It’s October again and it’s time to get into the holiday spirit as we approach Halloween. For college students, that might mean costume parties and movie nights with roommates. I enjoy embracing the spooky aspects of the season and watching horror movies, but sometimes college life is scary enough (after all, Halloween season is also midterm season). Maybe horror movies aren’t your thing, so what do you watch with your besties to get into the fall mood?
One option is to fall back to old family film favorites. Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride has the creepiness element of horror movies but is also fun with upbeat musical numbers and romance. If you missed out on this classic as a kid, you have to check it out now! Another Halloween classic that has horror movie elements but is much more campy than scary is the Disney Channel favorite, Halloweentown. Halloweentown is an absolute favorite of my 30-year-old sister. Even as an adult, we love to imagine ourselves in Marnie’s place, learning about magic. The film has massive nostalgia appeal too and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for a casual movie night or party.
Looking for something less Halloween-specific but still with great fall vibes? It might seem unusual, but my recommendation is Jim Henson’s Labyrinth. The 80s cult classic features magic, music, an owl, and the enchanting David Bowie. The fantasy costumes and magic give off Halloween vibes without using the typical motifs of witches and pumpkins.
If you’ve never watched a Studio Ghibli film, fall is the perfect time to give one a try. They are the perfect combination of cozy and fantastical. Kiki’s Delivery Service is especially perfect for fall with a witch as the main character. The film also features delicious looking baked goods, a cat, and an existential crisis – what’s more college fall than that? If you’re looking for more witchy vibes from Studio Ghibli, Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away both feature unique stories about magic.
For me, the gore in horror films isn’t fun, but I love mystery and suspense! One of my favorite modern mystery films is Knives Out. If you’ve never seen it before, you are in for both tricks and treats as the film has many twists. It’s also a great time to check out the film as its sequel is due to release this November. Love mystery and comedy? The 1985 Clue will have you guessing and laughing. You can even make a night of it by watching the film and playing the board game it’s inspired by.
While horror movies might be the go-to Halloween movies, even a scaredy-cat can get into the spooky season!