spooky season Archives - The Void of Celluloid

31 Days of Horror: The Final Countdown

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We’re back this week with the next seven movies in this year’s 31 Days of Horror. This is the third iteration of the 31 Days of Horror; you can find the one chock full of classics here. As for this year, we have classics, newbies and deeper cuts peppered in here and there. You can check out the first week here, the second week here and the third week here if you see a movie you missed on the calendar below.

Now let’s finish this thing with the final ten days of October–eh hem, I mean horror.

October 22nd: Alice Sweet Alice (1976)

Whether you have seen this film or not, one can agree that this film has one of the creepiest masks of all time. Alice Sweet Alice is an underrated gem that tackles head on Catholic thought and the effect of sin–not to mention it’s a great slasher film as well. On the day of her first communion, sweet Karen is strangled to death and a string of murders break out with her jealous sister Alice as a suspect. From then on, a strange timeline of events occurs. Inspired by Don’t Look Now and Hitchcock, Alice Sweet Alice has plenty of twists and turns throughout its runtime while being surreal to the eye at the same time.

For food, I did a lot of digging as to what is served at a first communion and such. Turns out, ham is one of the top things, so let’s make it ultra-tasty with these Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders that keep things handheld and also incorporated the bread aspect of communion. Next comes the wine, and while you can sip on a nice glass of red wine during this film, jazz things up a bit with this red wine cocktail the 1870 Sour. If you still want some grape juice but the non-boozy kind, craft up this Grape Lime Rickey Mocktail. For a double feature for this film, why not try some more Argento with Deep Red?

Add Alice Sweet Alice to your physical collection or you can rent it on Amazon Video. Check out this creepy baby doll sticker here on Redbubble.

October 23rd: The VVitch (2015)

Robert Eggers on The Witch - Projected Figures

Before The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers created one of the most iconic horror films from the 21st century. The VVitch is a beautiful film as much as it is a suspenseful one. Arthouse horror meets a colonial period piece, in which the eldest sister in a Puritan family is blamed for the youngest sibling’s disappearance. Hysteria breaks out amongst the family, and it leads to dire consequences as their greatest fears manifest once spoken. This one is a slow burn, but the ending rewards us with a great payoff. You also will never fear a goat more.

This film caused me to deep dive into colonial times and try to find recipes. While majority were either basic or disgusting, I dug out a few that will help us live deliciously. First off, party like a revolutionary with this Philadelphia Fish House Punch. If this doesn’t tickle your taste buds, try out something new and follow this Mom’s Homemade Apple Cider to make some cider for this film and beyond. I went for something sweet and crowd pleasing with these Colonial American Molasses Cookies–because who can resist cookies?

You can rent The Witch on Amazon Video or have it as an arthouse gem on your shelf by purchasing it here. You can also check out the design I made around this film on Redbubble.

October 24th: A Classic Horror Story (2021)

Watch A Classic Horror Story | Netflix Official Site

If you would’ve told me a decade ago that Netflix would release its own Giallo-style film, I wouldn’t have believed you. However, they gave us A Classic Horror Story in 2021. A fusion of genres and a wicked good time, A Classic Horror Story is a must watch if you’re in the mood for something more brutal. Strangers getting stranded in the woods as they fight for survival–a very basic premise that we’ve seen time and time again. However, we’re in Southern Italy this time. There’s not much more I can say, it is full of tropes and homages that it will feel familiar and new at the same time. The perfect kind of watch for spooky season.

I got way too into the Italy setting for this film which has led to some of the tastiest pairs yet. For our snacks, we had to get some variety up in here. Therefore, follow this Crostini 8 Ways recipe and have a display of colors. Pair it with a refreshing Limoncello Lemon Drop or if you want to relax the zero-proof way, try out this Italian Strawberry Basil Shrub–shrubs are the best. As for a double feature, go ahead and check out Haunt to see tropes subverted in a different way. It’s gonna be a spooky night!

Check out A Classic Horror Story on Netflix. You can check out my very simple-but-cool design on Redbubble.

