If every horror film fan’s favorite holiday is Halloween, it is important for him or her to have a list of scary movies to check out this time of the year. From spooky flicks that are skin-crawling, to heartwarming family classics to gory, this season is an opportune time to browse through Netflix.
Here is a list of movies that embody the spirit of the spookiest season of the year.
“Halloweentown High”
Daniel O’Keefe, a freshman in the College of Communication, recommends this Disney Channel classic about a town full of monsters interacting with the mortal world. This rollicking good time includes witches, monsters and early-2000s special effects.
“It just puts me in the mood for Halloween and it has some fun and funky costumes,” O’Keefe said. “Also, it features an original song by Jesse McCartney, whom I love.”
“The Nightmare Before Christmas”
Dylan Maslowski, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, suggested this stop-motion picture as a must-watch around Halloween. It’s a dark, charming and clever musical tale about the King of Halloween, Jack Skellington, who wishes to experience the joy of Christmas. To do so, he kidnaps Santa Claus and transforms Halloween Town into a macabre Christmas village, much to all the monstrous citizens’ dismay. The movie is complete with a score by Danny Elfman and directed by Tim Burton.
Maslowski plays the video game “Kingdom Hearts,” which is where he first discovered the Burton classic.
“I’m a big fan of stop-motion films, and ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ is the perfect mix of spookiness and goofiness,” Maslowski said. “I checked the film out because of (‘Kingdom Hearts’), and I loved it. The songs are great, the animation is great- it’s easily my favorite Halloween film.”
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”
An unforgettable Halloween classic, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” brings back memories for many students. Lauren Wolf, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, considers the film a childhood favorite.
“I don’t think I’ve seen it in years, but I always remember that bit with Snoopy and the pumpkins,” Wolf said.
This film is built upon the popularity of the Peanuts comic strip back from the ’60s and features the entire cast of characters many have come to love. It is light-hearted good fun and teaches lessons along the way about acceptance and being with your friends around the holidays.
“When I think of fall, that’s the first film that pops into my head. It’s iconic,” Wolf said.
“Tucker & Dale vs. Evil”
If you are looking for a scary movie that only has half the spooks of a regular horror film, this one is for you. The satirical film, “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” is perfect for the easily frightened.
Kelsey Adams, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said it is her favorite choice. The story lampoons classic horror tropes in many ways, featuring cliche plots done in a humorous new way.
“Its satirical element helps me be less scared of it,” Adams said. “It has that scary element without the gore.”
