Oh Halloween, a classic American holiday of taking candy from strangers, pretending to be someone you’re not, and going into ghost-infested houses on purpose.
The vibes of Halloween are unmatched by any other holiday and are just unique to the season. However, sometimes the Halloween vibes just aren’t right in the air, so you may need some help really getting in the mood. Lucky for you, Halloween movies are the perfect remedy for when you need that extra kick of spookiness.
Now there are a lot of Halloween movies out there. Like a lot. They range in genre, rating, content, and again, general vibe. Lucky for you, I’m something of a movie enjoyer myself. So here are five of my movie picks to get feeling the vibes this Halloween season.
Let’s start off simple. If you’re looking for something fun and family friendly, I would recommend watching Halloweentown. The first is my personal favorite, but the others are still pretty good. Halloweentown is a movie I have enjoyed since I was little, so not only does this movie put me in the mood for Halloween, but it also makes me feel pretty nostalgic.
Halloweentown has probably been seen by most people who grew up on Disney, so it is a great pick for anyone looking for Halloween feelings and nostalgia.
Directed by Duwayne Dunham, Halloweentown follows the Piper siblings, Marnie, Dylan, and Sophie, as they follow their grandmother home one Halloween night and discover she is a witch who lives in Halloweentown. The siblings must come together to help their grandmother save Halloweentown from the forces of evil before it’s too late.
Oh, you’re not looking for something for kids, but you still want something to laugh at? Well I have just the movie for you: What We Do in the Shadows. Although this movie came out in 2014, it is a relatively recent find for me, but that does not mean I did not enjoy it.
Written and directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, this mockumentary follows vampire housemates Viago, Vladislav, and Deacon as they try to cope with the complexities of the modern world. The movie has a lot of laughs and just overall goofiness, so if you like vampires and comedies, definitely check it out.
I would like to note that these vampires are nothing like Twilight vampires, so take that however you would like.
If you aren’t in the mood for something comedic and would rather watch something to scare you, I recommend looking away from the classic Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers and instead consider watching the relatively new 2015 release, The Witch.
Written and directed by Robert Eggers, The Witch follows a family in 1630s New England homesteading on the edge of an impassable wilderness, exiled from their settlement, and torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic, and possession. Some people may describe this movie as more creepy, less scary, but I have a very low tolerance for horror, so it all feels the same to me. Either way, I recommend giving it a try if you’re into creepy/scary movies.
Woah, not a fan of horror movies? That’s okay, I have plenty more recommendations up my sleeve. In the mood for something older and classic? Well, you can never go wrong with some good old-fashioned Beetlejuice.
Most people have already seen this movie, but that doesn’t mean you can’t watch it again. Directed by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice follows the spirits of a deceased couple who are plagued with insufferable new owners living in their home and try anything to get these new inhabitants out—even enlisting the aid of a pesky spirit who, once summoned, is impossible to get rid of.
If you're looking for something pretty brand new to watch, I recommend Werewolf by Night which debuted on Disney+ just this month. Directed by Michael Giacchino, this classic horror style film follows a group of monster hunters, gathered following the death of an infamous hunter, competing in a mysterious hunt for a powerful and mysterious relic.
Now this movie is a Marvel Special Presentation, but don’t let that deter you from giving it a shot. There are some superhero-y elements but nothing major. It is an overall very interesting and unique, especially by Marvel standards, project that really has those spooky Halloween vibes . . . and no Ironmen.
There are, of course, numerous more really amazing Halloween movies out there for you to explore, but these are just some that I really enjoy. Grab some popcorn and Halloween candy and get cozy on the couch; it’s movie time!