The fall season has descended upon us. It is the time of pumpkin spice lattes, trips to the apple orchard, colorful leaves and hayrides. You can finally pull out that comfy scarf you’ve been missing all summer and throw on a nice flannel.
Of course one of the biggest parts of fall is Halloween and all the spookiness that comes with it. While we can’t help you pick out your costume or provide your candy, we can recommend some Netflix movies to get you in the spooky mood.
“The Witch”
Text your coven group chat and get them to come over to see this period supernatural horror film. Set in New England during the year 1630, the film follows an English farmer who relocates his family to a remote plot of land on the edge of an ominous forest. Creepy things start to happen almost immediately with his animals, crops and children. As paranoia mounts, one question looms: is the family being terrorized by something in the forest or from within?
“The Conjuring”
Is that noise you hear in your apartment at night really just the wind? “The Conjuring” has many similarities to “The Witch.” A family moves to a remote location in New England and scary events ensue. This film is set in the 1970s in the Perron family’s secluded home. When a supernatural presence starts tormenting the family they call paranormal investigators Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed (Patrick Wilson). Soon, they all discover the house’s dark history.
“As Above, So Below”
Calling all francophiles, this next film takes place in Paris. An archaeologist has dedicated her life to finding one of history’s legendary treasures: Flamel’s Philosopher’s Stone. After years of searching she is led to believe the artifact is in the Catacombs of Paris. She gathers a crew and documents her journey into the catacombs. The further the team descends, the more frightening things they encounter.
“Scooby-Doo”
Jinkies! If the horror movies aren’t your bag, “Scooby-Doo” is here for you. The Mystery Gang reunite after years apart on Spooky Island which is experiencing some strange happenings. It’s funny and kooky, and the soundtrack is a real trip back to the early 2000s (Sugar Ray and Uncle Kracker, anyone?). If you like this one, the sequel, “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed,” is also on Netflix.
“Coraline”
Another one for those who don’t love straight-up horror movies. This is a children’s movie, but coming from the director of “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” it delivers as a thriller for an older audience too. Coraline begrudgingly moves to a new home. While exploring the new house on a rainy day, she comes across a door that opens during the night. She discovers an alternate version of her life where everything is better and everyone has buttons for eyes. But the longer she stays, the more she begins to feel it might be a trap.
“Hush”
If you weren’t afraid to be home alone yet, maybe this home invasion film will get you. “Hush” focuses on a deaf writer who lives in a secluded home. Her peaceful life is rudely interrupted when a masked intruder appears at her window. A unique take on the cat and mouse plot follows.
“The Shining”
You have to respect the classics. This Stephen King adaptation has become a pop culture hallmark and is still referenced today. Writer Jack Torrance becomes the caretaker at the Overlook Hotel for the winter season. He settles in with his wife and son. They soon discover the hotel’s dark secrets and Jack’s sanity unravels.
“Boys in the Trees”
Former friends Jonah and Corey find themselves walking home together on the night of Halloween in 1997. As they begin to tell each other stories and work through their memories of high school, their stories and fears begin to come alive around them.
“Hold the Dark”
Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Or is it a wolf at all? This new Netflix original film revolves around a writer who has been hired by worried parents to track down their kid. There has been a recent spike in missing children and the town believes that wolves are to blame. As the writer ventures into the Alaskan wilderness, violence breaks out in the remote town which may be holding onto a mystery more chilling than wolves.