October 25th: Train to Busan (2016)

Ready to watch one of the best zombie flicks of all time? Train to Busan is a harrowing, intense and beautiful experience that took the world by storm eight years ago. South Korea has been attacked by a viral outbreak and have established a Safe Zone in Busan. When passengers try to take a bullet train to this safe zone, an outbreak occurs on the train itself, leaving them trapped in a dire situation. This film will grab onto you and not let go during its runtime–probably cause a few tears to shed as well.

From Italy to South Korea, we have a complete change of culinary scene. For the drink, I found this Makgeolli Old Fashioned which can add a nice bitterness to the semi-sweet rice wine. If we are looking for something a bit sweeter and fall-like on the booze area, look for Kuk Soon Dang’s Babamba (Chestnut) or Jolly Pong makgeollis in your local Asian grocery store. Pick up Milkis Drinks while you’re there or order them off Amazon–they’re a great non-alcoholic choice for viewing. As for the snack, I was recently introduced to Korean Cheesy Corn and it is simple but game changing. Try it out immediately. For the double feature, I have to recommend another stellar South Korean horror, The Wailing–just make sure that you hydrate properly as I’ve sent you on a pathway of tears and sadness.

You can rent Train to Busan on Amazon Video or have it proudly on display on your shelf by buying it physically here. I designed a spoiler free design on Redbubble.

October 26th: Werewolves Within (2021)

Werewolves Within' Review: Small-Town Chaos - The New York Times

Usually, I am not one for video game adaptations, but this one truly is a treat. This film was one of my favorite releases during the pandemic and is worth a regular spot in your Halloween rotation. A newly hired forest ranger and postal worker get snowed in with the residents of a small town who are being terrorized and attacked by a vicious beast–a presumed werewolf to be specific. It’s a romp with a touch of whodunit that is simply irresistible. It also might have you side eyeing your neighbors if you happen to live in a town with a similar vibe as this one.

This film does take place in a snow-covered winter horror land, so it’s not just you that’s feeling cold. Warm up with these tasty hot drinks. While I am not the hugest hot toddy fan, this Fire Cider Toddy sounded oh-so-intriguing. If we’re not fancying that, opt out for a Hot Buttered Pineapple Mocktail which can easily be made boozy with a touch of rum. As for food, it seems like every small town has a bar that has surprisingly good food. Therefore, let’s class the pub fare with these Gooey Manchego Cheese Fritters. I want these at every bar ever.

You can rent Werewolves Within on Amazon Video or share it with your friends with a Blu-Ray they may never return by purchasing it here. I did a fun little design for this one which you can check out on Redbubble.

October 27th: The Black Phone (2022)

The Black Phone' Review: The Dead Have Your Number - The New York Times

I’m sure this has been on your radar this year. This was a killer psychological horror-thriller that brought us spooky season three months early. Ethan Hawke kills it (and others) in this film, solidifying that him and Scott Derrickson equals gold. The Black Phone is a slow, vintage feeling burn that has outstanding performances with a brief look into a psyche of a serial killer. You can read my in-depth post over this movie here if you want more details, but I think it’s best to go into this film not knowing what to expect.

We’re in the seventies, baby. They year is 1978, and disco has taken the world by storm. Therefore, we have to celebrate the birth of the Harvey Wallbanger, a blend of OJ and Galliano to make a creamsicle goodie. If you’re wanting even more of a throwback, you can opt out of the alcohol and make an American classic: an Orange Julius. On top of everything, everything ‘Hawaii’ (more Hawaiian pizza rather than actual Hawaii) was popular during this time. So, go retro with your snack choice with this Hawaiian Cheese Bread. The double feature for this one is another Derrickson/Hawke collab, Sinister.

You can rent The Black Phone on Amazon Video or shelve it next to your other horror films using this link. I think this design made itself.

October 28th: The Lost Boys (1987)

The Lost Boys' Coming Back to the Big Screen With New Movie Starring 'Quiet Place' and 'It' Actors! - Bloody Disgusting

SAY HELLO TO THE NIGHT. LOST IN THE SHAAAADOWS. This incredible movie and its soundtrack turn 35 this year. This definitely is my favorite vampire flick and is a must watch–Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz and Jason Patric are snacks in this film. A single mom moves to Santa Carla, California with her two sons. The town happens to be the murder capital of the world with plenty of people missing or dead. The reason? All the damn vampires. It’s a fun time with a sexy shirtless sax man. Who could ask for more?

