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straightupstrangetimes · 4 years

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13 Not-So-Scary Movies to Get You in the Halloween Spirit!

Contributed by Kris Rustic, host of Obscure Anomalies podcast

Halloween is around the corner. Everywhere you look a horror movie is playing. For me, I love it. There is just something about being scared while knowing full well you are safe. But not everyone is into that sort of thing. My wife is one, so I tried to find lists of not-so-scary movies but was having trouble coming up with one, so I decided to write my own.

Please keep in mind, I did try to keep the list more kid and family friendly.

13. HOCUS POCUS

300 years have passed since the Sanderson sisters were executed for practicing dark witchcraft. Returning to life, thanks to a combination of a spell spoken before their demise and the accidental actions of Max, the new-kid-in-town, the sisters have but one night to secure their continuing existence. With the help of his younger sister Dani, his high school crush Allison, and a magical cat, it is up to Max to save the children of Salem.

A must see on any Halloween movie list. Full of light-hearted humour, this film is loved by people of all ages.

Watch it: Amazon Rent or Buy

12. CASPER (1995)

Furious that her late father only willed her his gloomy-looking mansion rather than his millions, Carrigan Crittenden makes a plan to burn the place to the ground. That is, until she finds a map leading to a treasure hidden under the house. But when she enters the rickety mansion to seek her claim, she is frightened away by the mansions ghostly inhabitants. Determined to get her hands on this hidden fortune, Crittenden hires afterlife therapist Dr. James Harvey to exorcise the ghosts from the mansion. Harvey and his daughter Kat move in and soon Kat befriends Casper, the ghost of a young boy, who is “the friendly ghost.” But not so friendly are Casper’s uncles--Stretch, Fatso and Stinkie--who are determined to drive all “fleshies” away. It is up to Harvey and Kat to help the ghosts cross over to the other side.

I may get some flack putting Casper this high up on the list, but hey, to each their own. Casper is a fun little film filled with the right amount of supernatural scares placed inside a package that every age can enjoy.

Watch it: Starz; Amazon Rent or Buy

11. THE WITCHES

While staying at a hotel in England with his grandmother, Helga, young Luke inadvertently spies on a convention of witches. The Grand High Witch reveals a plan to turn all children into mice through a magical formula. When they find that Luke has overheard, the witches test the formula on him. Now, with the help of his grandmother and new friend Bruno Jenkins, Luke the mouse must fight back against the evil witches.

Based on the book of the same name, The Witches is a classic. This may be one of the more frightening films on the list but is still children-friendly. Besides, who doesn’t want to save the world as a mouse.

Watch it: Amazon Rent or Buy

10. THE MONSTER SQUAD

The Monster Squad is a club of friends who idolize the classic monster-movies, especially their non-human stars. One day, Dracula, the Mummy, Frankenstein’s Monster, and other classic horror icons, all of which the club idolize, arrive in town in search of a magic amulet to destroy all the good in the world. It is up to the five friends to save the amulet from destruction and use it to cast the monsters into limbo.

One part The Goonies, one part Ghostbusters, and one part Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, the Monster Squad is a true cult classic that was way ahead of its time.

Watch for yourself and find out if the “Wolfman has nards.”

Watch it: Amazon Rent or Buy

9. BEETLEJUICE

Adam and Barbara are like every other happily married couple -- who just happen to also be dead! Before they died, Adam and Barbara had spent their vacation to decorate and make the house their own, that is, until the fatal car crash. Unfortunately, a new family is moving in, and not quietly as they make plans to redecorate the house with the help of an interior designer. Adam and Barbara try to scare them out, but end up becoming the main attraction to the money making family. They call upon Beetlejuice to help, but Beetlejuice has more in mind than just helping.

While having a special place in my heart for taking place in Connecticut, Beetlejuice is an all around classic starting Michael Keaton and a young Winona Ryder.

Watch it:: Amazon Rent or Buy

8. PARANORMAN

Norman Babcock has the ability to speak with the dead -- and he often prefers their company to that of the living. Norman learns from his estranged uncle that a centuries-old witch’s curse on their town is real and about to come true -- and only Norman can stop it. When zombies rise from their graves, Norman and his ragtag team must summon all their courage and compassion to the limit to save his fellow townspeople. Taking place in the fictional town of Blithe Hollow, this stop-motion film is a beautiful take on the Salem Witch Trials.

I have to admit, I slept on this movie when it first came out. I had no interest in it at all, but then I watched it and became an instant favourite. The humour is a little more blue for a “children’s” movie, but the lesson learned in the end is valuable for all involved. Did I mention it is also well known for being the first mainstream animated film with an openly gay character?

