While many believe that Halloween being on a Tuesday is the worst thing to ever happen to mankind, I am here to tell you this is not the case. Technically, the further Halloween is in the week, the longer Halloween weekend truly lasts. Sure, a test or two or three might break up the flow a bit, but Physics is temporary and Halloween is forever. So, without further ado, here are six movies for the six days you have to fully indulge in the spooky spirit (including Thursday, because you’ll need something to pass the time while you wait until midnight for 1989 (Taylor’s Version)).
Starting off with a personal favorite: Corpse Bride (2005). Artistic. Creepy. Symbolic. This film is everything I look for in a Halloween movie. Frankenweenie may always have my heart, but Corpse Bride has similarly haunting - literally and emotionally - themes more attune to common taste.
Friday’s movie has to be the new Five Nights at Freddy’s movie coming out that day. I may not have seen it yet (obviously), but starring the love of my life, Josh Hutcherson, I just know this movie will be a hit. I have to admit, I am a bit of a fake fan having never played the games when I was younger, but after speaking with Ava Emrich (‘25) about the movie, I now feel a sort of emotional connection to it. “Oh gosh,” she said. As someone who played the game religiously when she was younger, Emrich is practically bursting with excitement for the embodiment of her childhood.
To take a break from the creepiness, add Halloweentown (1998) to the list. A Disney classic (not actually, but in my heart), this film series is easily the best of the best. Even the Hocus Pocus franchise fell off after the second movie, but all four Halloweentowns are the most mystical and mesmerizing movies I love to make my mom sit down and watch with me every October.
Now, the topic of what makes a good scary movie is not one I can have any say in as an avid horror movie avoider, so allow me to give you a recommendation given to me by my number one advisor on all things scary movies, Nicole Neal, ‘25: Scream. Go with the first in the series, obviously, and maybe one of the two most recent because of Jenna Ortega. You can just never go wrong with the original - the franchise hasn’t gotten too drawn out, the characters are annoying but not so much so that it takes away from the experience, and it is simply a Halloween classic.
Speaking of classics: Saw (2004). Maybe one could argue this franchise is just as drawn out, but as someone who could only get through the first movie with her eyes closed half the time and barely watch the first ten minutes into Saw X, I would say this is just as much of a staple in the Halloween movie community. Being on the more gory side of things, this movie will only put you more in the mood for fake blood-ridden costumes and putting on scary masks to scare your friends.
For the night of terror itself, I am going to selfishly lighten the mood a bit. I was trying to talk about the experience I had watching Us (2019), but then I started looking over my shoulder a lot, so instead let’s talk about Casper (1995)! Fun. Light. Cute. About ghosts! What more could you be looking for in a Halloween movie? It truly allows you to indulge the nostalgia that comes every Halloween when looking back at the experiences of your youth with Hermione Granger costumes and trading candy with your siblings after spilling it all out onto the floor to debrief the night.
So whether you're a scary movie fanatic or would rather watch the live action Mulan than see jump scare in your life, I am sure you can find a Halloween movie to your taste. Just sit back, relax, and stuff your face with as much candy as possible this holiday season.
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