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There is something interesting about October evenings. The temperature drops, leaves crunch underfoot, and suddenly all I want to do is wrap myself in the fluffiest blanket I own and watch something that matches the season. Halloween movies have become my ultimate comfort viewing this time of year. Not just the jump-scares and slashers but everything that captures that perfect autumn feeling. Create your ultimate autumn movie experience with these seasonal favorites.
Finding the Perfect Halloween Movie Balance: Spooky but Not Sleep-Disrupting
Last Halloween season, I made the rookie mistake of watching “The Conjuring” at 11 PM. Big mistake. HUGE mistake that would never repeat itself. I spent the rest of the night convinced there was something lurking in my closet. I am not even remotely embarrassed to admit I slept with my bedside lamp on. Since then, I have mastered the art of Halloween movie selection based on just how much nightmare fuel I can handle on any given evening.
For those nights when you want the Halloween vibes without the terror, family-friendly Halloween movies like “Hocus Pocus” strike that perfect balance. The 1993 classic with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters remains undefeated in my book.
Classic Halloween Horror Movies That Stand the Test of Time
When I am feeling braver, nothing beats the classics. There is a reason films like “Halloween” (1978) endure decades later. The simplicity of Michael Myers and that haunting piano theme still creates tension that many modern horror films miss despite their bigger budgets and fancy special effects.
I made the mistake of hosting a Halloween movie marathon last year, starting with “The Exorcist” and ending with “Hereditary.” My friend Jake still claims he is traumatized, and frankly, I cannot blame him. We had to cleanse our palates with “Beetlejuice” afterward just to be able to sleep.
Underrated Halloween Movies Worth Adding to Your Watchlist
One of my personal favorites that often gets overlooked in Halloween movie discussions is “Trick ’r Treat” (2007). This anthology film perfectly captures Halloween atmosphere with interconnected stories that are equal parts creepy and fun. The movie practically oozes autumn vibes and really honors the traditions and folklore of Halloween in a way that makes me nostalgic for childhood trick-or-treating adventures.
Another gem is “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is it a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? I will die on the hill that it belongs to October, not December. The gothic animation style, the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, and the bizarre residents of Halloween Town create the perfect viewing experience on a chilly autumn evening.
Creating the Ultimate Cozy Halloween Movie Night
The movie is only half the experience, though. The perfect Halloween movie night requires the right setting. For me, that means string lights with a warm amber glow, cinnamon scented candles, and a mug of something that warms you from the inside out. I am partial to hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick, but hot chocolate with those tiny marshmallows works just as well.
My favorite Halloween movie night from last season involved a complete blanket fort, my most comfortable sweatpants, and a lineup of movies that gradually decreased in scariness as the night went on. We started with “The Shining,” moved to “Practical Magic,” and ended with “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” because falling asleep to something wholesome after Kubrick’s masterpiece of horror just feels right.
What Halloween movies can offer
Halloween movies offer something uniquely satisfying that other seasonal films cannot match. They range from genuinely terrifying to comfortingly nostalgic, but they all somehow capture that special October feeling. Whether you are a hardcore horror enthusiast or someone who prefers their scares with a side of comedy, there is a Halloween movie out there that will make your autumn evening complete.
What are your go-to Halloween films for the spooky season? I am always looking to expand my watchlist with both bone-chilling scares and heartwarming Halloween classics.
Reference
Cherry, B. (2019). Horror film festivals and the politics of cinephilia: Developing intellectual spaces for communal viewing. Journal of Film and Video, 71(3), 25–45. https://doi.org/10.5406/jfilmvideo.71.3.0025
Hantke, S. (Ed.). (2010). American horror film: The genre at the turn of the millennium. University Press of Mississippi.
Jancovich, M. (2001). Horror, the film reader. Routledge.
Worland, R. (2014). The horror film: An introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.