Out of all the holidays throughout the year, I can say that Halloween is by far my favourite. Well, if you’re counting the day after Halloween when all the chocolate is on sale, THEN, that’s my favourite day. Chocolate lovers will know exactly what I’m talking about. There’s just something about Halloween that instantly lifts all the spirit in town. Out of all the holidays, I think Halloween is one that you can have the most fun with. Aside from dressing up as your favourite characters, matching outfits with your friends, or attending costume parties. Even prior to the pandemic, most of my October nights are spend indoor, with a bowl of popcorn, a cocktail, and lots of blankets with the company of my little chihuahua. My favourite thing to do during the Halloween season is to watch some spooky movies, with friends of course.

As soon as it hits October, the first movie that goes on my screen is Corpse Bride by the one and only Tim Burton. Honestly, even if it’s not the spooky season, I will still watch Corpse Bride. I don’t think I’ve ever met a single person that dislikes this film. Everything about this is just the chef’s kiss. The stop motion movement, the character design and development are just immaculate. Although this film doesn’t exactly fit into the category of “horror” or “thriller”, the film itself is set in this world where the afterlife exists and all its possibilities. Corpse Bride is one of those films that takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and laughter. Definitely, one of my all-time favourite movies to watch, even if it has such a bittersweet ending. I will admit, the ending of the movie always makes me shed a couple of tears. The underlying storyline of Corpse Bride is that love can be found in the most amazing but strange ways. By going through the obstacles, you not only become stronger, but you gain new insights into the world around you. Which, in my personal opinion is one of the most important you can learn in your lifetime.

Halloweentown is the first Halloween movie I saw when I first moved to Canada in 2005. The first Halloweentown movie in the franchise came out in 1998, which is absolutely crazy to even think about since the franchise is still so loved in 2022. This movie was one of the reasons why I fell in love with Halloween. Growing up in Thailand, holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas were never celebrated. So, when I moved here, seeing the concept of Halloween and all these mythical characters like vampires, witches, genies, and monsters, was fascinating to me. I felt that I had entered a whole new world, especially when I discovered what Trick-or-Treating was. Halloweentown introduces us to a wide variety of characters, it’s not exactly a scary type of spooky movie, but its take on spooky has a heartwarming and comedic twist to it. Early Gen Z will know that this movie is the definition of the word nostalgia. The film follows Marnie, who comes from a family of witches but isn’t aware that she herself has power. Throughout the film, Marnie discovered that her family is involved in the fight against evil in Halloweentown. With the help of her two younger siblings, they were able to save the town and earn respect from their families.

Before you say anything, I know Jennifer’s Body isn’t exactly listed under the Halloween theme movies, but Jennifer does into a demon, and she does eat people. Therefore, I’m going to be putting this under the horror section. Once again, Jennifer’s Body is more of a comedy teen horror-type film compared to the ones I’ve listed above. When the movie was first released, it didn’t get as much recognition as it should have in my opinion, which makes me extremely happy to know that this movie is getting so much love in 2022. Jennifer’s Body follows two best friends Jennifer and Needy. We have the usual best friend duo of the “popular girl” and the “nerdy girl”. One night they both decided to sneak out of town to attend a local band’s performance. Long story short, the band believed in a higher being and in order to please the being, they would need to sacrifice a virgin and Jennifer ended up being sacrificed. However, since Jennifer didn’t exactly fit the criteria, she then becomes a demon who only eats men. The story seems very out there but I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed. Jennifer’s Body is extremely witty in terms of dialogue, and interesting character development, and definitely has certain aspects that most teenagers can relate to. Another thing I love about this film is that it explores the deeper meaner of relationships between best friends, sexuality, and female empowerment.

Scary and spooky is the vibe for fall after all. These are just some of my personal favourite films to watch during the month when I’m not getting my usual pumpkin spice latte or complying with a list of Halloween costume ideas. Hopefully, with the pandemic finally dying down, there will be more fun activities to do in the city. Possibly, maybe, even a scary movie drive-in, some nice and tasty Halloween theme cocktails, or a big Halloween costume party hosted at Vancouver Art Gallery. I mean, a girl can dream, right? Cheers to the fall season, the pumpkin flavour drinks, and the carefree feeling of dressing up.