 'The Witch' is the scariest historical film ever

Melissa J. Gismondi, University of Virginia

Robert Eggers’ indie film The Witch brilliantly chronicles Puritan life in the 1630s. Horror soon ensues as children disappear into the woods and one girl, Thomasina, is accused of witchcraft.

Scary stuff from around the world

The science of fright: Why we love to be scared

Arash Javanbakht, Wayne State University; Linda Saab, Wayne State University

We may pretend that we do not like fear, but Halloween proves otherwise. Many of us enjoy being scared. But why?

How long have we believed in vampires?

Sam George, University of Hertfordshire

How the vampire transitioned from folkloric peasant to Byronic Lord.

Eight things you need to know about poltergeists – just in time for Halloween

Neil Dagnall, Manchester Metropolitan University; Ken Drinkwater, Manchester Metropolitan University

The truth is out there...or is it?

Why we'll always be obsessed with – and afraid of – monsters

Leo Braudy, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

All the popular monsters you'll see out trick-or-treating, from Frankenstein to Dracula, were born out of fear and anxiety about change and technology.

Tricking and treating has a history

Regina Hansen, Boston University

Everything you need to know about the history of Halloween.

Donald Trump's passion for cruelty

Henry Giroux, McMaster University

Donald Trump seems to have a passion for cruelty, often publicly celebrating his investment in violence as a source of pleasure. Those tendencies represent symptoms of a broader American sickness.