Happy Halloween!

It's Halloween and that officially ends the spookiest of months. This, however, does not have to mean that you have to stop watching your favourite spooky movies or reading spooky books. I am going to share my five favourite Halloween season movies and books so that you can keep the chills going well into November.

MOVIES

My movie list is in no particular order and are filled with all of the movies I love to watch in the month of October. These are ones I return to again and again.

1. Scream                

Scream is one of my all time favourite scary movies. The infamous opening scene on its own makes this movie worth the watch, but the great cast, and smart script are also big reasons to check this one out. It also has Skeet Ulrich looking very hot. Just saying.

2. The Crow

This may not be specifically a Halloween movie, but I watch it every October. I feel the atmosphere and tone is sufficiently worthy of watching during the Halloween season. I, maybe surprisingly, find this to be an incredibly romantic movie. Eric and Shelly's romance is tragic but beautiful. Brandon Lee is freaking incredible in this. His performance gives me chills each time I watch it.

3. The Craft                    

This is another movie that perhaps doesn't scream Halloween, but is one I watch every October all the same. It's witchy and atmospheric in a way that entirely fits the season. 

4. Practical Magic

Another movie on this list due to it involving witches. It also has the best use of the song "This Kiss" in ANY movie. It's a story of sisterhood, magic, and love. It's perfect for those who don't want their Halloween movies to have too much of a scare.

5. Nightmare Before Christmas 

This movie gets to be both appropriate for the Halloween season and a perfect way to transition from Halloween to the holiday season. It's one I tend to watch towards the end when I am reading to say goodbye to the season of chills. It's charming and also a great way to introduce children to more scary fare.

BOOKS

My books list is a little different. These are ones I would recommend as perfect reads during the month of October. It'll be a mix of recent and older titles and they are, again, in no particular order.

1. Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin

 

This is a book filled with witches, forbidden romance, and plenty of atmosphere. It's also got a fantastic cast of characters.

2. Lizzie by Dawn Ius

Based on the true story of Lizzie Borden, this book has plenty of spooky atmosphere. It's about a woman's descent into madness and is definitely creepy at times.

3. I'll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara

Nothing scares me more than true crime stories. They're all the more terrifying because they are true stories. Michelle McNamara has written one of the best, and one of the most unsettling that I have read.

4. There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins 

This book is a love letter to slasher movies, and is especially influenced by Scream. It's perfect for anyone who wants Scream in book format. It's basically made to be read in October.

5. Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas 

This title may not seem like a Halloween season read, but I think it totally fits. Sometimes you just want a good mystery that has some great twists and turns. Dangerous Girls is a book I STILL think about even thought I read it back in 2013. It's stayed with me, and that speaks to its power to unsettle.

There are some recommendations in case you, like me, aren't quite ready to say goodbye to the spooky reads and movies of October. What are some books and movies you like to watch in the Halloween season? Let me know in the comments.

Halloween Recommendations

Happy Halloween! If you're anything like me you might be debating what to do tonight. Halloween is on a weekday this year so most parties or events happened on the weekend. You might be looking forward to a nice evening in watching a scary movie, or reading a scary book between passing out candy to the trick-or-treaters that come to your door.

I am offering up a few of my personal recommendations for last minute Halloween entertainment.

If You're In The Mood For Something Not At All Scary I Recommend .... 

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

It's a classic and perfect family viewing fun! It captures the spirit of Halloween without being scary.

Casper

I am specifically talking about the 1995 version that stars Christina Ricci. It's sweet, surprisingly romantic, and has plenty of humour.

If You're Looking For Something More Scary I Recommend .... 

Practical Magic

A story of magic, sisterly bonds, and offers up the best use of the song 'This Kiss' in a movie ever. It's perfect for those wanting something a little bit darker but not really scary.

Scream

My favourite scary movie. It's fun, scary, and is basically a love letter to the genre. It is one I make sure to watch every October because I love it that much.

The Craft

While may not scary in the traditional sense, this is a darker option for those wanting something with witches this Halloween. It's delightfully campy and is one of my favourite witch movies.

Stranger Things

This Netflix series is family friend, but with a darker vibe (maybe older children). It's filled with characters you'll fall in love with, 80s nostalgia, and is entirely charming. If you haven't watched this I highly recommend it.

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins (goodreads)

Scream in book format is how I pretty much describe this one. It's both fun and unsettling. It's a great one to pick up if you're looking for something with the same vibe as Scream but with Stephanie's addictive writing.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga (goodreads)

A boy worries that he'll end up being exactly like his serial killer father in this creepy, and entirely addictive read. It's a three book series which means you'll have something to look forward to during the dreary month of November if you start this series on Halloween.

If You (like me) Are More Scared By Real Events Than Anything Hollywood Could Come Up With I I Recommend .....

Mindhunter

This Netflix show focuses on the start of what we now call criminal profiling. Two detectives begin to interview jailed serial killers when they realized the information from these interviews could provide scientific merit. It's a great character study of both the detectives and the serial killers. It's also a book (for those who would rather read)

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf (goodreads)

This is a fast read that focuses on Jeffrey Dahmer as a middle school/ high school student told through the perspective of someone who was friendly with Jeffrey during this time. It's graphic novel format would also be perfect for constant interruptions (to answer the door).

Those are my picks for your Halloween entertainment this evening. What are some of yours? Let me know in the comments as I am always excited to find more spooky books, movies, and television shows to add to my list.