The Lost Boys reminds of two things: Chinese food and California. What’s the fusion of those two things? Obviously, the Cheesecake Factory classic, Avocado Egg Rolls. They’re big enough to not think you’re eating worms or maggots. Pair that with an on-theme cocktail appropriately named The Bloody Vampire. You don’t need to bite into a bald man’s head to get that kind of blood. If you prefer no spice in your blood, cut the alcohol and indulge in the Vampire’s Kiss Mocktail. The double feature for this one is so cool, Brewster. Indulge in the original Fright Night to add to the 80s flair or go for the remake for a fun modern twist.

You can rent The Lost Boys on Amazon Video or buy it on Amazon so you can look at the sexy vampires any time you want to. Have your own carton of maggots with this design on Redbubble.

October 29th: Trick ‘r’ Treat

In Praise of Trick 'r Treat, the Ultimate "Halloween Night" Movie - Paste

This. This film is the ideal Halloween movie and I stand by that. An anthology horror tale meets a comic book tone laced with camp and comedy. All the tales intertwine with each other and blossoms into this fun twist on Halloween traditions. Not to mention, it introduces one of the most adorable horror villains, Sam. All you gotta do is follow the rules to avoid his bloody wrath. Simple enough, but a colorful cast of characters seem to make things a little difficult for Sam to catch up. I could watch this film over and over during October, so therefore it is an annual tradition of mine.

As far as snacks and drinks go, we have to let the Halloween flag fly. I found a spooky cocktail complete with theatrics known as The Witch’s Heart. Purple, spooky and bubbling with delight. If we are craving the sweeter style of life, I also found this lovely Pumpkin Milkshake. Since this film is a grab-bag of spooky delight, snack on this Sweet and Salty Halloween Snack Mix. As far as fun films suited for spooky season go, my double feature for this film is a guilty pleasure for many, and that is the 2001 film Thirteen Ghosts. The ending of this film is very bleh, but Matthew Lillard is a yes in my book.

Rent Trick ‘r’ Treat on Amazon Video or get it physically following the link here. I watched it as a bought Blockbuster exclusive back in the day–the true straight-to-DVD experience. Check out the design I made on Redbubble and always remember to check your candy.

October 30th: Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)

There are times that sequels are miles better than the original. This is one of those times. If you haven’t seen Ouija: Origin of Evil based on the first film, I don’t blame you. Ouija is a very bad movie. However, this film is one of the best PG-13 horrors out there. Leave it to Mike Flanagan to make a great film from the ashes of a failed one. A 1960s period piece meets a possession film sponsored by Hasbro themselves. That’s the most generic I can describe it, but it truly is a spooky treat you should indulge in.

If we’re going back to the 60’s, we’re doing it right. A very popular cocktail got its rise to fame during this decade, and that is the decedent Sidecar. You can obtain a non-alcoholic version by following this Virgin Sidecar recipe. Cheeseballs also rose to fame too, but the grandpappy of cheeseballs will add the spice that will meet what this film brings. That is the classic Pimento Cheese Spread, which is versatile and makes great leftovers. I praise Flanagan at any chance I can get, so the double feature has to be Hush, which is a great, smart slasher film.

Rent Ouija: Origin of Evil on Amazon Video or buy it physically using this link. If you want to mess around with one yourself (you could never convince me to), you can get your own here but be very careful and look into it beforehand. I did another peekaboo design for this one, look closely.

October 31st: Halloween

Halloween' 1978: The Times Finally Reviews a Horror Classic - The New York Times

You had to see this coming, whether or not you paid attention to the calendar. John Carpenter’s Halloween is a tried and true masterpiece that has served influence for hundreds of horror films, so it is always a good call to re-watch it come Halloween time. What’s not a better time than actual Halloween night? It’s the tale of Michael Myers that feels even fresher than before with its new sequel that came out only a week ago, so the time is better than ever to revisit the original!

