When the calendar turns to October and the air smells of pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon, the spooky season is here. From experimenting with quirky aesthetics to designing the best costumes and baking up some lip-smacking goodies, the Halloween celebration preparation will likely keep you on your toes.
However, October 31st is not only about Halloween decorations, trick-or-treating, or freakish treats. Grown-ups can also indulge in bowls of grog and spooky movie marathons to get into the Halloween spirit while kids go trick-or-treating with friends. With that in mind, these are our top picks, ranging from shocking scares to feel-good Halloween fare.
Quit thinking about what decorations to pick or how to upgrade your backyard style before the Thanksgiving dinner party, and check out these suggestions to elevate the Halloween feel.
1. Casper (1995)
Who doesn’t love Casper, the friendly ghost? The movie revolves around a father-daughter duo, played by Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci, who move into a haunted mansion to get rid of the Ghostly Trio, Casper, and his uncles. However, as the story develops, the truth behind Casper is revealed. And, the absolute scratch moment is when Casper transforms into the Tiger Beat sensation Devon Sawa. He then surprises Ricci with a floating dance and ends it with a sweet kiss as he returns to his ghostly form. The movie is innocent and charming and will simultaneously scare you and make you smile.
2. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Starring the ever-charming Johnny Depp and beautiful Christina Ricci, Sleepy Hollow is a must-watch gothic supernatural horror movie that captures the season’s true spirit with its eeriness and decaying atmosphere. Depp plays the role of a police constable, Ichabod Crane, who investigates a series of murders by the legendary Headless Horseman. Sure, the movie does not explicitly match the Halloween vibe, but Tim Burton’s take on this classic tale is truly haunting and suspenseful.
3. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The iconic Steven Spielberg movie E.T. has inspired Halloween costumes for generations. They require minimal effort. All you have to do is grab a red hoodie, a bike, and a white sheet, and presto-you’re dressed as Elliot and his friend E.T., an alien stranded on Earth by the cosmic crew. When kids are trick-or-treating, Elliot and his crew are busy figuring out how to help E.T. phone home. The movie ends with a cinematic shot into the sky, where E.T. uses his telekinesis powers to fly Elliot up into the twilight. The shot is so brilliant that it will leave you mesmerized even today.
4. Silence Of the Lambs (1991)
You cannot miss The Silence of the Lambs if you want to watch bone-chilling, scary Halloween movies. It’s one of those iconic movies that will leave you gasping. There’s an unsettling tension from the beginning, and the plot will take you on a psychological journey. It’s dark, intense, and layered with meaning, just the kind of movie that won’t scare you with supernatural elements but will make you feel absolute horror. Although there is disturbing imagery, the storyline will keep you hooked the entire time. If you want to experience the cinematic rollercoaster, this psychological crime thriller is just the movie for you.
5. Hocus Pocus (1993)
The Sanderson sisters-these three words are enough to suggest that movies don’t have to have spine-chilling imagery to capture Halloween’s spooky aura. The storyline features a Halloween night in present-day Salem, Mass., home of three 300-year-old diabolical witches casting a spell on the town to reclaim their youth. But before that, they must work together to outsmart three kids and a talking cat! The movie is a Halloween cult classic and will be an enjoyable watch.
Final Note
Besides decorating and transforming yourself into different characters and indulging in the festivities, Halloween is also about catching a breather and enjoying the time as you want to. So, if you want to relax, enjoy a bourbon pumpkin-pie milkshake, and watch a thrilling movie before bed, these suggestions will do the trick.
