Frightless films

Classic cinema for the creepiest time of the year

Halloween+often+brings+frightening+features+and+scary+cinema.+For+the+more+lighthearted%2C+there+are+some+halloween+classics%2C+like+Hocus+Pocus%2C+which+will+get+you+in+the+spooky+spirit+without+scaring+you+witless.+

Bri Branscomb

Halloween often brings frightening features and scary cinema. For the more lighthearted, there are some halloween classics, like Hocus Pocus, which will get you in the spooky spirit without scaring you witless.

by Bri Branscomb and Amanda Nguyen

Halloween conjures images of witches and ghosts; demons and devils, and everything scary in between. Adrenaline junkies can get their fix by attending haunted houses, or seeing one of the plethora of scary movies that will come out during this haunted holiday. However, not everyone likes being scared. Here’s a list of movies that will get you in the Halloween spirit, but won’t keep you up at night.

1. Hocus Pocus

Gather your best witches and settle down to what very well may be the best Halloween movie to exist. This creeptastic comedic film follows a villainous trio of sisters, as they are accidentally resurrected by a teenaged boy in Salem Massachusetts. With the help of his little sister, a cat, and his love interest, the teenaged boy tries to stop the witches from taking the souls of children. 

2. Halloweentown

This classic Disney Channel original will have you laughing to the grave. After learning she is a witch, Marnie Piper helps save her grandma’s home, Halloweentown, from the evil Kalabar. This is a great movie for the whole family to enjoy that brings out your inner Halloween spirit.

3. The Nightmare before Christmas

No halloween list would be complete without a mention of Tim Burton. Whether you watch this biseasonal movie in December, October, or both, you can’t go wrong. The films soundtrack gives us the iconic ‘This is Halloween,’ and plenty of eccentric characters to follow as we watch the story of Jack Skellington, and his holiday existential crisis. The best of both worlds is brought together in this movie, and are combined to create a masterpiece.

4. Beetle juice

The loud, abrasive, and outright offensive titular character had me belly-laughing as a child, and for good reason. This movie follows the story of the recently deceased Maitland couple, as they attempt to scare a new family out of their former home. When this fails, the hire the free-lance bio-exorcist Beetlejuice to help them out. This proves to be a mistake, as Beetlejuice reigns chaos down upon the mortal world. This movie is great if you’re looking for a halloween movie without getting scared, and for a good laugh.

5. The Addams family
This movie about the macabre family is a Halloween classic. From the ever relatable wednesday to the fabulous Morticia to the funny Fester, this film is a feel good story that will get you in the Halloween spirit, and teach you to appreciate the creepier side of life.