Not-so-Spooky Fall Film Favorites

I LOVE fall. Love it. I’ve already purchased every pumpkin spice product on Trader Joe’s shelves, and my s’mores-scented candle has been burning for weeks. In an ordinary year I’d be gearing up to host a Halloween party, make caramel apples with friends, and make my annual trips to Universal Studios Horror Nights and Knott’s Scary Farm. But this is 2020, so I’ll be staying home and getting my spooky season fix by drinking mulled cider and watching Halloween movies.

But as much as I love autumn, I also hate horror films. I’ve just never been able to get behind the idea of sitting down to be terrified for two straight hours. So if you’re like me, and you’re looking for some fall fun without the scares, here are 10 Not-so-Spooky Fall Film Favorites (in no particular order):

1) Halloweentown

Three kids follow their eccentric grandma into a magical world where everything is Halloween all the time. The 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie and it’s sequels “Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge” and “Halloweentown High” are nostalgic treasures. (We won’t discuss the fourth film in the franchise, in which they replaced the actress who played Marnie). They’re joyful celebrations of everything spooky and weird, and they co-star the late Old Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds.

2) The Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington has ruled Halloween Town forever… but everything changes when he stumbles across the border to Christmas Town and becomes obsessed with that holiday instead. As every mid-2000’s high school goth will tell you, this Tim Burton masterpiece is A+ aesthetic. Add in a creative, engaging story and a soundtrack chock full of catchy songs, and this film is a winner. Plus, you can watch it at both Halloween AND Christmas! Brilliant.

3) Hotel Transylvania

It’s Dracula’s daughters’ birthday, and he’s determined to throw her the best party imaginable. Unfortunately, all the young vampire wants is to go out and explore the world… and to make matters worse, a dangerous human has gate-crashed the bash! The “Hotel Transylvania” animated movie franchise is one that I stumbled on a few years ago. I hadn’t seen it in theatres because it seemed like yet another cheesy, forgettable kid’s movie. I. Was. So. Wrong. This film is hilarious and heartwarming in the best way.

4) It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Despite his friends’ teasing, Linus steadfastly believes in the ‘Great Pumpkin,’ and insists on staying up all night in a pumpkin patch to wait for him. This is one of those bonafide classics which has played each year on TV since 1966. Like all the old Peanuts films, the plot tends to wander (there’s a whole sub-plot about Snoopy tearing up about the first World War), but it’s a cute little taste of time gone by.

5) The Addams Family

The Addams family is creepy and kooky, but they’re totally unprepared for the evil about to come knocking at their doors when their long-lost Uncle Fester returns. This 1991 comedy and its sequel “The Addams Family Values” are a triumph of physical comedy, special effects, and casting. Angelica Houston IS Morticia Addams.

6) The House With a Clock in its Walls

Ten-year-old Lewis goes to live with his mysterious and magical Uncle Jonathan, who is obsessed with finding and destroying an eerie clock hidden in the walls of his house. The 2018 movie is based off a novel from the 70’s but appears to take place sometime in the late 1950’s. The set design is beautiful, the special effects are good, and Jack Black and Cate Blanchett are delightful together as Uncle Jonathan and his neighbor Florence Zimmerman.

7) The Haunted Mansion

The Evers family is drawn to a ghoulish mansion by the promise of a spectacular real estate deal, but soon realize there’s more mystery to the house than they bargained on. My sister and I were OBSESSED with this movie when we were kids, and rented it from the library over and over, even in the summer. The special effects are a bit outdated, but the fun of this Eddie Murphy-starrer still holds up!

8) The Babysitter

Perpetually-scared Cole doesn’t have any friends except for his extremely cool babysitter, Bea. But Cole must learn to stand up for himself when he discovers Bea hosting a killer séance in his living room. This is probably the scariest/ schlockiest film on this list—definitely not as kid friendly as the rest. That said, it’s a hilarious, campy riot, and the violence is more madcap than gory.

9) The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Innocent couple Brad and Janet get stranded at the home of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who is hosting a wild and eccentric group of Transylvanians, in town for a convention. What can I say about this 1975 cult classic? It has everything— great musical numbers, tiny gold underwear, and Tim Curry in a corset.

10) Hocus Pocus

Attempting to impress his crush Allison, Max Dennison inadvertently resurrects three evil witches from the 1600’s. Max and Allison, with the help of a talking cat, must find a way to destroy the witches before they can consume the souls of the town’s children. I don’t have the same amount of nostalgic love for this film as many of my friends; somehow, I never saw it as a kid, and it just doesn’t hit the same as an adult. However, I can’t deny that it’s fun and just the right amount of scary!