Watch it: Sadly it is not available for streaming on Amazon, Netflix, or Hulu at this time, due to licensing agreements

7. FRANKENWEENIE

Young Victor Frankenstein is a science nerd and an outsider at school, but he does have one friend, his dog Sparky. Sadly, tragedy strikes, taking Sparky away from Victor. Heartbroken, Victor is given an idea of how to bring Sparky back to life. The experiment is a success and everything goes fine, that is, until his fellow students learn of his secret and use it to resurrect their beloved lost pets. Frankenweenie is a heartwarming tale of a boy and his dog, and the lengths we would go to keep our beloved friend.

I consider Frankenweenie to be the sister movie to ParaNorman. Both are stop motion and came out in the same year. The difference is Frankenweenie takes you back to the classic universal horror icons in a brand-new way. Did I mention it is in black and white and has that classic monster movie feel?

watch it: Rent on Youtube

6. NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

What happens to the Pumpkin King when he tires of being just that, the King of Halloween. Jack Skellington is bored of the same annual routine of scaring the people of the real world. One day, he stumbles upon Christmastown, full of bright colours and warm spirits, bringing a new lease to Jack’s life. He plots to bring Christmas under his control, only to find that the best-laid plans of mice and skeleton can go awry.

Originally I intended only one movie per director, but I don’t think you can begin to discuss family friendly Halloween without Tim Burton, especially because you cannot have a Halloween list without Nightmare Before Christmas. In all fairness, this is the perfect movie to finish out the year with.

Watch it: Amazon Rent or Buy

5. COCO

Miguel dream of becoming a musician, just like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. The problem, his family has a generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel steals Ernesto’s guitar and finds himself in the colourful Land of the Dead. With the help of a charming trickster named Héctor and Miguel’s dog Dante, Miguel must find his way back home, meanwhile learning the truth about his family’s past.

All bite. Coco is a Dia de los Muertos movie. I know some of you will complain that it is not a Halloween movie. Truth is, the spirit of Dia de los Muertos and Halloween are close enough for me to warrant inclusion into the list. The scenery and background is gorgeous, the story will tug at the heartstrings, and you will get to learn a little about the culture behind Dia de los Muertos, even if a bit Disneytized.

Watch it: Netflix

4. HALLOWEENTOWN

On Halloween, while Marnie is arguing with her mother Gwen, the kids’ grandmother Aggie comes to visit. Aggie wants to start Marnie’s witch training before her 13th birthday or Marnie will lose her powers forever. But there is another reason for Aggie’s visit. Something dark and evil is growing in Halloweentown, and Aggie wants help to defeat it. While Aggie and Gwen are arguing, Aggie uses magic, which Marnie observes. After Aggie leaves to return to Halloweentown, Marnie, Dylan and, unknown to Marnie and Dylan, Sophie follow her onto the return bus. Soon afterwards, Gwen follows the children to Halloweentown. While there, Aggie and Gwen are attacked by the dark force. Marnie, Dylan and Sophie have to race to get the ingredients to activate Merlin’s Wand to stop the evil and save Halloweentown.

A classic made for TV Disney movie, this film (and all sequels) are a perfect Halloween movie for all ages, and albeit a little cheesy at times. But who doesn’t love the occasional cheesy movie?

3. SCOOBY DOO AND THE WITCH’S GHOST

When the Master Gang Scooby meet a famous horror writer Ben Ravencroft (who may or may not be based off of Stephen King) during their last mystery, he invites them to his small hometown of Oakhaven, Massachusetts to join in the annual Autumn Fest. Ravencroft tells the Mystery Gang about the history of his ancestor, Sarah Ravencroft, who happened to be an evil witch and is supposedly haunting the town of Oakhaven. The gang decides to help the town and solve the mystery of the Witch’s Ghost.

This was tough to pick. We have Scooby Doo and the Ghoul School, Scooby Doo and Zombie Island, I mean honestly any Scooby Doo movie could fit. But I picked Witch’s Ghost for three simple reasons: takes place during the fall, witches, and the Hex Girls, a fictional all-female Goth Rock Band.

Watch it: Amazon Prime, Boomerang Channel on Amazon

2. MONSTER HOUSE

13-year-old DJ is obsessed with his creepy neighbour, Nebbercracker, and his eerie house. After all, rumours of his past have run rampant in the town. But one day, DJ and his friends witness the house come to life. Unable to find an adult that will believe him, and with Halloween vastly approaching, it is up to DJ and his friends to find a way to destroy the house before innocent trick-or-treaters meet their end.

