With Halloween right around the corner, the time has arrived to celebrate the season with the best spooky movies. The Kernel Opinions Desk has compiled a list below of their favorite Halloween films for any audience to enjoy:
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” written by Melanie Schouppe.
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” hit the theaters in 1966, and includes all the iconic characters of Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts comics.
It’s Halloween for the Peanuts gang. While Charlie Brown and his friends spend the night trick-or-treating and going to a Halloween party, Linus spends the night in a pumpkin patch with Sally trying to see the Great Pumpkin.
This wholesome Halloween classic is something the whole family can enjoy without any scares. The humor in the movie is top-notch, and is such a nostalgic movie for many people. The movie’s shorter run time helps keep it very digestible and easy to follow, and it’s simple plot also plays a role. “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” is a Halloween movie that shouldn’t be skipped this season.
“Saw,” written by Hannah Piedad.
“Saw” opens with Dr. Lawrence Gordon and Adam waking up in an unknown room, their feet chained to pipes, and a dead man in the middle of the floor. After getting ahold of the cassette tape in the dead man’s hands, they receive game instructions from their kidnapper, famed serial killer, Jigsaw. Throughout the movie, we see Dr. Gordon and Adam fight for their lives, trying to find a way out before it’s too late.
Jigsaw puts his victims in tests, where they are put into life or death situations, and forced to do whatever it takes to survive. If they fail to complete the task Jigsaw assigns to them, they die. Jigsaw’s motive is to help his victims by making them more appreciative of their life, making them realize how precious it is by putting it in jeopardy.
My favorite thing about this movie, and the franchise in general, are the plot twists. I never knew what was going to happen, and the movie had me on the edge of my seat. The movie, for the most part, takes place in one room, which really draws the focus onto the plotline and characters. The psychological aspect of the movie also sets it apart from your typical slasher film. If you are a horror fan that can handle gore, then “Saw” would be a good watch for the Halloween season.
“Terrifier 3,” written by Sammy Wynn.
“Terrifier 3” is the third movie in the hit franchise Terrifier. It was just released on Oct. 11, 2024. The film follows villain Art the Clown, as he terrorizes the protagonist, Sienna. It directly follows “Terrifier 2,” in which Art the Clown massacred the small town of Miles County, leaving only Sienna and her brother, Jonathan, alive. After five years, Sienna and her brother have finally moved on from the terror they witnessed.
However, Art triumphantly returns, leaving the two fighting for their lives again. Sienna has gone in and out of mental institutions to deal with her trauma, while her brother has moved on and is peacefully continuing his life at college. Art returns and locates the siblings to enact his revenge with the aid of the demon, Victoria.
This film has dominated the big screen by making 43 million gross income, over 60 times the film’s original budget of $250,000. While this may be a horror movie, many consider it a Christmas film as well due to the film taking place over the holiday.
The comedic aspects of the film captivates any horror fan. The film had me constantly laughing at Art’s mannerisms. This film takes gore to the next level while walking the fine line between horror and comedy. This film, however, is not for the weak of heart; the extreme gore in the movie is enough to turn anyone with a weak stomach away.
“Hocus Pocus,” written by Courtney Mysliwiec.
“Hocus Pocus,” a classic Halloween movie, hit theaters in 1993 and remains a favorite in the homes of families during the fall season. This movie follows siblings, Max and Dani, on their first Halloween night after moving to Salem, Massachusetts.
The night turns from innocent trick-or-treating to trying to stop three witches from sucking the souls out of children. With the help of a boy cursed into the body of a cat, they must kill the witches before sunrise to save their town and themselves.
This film is great for roommates to watch while painting pumpkins or families to watch together curled up on the couch. With no jumpscares, gore or creepy characters, “Hocus Pocus” has a great plot and shows the power of teamwork, sibling love and loyalty.
