13 Halloween Movies for the ‘Fraidy Cats (Part 2)

Just in time, here are the final 6 picks for my favorite non-horror Halloween movies. I hope you enjoy, and I hope you don’t mind Tim Burton, bc he really takes the majority of this list (For good reason, in my opinion).

8. Coraline

Some people are going to argue with me about the scariness-level of this movie, but Coraline was one of my favorite books AND movies growing up. Produced by the aforementioned Laika Films, Coraline is a claymation movie based off of the Neil Gaiman children’s book by the same name. After moving into a new home, Coraline finds a magical door to an “Other” version of her life- but she soon finds that the grass might not be greener on the other side. Coraline is a creepy, surprisingly mature movie with breath-taking claymation and an utterly wonderful story. You’ll find yourself completely swept up in this world and all of it’s intricacies, and you’ll end up just as unsettled as Coraline is once the tone begins to shift. Coraline will always be one of my favorite movies-not just for Halloween, but for all time.

9. Casper

What would Halloween be without our favorite friendly ghost? The 1995 live-action casper movie is something I grew up watching, and therefore it’s something near and dear to my heart. Casper feels like something of a coming-of-age story, except with an added friendship with a ghost. A girl named Kat and her father move into a haunted house, and Kat quickly befriends Casper. Through friendship, they each learn a bit about themselves and each other, all while wrestling with middle school drama and the concept of death. Casper’s a sweet, funny movie, and it’s a great watch for Halloween.

10. Corpse Bride

Surprise! Another Burton claymation movie! Corpse Bride mixes the usual Burton melancholy with a romantic Victorian flair. A nervous and shy young groom practices his wedding vows in the woods and accidentally proposes to a murdered corpse named Emily, who assumes she and Victor are now married. Victor ventures through the bright and colorful land of the dead, a stark contrast to the ‘lifeless’ (ha) and dull land of the living. The colors are brighter, the music is happier, and Victor learns to let loose a little more, all while the mystery of Emily’s death is unraveled. I love Corpse Bride, mainly because I love the characters and I LOVE the music. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for something just slightly morose and just slightly spooky.

11. Nightmare Before Christmas

Nightmare Before Christmas is the perfect Christmas movie, the perfect Halloween movie, the perfect Thanksgiving movie, and honestly, the perfect every day movie. The movie is set in a universe in which each Holiday has its own world. Jack Skellington of Halloween Town, dissatisfied and bored of his life, comes across Christmas Town and attempts to bring the spirit of Christmas with him back to his home town. Nightmare Before Christmas has another excellent Danny Elfman soundtrack and bright, enthralling claymation. It’s simply just fun to watch, and the story is intriguing as well. I grew up watching this movie, and if you haven’t seen it by now, you’re SERIOUSLY missing out.

12. Edward Scissorhands

In another Tim Burton movie, Johnny Depp stars alongside Winona Ryder as Edward, a man created by an inventor who never got a chance to make him hands. As a placeholder, he has scissor blades instead of artificial human hands. Edward is brought out of his isolation in his castle by a traveling saleswoman, and he’s invited into her aggressively suburban life. The stark juxtaposition between Edward (who honestly looks like the lead singer of The Cure), and the pristine, pastel suburbs is absurdly hilarious. One of my favorite scenes is when Edward, who has SCISSORS for HANDS, is given the nice room with the water bed to sleep in. Not only does he look ridiculous clad in all black sitting politely on the bed, but I stress to you again: Edward LITERALLY has scissors for hands, and he’s given a WATER BED. Anyways, Edward Scissorhands is a sad, sweet, romance that I will always be particularly fond of, especially around Halloween.

13. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

You guessed it: Burton again! Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is based off of the YA novel of the same name about an orphanage for children with strange and unique special powers. A boy named Jacob unravels the odd mystery surrounding his grandfather and the “peculiars” and their home. Peregrine is interestingly eerie, but it’s also a sweet and compassionate story about a bunch of misfits who have become more of a family. Peregrine even has an interesting historical element embedded within the time loop plot. Overall, Peregrine is a great spooky watch about friendship, the fantastic, and the bizarre.

Thank you for reading, and let me know if I left off any of your favorites on this list! Have a spooktacular rest of the Halloween season! Bask in it all before Christmas punches us in our holly jolly guts on November 1st. Not yet, sleigh bells… Not yet.

LINK TO PART 1

 

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13 Halloween Movies for the ‘Fraidy Cats (Part 1)

So you’re not really the scary movie type. Gore makes you nauseous, clowns freak you out, and any type of jump scare will keep you up and glancing at your closet door all night long. Listen, I get it. It’s Halloween and your friends want to watch movies, but let’s face it, you’re a more “Casper” and less “Poltergeist”.