The obvious double feature is a quadruple feature with the 2018 Halloween, Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends following up the classic (although you can skip the last one if you’d like). This is a night to go all out, but sometimes you want a quieter night in, so let’s pair this up with some Michael Myers Jell-O Shots to add to some booze to your snacks. A mocktail for the night is the Cereal Killer (minus the Cognac) or plus the Cognac if we want another cocktail for the night. To up the comfort and the tasty treats, snack on some adorable Ghost Pizza Bagels. Be sure to toast to Michael all dressed up in his ghost costume.

I went surprisingly cute with this design and recreated him all dressed up. You can rent Halloween on Amazon Video or have it at the ready every Halloween by owning it physically.

Conclusion

So that wraps up this October! Everyone, have a safe and spooky Halloween and watch as many horror movies as you can! I’m going to be taking the holiday weekend off but expect me to be back the Friday after Halloween. Scroll on back up if you want to see about other films that you might have missed or jump back to Week One if you want to see what’s going on with last year’s 31 Days of Horror. It was a great time, thank you for your support and keep things spooky, spelunkers.

Anyways, thanks for spelunking this void with me. If you’re new to the Void of Celluloid, welcome. Feel free to spelunk some other voids while you’re here and follow me on other platforms by clicking the buttons below. We post regularly and stay up to date about what’s going on in horror today, reflect on what went on yesterday, and plan for a better, horror filled tomorrow. See ya next time.

31 Days of Horror: Week Three

Featured By thevoidofcelluloid

Welcome back everybody to The Void of Celluloid’s 31 Days of Horror. The whole concept of this series is to go through each week of October and pair snacks, drinks and double features to The Void’s picks. This is the first year of this series, so the standard calendar is a lot of staples and not a lot of sleeper hits. However, it is not a bad thing to revisit some of the classics. We are hitting the halfway point of October, so we have to celebrate spooky season every second we got! Here is the calendar:

I’m really excited to revisit the picks of this week, as we have some killer classics here. You can find the kick off of this series here and the bloody sequel here. Alright, let’s set up this trilogy of good spooky fun, shall we?

A Micro-rant from The Void

For those that are going to stay away from some of these films because of tiny little words you have to read, please try and push yourself to do so. There will be another subtitled movie this week as well as next week, and if you aren’t open to subtitles, you’re going to miss out on a lot of good horror. As Bong Joon Ho says “Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” Alright, micro rant over, let’s get to the goodies.

OCtober 15th: THe Orphanage

If you somehow missed this movie during its long Netflix reign during the early 2010s, you missed out. That’s why it’s here. El Orfanato or The Orphanage is a compelling ghost tale that will have you rethinking every time someone knocks on a wall. Laura moves her family back into her childhood home, which was once an orphanage specifically for handicapped children. Not long after, her young son combats transition by having an imaginary friend. However, it turns out this friend might not be so imaginary. You might wanna have some tissues with you if you’re a hair-trigger weeper like I am when anything is remotely sad.

The double feature for this one has to be Guillermo del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone. He actually produced The Orphanage and both this film and Pan’s Labyrinth became the top grossing Spanish films of all time. Since both films take place in Spain, we have to indulge ourselves with some Spanish food and drinks. One of the most popular cocktails in Spain is the Agua de Valencia, a delicious drink reminiscent of a mimosa. For our zero-proof crowd, there is a delicious dessert drink known as Leche Merengada which is a creamy, spiced milkshake style drink (for those lactose intolerant and savvy in Google Translate/fluent in Spanish, you can find a dairy free version here). As far as snacks go, almost everyone loves potatoes, so pair all of this with a simple, spicy Patatas Bravas.

OCtober 16th: Psycho

Psycho's Shower Scene: How Hitchcock Upped the Terror—and Fooled the Censors - HISTORY

As we know, Halloween Kills is out and while it is general trivia knowledge for most horror fans, a lot of people do not know that Jamie Lee Curtis is Janet Leigh’s daughter. Psycho is a must see and showcases stellar performances from all of its cast, especially Leigh and Anthony Perkins. Despite Peeping Tom being the first slasher film by technicality, it never reached as great of heights and praise as Psycho did. Marion Crane decides to make a run for it with her employer’s precious deposit, but due to a storm has to take refuge in the Bates Motel. I think we all know where it goes next… Nevertheless, Psycho still packs a punch despite its second biggest twist being spoiled for most film lovers and therefore, it makes it onto the calendar.

