Halloween Movies for the Semi-Scaredy Cats - My Non-Traditional Halloween Movie List (by Nicole)
Hi Everyone! Over the past few years, I’ve kept a list of movies in my
phone that really put me in the spooky spirit. (This is mostly to make sure
I don’t forget to watch them when the season is upon us!) While not as brave
as Amy when it comes to movie-watching (you won’t catch me watching The Conjuring!),
I still love a good fall vibe. The movies below are my personal picks to
guarantee a “not-so-scary” but also “not-for-kids” Halloween-infused evening.
Fire up the Keurig or tea kettle and check out my list of favorite Halloween movies below!
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Clue (1985)
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Clue holds a special place in my heart for setting the Halloween mood.
It started as a random streaming pick on Halloween night and became
a classic for me! It’s classy, clever, and you basically have to watch it every
year. I promise you’ll pick up more plot and more jokes with every viewing.
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All Good Things (2010)
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I know it’s over a decade old, but it seems like no one really talks about
this movie. It sits in a weird spot between movie genres, so you never really
know what to expect. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend avoiding any
information about this movie beforehand and just diving in to better the
experience. Ryan Gosling fans, rejoice!
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The Lighthouse (2019) - Scariest on the List
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It’s chilling, anxiety-inducing, yet tolerable and wonderful. The fog horn
alone sends shivers up my spine. It’s borderline horror, but in a great
psychological way. Don’t ask me to explain the big reveal in
this movie; I still don’t understand it myself!
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Hubie Halloween (2020)
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This isn’t a cinematic masterpiece, but more of a “put on in the background
while baking” sort of movie. Yet, it checks all the boxes for a spooktacular evening.
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Shutter Island (2010)
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As a devoted DiCaprio fan, this movie ranks pretty high on my list
of favorites. It combines conspiracy, mystery, and suspense and wraps
it all up in a neat package with very few jump scares. Although it has low
re-watch value, the scene in the graveyard will give you the spooks!
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The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
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This is an all-around good movie that stands well on its own, although
there are others in the universe (that I admit I haven’t seen). My heart raced
throughout the entire ending.
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Knives Out (2019)
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This is a a true murder mystery to reignite love for the genre. I love movies
with “easter egg foreshadowing”. I don’t want to step on any toes, but
this movie is much better than the similar and more recent movie “Death on
the Nile”. Hugh did this!
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The Blair Witch Project (1999)
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It’s a classic for a reason. This is almost the only “scary” movie I’ve seen
so far that is still super comfortable to watch. The first time watching
it? Terrifying! After you know the ending and figure out there are no
jump scares? Awesome! (Bonus spooky fun: Check out the actually aired Blair Witch/Scooby Doo Crossover from 1999.)
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Family Movies
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Corpse Bride (2005)
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Okay, okay. This one is for kids, but I still love it! Victor’s piano solo is absolutely haunting!
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Edward Scissorhands (1990)
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A+ soundtrack! This one leans towards Christmas, but it’s a classic Tim
Burton masterpiece. Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder should just get back together.
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Coraline (2009)
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This is another classic on many Halloween movie lists. Stop-motion
always looks unsettling, but even as an adult, there is something sinister
about this movie that just gives me the creeps.
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Bonus Movie: Practical Magic (1998)
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For the adventurous overachievers: I’ve not actually seen this movie yet, but
it’s been on my list to try for a while. From the cast and
soundtrack, I have high expectations!
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Speaking of expectations, please set your expectations to Ultra Low if
you’re planning on watching The Watcher (just released) on Netflix. I promise
that just reading this article from NY Magazine will give you all the
spooky (and true!) information you need to skip this new series this month.
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That’s it! Thank you for letting me share my spin on Halloween movies.
Share your go-to October flicks below!