Spooky season has officially commenced. It’s time to bust out the comfy sweaters, and a warm pair of boots. Perhaps your stomachs are full of fall treats like hot apple cider and pumpkin spice lattes. But the most important part of the season is Halloween. Halloween is a holiday of excitement, dressing up, and consuming loads of candy. Regardless of age, Halloween can make anyone feel like a kid. One easy way to tap into the nostalgia and spooky spirit of the season are to gather a group of friends for a terrifyingly delightful Halloween movie marathon. This list is a compilation of all the best Halloween movies. Whether you’re looking for something scary, romantic, or comedic, these movies have something for everyone.
1. The Lost Boys
Long before the Salvatore brothers in The Vampire Diaries, and Sam and Dean Winchester from Supernatural, there were Michael and Sam Emerson from The Lost Boys. This story focuses on two brothers as they move across the country with their mother to a small town in California. This town is haunted by rumors of vampires roaming the town. Sam makes a close group of friends obsessed with horror comics and his older brother, Michael begins crushing on a girl named Star, who coincidentally happens to be a vampire. Michael starts to question his safety and judgment about vampires. Sam recruits two of his vampire hunter friends, to save his brother before it’s too late. This movie has comedy, romance, horror, and supernatural elements to keep you from turning off the TV screen. Corey Haim and Jason Patric’s sibling dynamic is filled with the laughter and chemistry that makes for a great Halloween movie.
2. Fresh
This horror black comedy takes on the modern dating scene and the uncharted territory of dating apps in a terrifyingly great first-course meal. The story is about a woman named Noa played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, who meets a guy named Steve (Sebastian Stan) through a dating app. They have a great night together, so Steve decides they should go away for the weekend to his log cabin in the middle of nowhere. When things start to heat up, Noa realizes that Steve isn’t all that he cracked up to be. He happens to be a cannibal serial killer. The film begins as a light-hearted romantic comedy but quickly takes a turn, in the best and scariest way. Stan’s performance as a serial killer is frighteningly convincing and rich, you would believe that he is coming to kill you.
3. Beetlejuice
This Halloween classic delivers the perfect spooky vibes and holds up even 30 years later. The story focuses on a memorable Halloween couple, Barbara and Adam Maitland, who die in a car accident only to find themselves trapped in their shared house with no escape. Eventually the mother and daughter duo, Deetz and Lydia buy the home. The couple makes it their mission to haunt Deetz and Lydia out of their home, with the help of Beetlejuice himself. But then Beetlejuice decides to deceive the couple and get his hands on the daughter, Lydia. Comedy, wit, incredible costumes, makeup, and the all-star cast, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder. and most of all, Michael Keaton makes it a movie for the whole family to enjoy.
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy The Vampire Slayer is an iconic TV show adapted to the big screen as a classic coming-of-age movie to sink your teeth into. The main character, Buffy (Kristy Swanson) is a vampire who is told by Merrick, played by Donald Sutherland, that she is destined to hunt vampires. But when she meets Oliver Pike Played by Luke Perry. The two develop a relationship when another vampire comes to the school and causes trouble for Buffy, helping her to realize that she may have to start hunting vampires sooner than expected. Kristy Swanson’s performance of Buffy drives the movie with her clever character choices, tough as nails but with a soft side for a vampire. And if you’re looking for that YA romantic film, Buffy is the way to go.
5. Halloweentown
Everybody loves Disney Channel movies, especially when it comes to this instant classic. Halloweentown is a must-have for your Halloween movie catalog. The movie focuses on the Piper family and their mother, Marnie who realized the truth of her and her family’s true identities as witches on her 13th birthday. From there, they work together against the threat of evil which jeopardizes the safety of Halloweentown and the rest of the world. This movie brings nostalgia for the family. Magic, witches, family, and the history of Halloweentown? What more could you ask for in a movie?
6. Edward Scissorhands
When it comes to Johnny Depp’s performance in this classic film, it's amazingly bittersweet as he falls in love with the daughter of his chosen family that took him as a baby with scissors for hands. Even in his youth, he expressed a gentle and sweet nature toward the people around him despite his outward appearance. The chemistry between Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder is palpable and tender. Once you start watching, this Halloween love story will entice you and remain in your movie archives for years to come.
7. A Quiet Place, Pt II
Emily Blunt delivers a stellar performance that will leave you shell-shocked. The sequel picks up with the family from the first film for whom silence is survival. The family attempts to find other humans who are struggling to survive the aliens. After the death of her husband, Evelyn and her kids are joined by her husband’s friend, Emmett, who has acute hearing abilities. The lack of dialogue makes the movie more suspenseful and intense. The action and the scramble for survival will leave you with head-to-toe chills.
8. The Haunted Mansion
This Disney classic is another great pick for the whole family. Eddie Murphy’s comedic genius enables a light-hearted portrayal of real estate agent Jim Evers. In the movie, he takes his wife and kids to one of his properties, a spooky mansion, home to former servants who need help breaking a curse. This movie will take you on a wild ride of unexpected twists and turns, not to mention humor and laughter.
9. Ma
Director Jordan Peele is at his best on Ma and Octavia Spencer’s performance is showstopping. The story follows a woman who befriends a group of teenagers and invites them to her house to throw a party. But she does throw down some house rules: Stay sober, keep your mouth clean, and most of all—don’t go upstairs. They must also call her “Ma” whenever they are in her presence. But when she begins to become obsessed with these teenagers, they know they must find a way out of the house. It’s a great film for high school and college students looking for a frightening ride.
10. Hocus Pocus
Nothing says Halloween more than the Sanderson sisters. This Disney classic is about a group of witch sisters who are brought back to life by a teenage boy on Halloween night and must now steal a witches' spellbook to keep from becoming immortal. The Sanderson sisters are iconic and beyond reproach. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy’s characters bring sass, wit, and whimsical delight to a movie that screams Halloween.
Featured Image: BaronNews
Sources: IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, IMBD, IMDB, I
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Contact Keeona Stewart with comments at krstewart@bsu.edu, @dance11keeona on Twitter, or @dance11keeona on Instagram.
