Welcome to Spooky season.
We are well into October, but it’s not too late to break out the black and orange decorations, checkout state fairs or harvest festivals. It is a cozy season which means curling up with a blanket, fuzzy socks, and an excellent scary-ish movie. Here are a few to check out.
For the kids and kids at heart.
A realtor and his family are supposed to go on vacation to bond and build a better connection with one another, but Jimmi (Eddie Murphy), has to pause their vacation to sell a home—grind culture will have you missing out on life. Unfortunately, the house is unsellable because it’s haunted. The family is trapped in the home until the curse is broken.
I still remember watching this film as a child. Murphy was hilarious and the lead characters are Black, which is a nice change since Black families aren’t usually the focus of these kinds of movies. It’s cute and cheesy with a spooky and comedic feel to it, making it enjoyable for the whole crew.
You can watch it on Disney+.
Still under the category of cute and spooky, this movie was an excellent Disney original film. “Don't Look Under the Bed” follows a 13-year-old girl named Frances whose town recently experienced some mischievous pranks, and she is the main suspect. She partners with her brother's imaginary friend Larry (Ty Hodges) to figure it out. As a kid this was one of the spookiest Disney movies I watched; it was a perfect Halloween scare.
Unfortunately, this was the last “horror” movie the Disney Channel made because the network received so much backlash from parents saying that it was too scary and led their children to have nightmares.
But don’t let that stop you!
Now streaming on Disney+.
For the adults and teens
This thriller is about Joe (Lil Rel Howery), a middle manager at a large corporation called Mallard, a company on the scale of Amazon but larger. After starting his new position it’s not long before he realizes something is amiss and soon has to fight for his life to escape.
This sci-fi comedic thriller highlights the terrors of capitalism, Artificial Intelligence, and harsh labor conditions.
You can watch “The Mill” on Hulu.
Jimmy Bones (Snoop Dogg) was a man who loved his neighborhood and community, but he was betrayed by the people closest to him, which led to his death. But death doesn’t stop him from seeking revenge 20 years later.
“Bones” was a horror film I watched as a kid with my cousins. It still gives me chills to this day. The ending is the most gruesome scene for me, if you know, you know. Released in 2001, with a predominantly Black cast, it's an underrated gem of a horror movie.
You can watch the entire film on YouTube for free.
You may wonder why “Beloved” is on this horror film list. I saw this movie as a kid, and even the word Beloved haunted me for years afterward. Based on the novel “Beloved,” written by Toni Morrison, the film, like the novel, is suggested for mature audiences. “Beloved” is about the ghost of a daughter, aptly named Beloved, who was killed by her mother, Sethe, in Sethe’s attempt to save Beloved from the institution of slavery. As a response to her own murder, Beloved comes back to question her mother, therein haunting the family. It is difficult for the family to move forward because their past literally haunts them.
You can rent this movie on Amazon Prime.
Have you ever heard the saying that everyone has a twin/counterpart in the world? “US” follows Adelaide (Lupita Nyong'o) and her family as they return to her childhood hometown to become new residents. A family of sinister doppelgangers attacks them.
This movie is very violent with a psychological horror theme that runs throughout. Expect a lot of jarring scenes and gore. Watch this with a friend in the middle of the day!
Now streaming on Netflix.
Happy watching!