If you’ve outgrown trick or treating, don’t worry; there are plenty of other reasons to consume your body weight in sugary goodness. A huge bucket of popcorn and chocolates for a night of horror with frightful films is normally the way to celebrate this time of the year, snuggled on the sofa with pals or alone if you are that brave.
But if you and your buddies get a little nauseous around old horror films, don’t worry; we all have a weak spot. Having known a few haters ourselves, IWOOT UK has produced a terrific list of 13 (to keep the spooky theme alive) Halloween films that won’t leave you traumatised and without the worry of leaving the light on.
Surprisingly, many Halloween films do not want you to have heart palpitations, including several classic Disney flicks that bring back an element of our youth as well as a dosage of eerie to complement the season. Whether you like a live-action picture or an animated film to kick off the season, these 13 Halloween films will certainly keep you in a spooky mood without leaving you scarred for life.
The Addams Family (1991)
You’ve probably heard of The Addams Family or at least their daughter Wednesday, who is such a mood to which we can all relate. We all believe we have an interesting family, but this family may have won the contest. This great movie captures the frightening way of life without being horrifying, and there is even a detached hand as a servant to get into the spooky spirit.
Addam’s Family Values – GIF from Giphy
Hocus Pocus (1993), Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
In 1693, the Sanderson Sisters, who had not been using retinol, began to age in Salem, Massachusetts. The witches invent a potion that permits them to drain the life force out of young children, restoring their youth, and their first victim is Thackery Binx’s sister Emily. Thackery attempts to save his sister but is beaten by the frail witches. Three hundred years later, Max Dennison, a Halloween hater, relocates to Salem with his little sister. On Halloween night, Max uncovers the Black Flame Candle, which is rumoured to summon spirits from the dead and accidentally brings the Salem sisters back to life. Big mistake!
Hocus Pocus – Disney
If you have the time, the sequel to Hocus Pocus is also now available for an extra dose of witchcraft. This time, we see two young women unintentionally bring back the Sanderson Sisters to modern-day Salem. This seems to happen a lot, so maybe avoid moving there! Now that the witches have been released again, the two must figure out how to prevent the child-hungry witches from unleashing devastation on the planet again.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Peg Boggs, a local Avon saleswoman, visits the classic haunted mansion on the hill above her town and discovers Edward. Edward, the creation of an elderly inventor who later died, has scissors in place of hands. After seeing this helpless boy, Peg decides to bring Edward back to her house and raise him as a member of her family, but the village isn’t too happy about their new guest.
Edward Scissorhands – GIF from Giphy[/caption]
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Don’t be fooled by the title; this movie isn’t too horrifying. Brad and Janet, who are newly engaged, are stranded on the side of the road due to a flat tyre and decide to leave the car to seek assistance. In their search for a phone, they come across a nearby castle where they uncover a group of, let’s say, peculiar people, who are holding an annual Transylvanian convention. This is where they meet Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who has brought one of his creations to life, and things all go wrong from there.
Rocky Horror Picture Show – GIF from Giphy
The Witches (2020)
This film portrays the story of a young orphaned child who moves to Alabama in late 1967 to live with his grandmother. But when you think it is all going well, they come across some evil witches, cleverly disguised in the trappings of a typically beautiful woman. The grandmother wisely takes him away to a coastal resort. However, it goes from bad to worse as when they arrive, the Grand High Witch has assembled her witchy friends from all over the world to carry out her wicked intentions.
The Witches – GIF from Giphy
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
You’ve certainly heard the song from this animation, in which Jack Skellington, the town-appointed pumpkin king of Halloween Town, grows tired of doing the same thing during the spooky season every year. One day it all gets too much, and as he tries to escape the same routine, he stumbles into Christmas Town and is so fascinated with the notion of Christmas that he tries to enlist the help of the residents of the town to help him replace the spooky season with Christmas, but this new Santa can’t quite get it right.
