It’s that time of year. The leaves are falling from the trees, you’ve dusted the cobwebs off your scarf and gloves, you have a weird unending craving for soup, the gourds are sitting proudly on shelves in grocery stores everywhere, and you’re feeling the need to reanimate some dead bodies with the power of electricity. This spooky season you may not be able to frighten as many of your friends in person as you may want to, but that doesn’t mean Halloween can’t be celebrated from home.
We here at Writer’s Block Magazine firmly believe in the excitement of Halloween, whether that is scream-until-your-ears-bleed-frightening, or more Casper the friendly ghost style spooky. In this week leading up to that fateful All Hallow’s Eve, we hope to somewhat instill your self isolation times with that delightfully ghostly feeling with our two articles this week all in the theme of the spooktacular.
First, we’d like to give you some personal Halloween movie recommendations, as we are strong advocates for curling up with a seasonally themed plaid blanket and a mug of spiced cider and simply letting the spook wash over you like a hoard of tiny spiders. So, here follows a list, in no particular order, of the officially sanctioned Writer’s Block Board Halloween Movie Recommendations 2020. There’s a good mix of absolutely spine-chilling horror movies and more autumnal cosy eeriness, so there’s something in it for every kind of Halloween lover! Happy watching, and stay safe at home this Halloween, for nothing, nothing is scarier than the outside world.
- Halloween (1978)
Duh. Did you really think this list wouldn’t start with Michael Meyers, the face that launched a million low-effort Halloween costumes? This movie is a great in-between if you’re not yet ready for the truly horrific stuff, but do want to have some trouble sleeping on the 31st. The age of this film allows you to take a step back from the events unfolding on screen, while still giving you that distinctly chilly feeling in your spine. It’s a classic!
- Us (2019)
I’m going to be honest with you here, this movie messed. me. up. It follows a family on their serene beach vacation, until their murderous doppelgangers show up. It is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen, yet I also definitely NEVER want to see it again. It is eerie, ominous, downright creepy, yet also manages to be so incredibly captivating in a sense that isn’t due to fear. This movie definitely gave me nightmares, but also kept me thinking in my waking hours, as the plot keeps you theorizing long after the credits have rolled.
- The Addams Family (1991)
This delightfully odd family are the perfect group of people to usher in the spooky season. This movie is hilarious in its kookiness, and you will fall in love with every member of the Addams Family throughout watching. This is a movie for the Halloween lover that wants all the vibes with none of the scares, and a wonderfully entertaining movie to boot.
4. Coraline (2009)
Coraline is a stop-motion masterpiece, and has everything a Halloween movie should. A beautiful spooky soundtrack, gorgeous dark autumnal scenes, and the gift of a truly unsettling feeling at the thought of buttons. It’s creepy, it’s captivating, and the perfect movie to watch in the dark with some gluhwein.
5. The Fly (1986)
You’ll be appalled to hear that that ghastly sight is in fact national treasure Jeff Goldblum. The Fly is a body-horror extravaganza, maybe not so directly Halloween-themed, but definitely horror if that’s what you’re looking for. Also, did I mention Jeff Goldblum is in it? He’s great.
6. Hocus Pocus (1993)
For some truly 90s spooky vibes, the only possible option is Hocus Pocus. With Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimi as three 17th century witches arriving in 90s Salem, this little gem is nonstop fun for a more lowkey Hallow’s Eve. You’ll be quoting it for days after, and definitely ordering a corset off Etsy.
7. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
This is another recommendation that’s maybe not black cats and pumpkin themed, but more geared toward psychological horror. This is a film full of hallucinations, fragmented reality and downright creepy sequences that will leave you on the edge of seat and reeling until your very last breath.
8. Raw (2016)
This French film is not for the faint of heart. It is truly disgusting, gory in all its glory. This follows Justine, a lifelong vegetarian, as she develops a taste for flesh, and not just hamburgers. If Halloween to you means to be unsettled to your very core, this is the movie for you.
9. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Lastly, of course, we recommend Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, as the perfect stop-motion movie musical spookiness to get you from October right through November into December. As we’ve learned during quarantine, time isn’t real, but this cute little movie will definitely make you feel alive for a bit as you’re launched from Halloween right into Christmas.
We hope our readers enjoy these recommendations, and if you watch any, please tag us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook with your thoughts!! We wish you a very happy and spooky Halloween!
Writer's Block Magazine 