Well don’t you fret- not every spooky movie needs to have gory gut-busting blood and entrails, some will actually just bust your gut from laughing too much. Here’s my list of best Halloween movies, sans the fear:

1. What We Do In the Shadows

A friend just introduced me to this movie a few days ago, and if I said it wasn’t the whole reason I created this list, I’d be lying. What We Do In the Shadows is a hilarious mockumentary about vampires living in a flat together in New Zealand. Navigating everything from luring human victims to suck their blood to flatmate meetings about chore responsibilities, What We Do In The Shadows is a gloriously goofy peek into the modern vampire’s life. And the best part is, most of the lines were actually improvised! 150 hours of everyday vampire shenanigans was cut down into 90 minutes of pure gold. A DEFINITE must watch on Halloween. (Warning: Some blood, though always overdone in a comedic way)

2. Shaun of the Dead

Shaun of the Dead is another fantastic horror comedy. If you know me, you’ll know I ADORE Edgar Wright (director of Baby Driver and Scott Pilgrim vs The World). His iconic direction is prevalent in this satire that both pokes fun at and celebrates zombie apocalypse movies. It centers around Shaun, an average guy trying to get a grip on his life and win back his ex gf. Oh, and deal with the undead armies attacking his town. Full of wit and fun Easter eggs, Shaun of the Dead is a movie you’ll wanna watch again and again. (Warning: like What We Do In the Shadows, this movie has blood, but it’s always comedic)

3. Paranorman

Paranorman’s a heartfelt, lovable, claymation movie made by Laika Films, one of my favorite up-and-coming animation studios (Coraline, Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings). Set in Blithe Hollow, Massachusetts (a play at Salem), ParaNorman centers around a boy named Norman who can see and speak to ghosts. I absolutely love this movie. Unique, creative, funny, and full of character, ParaNorman’s a wonderful Halloween movie that often slips through the cracks of the mainstream. If you like the classic ragtag unexpected group of misfits story (I know I do), you’ll love ParaNorman.

4. Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice! An 80s Burton classic, Beetlejuice is quirky, offbeat, weird, and kooky to the max without ever being too scary. A recently deceased couple attempts to scare a new family and their goth daughter (Winona Ryder, one of my favorites) out of their home. They enlist the help of a chaotic and unpredictable but powerful ghost named Betelgeuse, pronounced Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton, another of my favorites). With wacky practical effects and costumes, Beetlejuice is full of character and makes for a delightfully spooky watch on Halloween.

5. Frankenweenie

Don’t you just love a story about a boy and his (undead) dog? Another Burton masterpiece, Frankenweenie is a claymation story about a boy who, when devastated by the loss of his pet, finds a way to bring his dog back from the dead. The whole movie’s done in black and white to recreate an old horror movie aesthetic, and it works EXTREMELY well. Frankenweenie’s cute, creative, and altogether a super pleasant watch, especially for those of us with pets at home.

6. Halloweentown

In my opinion, no Halloween movie list (scary or otherwise) would be complete without Halloweentown. This Disney Channel Original Movie is a cornerstone of my generation’s Halloween traditions. Marnie, a 13 year old girl who loves Halloween, finds out via her kooky grandmother than being a witch runs in the family. She and her siblings travel with their grandma to Halloweentown, and learn about the magical side of themselves that was long hidden. Halloweentown is hokey, cheesy, and fantastic. And no character will EVER be as cool as the skeleton taxi driver.

7. Over the Garden Wall

Alright so, I know this is a miniseries and not a movie but this is my blog and I make the rules, so we’re gonna let it slide (and anyways, the run time of the entire show is under 2 hours). Over the Garden Wall is by far one of my favorite cartoons. It’s just the right amount of eerie and lovable, and in my opinion it encapsulates everything that is Autumn. This 5 part mystery created by Pat McHale (Misadventures of Flapjack, Adventure Time) reflects the old cartoon aesthetic and style. It creates a sort of isolated old-fashioned limbo for the viewer while they watch Wirt and his younger brother Gregory find their way home from “The Unknown”. This cartoon is beautiful and thought provoking, and I’ve honestly watched it no less than 25 times all the way through.

Part two on its way! Do you agree with my choices?

 

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Some (Hidden) Netflix Gems

Movies and TV shows can be difficult to watch, especially if you don’t have the right streaming service. And for Netflix users, it often seems as though Netflix rids movies from its library more often than it adds them. So, for the dissatisfied and lost Netflix user, I’ve decided to compile a quick list of some of my favorite TV series and movies on Netflix that you may not know about. To keep this list on the shorter side, I’m leaving super popular shows like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Stranger Things off because I doubt there’s anyone who hasn’t at least heard of them.

