Chinese astrology claims the year you were born influences your personality, your strengths and weaknesses. The Chinese zodiac calendar is based on a 12 year cycle that alternates between yin and yang energy. Each year’s characteristics are symbolized through an animal with reported traits that correlate to the temperament of the person born that year.
In the same vein, each year brings us a new collection of Halloween films, movies that reflect the style and essence of that period. Filmmakers use themes and personal style to reflect the state of society at that time in the same way animal images reflect that year’s essence in astrology.
What do the movies released the year you were born say about you? Discover your Halloween movie zodiac sign below!
The Rat (yang): 1960 (Psycho, Peeping Tom). 1972 (The Last House on the Left, Deliverance). 1984 (Ghostbusters, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Children of the Corn). 1996 (Scream, The Craft, Fear, From Dusk till Dawn).
Those born in the year of the rat prefer to live in the present moment and act as outlaws, making their own rules (From Dusk Till Dawn). The rat is nocturnal and prefers to sleep the day away (A Nightmare on Elm Street). In social interactions, they are always meeting new people (The Last House of the Left) but value true friends who have earned their trust (The Craft). The rat can be overly possessive and easily conceal extreme feelings beneath an alluring exterior (Psycho, Fear). Their most notable trait is their undeniable quick wit and sharp observance of the culture around them (Scream).
The Ox (yin): 1961 (Pit and the Pendulum). 1973 (The Exorcist, The Wicker Man). 1985 (Fright Night, Re-Animator, Day of the Dead). 1997 (Mimic, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream 2, Funny Games, Wishmaster, Tower of Terror).
Those born under the sign of the ox are marked by their robust nature and ability to resist attack (Mimic). In the face of adversity, they quickly form strong alliances (I Know What You Did Last Summer). They have an unstoppable need to gain strength and advance (Wishmaster) in their work. Oxes do their research and can bring life to any situation (Re-Animator). They’re known for their diligent work ethic and strive to get to the bottom of any mystery (Pit and the Pendulum, Tower of Terror). In their downtime, oxes seek comfort at home with their families (Funny Games). They have high standards and quickly judge others with opposing views (The Wicker Man). One must be cautious when crossing an ox. When provoked, they are capable of fits of rage and will aggressively seek revenge (The Exorcist, Scream 2).
The Tiger (yang): 1950 (Flying Disc Man from Mars). 1962 (The Phantom of the Opera). 1974 (Young Frankenstein, Black Christmas, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre). 1986 (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, April Fool’s Day, Blue Velvet, The Hitcher, Little Shop of Horrors). 1998 (Halloween H20, Urban Legend, Halloweentown, Practical Magic).
The tiger is one of the most powerful signs. Those born during these years are courageous and act with authority to defeat evil (Halloweentown). They have the ability to analyze a situation in order to separate fact from fiction (April Fool’s Day, Urban Legend). In family relationships, they prove to be trustworthy and protective (Practical Magic). Tigers are excited by travel and adventure on the open road (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre). The tiger’s most notable trait is the refusal to be victimized by their fate, and they can endure great hardships to achieve ultimate victory (The Phantom of the Opera, Halloween H20).
The Rabbit (yin): 1951 (The Thing From Another World). 1963 (The Birds, The Haunting, The Raven). 1975 (Jaws, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Stepford Wives, Shivers). 1987 (Hellraiser, The Gate, Fatal Attraction, Near Dark, The Witches of Eastwick, Evil Dead II). 1999 (The Sixth Sense, The Blair Witch Project, Don’t Look Under the bed, Audition, Sleepy Hollow, Idle Hands).
People born under this sign tend to be more quiet and introspective, with a subdued, graceful elegance that captivates those around them (The Stepford Wives). Don’t be fooled by this undeniable charm and allure—what goes on inside a rabbit’s head is a mystery, and it takes time for them to unveil their deepest secrets (Audition). Have patience, however—although rabbits may appear to have a reserved exterior, this is only the calm before the storm, and if you wait long enough you are sure to see the whirlwind of power and extremities that reside beneath their surface (The Blair Witch Project). Their gentle, kind persona lead them to help those in need, but their overly discreet nature and sense of inner melancholy can lead to their downfall (The Sixth Sense). Rabbits possess one of the strongest intellects of the Zodiac, with a knack for problem solving based primarily in science and rationality in even the most fantastical of environments (Sleepy Hollow). Relying solely on intellect and reason often causes them to be closed off, trapped inside their own minds, unwilling to accept circumstances outside their realm of knowledge (Don’t Look Under the Bed). A rabbit should strive to be more open-minded and accepting of the unknown—even the most outlandish of people and places (The Rocky Horror Picture Show). Remember that rationality cannot protect you from intensely absurd and bizarre happenings (Hellraiser), and that anything out of the ordinary can and will occur (The Birds).
