From Pumpkin Spice to Frostbite: Spooky Watches For The Coming Cold Months
I’ve never considered myself a horror fanatic. Yet there’s something about the aggressive jump-scares, dark lighting, and the greasy, pallid makeup that I find uncanny and dismal about the genre in its traditional form. But with the chill coming in, and the skies becoming darker earlier, there’s something about the autumn and winter months that makes you want to curl up in a blanket and watch a ghoulish film that will make your skin crawl.
So grab a hot drink and your streaming service of choice because I’m about to introduce you to a list of films that will send a shiver down your spine. Watch (or rewatch) these films with friends or alone in the dark to truly settle into the bite of these cold months.
The Wicker Man (1973)
If you think that Midsommar is the best folk horror film about a whimsical, isolated cult, you haven’t watched The Wicker Man. Set on the fictional island of Summerisle off the coast of Scotland, it follows a police officer’s investigation into the disappearance of a young girl and his interactions with the town’s strange inhabitants. The film explores the horrors of unbridled faith in a frayed religious system. But it’s the film’s musical interludes that leave the viewers feeling unsettled throughout the watch, becoming increasingly confused as to what’s really happening.
The Wicker Man 1973
Alien (1979)
Avoid any jelly-like sweets when watching this one, because Ridley Scott will have you feeling a little squeamish. Although the main character was supposed to be a man, no one could play Ripley the way Sigourney Weaver does. The confinement of the spaceship makes the stakes of this film that much higher. Admittedly this film does have jump-scares, but the intrigue (and the slime) of the Alien will inflict short-term amnesia. If you enjoy the slimy graphics, there are even more in Aliens (1986), which is meant to be even better!
Alien (1979)
Scream (1996)
The opening of this film changed lives forever. Drew Barrymore’s wig changed lives forever. Scream is perfect to watch with friends, perfect to laugh your head off to. It’s so camp! Scream’s Ghost face has become one of the most iconic horror villains in history, and, watching this film play out, it’s clear why. It perfectly represents the teen audience it appeals to, and defines itself as an essential watch over the autumnal season.
Scream (1996)
Coraline (2009)
Coraline might seem like a distant memory of a film you watched when you were 8, whose eeriness continues to linger in the back of your mind. However, on rewatch you can understand why its symbolism has been theorized and re-theorized by avid fans. Have a watch and try to figure out for yourself what really has happened to Coraline by the end of the film.
Coraline (2009)
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
The perfect blend of dark comedy and horror, this film is about a group of friends stuck in a mansion during a hurricane. It follows the classic horror formula as minute by minute the traumatic events unfold, but with the added twist of Gen Z humour, fake friends and impeccable line delivery from stars like Rachel Sennott and Pete Davidson.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)