Spooky movies NOT Scary movies
I love Halloween more than almost anything in life. It is what I look forward to once summer ends and the thought of it keeps my spirits up through the grossness of Vancouver fall. Here is the catch I don’t like being scared… well I don’t like being really scared. I’ve always been very sensitive when it comes to movie content. The first movie I ever saw in theatres was The Prince of Egypt. I cried and screamed so loud my mom had to take me out into the lobby. This was at most three minutes into the movie. So while I want to fill my days with Halloween content I have not been able to get into Horror/Gore/Suspense films. So if you also want to love the spooky season and want to watch some movies here is a list of movies spooky enough to make you feel the season but not scary enough to make you not be able to sleep at night. That’s how I explain it to people I like spooky movies, not scary movies.
DISCLAIMER: If you are also sensitive to certain types of content I would recommend before watching one of these movies to look up content warnings and reviews. I personally don’t find these movies too scary but that is no guarantee you will feel the same.
HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL
An oldie but a goodie. Vincent Price, the unofficial king of all things camp and spooky, leads this ensemble cast in House on Haunted Hill. He plays a millionaire who offers up a reward of $10,000 (OOOOOoooh that was a lot of money back in 1959) to anyone who can spend the whole night in a supposedly haunted house. Haunted house? Yes. Strangers with secrets? Yes. Is Vincent Price being Vincent Price? Absolutely YES! It’s pretty standard scary movie fair but it’s delightfully camp and scary enough to give you a few jumps.
Rating: N/A
Hannah’s snack of choice for optimal viewing experience: Straight gin. Align yourself with the absolutely unhinged 1950s characters and just sink into the depths of despair.
PARANORMAN
Ghosts and ghouls and witches and kids who just don’t fit in. Laika animation studio has yet to release a movie I don’t love and ParaNorman is no exception. This movie drifts closer to the comedic side of things but come on, just look at those ghoulish zombies. amazing! They are always aware of what type of movie they are making, or maybe more accurately making fun of?, a self-aware movie is always nice. Be prepared for some tears and a heartfelt ending.
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance)
Hannah’s snack of choice for optimal viewing experience: Classic movie snacks! We’re talking popcorn and junior mints. Or whatever your fancy might be. To paraphrase a singer turned actor: This movie feels like a movie. Thus I think it deserves traditional movie snacks.
SLEEPY HOLLOW
Mr Halloween himself, Tim Burton, has several offerings that could have been added to this list. Ultimately I went with Sleepy Hollow. I think that it most captures that atmospheric spooky fall essence. Plus it’s about a headless horseman. ICONIC. This movie has every aspect operating at its peak performance. More than any other movie on this list Sleepy Hollow screams Halloween. At least to me, it does. Fair warning this is definitely a gory movie so if that is not your jam I’d give this one a pass.
Rating: R (Restricted)
Hannah’s snack of choice for optimal viewing experience: Charcuterie board. Just get on board with a 1790s east coast America but like, in a delicious way.
DEMENTIA 13
Dementia 13 is the feature directorial debut for Francis Ford Copolla. In the movie, it really feels that Copolla just tried to cram in every horror trope and cliche. It makes for a bizarre and oftentimes confusing b-movie horror extravaganza. By the time you get to the end, you kinda forget what the plot and purpose of this movie were supposed to be but the enjoyment is so great you don’t mind.
Rating: N/A
Hannah’s snack of choice for optimal viewing experience: Whatever the hell you want. This movie is almost incapable of having a cohesive theme therefore nothing fits so also everything fits.
THE HAUNTED MANSION
We’ve had a haunted house on this list but now prepare for a HAUNTED MANSION! I no lie love this movie so much! My sister has made fun f me for how frequently I watch it. In many ways, this is my comfort movie. I want to go to a gothic mansion filled with ghosts who bake cookies and unravel a murderous mystery. *sigh* that’s the dream and until I can live it I will settle for watching this movie every couple of weeks.
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance)
Hannah’s snack of choice for optimal viewing experience: Warm chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. Just watch the movie. You’ll get it.
I’m excited to give these all a watch this October. What movies are your essential viewing for Halloween?
Hannah
Not so into movies? Books more your thing? Check out my October Reads!
