If you’re anything like me, the blood and gore of traditional horror movies make you queasy. To avoid fueling nightmares, here are some of my favorite non-scary movies to get you in the Halloween mood:
“Corpse Bride”
This is by far my favorite movie to watch in anticipation for Halloween. The main character, Victor Van Dort, is getting ready for his arranged marriage to the daughter of an upper-class family. When nerves get the best of him, he walks into the woods for some fresh air and stumbles upon Emily, a “corpse bride.”
This stop-motion animated film combines elements of romance and a gothic art style to create a truly amazing movie. Plot twists keep your attention as you discover that not everyone is exactly who they say they are. It’s a heartwarming story that is spooky enough to be enjoyable during the season, but not nightmare-inducing.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas”
This Tim Burton classic is a quintessential watch. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” could arguably be considered both a Halloween and Christmas movie, making it perfect for those who want to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Jack Skellington, the praised “Pumpkin King” of his Halloween-themed town, gets tired of the repetitiveness of his regular routine. Instead of scaring children during his holiday, Skellington decides to give Santa Claus a day off and celebrate Christmas his way.
The animation style makes this movie just creepy enough to embody the spirit of the holiday without being overly scary.
“Ghostbusters: Answer the Call”
The all-female 2016 reboot of the popular movie series may have gotten mixed reviews when it came out, but it is worth watching nonetheless. I am not typically a fan of comedies, but even I found myself laughing throughout various points of this film.
Similar to the original, a group of rag-tag scientists interested in the paranormal discover ghosts in New York City, prompting them to team up and investigate.
The cast worked well with this film, especially Kate McKinnon, who played an eccentric scientist named Dr. Jillian Holtzman. The levity and humor of this movie make it a great choice for some lighthearted, spooky fun.
“Hocus Pocus”
It truly wouldn’t be Halloween without this iconic Disney comedy.
Max and Dani Dennison move to Salem, Massachusetts. While the town is celebrating Halloween, the Dennisons and their new friend Allison accidentally revive the Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches who were hanged after killing a young girl and transforming her brother into a cat that can’t die. The friends must undo the curse that sustains the witches’ lives before they wreak havoc.
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”
While not necessarily a movie, this television special is worth mentioning for the nostalgia that it holds.
As Halloween nears, Linus makes his plan to wait in a pumpkin patch with his favorite blanket to get a sighting of the “Great Pumpkin,” a fictional figure who supposedly gives gifts to children. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown goes trick-or-treating with the rest of the Peanuts gang, where he encounters his usual bad luck.
This special never fails to bring a smile to my face. It’s a feel-good classic I always enjoy watching every year.