The Dragon (yang): 1952 (The Black Castle, Trick or Treat). 1964 (Children of the Damned). 1976 (Carrie, The Omen, The Town that Dreaded Sundown). 1988 (Beetlejuice, Child’s Play, They Live, The Serpent and The Rainbow). 2000 (American Psycho, Final Destination, Scary Movie, What Lies Beneath).
The most powerful animal in the Zodiac, dragons are born leaders (The Omen). Although they are attractive, intelligent, and confident souls, dragons often become aggressive perfectionists about their appearance and surroundings (American Psycho). Their inner power can often be used for malicious purposes, as they have a tendency to dwell on circumstances and let external factors influence them (Carrie). Dragons are very courageous—embracing challenges and enjoying taking risks—but their determination and borderline obsession to solve problems and get to the bottom of things can be dangerous (Final Destination, What Lies Beneath). An observant creature with a sharp wit, the dragon notices things others cannot, but will use these gifts only to their own advantage, poking fun at or humiliating those around them (Scary Movie). Sometimes too sure of themselves, their biggest flaws are their loud mouth and tactless communication style (Beetlejuice). Despite this, they are often the recipient of deep love and find themselves in high demand (Child’s Play).
The Snake (yin): 1953 (House of Wax). 1965 (Repulsion, The Collector). 1977 (The Hills Have Eyes). 1989 (Puppet Master, Pet Cemetery). 2001 (Donnie Darko, The Others, Jeepers Creepers).
The snake is one of the most enigmatic signs (Donnie Darko). They are good communicators, expressing sincere emotions without saying much (The Others). Those born under this sign hate to fail and easily melt under pressure and stress (House of Wax). They prefer seclusion from the outside world (Repulsion). When they do socialize with others, they can become jealous and hate to be rejected (The Hills Have Eyes). They are calculated and analytical. Even if the snake must lie and scheme, no exterior force can stop them from rising to the top (Pet Cemetery).
The Horse (yang): 1954 (Godzilla, Rear Window, Creature from the Black Lagoon). 1966 (Seconds, Kill Baby, Kill). 1978 (Halloween, Dawn of the Dead, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, I Spit On Your Grave, Piranha). 1990 (Edward Scissorhands, The Witches, Ghost, Misery, Jacob’s Ladder, It). 2002 (Signs, Scooby Doo, 28 Days Later, The Ring).
Those born in the year of the horse are said to be strong and steadfast, forging ahead with adaptable ambition (Creature from the Black Lagoon, Halloween, 28 Days Later). They love unconditionally and live to please those that accept them for who they are (Edward Scissorhands). Their intuitive nature helps them easily identify the good and evil in those around them (The Witches, Scooby Doo). Horses are extremely loyal to the people they love and will protect them no matter what the circumstance (Ghost). Though, if kept unchecked, this emotional depth can turn obsessive (Seconds, Rear Window, Misery). Beware! Those born under this sign often dwell in, and if not careful, can easily become haunted by their past (It, The Ring).
The Goat (yin): 1955 (Diabolique, The Night of the Hunter). 1967 (Wait Until Dark). 1979 (The Amityville Horror, When a Stranger Calls). 1991 (The Addams Family, Cape Fear, Silence of the Lambs, Sleeping with the Enemy, The People Under the Stairs, Ernest Scared Straight). 2003 (Freddy vs. Jason, House of 1000 Corpses, Wrong Turn).
Those born in the year of the goat are quiet and reserved, internalizing their creativity and passions. They often come from an eccentric upbringing that instills them with a strong set of family values (The Addams Family). They are charismatic and mysterious (Cape Fear) and are often more complex than what meets the eye (Wait Until Dark, Silence of the Lambs). If bottled up, they can easily be overcome by passion and anger (Diabolique, Sleeping with the Enemy). Goats are defensive, keeping their darkest secrets behind a thick wall of privacy (The Amityville Horror, The People Under the Stairs). Though, once they let their guard down, they can poke fun at themselves and reveal a surprising sense of humor (Ernest Scared Straight, Freddy vs. Jason).