Psycho just screams classic to me, so therefore I pair this one with a nice Negroni. Believe it or not, I actually found a non-alcoholic Negroni which I thought was impossible, but it has great ratings, so check it out. What pairs nice with the sophisticated Negroni? A bunch of snooty (but tasty) things, but for some reason, these rich Bacon Mac and Cheese Bites from Entertaining with Beth will do too. Double feature wise, you could go with the previously mentioned pioneer Peeping Tom or you could go with another Hitchcock horror The Birds. It’s the simple decision of not trusting men or not trusting birds, you decide.

OCtober 17th: THe Conjuring

Ah, there’s nothing like family and building a home together, right? Gathering together and playing Hide-and-Clap sounds like a very wholesome thing to do? Well, when there is a possible witch/demon terrorizing your family each night, it’s not as picture-perfect as you would imagine. This is the first installment of the now expansive Conjuring Universe, but nothing quite beats the first one, which delivers the suspense upon every single viewing. Too bad that it spawned another wave of copycats and cheap spinoffs, but I don’t think any of its expansions can take away from this gem.

The film takes place in the 70s, complete with Patrick Wilson sporting some epic sideburns. Therefore, I’m going vintage with these pairings. If you’ve never had a cheeseball before, you have to try this classic cheeseball recipe from Tastes Better from Scratch. In the mood for something sweet and more with the season? Check out this this pumpkin cheesecake ball. If we’re keeping it classic 70’s, we should go for a nice bright Harvey Wallbanger (here’s a virgin one) to lighten up the mood for this dark, grim film. The double feature for this one is surprisingly not from the Conjuring-Verse, but rather a Mike Flanagan film Ouija: Origin of Evil. It matches The Conjuring‘s tone and because of its predecessor, some horror fans missed out on this one.

October 18th: The Shining

In October, you try to shuffle in some new finds, but sometimes nothing beats the tried and true classics. That is why The Shining is on here. I watch it at least once a year, mainly to play detective to see if I get anything new from it. I feel like I don’t really need to explain the plot of this one other than it deters heavily from the book. Why I bring this up is mostly due to my double feature, but also a push for people to read the book, as it has a lot of sentiment that the Kubrick film is obviously lacking in.

There is now an obvious double feature for The Shining which is its sequel Doctor Sleep. Yes, Mike Flanagan again. Here he does the impossible task of marrying the two versions of The Shining, and he pulls it off beautifully. You can read more about it on The Void of Celluloid here: We Love You, Mike Flanagan. For this film, I went more with a themed cocktail meets generic yummy carbs, since alcohol is such an important plot point in the story. Yes, suggesting a cocktail is opposite of the point which is why I will lead with this mocktail recipe that sounds utterly amazing: Cranberry Apple Cider Mocktail. Which is red. I think you can see where this is going, just don’t spell this REDRUM cocktail backwards. The delicious side I chose to pair with this deep red punch is the viral Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread.

October 19th: Scream

13 Seriously Effed Up Facts About 'Scream' - MTV

This film is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year so it’s time to rewatch it if you haven’t caught it in theaters yet. This film is Wes Craven’s comeback as well as the father of meta-horror that a lot of modern horror comedies use today. Also, I think it is impossible to not fall in love with Sidney Prescott’s badassery. Oh, and Matthew Lilliard’s acting. There’s a lot I love about this film.

Its double feature has to go to its sequel Scream 2, as I think there is a lot that they did better in regards to it being a horror movie. There is scarier moments in the second one at least, so if you want to go more pedal-to-the-metal with your scares, don’t skip this one. These two films drip with teenage/college student energy, so I decided to go for a dive bar meets high school party aesthetic with the pairings. We got a lovely light beer cocktail known as a Chelada, which is like a Corona with lime on steroids. Since we already did Shirley Temples last week, we’re going to go with another non-boozy classic: the Roy Rodgers. Pair this off with some adorable, salty Bacon Cheeseburger Bites and you got yourself a spooky rager.

