There is so much to love about autumn – the coloured leaves, the pumpkin-flavoured *everything*, and most importantly, Halloween!
Whether you decide to dress up in costume and dance all night at the Foundry, or cosy up with a hot chocolate and watch a movie: you’ve won at Halloween.
I personally prefer the latter: there’s nothing quite like a spicy candle lingering throughout the room as I curl up in bed and proceed with my annual movie marathon.
In the interest of not gatekeeping, here are five spooky films to get you and your flatmates in the Halloween mood!
Coraline
A classic. Everything from the animation to the soundtrack is spine-tingling. The execution of the characters is also brilliant: the other mother still creeps me out to this day. If you haven’t watched it before, Coraline is directed by Henry Selick, who also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas. If you’re into gothic, Tim Burton-esq movies, then Coraline is perfect for you.
Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus is another classic which came out in 1993 and stars Sex and the City’s very own Sarah Jessica Parker as one of the three Sanderson Sisters. The Sanderson sisters spend a whole night causing mayhem and cracking brilliant one-liners. In 2022, after 29 years, a sequel premiered on Disney+ so if you loved the first one, there's a second one for you to enjoy right after!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
I am obsessed with Harry Potter. I could’ve easily put any of the seven films on here and it would’ve made sense. There is a universal understanding that when the clocks go back, the Harry Potter films come out. Although I love all the films, none of them are as spooky as Prisoner of Azkaban. Gary Oldman is the perfect pick to play Sirius Black. Oldman paired with Alfonso Cuaron is magic!
Midsommar
There’s nothing quite like a Swedish cult slasher film to get you in the Halloween mood. Although it’s set in June, the overt creepiness of the film is sure to spook you out at any time of the year. Florence Pugh does an amazing job as Dani, a troubled girl mourning the death of her whole family. If you like gore and thrill, this is a great film for you.
X
Speaking of slasher films, X is a great gory film starring Mia Goth. Ti West’s film follows a group of young adults who hope to break into the adult film industry. They film at the site of a twisted and perverted elderly couple, who have a thirst for sex and violence.
Edited by Bethia Wyborn