Not A Horror Fan? Here Are 6 Not-So-Scary Halloween Movies
Autumn is the time of the year when temperatures fall and leaves start to change colour. It’s also the time when our viewing habits tend to change. With Halloween on the horizon, many people like to watch horror movies to fit in with the dark nights and spooky atmosphere.
But not all of us are fans of nasty surprises and buckets of gore. Many modern horror movies seem to want to shock the viewer above anything else, and the result can be a stressful two hours for some viewers.
For those who prefer a more peaceful time, but still want to keep in with the spirit of the season, here are some not-so-scary titles to watch as Halloween approaches.
Corpse Bride (2005)
Tim Burton may have produced Corpse Bride twelve years after The Nightmare Before Christmas, but the two movies have a lot in common. Both offer a look into spooky underworlds full of strange ghouls and gothic scenery.
Although some of the characters in Corpse Bride are gruesome, including the dead maiden riddled with maggots, the movie strikes a perfect balance between comedy and creepiness. Burton’s twisted take on a romantic tale is a great one to watch with the family, without the feeling that something unpleasant is about to pounce from behind the scenes.
The 2005 flick features a galaxy of stars providing the voiceovers, including Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter, as well as a fantastic soundtrack which sets the mood perfectly.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
https://youtu.be/Pgx1QZFNMz8
When a young couple break down in the middle of nowhere and find their only hope of rescue lies in a spooky castle, then you get an idea of what might be about to happen.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show doesn’t quite follow the script, though. Instead of the inevitable murder of the couple in question, they stumble upon an insane Halloween convention of weird and wonderful spooky characters. Head of the gathering is Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played by the brilliant Tim Curry, who entertains with his crazy antics and guides the couple through the madness.
The movie has become a cult classic since its release, with many fans treating it as a Halloween tradition to watch it with friends. There are even Rocky Horror dinner parties where people really get into the mood by dressing up as characters from the flick.
Death Becomes Her (1992)
The secret of eternal youth is something that still eludes us. Hollywood celebrities spend the equivalent to a lottery jackpot on plastic surgery every year, while less wealthy members of the public try out anti-ageing creams and oils.
In this movie, ageing pair Madeline and Helene, expertly played by Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep, think they’ve found the secret when a mysterious socialite called Lisle Von Ruhman (Isabella Rossellini) offers them a magic potion that she claims will make them look decades younger, just like her.
So begins a tale of magic and murder, as the two rivals battle it out for the love of Dr. Ernest Menvill (Bruce Willis). Using a special mix of gore and comedy, the movie has a cult following today, and scooped a string of special effects awards following its release.
Halloweentown (1998)
This kid’s classic was released via the Disney Channel, but its success lead to Hollywood creating three sequels in later years.
The format is simple: a friendly old witch takes her grandkids to the magical Halloweentown, where they get superpowers which they then use to battle forces of evil. Debbie Reynolds stars as the old lady and puts in a wonderful performance that helped the movie make Disney Channel’s list of its 50 best original movies.
While the movie is intended for children it doesn’t mean adults can’t have a good time, too. Recalling old fairy tales of the past, it might take some people back to when their imaginations conjured up images of fantasy creatures and magic spells.
Practical Magic (1998)
What happens when magic goes wrong? In Practical Magic, two sister witches (Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) try to resurrect a friend after they accidentally kill him. Problem is, he comes back with an evil spirit, which causes them all kinds of problems.
Based on the novel of the same name by Alice Hoffman, the film is 100 minutes of comedy and mayhem as the sisters deal with the consequences. Dianne West and Aidan Quinn also star and helped the film gain several award nominations.
Fans of Gilmore Girls will love it but, unfortunately, a TV version of the film didn’t quite make it. The show was cancelled before it appeared on the small screen.
Young Frankenstein (1974)
It must be hard having a super-famous relative. It certainly was for Dr. Frankenstein’s grandson in this black comedy, expertly played by Gene Wilder. He tries his best to stay away from his grandfather’s reputation but instead finds himself on the way to Transylvania to check out the old castle his relative left him.
Naturally, the castle has some ghoulish characters inside, including spooky servants and an unruly monster. Wilder’s character spends the rest of the time trying to get out of there as the trip turns into a hilarious disaster.
Mel Brooks is the writer behind this, so the dialogue is very funny. It led to the several Oscar nominations for the film, as well as multiple other awards. The movie looks a little dated these days, but it’s clever format as a comedy horror spectacle lives on.
If you’re looking to avoid a fright on Halloween, then this list of not-so-scary flicks will suit your needs. Gather the popcorn, pour the drinks and even dress up if you want to: they’ll make October 31st a filmfest to remember.
