Need some movie recommendations? Try these underrated flics!
As summer ended last month, the Halloween season rolled in with the orange leaves and cold breeze. For many people, this means curling up inside with a blanket, a pumpkin candle, and Netflix-surfing until they find the perfect film to fit the mood. Luckily, for your next comfy day on the couch, I have some perfect Halloween films for you to watch, all on Netflix and Disney Plus!
#1. Frankenweenie – Disney Plus
Directed by Tim Burton, Frankenweenie (2012) is an iconic animated movie but is shadowed by Burton’s other films, like The Corpse Bride or The Nightmare Before Christmas. But Frankenweenie is my favorite of Burton’s animations with its use of black and white, and, of course, good ol ‘Sparky.
The movie tells the story of a young boy, Victor, and his dog, Sparky. Unfortunately, Sparky passes but Victor experiments jolting him back to life; it’s a success, creating Frankenweenie!Â
This movie is a cult classic and is a perfect thing for younger kids to watch – FYI, probably not a good chice for dog-loving littles. It pays homage to 1931’s Frankenstein, but with an interesting modern twist. Burton creates a humorous, likable world with interesting characters and amazing set design. Overall, this is a movie you don’t want to miss this Halloween season!
#2. Wendell and Wild – Netflix
This might be one of my favorite movies of all time. Directed by Henry Selick (well known for directing Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas), this movie dives into the story of orphan Kat, who is enlisted by two demons from the underworld to summon them into the Land of the Living. However, that doesn’t mean that Kat doesn’t ask for their help in return, and they work together to save Kat’s dying town.Â
This stop-motion animated film has a wonderful list of characters with engaging personalities, especially the two demons. Played by Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, fondly known as the comedic duo Key and Peele, the demons “Wendell and Wild” keep the audience entertained with their antics and hilarious jokes throughout the film. This, along with Angela Bassett and Lyric Ross, creates an incredible cast of voices that perfectly fit their character.
I adore this movie with my whole heart. The soundtrack, the movement of characters, and the plot keep me watching this at least three times every halloween season since I first watched it. I notice new details every time – such as the doves on Kat’s parents’ graves, or the crazy amount of erasers the nuns at Kat’s school owned. I am never bored watching this, and neither would you be!
#3. Fear Street Trilogy – Netflix
Last, but certainly not least, is the Fear Street Trilogy. These three movies follow the town of Shadyside, where the town seems almost plagued by horror and pain. Based on R.L Stine’s books of the same name, the story shows a group of teenagers taking on the evil force inhabiting Shadyside in different timelines.Â
The first film starts with Deena, a teenager in 1994, who’s closeted ex-girlfriend Sam has a close encounter with the spirit of Sarah Fier, a supposed “witch” from Shadyside who placed a curse on the town before being hanged in 1666. Soon after, Deena and Sam are being hunted down by Shadyside’s long list of killers, and spend the next 3 movies looking for a way to release the curse on the town and save themselves and many others from massacre.
The next two movies build off the first, with the sequel taking place in 1974, showing the Camp Nightwing Killer, who terrorized and killed campers and counselors during a game of color war. The trilogy takes us all the way back to 1666, where Deena comes face to face with Sarah Fier, and looks to break the curse forever.
There is so much to love about this trilogy. First and foremost, it has an amazing cast with many notable names – Maya Hawke, Gillian Jacobs, Sadie Sink, Benjamin Flores Jr., and many new stars. Secondly, the plot is extremely exciting and does not bore you for a second. There is always something happening on the screen with a news twist in the story that you don’t want to miss.Â
Another great part of the trilogy is its representation. The cast is extremely diversified, and has, at its center, an LGBTQ+ relationship. Rarely has this been seen in many movies and for a horror trilogy, I don’t believe it has ever been done. This has opened so many doors for the combination of LGBTQ+ and the horror genre and I can’t wait to see what it might lead to.Â
These movies have kept me entertained, gave multiple jump scares that still scare me to this day, and so much more. Even if you aren’t a big fan of horror, this film has such an interesting timeline and exciting cast that you aren’t bored and stuck watching a regular horror movie.Â