Christina Ricci as Wednesday; Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester; Jimmy Workman as PugsleyTM Copyright 2015 by Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved. (Image: TM Copyright 2015 by Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.)
We’ve entered the period often referred to as the spooky season, a time when pumpkins adorn doorsteps and the longer nights provide the perfect excuse for a film binge.
Even if you’re not a horror aficionado or capable of handling the most intense frights, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some Halloween-themed movies.
There’s a wealth of options available for streaming right now that allow you to dip your toes into the monstrous or supernatural, yet still ensure a peaceful night’s sleep.
Here’s a selection of horror or Halloween-appropriate films to enjoy this spooky season.
They range from genre hybrids that lean more on laughs than frights to some creepy offerings to at least test yourself with.
Shaun of the Dead is ideal Halloween viewing (Image: UNIVERSAL)
Shaun of the Dead
What better way to kick off a laid-back Halloween viewing than with a film celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Initially promoted as a rom-com with zombies, the Edgar Wright-directed film has become a staple for both spooky season and even Valentine’s Day viewings.
A genre mash-up, it leans heavily towards comedy, but as Wright and lead actor Simon Pegg are huge George Romero fans, they certainly don’t take their zombies lightly.
While it’s light on scares, it does feature a fair amount of gore later in the film. Just remember to shut your eyes when someone gets too close to the windows.
Shaun of the Dead is available to stream on ITVX, and Amazon Prime.
Hubie Halloween
On the topic of comedy, Adam Sandler’s Hubie Halloween is a safe bet for a spooky-themed film that won’t keep you up at night.
Sandler takes on the role of Hubie, a self-appointed Halloween Helper in his town. Despite being the butt of numerous pranks by his Salem neighbours, he finds himself embroiled in a genuine murder investigation on Halloween night when he realises they are all under threat from monsters – but no one takes him seriously.
This is a safe choice to have on if the children are still awake and munching through their trick-or-treat sweets. And that includes the grown-ups too!
Hubie Halloween can be streamed on .
Bill Nighy in Shaun of the Dead (Image: UNIVERSAL)
The Addams Family
For more family-friendly options, The Addams Family fits the bill perfectly.
The film leans more towards comedy than horror and should satisfy fans of Tim Burton’s work – think The Nightmare Before Christmas and Beetlejuice, along with its recent sequel.
If you enjoy this, why not follow it up with a binge-watch of the Wednesday series on ?
The Addams Family can be streamed on NOW TV, Amazon Prime and ITVX.
Get Out
Jordan Peele’s first directorial venture quickly became a cult favourite, perhaps due to his unique take on the genre and his background in sketch comedy.
More of a psychological thriller, Get Out is a fitting addition to any Halloween watch list, even for those who aren’t fans of traditional horror.
The film plunges viewers into the protagonist’s nightmarish ordeal to a chilling effect, with a gradual revelation adding to the deep unease.
For those yearning to explore cinephilia while steering clear of bloodshed and fantastical creatures, Get Out ticks all the boxes.
Get Out is streaming on .
The Cabin in the Woods
Echoing Shaun of the Dead, Cabin in the Woods takes a stab at reinventing the horror genre.
It initially poses as a standard slasher flick – a bevy of teenagers, including a youthful Chris Hemsworth, retreat to a remote location, predictably situated in the forest.
Unbeknownst to them, a laboratory lies beneath their feet, and it’s not long before diabolical beings are unleashed.
Rather than purely seeking to terrify, this film delves into an introspective critique of the genre itself, offering viewers a less trepidatious experience.
As Cinema Blend put it: “You really have to see it if you love horror, hate horror, or have any interest in seeing how the genre can function as a playground for something completely fresh.”
Cabin in the Woods can be streamed on both and Amazon Prime.
The Mist
No compilation of spine-chilling films would be complete without a nod to a Stephen King adaptation.
Notably, Frank Darabont also directed The Shawshank Redemption – one of the most acclaimed adaptations of King’s novels – and brought to screen one of the illustrious writer’s more creepy tales.
In The Mist, a small town is enveloped by an enigmatic fog, trapping several locals in a supermarket.
Dangerous creatures lurk in the shadows, ready to strike, but thankfully for those of a more sensitive disposition, they remain largely concealed. While the film does contain a few jump scares, its primary focus is on the human characters’ reactions to their dire predicament rather than showcasing terrifying monsters.
The conclusion of the film is particularly noteworthy as it adopts a significantly darker tone than the original source material. Even Stephen King, the author of the book, expressed his preference for this ending, stating he wished he had thought of it himself.
The Mist can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
New Mutants
Believe it or not, there is a Marvel horror film.
The initial cinema release for New Mutants in 2020 was severely affected by the pandemic, making it one of Marvel’s most overlooked recent comic book adaptations.
Although it is not part of the MCU, it introduces a group of mutants we haven’t seen before on screen. However, instead of being sent to Charles Xavier’s school, they are dispatched to a place that doesn’t have their welfare at heart.
Director Josh Boone leans heavily into the horror genre, with one mutant’s powers able to manifest actual monsters from nightmares.
It’s a choice for those who want to dabble in something eerie without having to worry about any jump scares.
New Mutants is available to stream on Disney+