We’ve all seen these lists.
Every Halloween we get some catalog of either family favorites like “Hocus Pocus,” “Nightmare Before Christmas” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” or an article full of horror/slasher movies easily found under the “Horror” link of your streaming service of choice.
This Halloween, while readily admitting Jack and Sally will have plenty of screen time at our house, I thought we’d look at some movies not traditionally classified as Halloween films, or possibly, classics we often overlook.
All of these movies are streaming on either Netflix or Amazon Prime, and in case you’re missing a more traditional list, I’ve even attached a few classics at the end for your convenience.
Troll Hunter (Netflix, Amazon Prime)
Whether this is the first time you’re hearing about the 2011 mockumentary or “Troll Hunter” is one of those movies you’ve passed by a thousand times on Netflix but never stopped to appreciate, Halloween might be the perfect time to give this found-footage Norwegian film a chance.
If you can put your brain on the shelf, “Troll Hunter” might actually scare you. If you can’t, it’s still pretty funny.
“Troll Hunter” might also be the perfect movie to enjoy while passing out candy since its slow pace allows for getting up to answer the door now and again.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Netflix 1978, Prime 1956)
Depending on who you stream with will dictate your “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” experience.
On Amazon Prime, you get the pod people who started it all. Ready to compliment anyone’s classic Halloween event, the original “Body Snatchers” is perfect for those of us who still enjoy listening to Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” and refuse to acknowledge “The Day the Earth Stood Still” was ever given a Keanu Reeves makeover.
On the other hand, Netflix subscribers get the 1978 update — a film often brought up during remakes-done-right conversations.
Either way, an evening with the “Body Snatchers” could be a great way to drift into the late hours of All Hallow’s Eve.
Young Sherlock Holmes (Netflix, Amazon Prime)
I won’t lie to you, this isn’t a film that has aged well. However, there’s still a dark, brooding landscape here that could be a fun family watch as we get closer to Halloween.
The Steven Spielberg, Chris Columbus and Barry Levinson project enjoys a fun script and an under-appreciated score while asking the question: What was Sherlock Holmes like before he was Sherlock Holmes?
Don’t be overcritical and you’ll have a good time with this one. And who knows, maybe the little ones in your life will be able to enjoy it as much as their parents did when they were kids.
The Woman in Black (Amazon Prime)
This is a film that got mixed reviews, and even divided the crew of the Flix Junkies podcast. So while it’s probably safe to say not everyone who takes the time to watch “The Woman in Black” is going to love it, I whole heartedly recommend it for its Tim Burton color palette and rich, Edgar Alan Poe-inspired setting.
There’s a pretty good chance you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy this one as a classic ghost story. But even if you find yourself bored with where the movie’s going, keep it playing in the background while you get ready for trick or treaters because it’s kind of a perfect Halloween screensaver for your TV.
Clue (Netflix, Amazon Prime)
No ghosts or goblins, but definitely … murder.
While “Clue” may not be a traditional Halloween movie, it definitely embraces the killer-on-the-lose-in-a-creepy mansion vibe so appropriate for the holiday.
Still funny, clever and a shining example of how to balance a great ensemble cast — if you can’t love “Clue” for its comedic craft, you may want to give it a watch for its many costume ideas.
Traditional Halloween Picks — Streaming
Addams Family (Netflix)
The Addams Family Values (Amazon Prime)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Netflix)
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest (Netflix)
Nosferatu (Netflix, Amazon Prime)
The Twilight Zone (Netflix, Amazon Prime)
World War Z (Netflix, Amazon Prime)
The Munsters (Netflix)
Dreamworks Spooky Stories (Netflix)
Dreamworks Spooky Stories: Volume 2 (Netflix)
Scared Shrekless (Netflix)
Halloween night is the perfect time to fire up some spooky melodrama as you wait for adorable candy-collectors to knock on your door.
Whether you’re turning down the lights and listening to classic radio shows like “The War of the Worlds” or “I Love a Mystery,” or streaming through a season of “The Twilight Zone,” Halloween is best served with a side of over-the-top acting, shoestring budgets and ham-drenched dialogue.
Film fans have a large library to choose from when considering such criteria, so narrowing down a subject for our Halloween Retro Review wasn’t exactly easy. But after some debate, and a few games of Rock-paper-scissors, we believe we’ve arrived at the perfect recommendation.
This October 31st, rollout your projectors or simply log into Amazon Prime, and celebrate the year’s spookiest night with the original 1956 “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”
The premise
“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” is one of those classics that even though you’ve heard the name a million times, you may have never taken the time to find out what it’s actually about. If you’re that person, it might be best to skip this section. “Body Snatchers” is most fun when you’re discovering the secrets of Santa Mira, California, with the film’s characters.
It’s not that the name doesn’t strongly suggest where the story’s headed, but body snatcher could mean any number of things — like, maybe it’s a story about kidnappers or grave robbers. If you’re still reading, however, that probably means you either know or would actually like to know. So fine: It’s about aliens. But keep in mind, the less you know about this movie the better.
The history
“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” is a film that comes up a lot in film history courses, and for good reason. The film is currently considered the 9th best science fiction movie of all time according to the American Film Institute and Time nagazine has it listed as one of the best 100 films ever made.
As far as pop culture goes, this is the movie that gave meaning to the phrase “pod people.” Forget the critical accolades, you need to see this movie if only to better understand the “pod people” reference.
Melodrama
“Body Snatchers” is so beautifully melodramatic. From its sweeping orchestral opening to the closeups of characters screaming into the camera, you can practically hear director Don Siegel yelling from behind the camera, “Bigger! Act bigger!”
The dialogue is fast and slick, while in no way resembling natural conversation — and yes, this is all absolutely a good thing.
You enjoy “Body Snatchers” in the same way you enjoy going to a nickelcade. Sure you can play flashier video games on your home console, but air hockey and Ms. Pacman are still the games that genuinely make you smile.
The concept
In the spirit of great late-night science fiction television, the concept is everything in “Body Snatchers” — and it’s a concept that will get inside your head.
There isn’t really a “jump moment” in the movie, but you’ll be thinking about plausible alien invasions long after your Halloween viewing. As Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of his home town, you’ll be asking yourself how mankind could ever counter or even detect such a simple invasion strategy. Then you’ll wonder if we haven’t already lost to such an attack. Then, you might even wonder if you’re an alien watching a movie about aliens taking over humans that look just like you.
Conclusion
There are other fun classics out there to consider on Halloween, but “Body Snatchers” is unique because of its ability to still genuinely creep out modern audiences.
If you realize going in that “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” is like a really long and amazing episode of “The Twilight Zone,” you’re going to love it. It’s paced perfectly for small interruptions as you get up to answer the door throughout the evening, and as an added bonus, one of its stars is none other than Carolyn Jones, who also played Morticia Addams.
We’re fairly confident you’ll love “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and believe it will be a perfect addition to your Halloween festivities. However, if we’re wrong and you hate it, there’s still a consolation prize for viewers. Next time you find yourself without a costume on Halloween, you can simply tell people you’re a pod-person version of yourself. You’re welcome.
On this, our first ever episode, of the Halloween.Place podcast, we’re playing a retro episode from the Flix Junkies out of Salt Lake City, UT. The Flix Junkies talk about ghost stories, and the best movies to enjoy while passing out Halloween candy.
