October 31, 2024

Haunting the Screen: USC Cinematic Arts Alumni in Horror

By Benjamin Pola

The USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni have made significant contributions to nearly every major film and TV production since its inception, pushing the boundaries in every genre, including horror. From John Carpenter’s student film Captain Voyeurs, which inspired the iconic opening sequence of Halloween, to Akeela Cooper’s 2022 hit M3GAN, our alumni have played significant roles in creating horror classics. In celebration of the spooky season, here is a list of 10 must-watch SCA horror films to add to your favorites!

A compilation of horror movie posters that SCA alumni have worked on

1. Halloween (1978)
John Carpenter - Director / Writer
Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, to kill again.

2. Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Ed Saxon ‘84- Producer 
A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.

3. M3GAN (2022)
Akela Cooper ’06 – Writer
When robotics engineer Gemma becomes the guardian of her orphaned niece, Cady, she thinks her new invention, a robotic AI, will be a good companion. However, M3GAN begins to behave in unexpected and shocking ways.

4. The Grudge (2004)
Stephen Susco ’00 - Writer 
An American nurse living and working in Tokyo is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse, one that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim.

5. Sinister (2012)
Scott Derrickson ’95- Director / Writer
A controversial true-crime writer finds a box of Super 8 home movies in his new home, revealing that the murder case he is currently researching could be the work of an unknown serial killer whose legacy dates back to the 1960s.

6. The First Omen (2024)
David S. Goyer '88 – Producer
A young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, but encounters a darkness that causes her to question her faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.

7. Scream (2022)
James Vanderbilt ’89 - Writer  
25 years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, Calif., a new killer dons the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town's deadly past.

8. World War Z (2013)
David Ellison - Executive Producer
Former United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itself.

9. The Strangers (2008)
Kevin Greutert '87 – Editor
James Hoyt and Kristen McKay visit an isolated vacation home to enjoy some time together. However, they are in for a rude surprise when three masked assailants make their stay a nightmare.

10. Halloween (2018)
Malek Akkad ’06 - Producer 
Laurie Strode confronts her long-time foe, Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.