Unconventional Halloween Films
With Halloween right around the corner, what better way to get in the spooky spirit than to revisit some classic Halloween films. Sure, you’ve got “Hocus Pocus,” “Halloweentown,” “Beetlejuice” and maybe even “The Nightmare Before Christmas” depending on how you look at it. However, something I find interesting each year this season rolls around is the Halloween movies that aren’t quite Halloween movies. This can include movies with unusual and eerie plots, or just have a certain unique quality to them that screams “Halloween!” I asked around campus to get an understanding of what movies SLU students would say fit in this specific category.
For me, the 1990s film “Donnie Darko,” which now has a cult following, has so much mystery and strangeness to it, that it feels perfect for the season. This movie is full of twists and turns, so I won’t spoil it if you have not seen it yet, but now is the perfect time for a first watch.
Noah Donnellan-Doser ’26 referenced the 2002 live-action “Scooby-Doo” film as one of his unconventional Halloween films. “It’s a timeless classic that not only captures the heart of the original television show, but also brings a modern take on Halloween, meaning it brings a 21st-century perspective to the dangers that Halloween can come with while implementing millennial and Gen-Z humor that brings the whole family together.” Similarly, Donnellan-Doser also stated that the sequel, “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” was equally worthy of the unconventional Halloween movie title. “‘Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed’ follows up on the first movie by bringing a child-like wonder and imagination that was missing from the first movie. It has scarier monsters, it was more creative, and had a better climax.” Another children’s film that I find to be a seriously creepy film is “Coraline.” It’s dark, magical, and full of imagination that feels only possible in an animated film.
Ben Stiller’s 2006 film “Night at the Museum” was another film that was brought up in my conversations. Phoebe Jones ’27 stated that while the film is not inherently horror, it is definitely weird. It truly is; imagine you are a night-shift security guard at a historical museum, when all of the exhibits suddenly come to life. It is a legitimately terrifying concept, but the film manages to be fun and even goofy with the execution. Jones also referenced “The Wizard of Oz” and “Wicked” as other personal Halloween favorites.
Another student, Olivia Barbera ’27 cited “The Phantom of the Opera” as her unconventional Halloween movie. She said that, “although some might say that the scenery feels more wintery than anything else, the eerie tone of the movie feels Halloween-esque.” I would have to agree. This gothic romantic musical is certainly haunting and beautiful, and in my opinion is one of the most underrated musical-to-movie adaptations. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was also a musical film that was suggested to me. Charlotte Blake ’27 stated that it’s colorful, weird, and a great movie to eat Halloween candy with.
For a cozier Halloween film, Nora Kenyon ’27 recommends “Dan in Real Life.” A light-hearted comedy, Kenyon said that “when I watch it I feel like I’m in a cocoon of all good fall things and happy endings, with just the right amount of suspense.”
Finally, “Little Shop of Horrors” was another great suggestion. Carly Zack ’27 said that the film “grabs your attention the entire time. You never knew what was going to happen next… such as a freaky dentist.” She also stated that she has a love for all of the songs in the film, which make it even more enjoyable. If there’s one thing that is not allowed in a Halloween film, it’s got to be boredom, and Zack believes that this film has no boring scenes.
Halloween isn’t just about horror movies and slasher films, it’s a time that celebrates the strange and uncanny. Something all of the films mentioned have in common is an oddness that makes them memorable. So, this October, if you need some new Halloween films to watch, consider watching one that is less conventional and more unpredictable.