The Nightmare Before Christmas- GIF from Giphy
Corpse Bride (2005)
In the late 1800s, Victor Van Dort and Victoria Everglot were set to be married, but not for love. The Everglots need the money or they’ll be living on the streets, and the Van Dorts want to be high in society. When the wedding rehearsal goes bad, Victor wanders into the woods to practise his vows in peace. But as he tries to calm his nerves, he finds himself wedded to Emily, the corpse bride, as soon as he gets his vows right. As Victor tries to explain, Victoria waits on the other side whilst a wealthy newcomer could take Victor’s place.
The Corpse Bride – GIF from Giphy
Ghostbusters (1984)
At Columbia University, Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler investigate the paranormal and conduct numerous dodgy experiments on their pupils, which the university didn’t like. However, nothing could stop them, and they were eventually asked to rid New York City of paranormal phenomena under the new snappy business name of “Ghostbusters,” with a wonderful motto and the old firehouse building they called an office. They make national headlines when the media reports that the Ghostbusters are to blame. But all is not as it seems. A long-dead Gozer worshipper built the downtown apartment building that is the source of all the paranormal phenomena. They discover that the structure has the potential to resurrect the ancient Hittite god Gozer and annihilate humanity.
Ghostbusters – GIF from Giphy
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
In 1895, Dracula constructs a resort in Transylvania that is concealed from humanity to protect his vampire daughter Mavis. Turning the clock to the film’s present day, the location is the Hotel Transylvania, where monsters bring their families to escape humans. Even monsters can party, so Dracula invites his buddies to Mavis’ 118th birthday party.
But as they all begin their party, it is interrupted by Jonathan, 21, wandering across the forest that acts as a shortcut to this hotel. Dracula notices Jonathan and disguises him as a monster to keep him hidden from the guests. However, Mavis notices Jonathan and Dracula and forces him to appear as a monster for the rest of the party. And just when things couldn’t get worse, despite her father’s advice regarding humans, Mavis soon believes that Jonathan is the “zing” of her life.
Hotel Transylvania – GIF from Giphy
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010) Part 2 (2011)
When it comes to Halloween films that aren’t fully and utterly horrific, sorcery is nearly unheard of. This appears to be a job for Harry Potter and his pals. After years of battling against the evil Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter is finally an adult wizard in the Deathly Hallows, which has Part 1 and Part 2, so make sure you have the entire day free, and he and his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, must set out on a dangerous mission to stop Voldemort once and for all. Voldemort’s Horcruxes, which allow him to live on even after his death, must be destroyed by Harry and his allies. To complete their objective, they must abandon their friends and families to face old and new difficulties and bring an end to the wicked reign of the Dark Wizard.
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – GIF from Giphy
Coraline (2009)
This will undoubtedly change the way you look at buttons, and we recommend not watching it alone. Coraline moves to an ancient house and discovers a hidden door, not like Narnia. This spooky door was shut, but Coraline regarded it as a challenge. As she deciphers the passage, she is transported to a parallel universe where everyone has buttons for eyes, and compassionate parents, and all of her wishes come true. But it isn’t all roses, as the other mother offers Coraline to stay forever, which she declines, trapping her and forcing her to find a way back to her actual life.
Coraline – GIF from Giphy
BeetleJuice (1988)
Aside from being dead, Adam and Barbara enjoy a pretty decent life. They have given their precious time to decorate their house and put their spin on things, but a family is moving in and being rowdy house guests, to put it mildly. Adam and Barbara try their hardest to scare them away, but it doesn’t work as they become spooky attractions. As a final resort, they turn to Beetlejuice for assistance, but the shady Beetlejuice has other ideas.
Beetlejuice – GIF from Giphy
Gremlins (1984)
Some claim that it is a Christmas movie, but who says it can’t also be a Halloween film? It’s a little spooky and not very jolly. A gadget salesman is looking for a particular gift for his son and comes upon a lovely store in Chinatown, but when he chooses a mogwai, the shopkeeper isn’t sure they want to make that transaction. After buying this strange creature, the shopkeeper tells him not to expose him to bright light, water him, or feed him after midnight. Of course, he doesn’t listen, and mayhem ensues in the shape of a group of gremlins on Christmas Eve in the small town.
Gremlins – GIF from Giphy
Still not feeling in the spooky spirit? Explore are Halloween essentials!