The Monkey (yang): 1956 (Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Bad Seed). 1968 (Night of the Living Dead, Rosemary’s Baby). 1980 (The Shining, Friday the 13th, The Fog). 1992 (Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Candyman, Dead Alive, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Single White Female). 2004 (Shaun of the Dead, Saw).
The monkey is known for its versatility and ability to easily adapt to any situation (Invasion of the Body Snatchers). Taking on many forms, they have a passion for life (Night of the Living Dead, Bram Stoker’s Dracula). They conceal their dark side behind a seductive facade (Candyman). Like the monkey, they are lively in their attempts to balance their love lives and relationships with their family (Dead Alive). The can’t stand to be alone and go mad if forced into isolation (The Shining). Although they love solving challenges themselves, their pranks can sometimes hurt others (Saw). Monkeys must be careful in social dealings. They quickly become envious and covet the strengths of those they admire (Single White Female, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle).
The Rooster (yin): 1957 (Night of the Demon, The Curse of Frankenstein). 1969 (The Oblong Box, The Mad Room, “It’s Alive!”). 1981 (The Evil Dead, An American Werewolf in London, The Howling, Halloween II, My Bloody Valentine). 1993 (Hocus Pocus, Double, Double, Toil and Trouble, The Halloween Tree, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Leprechaun, Cronos). 2005 (Red Eye, The Descent, The Devil’s Rejects, Hostel).
The personality traits of roosters center around ambition and hard work, with a strong inner drive that never falters. Roosters have a childlike innocence and a contagious spirit that others find lovable and endearing (Double, Double, Toil and Trouble). With a sense of bravery and tenacity, there is never a dull moment in their thrill-seeking world (Hocus Pocus). These adventurous qualities can teach many important lessons on friendship and loyalty (The Halloween Tree), but roosters must beware of being too headstrong to the point of naivete. Their intuition and strong sense of self sometimes cause daydreaming of bigger and better things, often discontent with current circumstances (The Nightmare Before Christmas). This overwhelming desire for exploration can lead to a devastating fate, often involving malicious and unrelenting forces (An American Werewolf in London, The Evil Dead), with roosters finding themselves completely trapped and overpowered by their surroundings (Hostel, The Descent). Although persistence and courage are useful in the face of adversity (Leprechaun), this stubborn, often obsessive behavior can be detrimental, especially when coming from a place of arrogance or vanity (Cronos).
The Dog (yang): 1958 (Vertigo, The Blob, The Fly). 1970 (Girly, The Dunwich Horror). 1982 (Poltergeist, The Thing, Creepshow, Cat People). 1994 (Interview with the Vampire, The Crow, Natural Born Killers, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare).
Those born in the year of the dog are diligent and dependable. Their romantic lives are characterized by loyal devotion to their life mate (Natural Born Killers). They will go out of their way to help someone, even in dangerous situations (Vertigo). If threatened, they’ll do anything to avenge the honor of those they love (The Crow). They are intelligent and humble enough to poke fun at themselves (Wes Craven’s New Nightmare). Dogs must consider the consequences of their actions (Poltergeist). Too often, they find themselves overcome with guilt from the sins they’ve committed in the past (Interview with the Vampire).
The Pig (yin): 1959 (House on Haunted Hill, Jack the Ripper, The Mummy). 1971 (A Clockwork Orange, The Devils, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory). 1983 (Cujo, Sleepaway Camp, Christine, The Dead Zone). 1995 (Casper, Se7en, Haunted, Goosebumps TV Series).
Persistent, faithful, and compassionate are those born in the year of the pig. Known for their sincerity and appreciation for deep, meaningful relationships, pigs are likely to form unbreakable bonds and eternal friendships (Casper). This ability to work well with others, mixed with a strong dedication to their work, proves to be useful in even the most harrowing of tasks (Se7en). Creativity and a vivid imagination dominate those born under this sign, but pigs should take extra care to not indulge their outlandish fantasies (A Clockwork Orange, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory). Although pigs possess a calm disposition when facing trouble, they have a tendency to be a little too trusting to those they encounter, causing them to be easily duped (House on Haunted Hill). Allowing themselves to be too comfortable with their surroundings can make them caught off guard and unprepared for life’s unpredictability and rather sinister occurrences (Cujo). Sometimes their overly cool, mild-mannered nature prompt them to bite off more than they can chew, and they often find themselves looking for trouble (Goosebumps).
What are your favorite movies from the year you were born? Does your personality match up with your Horror-scope? Share your thoughts below!