OCtober 20th: Housebound

Housebound review: Perfect horror for the Covid-19 quarantined - Vox

If you couldn’t tell, I am quite a fan of Kiwi humor. Housebound is another title that lurked around Netflix for a while, and I remember watching it without any prior knowledge. I was confused, but once you realize it is a comedy through and through, it gets absolutely hilarious. Therefore, I want to use this platform to clarify and shine some more light on this lost gem. Kylie is forced to return to her childhood home under house arrest, trapping her inside with the supposed evil entity that lives among her and her family.

This is a fun movie and should be paired with equally fun things. Therefore I’m pairing it with one of my favorite movies The Lost Boys. Because who could say no to some glam punk 80s vampires? This is a mixed bag of a night, so why not mix it up some more with this Halloween Sangria or a prom-style punch? In my mad search for recipes, I came across these jalapeno popper pigs in a blanket that I could not help but share. Say hello to a wild Wednesday night!

OCtober 21st: Ringu

I’ll be honest, I am not a big fan of the American The Ring. I feel like it’s a cheap knockoff of the rich story that is Ringu. If you have only seen the American version, I urge you to watch Ringu this week. It is genuinely one of the creepiest films out there. It still centers around the cursed tape that is well known but its use of practical effects as well as the absence of that blue filter that was so popular in early 00s horror (and promptly killed by Twilight) make this film soar above the American remake.

The obvious double feature is another story done so dirty by American film studios: Ju-On: The Grudge. A “slower” burn than the first film, but a truly rich and amazing ghost story through and through. Since we are enjoying two classic Japanese horror films, I decided to pair it with onigiri, which is impossible to hate given its endless combinations and simpler assembly. Of course, I involved sake, so please enjoy the highly rated Sake Southside from Tasting Table (a Japanese Cream Soda for the non alcohol drinkers).

Conclusion and what’s Next

I’m so happy to see people enjoying this series and I enjoy making it (even though it makes me hungry). There is a lot coming up with The Void of Celluloid in the next few months from a podcast to a Patreon startup to oh so much more and I am excited to share this journey with all of you. Please be sure to follow and share this with your friends and loved ones and I will see you next week as we celebrate the final ten days of TVOC’s 31 Days of Horror.

Spooky Season, Welcome: A Guide for September Spooky Flicks

Featured By thevoidofcelluloid 1 Comment

It’s now September, therefore I declare that spooky season begins now, for all of our sanities. As an author of a horror blog, I am always in the mood for a scary movie. However, sometimes it’s hard to convince the viewing party to join the fanatical ways. Therefore, I took the time this week to conjure up a loose fitted plan to ease even the biggest scaredy cat into spooky season.

This will be the first installment, and while there isn’t necessarily horror forward movies on the September catalogue, there are plenty of good romps on here. This plan starts now, as Halloween candy and pumpkin spice are already making strides into a part of our regular diet for the next few months, so what are we waiting for? Let’s begin this journey and explore other genres’ takes on the spooky season.

The First Half of September: Easing In

Most of the films listed in this first half could easily be in the final week of October. I prefer to ramp up the scares then, so I put a lot of comfort in this first half. As the sunshine drifts away and seasonal depression might start to sink in for some, nothing is more comforting that goofy, sometimes heartfelt movies. I’m talking 1990s and early 00s cheesefest kind of movies. That is not a derogatory sense, as I love all of these movies myself. The movies also listed here can be good replacements for October films if you either A) have little ones to be cautious of or B) don’t like to get scared.

Practical Magic, BeetleJuice and Ghostbusters

Topping my list is actually not a horror movie, but rather a movie about family, magic and of course midnight margaritas: Practical Magic. This movie has always been a staple for my mom and I during fall time, so not only does it bring fuzzy feelings, but also a boat load of nostalgia. It also includes many familiar faces, with the two main stars being Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Check it out if you haven’t, it probably is my favorite film about witches (see below for hot take about Hocus Pocus, I’m sorry).

This is also where Beetlejuice goes for me surprisingly. I usually get to this movie later in the season despite me placing it here, but this movie fits in with the semi-lighthearted, cheesy vibe, even though it is a magnificent film. I haven’t ran into many people that hasn’t heard this story before, especially with the recent surge in popularity of its Broadway counterpart, but if you haven’t seen it, I have a few questions. First, what are you doing still reading this? Second, why aren’t you watching it right now?

