Halloween Party Ideas: Scary Movie Marathon

The leaves are turning colors, the high schools are having homecoming games, and people are beginning to start thinking up costumes for one of their favorite holiday. That's right Halloween is right around the corner. If you think you're too old for Trick-or-Treating (though I stand firm in my opinion that you're never too old to put on a Halloween costume and go Trick-or-Treat), and you're just not into the party scene, perhaps a night in would suit you well? How about a movie marathon? Halloween is a great time to pop in a few scary movies and watch them back to back. What could be better? Except, maybe, putting on that Halloween costume and going Tick-or-Treating.

Who? Enlist some of your friends to join you for this night of scary movies and junk food (I will get to that in a moment). It's more fun to watch a lineup of movies with a group of people, rather than watching them alone - especially if they are scary movies!

What? A movie marathon! Movie: a series of real or fictional events recorded by a camera and projected onto a screen as a sequence of moving pictures, usually with an accompanying soundtrack. Marathon: a lengthy and difficult task, event, or activity (Encarta World English Dictionary). Thus, a movie marathon is a lengthy and (somewhat) difficult task of watching a series of real or fictional events as recorded by a camera and projected onto a screen. Quite simply, a movie marathon is watching a collection of themed movies back to back. For this endurance task, you'll need your energy foods: nachos, hotdogs, popcorn, Skittles, Reese's Pieces, Milk Duds, Mike N Ikes. Anything you might find at a movie theater. Make sure you also have a comfortable viewing area, as well, with plenty of comfortable seating for each participant of your movie-watching extravaganza.

When? On Halloween, of course! You can do a movie marathon any time, but the movies should have a theme other than, "I like these movies." Halloween is the perfect excuse for one, as the theme should be obvious: scary movies. Though, if you feel another theme is appropriate for this holiday, suit yourself. It's your marathon, after all.

Why? Why not? If you aren't going to dress up and go beg for candy (though I think it would add a bit of pizzazz to dress up for this special occasion of movie-watching) or party it is fun to hang out with some friends, watching scary movies and eating junk food. There's no deeper meaning, other than enjoying good movies in good company.

Where? If you are the one throwing this Halloween, movie-watching get-together, it is likely going to be at your house. Unless, of course, you know of someone who has a better set up for the marathon. Just make sure, if you are moving your event to someone else's place, you at least tell them before people start showing up. Asking would be the polite thing to do, however.

How? Ah, this is where it gets fun! Invite people to your Halloween movie marathon. You can rent movies, use some from your personal collection, or have each friend bring a movie or two from their own collection. Set up your movie room to be comfortable. Lots of pillows and/or bean bag chairs are nice for lounging. Make sure you have enough room for each person to be comfortable in this movie-watching endeavor. Once you've got the people invited and the room ready, it's time to pick out movies. If your guests are bringing scary movies of their own, ask what each is bringing so you don't get duplicates and you make sure to get all of the necessities, such as Psycho, Phantom of the Opera, or the Nightmare On Elm Street series. After the movies have been chosen, it is time for the final touches. Junk food! Get candy, popcorn, soda, nachos, hotdogs. Anything that you might find at a theater. Remember to be conscious of your own budget as you plan this Halloween movie-watching marathon.