At times, this film is a little on the frightening side, at least for the younger ones. The characters are well thought out and put together. While the animation is not ground breaking, it looks great and fits the movie perfectly. A perfect film for those looking for a fun, clean movie this Halloween.

Watch it: Amazon Rent or Buy

1. GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN

While collecting junk from an abandoned house, best friends Sonny and Sam come across an unpublished “Goosebumps” book. Opening it, they release Slappy, a mischievous talking dummy. Hoping to start a family, Slappy kidnaps Sonny’s mother and brings fourth all of his ghoulish friends (creatures and monsters from the Goosebumps novels) to life, just in time for Halloween. The sleepy town becomes overrun with monsters, witches, and other mysterious creatures. It is up to Sonny, his sister Sarah, and Sam to save their town, his mother, and foil Slappy’s plans.

Goosebumps (2015) is a pure nostalgia ride with a brand new feel and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is no different. Trading in some of the humor for a little more horror feel, the movie has a little bit to offer for everyone.

Watch it: Netflix

The truth of the matter is, this list is not perfect and may never be complete, but it is a great starting point to the ever growing list of the Not-So-Scary Halloween movies. I feel in writing this, I have left so many great films off, so I have a list of some runner up films that just barely missed being on my top 13.

RUNNER UPS

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

Dracula and the classic horror monsters are afraid of humans. In an attempt to take a vacation away from humanity, Dracula operates a hotel way off in the woods. One day, a brave human makes his way to the castle, where the human and Dracula’s daughter “Zing”.

ADDAMS FAMILY (1991)

A man claiming to be Uncle Fester, the missing brother of Gomez Addams shows up at the Addam’s household. The family is thrilled, however Morticia begins to suspect the man is a fraud as he cannot recall details of Fester’s life. With the help of a lawyer, Fester manages to get the Addams evicted from the home. Can the Addam’s family save Uncle Fester? Can they get their home back?

DOUBLE DOUBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE

The Farmer family is in debt and might lose their house. The Farmer Twins discover the somebody mean and shrewd is responsible for all the family problems. The determined twins try to trick at their evil aunt out of her magic moonstone to save their family home.

THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD

Two animated adaptations of classic literature adapted by Disney make up this film, which is the only reason it made the runner up list as Mr. Toad, while good, has nothing to do with Halloween. However, in the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” the gangly schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane, falls for the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel. Caught in a love triangle with Katrina and Brom Bones, Ichabod fears the local legend of the Headless Horseman. Is the legend more truth than lore?

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS MEET THE WOLFMAN

Alvin loves monsters and monster movies, though he is terrified of them. Stuck with Werewolves on the mind, he believes his next door neighbour is one. Reluctantly, Simon helps Alvin investigate the neighbour. Meanwhile Theodore is bitten by a strange dog, and finds his inner “inner monster” and starts behaving like a werewolf himself.

Did I miss your favourite Not-So-Scary Halloween movie? Let me know what it is in the comments below.

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sahibookworm · 4 years

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone who are celebrating today … !!!!!! What a perfect day for this post.

When Laura @ Thebookcorps tagged me for this, I thought how wonderful and apt it was towards the end of the year, because so many bloggers like me are a bit reticent about talking about our own posts and promoting them. So, thank you so much Laura for creating this tag so that we all can reflect on our blogging journey this 2019 and look back at some of our favorite posts. Do checkout her blog for more amazing posts.

RULES:

All the answers must be about your blog posts

Please link the original creator of the tag so Laura can see all your posts!

You don’t have to provide just one post for each question, you can provide as many as you want so long as they were written in 2019

If you haven’t written a post that matches one of the questions, choose one that relates to it as close as possible

Tag 5+ bloggers to they can share their accomplishments too! And make sure you read the posts they share!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK REVIEW?

This is very hard to answer because I love writing book reviews and love most of what I write (even though they are just okay). So, I’ll just select a few which I love going back to, to motivate myself to write even better.

The review of Red, White and Royal Blue is my highest viewed post of the year, so I would be remiss not to include it here. It’s also my favorite book of the year, and I tried to pour all my feelings into it. I’m not someone who is able to translate my emotions into words, so my reviews read like essays but I still think this was not badly written. I also think this is probably my longest review ever.

