Halloween special: what to watch?

10 non-spooky recommendations

Even though I'm not a horror fan, I love the Halloween aesthetic, especially in stories about witches and magic. If you are like me and want to celebrate Halloween but don't like horror movies, there are more than enough movies out there!

Here are 10 of my favorites (in no particular order):

Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

A Halloween classic. Tim Burton created all the characters from the movie and its aesthetics and themes would remain throughout his career. Nightmare Before Christmas tells the story of Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, who discovers and falls in love with Christmas Town. However, his attempts to bring Christmas to his own home result in problems.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

I haven't watched the sequel, and I kind of refuse to do so because it looks so similar and kind of sad. Anyway, Hocus Pocus was one of my favorite movies growing up. It may be very 90s, but if you grew up in the 90s as well, I'm pretty sure you are also attached to this movie about the Sander Sisters. 

Alien (1979)

Alien is a classic. Directed by Ridley Scott, this movie can be scary but it's also visually beautiful. Further, there's nothing more thrilling than movies and tv shows in space. Every turn and choice is filled with life-threatening risks.

Practical Magic (1998)

Or as I remember it: the movie where Nicole Kidman is the prettiest she has ever been. Practical Magic is a fun take on witchery, being a family tradition. Two sisters played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman deal with having magical powers and living with a family curse.

Matilda (1996)

Okay, this movie doesn't have that much of a Halloween vibe, but Matilda can do magic and you cannot say that the principal isn't frightening. Also, a memorable childhood movie.

Coco (2017)

In Mexico, they celebrate Lo Día de Los Muertos instead of Halloween, and which movie is better for that than Coco? Coco is your average Pixar movie. It's pretty, fun and it will certainly make you cry.

The craft (1996)

Four high school girls start meddling with witchcraft. The results are not always the most desirable, as expected. The Craft is a 90s classic as well.

Jennifer's body (2009)

It may be the only film on the list that could be classified as horror, but there are many other layers to this cult classic. Jennifer's Body plays with the juxtaposition between two teenage girls, to reference how girls who are secure, pretty, and use their sexuality are vilified. This is so even when they are actually mean. 

Shuter Island (2010)

In this Scorsese movie, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) investigates the disappearance of a patient at Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital in Boston. There, he discovers that doctors carry out radical experiments on patients, involving illegal and unethical methods.

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Pan’s Labyrinth mashes together fairytales with history. Set in Spain in 1944, the story follows Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), who just moved to Spain's countryside with her pregnant mother to meet her fascist stepfather, who is trying to fight the last communist resistance.