Autumn has officially begun and Halloween is just around the corner. Well, okay, it’s still over a month away, but there’s no harm in getting into the spirit a little early – and what better way to do that than with some classic horror flicks and cult TV shows in all their endearingly cheesy glory? Here’s some spooky entertainment fit for any time of year that you can find on Netflix streaming.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
I’ll be honest here – I watched four seasons of this show over the summer, and I’m taking it slow with the last three because I really don’t want it to end. This beloved series created by Joss Whedon (director of The Avengers) follows Buffy Summers, the one and only vampire slayer, and her struggles to balance family, friends, love, school, and slaying demons on a daily basis. There are even several Halloween-themed episodes if you’re really jonesing for that extra dash of seasonal spook.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
This low budget black-and-white horror film is a must-see for any zombie fan. Don’t let the release date and lack of color fool you; this movie is just as scary and suspenseful as any decent modern horror flick. The movie features a group of survivors left to barricade themselves inside a farmhouse against the legions of undead, and their only hope of escape is to brave the zombies in order to get gasoline into a fuel-less truck. That’s some nail-biting-worthy suspense, to say the least.
Fright Night (1985)
If you’re looking for fun, campy horror, the original 1985 Fright Night is the movie for you. When teen Charlie Brewster sees his neighbor carrying a coffin into his house, he begins to have suspicions that he may not be altogether human. As the strange activity continues, he turns to who else but actor Peter Vincent, the vampire killer from his favorite TV show Fright Night and ironically a vampire skeptic. Shenanigans ensue.
The X-Files (1993-2001)
Speaking of believer-skeptic duos, detectives Fox Mulder and Dana Scully of The X-Files are a model example. Mulder believes in the paranormal while Scully is doubtful, but they manage to work together in investigating mysterious cases and trying to uncover government conspiracies related to extraterrestrial activity. Let’s be real – just about anything that falls into the “alien conspiracy” genre is bound to be awesome. With nine seasons all on Netflix, the show certainly has no shortage of spine-tingling spookiness.
Carrie (1976)
This classic horror based on the Stephen King novel of the same name has earned a high spot on countless lists and countdowns of the best horror movies of all time. It features a shy high school girl, Carrie White, who is tormented by both her mother and her peers. When a girl at school plans a nasty prank on Carrie at the prom, her peers learn the hard way that Carrie has been harboring telekinetic powers, and you really don’t want to find out what she can do with them when she’s angry.
So grab a blanket, a big bowl of popcorn, and maybe a friend or two this fall and spend an evening laughing and cringing at some cult hit horrors. Or you can watch them in the spring, or winter, or even summer. These time-honored classics are fantastic night-in entertainment for any time of year.