Believe it or not, spooky season is right around the corner. While I’m not fond of films full of gore and jump scares, there is the occasional horror flick that catches my eye. From horror-comedies to dramas, there’s plenty of versatility within the genre to display pieces that have creepy atmospheres and intriguing plots that don’t rely on the typical tropes. Here are a few films to check out if you’re not a fan of horror but don’t want to miss out on a spooky movie night:
1. Office Uprising
A zanier version of The Belko Experiment, Office Uprising is a barrel of fun. The film follows Desmond Brimble, played by Brenton Thwaites (The Giver, Titans), a corporate slacker who must take control when his coworkers are turned into psychopathic killers by an energy drink. Sounds chaotic? It most certainly is.
Bloody but not particularly gory, Office Uprising is over-the-top in the best of ways. There are jokes flung at every department, from marketing to accounting to the head executives themselves. There’s plenty of capitalist critique and strong points about weaknesses in the corporate ladder, but it’s well-balanced with plenty of humor and tons of action. If you want a chill night of wild gunfights and flying heads, this is the film for you.
2. Kicking Blood
Using vampirism as a metaphor for addiction, Kicking Blood delves into exactly what it means to fight for your humanity. The film follows Anna, played by Alanna Bale (Cardinal, Sort Of), a centuries-old vampire who falls in love with recovering addict Robbie, played by Luke Bilyk (Degrassi, Lost Girl). Together, the pair must overcome their inner demons, even as the real ones are out to hunt them down.
Kicking Blood serves as more of a psychological exploration than a chilling tale. In fact, there’s only a handful of kills throughout the narrative. The creators were more concerned with their characters’ battles against themselves than any supernatural enemy, and the film’s runtime is used to watch their slow deterioration and subsequent care for one another. There are a few parts that feel a bit lacking– the side characters feel a bit one-note– but there’s a gravity to the film that makes it hard to look away once the film really gets rolling.
3. Spring
Another film concerned with delving into the mysteries of life, Spring has its creepy moments but mostly dabbles with drama and romance. The audience follows American tourist Evan Russell, played by Lou Taylor Pucci (Evil Dead, Physical), as he explores Italy after the death of his mother. While traveling, he meets Louise, played by Nadia Hilker (The 100, Allegiant), a woman who turns out to be a 2,000-year-old mutant who is reincarnated every 20 years. This cycle will continue until she falls in love, a concept she doesn’t fully believe in.
Pucci and Hilker are amazing actors with electrifying chemistry, and the former’s monologue at the end of the film is a beautiful representation of what it means to truly live and to love. The pair’s philosophical conversations are deep but intermingle with playful banter that keeps the tone from becoming too heavy. There is some body horror for classic fans of the genre, but it is the gentleness of everything else that really sells it for me.
4. Byzantium
More of a supernatural drama than a true horror flick, Byzantium’s mesmerizing atmosphere brandishes a gritty, gripping story and an equally dazzling soundtrack. The film follows Clara Webb, played by Gemma Arterton (Clash of the Titans, The Girl With All the Gifts), and her daughter Eleanor, played by Saoirse Ronan (Little Women, Lady Bird). The mother-daughter duo are vampires living in hiding from an ancient brotherhood. Clara is rough around the edges, willing to do whatever it takes to protect her daughter. Eleanor, on the other hand, is tired of living alone and longs for an open and honest connection with a human.
The plot is a slow-burn, choosing to focus on the characters’ complex backgrounds and personalities until the action ramps up in the film’s final minutes. Arterton and Ronan are extremely gifted actors, and their scenes together are absolute gold. While more chilling than genuinely scary, this movie is not for the faint of heart. Clara and Eleanor’s shared backstory is a tragic one, and there are instances of implied off-screen sexual abuse and on-screen physical abuse. If such content is a potential trigger for you, I strongly suggest you skip over this movie and choose something else.
5. We Are the Night
A German vampire movie, We Are the Night was the first horror film I truly fell in love with. The film follows Lena, played by Karoline Herfurth, a pickpocket who is taken in by a trio of vampires and welcomed to their lavish lifestyle. While she’s originally captivated by their freedom, it isn’t long before she realizes that luxury comes with a price.
More of an action-drama, the lead performances elevate We Are the Night from a good vampire flick to a cinematic masterpiece. Every character is given their moment to shine, and you truly grow to care for every member of the core four. There’s an interesting clash of perspectives amongst the main characters that touches on materialism, hedonism, nihilism, and moralism. Paired with the characters’ varying backgrounds, their outlooks on life provide a complexity that I find lacking in other horror narratives and allows for a great deal of interesting interactions. With plenty of action, blood, and even a few tear-jerking moments, We Are the Night may not terrify you, but it will certainly entertain you.