20 Halloween Flicks, Made for Tv Movies, and Cartoons

A year ago, I made some recommendations for great movies to watch during the Autumn/Halloween season. And this year, I'm back with the scary! 2007's suggestions included, Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Clue, Hocus Pocus, Monster Squad, Evil Dead, Murder By Death, Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleepy Hollow, Secret Window, The Village, The Goonies, and The Shining.

This year, I've widened the scope of what kinds of movies you might enjoy during the season, and undoubtedly there's something here for everyone, including kids. One reason for the variety is that Halloween specific movies are really tough to find in rental stores this time of year. So I've even offered some YouTube suggestions if all else fails! So read on, laugh a few of these off, and let your interest be piqued by the others!

Classic Scares

The Wolfman (1941)
Admittedly, I had a crush on Lon Chaney Jr. as a kid, so this suggestion is a little biased. But this movie has all the atmosphere you could ask for in a spooky classic, and pretty much acts like a tutorial for anyone unfamiliar with classic werewolf movie myths.

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
This is a MUST SEE. This movie is both side-splittingly funny and unsettling. And to top it all off, it all takes place on a windy October evening. It's Cary Grant how you've never seen him before in this Halloween classic.

House on Haunted Hill (1959)
The recent remake of this movie was rotten, so give the Vincent Price original a spin. Much of it is laughable, but the plot acts like a mystery, and there's at least one scare that REALLY got my heart racing, I'm embarrassed to say. And I'd bet money that it'll get you too.

The Haunting (1963)
This movie terrifies me. There are jump scares, creepy concepts, and some terrifying camera work. This movie was yet another victim of the rampant remake craze, but watch this one with the lights off late at night, and you just may be sorry. This is a perfect Halloween date movie.

The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)
This movie is one-of-a-kind. It's all spoof and satire, but still retains some decent scares, including some genuinely threatening leading vampires. You have to see this movie to believe it. Promise me you'll rent this one before you get Bram Stoker's Dracula again.

Modern Frights

Casper (1995)
Okay, so maybe "fright" isn't a good word to attach to this movie. But it's actually a pretty decent kids movie! If you're an adult, you may laugh it off. But if you have a kid or a "tween", this is a great flick to sit down together and watch, and not have to worry about gore, language, or anything that will give them nightmares.

The Frighteners (1996)
The first mainstream Peter Jackson movie. Watching this, you can understand why he was chosen to make the LOTR trilogy. This is a strangely forgotten movie, that manages to be engaging, funny, and suspenseful all at once. It's definitely worth a watch. (Look out for Hugh "House" Laurie!)

What Lies Beneath (2000)
This suspense flick was shot right in the middle of the shooting for Robert Zemeckis' "Castaway" while Tom hanks was losing weight! While it's true that some of the re-play value is lessened if you already know the twist at the end, it's worth a watch for the beautiful production design and Hitchcock-esque storyline. It's a perfect fall movie.

The Haunted Mansion (2003)
If you're a fan of the ride at all (Who's not?), watch it for the amazing ride tributes. Again, this is a really fun and safe flick to watch with kids, like Casper. You could make a marathon movie night out of it!

The Descent (2005)
This is a creepy, gory, bloody, thought-provoking, metaphor-filled, suspenseful masterpiece. If you don't handle gore well, don't watch this movie. But I don't usually like gore, and I found it to be one of the most interesting horror films I've ever seen. Bonus points for a highly believable all female cast...how often does that happen in movies today? Watch and discuss.

80's Offerings

Haunted Honeymoon (1986)
If you liked Clue, or Murder By Death, you'll enjoy this throwback comedy film. It's a Gene Wilder/Gilda Radner collaboration filled with practical special effects and a haunted castle. Not to mention Dom Deluise in drag. It's not my favorite Wilder movie, but it's funny and perfect for this time of year.

Ghost Story (1981)
You've never seen a Fred Astaire movie like this! Most people don't even know this movie exists, but once they watch it, they can't understand why. It's a good solid plot, with some surprisingly fun and scary practical effects.

Aliens (1986)
I know, this is sci-fi, not horror. But I find that this is, in essence, a monster film. And this sequel in particular, offers jump scares, chase scenes, suspense, mystery, survival horror, and many scary movie conventions all in one film. And it's aged well. It still looks good, and it's still creepy.

Funny Farm (1988)
This movie is strictly for people who simply HATE horror movies, but wish there movies for them with fall atmosphere. It's true, this movie ends at Christmastime, so it may be better suited for Thanksgiving. But if you aren't ready for Halloween, but you are ready for the season, this is a great flick to start with. It's HILARIOUS, an absolute 80's classic. It's similar to Tommy Boy in the sense that it's a series of jokes and vignettes, and the laughs never stop.

Made For TV Treats

Lonesome Ghosts (1937, YouTube suggestion)
This is the ORIGINAL Ghostbusters. It's very funny, and great for kids or people who love classic Disney!

Water, Water Every Hare (1952 YouTube suggestion)
This is the famous Bugs Bunny "interesting monster" haunted castle cartoon. Actually, googling, "Bugs Bunny and Gossamer" will get you some more great Halloween Looney Tunes episodes.

Bewitched Bunny (1954 YouTube suggestion)
In my opinion, this is the best cartoon witch available! You have to see it.

Salem's Lot (1979 Made for t.v.)
This made for television version of Stephen King's novel is truly creepy. Don't let the year it was made in fool you, it's got some hair-raising moments. This one might be tough to find, but it's worth looking for.

Disney's Halloween Treat (1982 YouTube suggestion)
This one will take you way back. And once you find this on YouTube, you'll find a world of amazing retro Halloween television specials. This also makes a fun date night, make some hot cocoa and popcorn, and walk down Halloween memory lane without scaring yourself!

Tower of Terror (1997, made for tv)
This was the made for television movie based on Disney's dark ride, "The Tower of Terror". It was the test run that Disney used to decide whether or not they would pursue a movie based on, "Pirates of the Caribbean". It features a young Kirsten Dunst and most importantly...Steve Guttenberg. I'm not gonna lie, it's kind of fun to watch a movie filmed at a ride façade in Disney World. And it's also, how do I put this nicely? It's kind of good for a chuckle. As usual, it's great for kids!