TV SHOWS:

-Bojack Horseman (netflix original animated dark comedy/drama)

-Freaks and Geeks (cult classic series about highschool circa 1980)

-Arrested Development (cult classic comedy sitcom)

-Love (netflix original romantic comedy)

-Dear White People (netflix original comedy drama)

-Bob Ross: Beauty Is Everywhere (Relaxing and pure. I grew up watching this)

-It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (cult classic comedy sitcom)

MOVIES:

-Coraline (claymation eerie children’s movie)

-Big Eyes (Drama based off of a real artist’s story)

-Heathers (Cult classic 80s teen dark comedy)

-The Fundamentals Of Caring (Neflix original roadtrip comedy drama)

-The Good Son (drama thriller)

-The Little Prince (animated/claymation heartfelt children’s movie)

-The Sixth Sense (Drama mystery thriller)

-The Iron Giant (Animated heartfelt children’s movie)

-The Babadook (independent horror film)

-Amelié (lighthearted and sweet french drama/romance)

-Moonrise Kingdom (Wes Anderson adventure/drama/comedy)

-Wet Hot American Summer (Goofy cult classic comedy)

Some Must-See Favorites!

I’ve always believed one of the best ways to get to know someone is through watching some of their favorite movies. So, what better way to start off this blog than to share movies I particularly love? In no particular order, here are (some) of my all time favorite movies that I really connected to (franchises like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Star Wars are excluded).

 

1) Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Innocence) dir. Alejandro G. Iñárritu (2014)

 

Birdman centers around Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton), an actor attempting to direct a Broadway show, who is tormented by an antagonistic internal voice taking form of one of his past roles. The film has beautiful cinematography, and was filmed to appear as if it was one continuous shot. Due to it’s creative direction, brilliant acting from Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, and Ed Norton, and themes regarding truth and authenticity of character, the cruel apathy of show business/the media, and existence vs reality, this dark comedy will always remain one of my top 5 favorite films of all time. TRAILER HERE

 

2) The Breakfast Club dir. John Hughes (1985)

 

The Breakfast Club is one of those movies where once you see it, you won’t forget about it (though, maybe you should forget about that very bad joke). It’s about 5 teenagers of vastly different cliques who, when forced to spend a Saturday detention together, come to understand each other and themselves. John Hughes is most often praised for his ability to write teen movies realistically while capturing the best and worst moments of high school years. The Breakfast Club does exactly that, and may be Hughes’ best film. The strong acting from the likes of Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, and Emilio Estevez pair perfectly with Hughes’ incredible screenwriting and direction to create something touching, funny, angsty, charming, deeply emotional, and wholly realistic. TRAILER HERE

 

3) Up dir. Pete Doctor (2009)

 

If you know me, you know I’m sucker for animated movies (especially Disney/Pixar movies). If you know me well, you also know that I’m very much a cry-at-the-movies person, so naturally Up makes my list of touching movie favorites. Up is colorfully imaginative and so full of genuine heart. It’s playful and light, yet the relationships developed between characters are deeply emotional and altogether beautiful. Now grizzled old man Carl decides to pilot his house (which is strung up by balloons) to Paradise Falls as an homage to his now-deceased wife. As Carl’s friendship with a young boy scout grows, Up tells a timeless story about compassion, family, and adventure. The wilderness must be explored! TRAILER HERE

 

4) Dead Poet’s Society dir. Peter Weir (1989)

 

Dead Poet’s Society is one of the best-acted movies I’ve ever watched. Centered around a group of boys at a prestigious private high school and their unorthodox new teacher Mr. Keating (Robin Williams), Dead Poet’s Society features a cast of excellent dramatic actors performing a brilliant script. Though the school has taught the boys to rigidly conform, Keating encourages them to express themselves through individuality and exploration of the arts. Dead Poet’s Society is beautiful in both its cinematography and in its message. It is intriguing, illustrious, and above all else, inspiring. TRAILER HERE

 

5) Legally Blonde dir. Robert Luketic (2001)

 

Legally Blonde isn’t quite a cinematic masterpiece, but it’s a cinematic masterpiece, if you know what I mean. I am just as entertained and inspired watching Legally Blonde for the 63rd time as I was watching it the very first time. Elle Woods is presented as a “dumb blonde” sorority girl who got into Harvard to win back her boyfriend, but by the end of the movie Elle realizes her true potential and quite frankly, kicks Harvard’s butt. Legally Blonde is a movie about determination, compassion, self-discovery, and girl power. It’s a hilarious, feel-good, charming movie starring Reese Witherspoon and I guarantee you watching it has about the same effects as watching 50 motivational speakers run a marathon in pink joggers while upbeat early 2000s pop music plays TRAILER HERE

•••

 

Now this list by no means encompasses all of my favorite movies, but it does encompass five movies that resonate with me deeply and that I believe every living breathing human should watch. Each of them has left an impact on my mind and the way I think, which is precisely what I think a good movie should do.

I will most likely post an unabridged list of my favorite movies at some point soon, but for now, feel free to take the poll I’ve posted. I’m going to be uploading polls regularly because I’d love to see where your opinions fall!

And with that, I thank you for reading and I bid you adieu!!