With the new sequel coming out in November, it is impossible not putting Ghostbusters on this list. This movie was a childhood staple for me, and my favorite character isn’t even pictured here and that is Rick Moranis’ character, Louis. This is forever a classic, and a good light felt romp fit for younger kids when you’re looking for some Halloween classics.

Hocus Pocus and Others: Family Friendly (Except One)

Okay, okay, yes. A large chunk of the population watches this on Halloween, and I get that. But most years, I don’t even watch Hocus Pocus. It isn’t one of those comfort movies for me, even though it can be enjoyable, but–in the most hipster way possible–I kind think it’s overrated. I’m not alone in this opinion either, check out this piece from Sarah El-Mahmoud: Who Decided Hocus Pocus Was A Great Movie?Other than the three witches, every character annoys me and if the film just consisted of Winifred and the gang causing chaos rather than the weird plot they forget about half the time, I would probably like it more and consider it part of my ritual. It’s a staple for most however, so no judgement if this is in your regular spooky regimen.

Below is a gallery of other films that I like to partake in/think fit this tone. Most are kidfriendly but they are fun films nonetheless.

The Second Half of September: Dancing Through Life

The leaves actually start changing, the equinox comes and there is fall euphoria in the air. It feels like you could burst out into song any moment. So why don’t you? There are plenty of spooky musicals out there. Most are cult classics at this point, while others might have been revisited since childhood.

The Rocky horror Picture Show & Little Shop Of Horrors

There is an obvious crowning jewel to this subgenre, which is most enjoyed at midnight in your local theater. If you aren’t giving yourself over to absolute pleasure, a couple viewings of this masterpiece will have you doing so whilst scantily clad and throwing toast at the screen. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has quite a legacy, and what kept alive is fans and notoriety. Most people have seen this film, and I haven’t met anyone who has absolutely hated it. Even musical haters have a soft spot for this film. It is truly a transcendent cultural icon, and should be indulged every spooky season, every year for how many times that you wish to watch it (I average about four times a year, it’s a deep comfort of mine). Also, yes, this gif embodies probably my favorite Frank-N-Furter moment.

Another comfort film of mine is a bit more hush hush than the previous, but a cult classic nonetheless. Little Shop of Horrors features a great array of actors and one of the most impressive uses of practical effects and puppetry. All the songs are bops and will get stuck in your head, so much so that they may sound familiar. You’d be right, as the writers are the same people that did the music for Disney’s 90s Renaissance. “Somewhere That’s Green” is the same exact tune as “Part of Your World,” meaning it isn’t plagiarism if you steal from yourself. and the characters are likeable, even when they are doing terrible things. There’s also a weird but hilarious S&M scene between Steve Martin and Bill Murray that is not one to miss.

Claymation Classics: Thanks, Laika

Stepping into the spotlight is Laika Studios, who is responsible for most of the claymation films we see today. Not all of these are musicals, but a lot have musical elements and are perfect for spooky season. The two I want to feature are Corpse Bride and Coraline. Yes, The Nightmare Before Christmas should be a feature here too, but I do consider that film a November film in between seasons. Corpse Bride features beautiful music from Danny Elfman and adopts Tim Burton’s usual style. Coraline revolutionized claymation and pushed the limits on what is advertised as a children’s film or not. Both are spooky and perfect for pushing the limits on older kids looking for a mild scare. If they love them, congrats, you’re raising a future horror fanatic.

Honorable Mentions for A Playful End to September

Below is a gallery of other films to consider as we ramp up to October. Yes, we embrace the Bowie Bulge here.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2008)

Conclusion

I warned there was not a lot of horror on this list, and while I believe every time is horror time, this is a guide for everybody. Some people don’t like the spooks, and sometimes needs coaxing to be down to watch the scarier movies. That’s completely okay! However, if you’re depraved like me and are ready for the scares, stay tuned, as October 1st comes 31 Days of Horror, a calendar strictly for horror fans and those ready to be scared this October. Don’t forget to sign up for email notifications and I’m excited to embark with you all on The Void of Celluloid’s first spooky season. Now to feast on copious amounts of pumpkin bread.