Both Good Talk and The (Other) F Word are books that spoke to a part of me – one about being a brown women in the US, and the other about being a fat woman. These books affected me profoundly and that’s why their reviews are where I’ve probably talked the most about myself. So, I don’t know if these are some of the best reviews I’ve written, but they truly reflect my thoughts and experiences.

She Said and Catch and Kill are both phenomenal books about the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal, the #MeToo movement and an overall look at how power structures work in the world to silence women. I don’t think I can do justice to the work of these brilliant journalists but I think I managed to write my thoughts about them in an articulate manner.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE DISCUSSION POST?

I’m not someone who writes discussion posts at all because I’m pretty scared of voicing my opinion on any hot topics. I feel I am not thoughtful enough to weigh in on important matters, and I’m also scared to be wrong or offend anyone. However, there’s one post I would love to talk more about.

I went to the Baltimore Book Festival a couple of weeks ago, and it was the most amazing experience I had in 2019. I was so happy being among book lovers and authors, listening to them discuss the best things about books and reading. And I couldn’t resist writing about my experience (click here for the very long post). This post is really a labor of love and I think I’m quite proud of it.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FUN POST?

(By “fun post” I mean a post that doesn’t fall under a particular category like reviews, discussions or tags do.)

As you might have already guessed, I’m not a very fun person by nature and that’s not the vibe you’ll get from my posts (sorry…). But there are a couple posts I managed to write which I thought were quite fun, in the sense that they got a lot of engagement and everyone seemed to enjoy discussing them.

I borrowed the idea of Guess that Book by the Cover from Charvi @ Not Just Fiction because I thought it was amazing and I had so much fun writing it. And if you look at the comments section, I think many of you had fun guessing the books too…!! What more can I want….

Popular Series I Probably Won’t Read is the kind of post that can be a lot of fun to wrote (I did) but also something that can offend readers if they find their favorite books on my list. But all of you are very sweet and supportive and just told me about your love for the books I didn’t wanna read but no one tried to convince me. It was definitely a very fun topic to discuss.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK RECOMMENDATION POST?

I’ve always been scared to write recommendation posts because I feel why would anyone want to read my recs. But I have finally gotten over myself and scheduled two rec posts, but unfortunately they don’t post until later next month. And that’s why, I have only one similar post I can talk about here.

If you know me at all, you know that I have grown up reading the Mahabharata and various versions of it. So, during our India Lit Readathon in July, I wrote this post about all my favorite Mahabharata novels, retellings and reimaginings – and I can’t tell you how much satisfaction it gave me writing about it.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK/BOOKISH PHOTO?

These three pictures are from my trip to Boston where I got to visit the absolutely stunning Boston Public Library (with it’s gorgeous reading room) and two Harvard Book stores which were my favorite part of the vacation.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ORIGINAL IDEA/BLOG POST?

Not many ideas are truly original in our community because we do tend to discuss similar topics all the time, so I won’t presume that these posts are without any inspiration. But I did think of them without really seeing them being done by anyone else, so I guess they qualify.

As someone who is not at all adventurous in my reading choices, I had a lot of fun wondering why some of the books mentioned in this post – Unlikely Books on my TBR – were even on my radar. And true to form, I’ve only managed to read one of them and have no clue if I’ll ever get to the others.

As someone who mostly reads hyped books, I loved writing this post about all the Books I Read due to Hype – and how many of them I actually ended up liking or hating. My initial list was very long but I think I managed to make it small and readable.

WHAT’S YOUR ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE BLOG POST YOU WROTE THIS YEAR?

All the reviews I mentioned above and the Mahabarata post are some of my favorite posts of the year. I have many other review posts which I loved writing but I don’t think I wanna go on and on about them. But there’s one which I think is my absolute favorite because of what it means to me.

In probably my most personal post ever titled Books That Have Defined my Reading Life, I talked about all the books that have affected me and defined me as a person in the three decades of my life and I think if you want to know me better, you should start from this post.

HAVE YOU REACHED ANY BLOGGING ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YEAR?

I finally reached 1000 followers on the blog and as someone who never thought it would happen, it made me very very ecstatic and I can’t describe in words how I felt when I crossed the milestone.

And while I never had any other major goals as far as blogging is concerned, this current post is my 240th of the year and as I’m very sure that I’ll complete 250 in 2019, I’m very satisfied that I have been able to post so consistently and still enjoying it.

I Tag:

Krisha || Dany || Ahana || Shalini || Sohinee || Meaghan || Jane || All bloggers who would love to look back on their blogging year.

My Favorite 2019 Blogging Moments Tag HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone who are celebrating today ... !!!!!! What a perfect day for this post.

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