By Alex Nash
I hope everybody enjoyed the spooky season! Despite it now being November, I know I am not the only one wishing October could have lasted longer. If you wish to stay in the Halloween mood, here is a list of movies and shows that will keep your skin crawling well into Thanksgiving territory.
Over The Garden Wall
If you grew up watching Cartoon Network, you probably caught this show as it aired. I was not allowed to watch many shows as a kid — that is a can of worms for my therapist to open — so I only recently discovered this wonderful series. With each episode only being about 15-20 minutes long, the story follows two brothers on their journey through The Unknown, a dark forest full of interesting creatures and characters. Animated with an autumnal color palette, this is the perfect show to watch, even into November, for a nostalgic, slightly cozy and yet unsettling vibe. Despite its lasting popularity, this show has been known to disappear from streaming sites from time to time, so it may be worth securing a copy to store offline, if you catch my drift.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This classic claymation film by Tim Burton is great for a creepy and yet family-friendly option. It can be classified, at least in my opinion, as both a Halloween and a Christmas movie. So, if you missed your chance to watch it in October, put it on your watchlist for the upcoming months to put you in a creepy yuletide mood.
Hocus Pocus
I have been focused on animated films so far, but “Hocus Pocus” is an option for a fantastical live-action film. The story follows two children and the three witches who are after them, hoping to steal their souls and ultimately become immortal. It sounds insane, I know, but it definitely freaked me out as a kid! Now, I find it silly and fun to watch. It has become the perfect family Halloween movie, and I certainly would not say it is too late to watch this classic hit witch-chase.
Autumnal Options
If you are over Halloween by now, but still trying to lean into the cozy autumnal feeling, look no further than a Wes Anderson film. Wonderfully bizarre and beautifully colored, all of his films are perfect for cuddling up inside on a rainy day. For this time of the year, I recommend “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” one of his stop-motion films, which features a beautiful color palette of yellows and oranges. I also love “Rushmore,” one of his earlier movies, which explores deep relationships between people, as well as growing up. It takes place in the fall, making it perfect to watch on rainy days. If you are not the Andersonian type, I also recommend “The Craft,” a classic witchy movie that fits perfectly with spookier Halloween films. “Practical Magic,” which I have not watched but have heard great things about, is a cozier witchy choice about two sisters who resurrect one’s dead boyfriend.
Horror Hotlist
If you are anything like me, watching horror movies is a year-round activity. You do not have to wait for next Halloween to enjoy something terrifying! Some personal favorites of mine include the “Saw” franchise, though beware of body horror in these (which is, like, the whole point). “Scream” and “Nightmare on Elm Street” are two of my favorite classics. For more modern choices, I would suggest “Fear Street,” a trilogy (with queer main characters!) set in the modern day. The second movie is set in the 1970s with the classic summer camp slasher trope. While these would not rank the highest on my favorites list, they were still enjoyable. Anything by Ari Aster or Jordan Peele is going to be a great option as well. In addition, I have heard good things about some of the more recent horror movies, including “The Substance”, which is still playing in theaters; “I Saw The TV Glow,” a horror/drama, came out this year as well, and had great feedback from the horror-loving public.
Whether you are in a slump with October having come to a close, or you just enjoy the year-round creepy crawlies, do not hesitate to refer to this list when choosing your next autumn watch!
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