With Halloween just around the corner, what better time for a movie marathon? While the horror genre is the obvious choice, it’s also one that doesn’t appeal to everyone’s taste – after all, Halloween is about having fun as much as it is about getting scared. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of some films that will be sure to get you in the Halloween spirit, though hopefully without inducing any nightmares along the way.
Shaun of the Dead
The first in Edgar Wright’s ‘Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy’, Shaun of the Dead is a love letter to zombie films, spoofing every trope and cliché you could imagine while also providing an amusing speculation as to how Britain might react in a zombie apocalypse: case in point, our titular hero Shaun’s solution to the whole epidemic is to “go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for all this to blow over”. While some argue that the film could technically still be counted as a horror given the fact it contains a few upsetting scenes as well as a fair amount of gore, it’s safe to say that any frightening moments are well outnumbered by the funny ones. Even if you’re not a fan of zombies, Shaun of the Dead is a film too brilliant to be ignored this Halloween.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
If you’re looking for something to watch this season that is campy, weird, and above all, fun as hell, look no further. Based on the stage musical of the same name, The Rocky Horror Picture Show tells the story of a newly engaged couple who, after getting caught in a storm, end up at the home of a mad transvestite scientist about to unveil his newest creation: a muscled man named Rocky Horror. With an iconic soundtrack and featuring an unforgettable performance from Tim Curry as the “sweet transvestite”, this offbeat musical has developed a cult status and become a Halloween favourite due to its humorous send-up and tribute to horror B-movies of the 20th Century. Definitely one to watch after you’ve had a few drinks.
Beetlejuice
What’s Halloween without a bit of Tim Burton? While any of his films would to be appropriate to watch this holiday, Beetlejuice to me is the one that just screams ‘Halloween’ the most – I mean, the movie literally starts off with the main couple being killed in a car crash and becoming ghosts, forever doomed to haunt the new residents of their former home. What really brings the film to life (no pun intended) is Michael Keaton’s wonderfully eccentric performance as the titular ghoul Beetlejuice, a disgusting but hilarious character who specialises in “bio-exorcism” – namely, to scare away the living residents of the house. With its dark humour and bizarre, creepy visuals that Burton has made himself known for, Beetlejuice is a highly original film that will have no trouble putting you in the Halloween spirit.
Mulholland Drive
Mulholland Drive is a film to watch during Halloween for a number of reasons. For one thing, it was directed by David Lynch, who specialises in the surreal and inexplicable (the 1997 film Lost Highway being another perfect example of this). Simply put, Mulholland Drive is about a woman who teams up with an aspiring actress to search for answers after she is rendered amnesic by a car crash in Los Angeles. Though I wouldn’t go as far as to call the film straight-up scary, it does features a number of creepy moments and eerie imagery that all mess with your mind, leaving you wondering as to what exactly it is you just watched.
Ghostbusters
The ultimate ghost film. Led by an all-star cast of comedians, Ghostbusters is a wildly entertaining take on the supernatural genre about a team of down-on-their-luck scientists who decide to start a ghost-removal business. To say the film is iconic would be a severe understatement – honestly, who doesn’t know the theme song off by heart? This year also happens to mark the 30th anniversary of the comedy’s release, so really there’s no excuse not to watch it. Frankly, there’s not much that can be said about this film that hasn’t already been stated a million times before – spooky, funny, and quotable to no end, Ghostbusters is yet another must-see Halloween favourite.
Words by Samantha King