Besides the usual classics, check out these other movies set during Halloween
Everyone has their own Halloween traditions, and many will turn to their favorite horror movies this weekend, perhaps after a night of taking their kids trick or treating or attending a great costume party. Of course, there are the classics, like Trick 'r Treat, John Carpenter's Halloween, or more family-friendly movies like Hocus Pocus or The Nightmare Before Christmas. All of those are great films.
For those who want to add to their must-watch list this weekend or maybe want to watch something besides the old reliables, we have some recommendations, including where to stream them.
Pumpkinhead
Pumpkinhead, directed by special effects legend Stan Winston, is the perfect Halloween creature feature. It stars Lance Henriksen as country storekeeper Ed Harley. He lives a calm and peaceful life with his son Billy (Matthew Hurley), but that's suddenly disrupted by teens on dirt bikes. When Billy panics and fleas the scene, he's accidently killed and run over.
This tragic and heart wrenching death causes Ed to seek revenge, so he locates a witch named Haggis deep in the woods, and together, they conjure a gigantic, clawed demon known as Pumpkinhead. The creature looks absolutely fantastic, which is no surprise, considering Winston's impressive effects track record. Additionally, Ed has a gnarly psychic connection with the demon, and the movie explores the price of the revenge, while featuring some bloody kills.
Pumpkinhead is available to stream for free on Tubi.
V/H/S Halloween
There are a lot of V/H/S movies. In fact, there's basically a new one released each year at this point, and like any franchise, some of the found footage anthologies are better than others. V/H/S Halloween is one of the stronger entries. For one, it's the only entry set during Halloween, but it also contains some really memorable segments.
Some standouts are "Ut Supra Sic Infra," from Rec director Paco Plaza. The movie involves a gruesome church massacre and a survivor questioned by police. It soon spirals into a supernatural investigation. Another standout is Casper Kelly's "Fun Size," one of the most notable V/H/S entries in quite a while. The segment follows a group of friends trapped in a deadly candy factory. After watching "Fun Size," it makes perfect sense that Kelly would go on to direct Buddy. The film concludes with the super fun "Home Haunt." The segment focuses on a haunted LP that brings the monsters from a haunted house to life. It's the perfect ending to the movie.
V/H/S Halloween is streaming on Shudder.
Night of the Demons
Night of the Demons is a great 80s movie set on Halloween night. It follows a group of teens who party at Hull House, an abandoned and cursed funeral parlor. They decide to have a seance, because, well, why not? It's Halloween! They do this in front of a large, creepy mirror, and of course, it goes wrong, conjuring a demon.
The demon possesses the partygoers one by one, and the makeup and practical effects look awesome. The movie also has the star power of 80s horror icon Linnea Quigley, who plays Suzanne. Another positive is the film's punk rock attitude and aesthetic. It makes for a great double feature with Returning of the Living Dead, which also features Quigley as punk rocker and graveyard dancer Trash.
Night of the Demons is streaming for free on Tubi.
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is one of those films that hipsters will always love. It has one hell of a great soundtrack, featuring indie bands like Echo and the Bunnymen. It's also a movie about the end of the world, or well, a countdown to the end of the world after Jake Gyllenhaal's character Donnie encounters an unsettling rabbit named Frank who tells him that the world will indeed end on Halloween.
The movie follows a semi non-linear narrative, and it contains great performances by Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Additionally, this movie will always resonate and have a fanbase because it's also a film about outcasts, especially Donnie and his eventual love interest, Gretchen (Jena Malone). Their first conversation is painfully awkward and funny. If you've never seen Donnie Darko, this weekend is the perfect time to give it a chance.
Donnie Darko is streaming for free on Tubi.
Late Night with the Devil
Late Night with the Devil is an unconventional Halloween and possession/demon movie. Set in 1977, the movie stars David Dastmalchian as Jack Delroy, desperate host of the late night TV show Night Owls, which is struggling in ratings. Additionally, Jack's wife just died of cancer. To boast ratings and salvage his career, he invites teen Lily (Ingrid Torelli) on his program. She's allegedly possessed by a demon, and the movie does indeed have a few creepy scenes regarding that narrative thread.
This movie is another great watch because of its look and aesthetic. The vintage 70s decorations look fantastic, as do some of the costumes by folks in the audience. Additionally, it has some strong performances, especially by Dastmalchian, Torelli, and Ian Bliss, who plays the magician and skeptic of the paranormal, Carmichael Haig.
Late Night with the Devil is available on Tubi and Shudder.
Hopefully, this list gives readers some additional movie options for this weekend. What are some of your favorite Halloween movies? Let us know in the comments!
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