Halloween was always one of my favorite holidays. Since I was a kid, I always looked forward to dressing up in the costume of my choice and collecting as much candy as possible, seeing the spooky decorations around my hometown, and going outside in the nice crisp fall weather to play in the colorful, fallen leaves. Now that I am 22 years old, some of my favorite things about Halloween changed. One of the things my adult self looks forward to every Halloween season is watching horror movies. However, some people may disagree with this statement because, well, horror and violence may not be their thing. If you are one of these people and you still would like to get into the spirit of Halloween, here is a list of movie recommendations to watch this Halloween season!
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
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Up first on the list, we have the mother of all cult classics, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. A satire of 50s horror movies, this movie musical is filled with elements of science fiction and horror, such as a mad scientist in drag, his creation, and his alien minions who live with him in his old castle. However, it also contains fun songs that you and your friends can sing and dance along to while watching, as well as all the obvious signs of a low budget and over the top acting that every good B movie must contain.
- What We Do in the Shadows
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This mockumentary follows a group of vampires living in New Zealand and documents them trying to get by in the real world and keep their vampirism secret from everybody. Co-created by the genius mind of Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor Ragnarok), this film perfectly captures the grotesque nature of a typical horror movie but also has a ton of comic relief scenes, like the vampires trying to use the internet for the first time. Plus, if you enjoyed the movie, there is a show based on it on FX that can also you can stream on Hulu!
- Hocus Pocus
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Hocus Pocus follows a teenage boy, his love interest, and his little sister after they resurrect the three Sanderson sisters, three witches who steal the youth of children to stay young as they continue to haunt Salem 300 years later. While trying to keep themselves and the rest of their community safe, the three main characters go on a wild journey and witness some wacky things, like a talking cat that is possessed by a teenage boy named Thackery Binx. Filled with coming of age lightheartedness, comedy, and a 90s nostalgic feel, this film is perfect to watch with both friends and family.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
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This movie tells the story of Jack Skellington, the ruler of Halloweentown, and his discovery of Christmastown. After seeing all the warmth and joy Christmas brings to the town, he plans to kidnap Santa Claus and bring Christmas to Halloweentown. Just like Hocus Pocus, this is another Disney classic perfect for the whole family or friend group to watch.
- Any Movie in the “Halloweentown” Franchise
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Look at that, another Disney classic! Both the Halloweentown and Halloweentown High movies are the perfect watch for this time of year and are guaranteed to make you nostalgic for the days when Disney Channel would air these movies every October. My nostalgia for these movies comes out every Halloween season when I suddenly have the urge to consistently listen to the featured song in Return to Halloweentown, “Right Where You Want Me” by Jesse McCartney, to the point where I sometimes annoy people.