Stream These Family Favorites and Thrillers for Halloween

Image courtesy of Flickr

By Rose Cohen ’22 

Staff Writer

This year, Halloween fanatics will have to switch up their spooky game plan of large parties, festive parades and crowded haunted houses for safer celebrations. But those dressed as Frankenstein’s monster can still carve pumpkins or snack on their beloved apple cider donuts. They also can certainly enjoy these eerie movies and funky jams. 

“The Addams Family” (1991)

Before the science fiction action comedy “Men in Black,” Barry Sonnenfeld directed this Halloween classic, which is now available on Netflix. Distraught Gomez Addams (Raul Julia) is missing his long-lost older brother, Fester, who disappeared 25 years ago. Unbeknownst to him, Abigail Craven, a loan shark, knows about the family’s hidden chamber of jewels and riches. She forces her son, a Fester look-alike, to pretend to be the estranged Addams sibling. The quirkiness of the characters makes this film one to watch with the family while in quarantine. 

“Psycho” (1960)

An Alfred Hitchcock psychological horror film should accompany any Halloween party. “Psycho” follows the fleeing Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), who steals $40,000 to pay off her boyfriend’s debts. On the way to deliver the money to her partner in Fairvale, California, Marion stays the night at the vacant Bates Motel. There, she encounters the seemingly normal proprietor, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), who lives with his reclusive mother. If you are obsessing over Norman after your viewing, binge-watch all five seasons of “Bates Motel,” the disturbing prequel series that premiered on A&E starring Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga. 

“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)

Follow the journey of the determined FBI trainee Clarice M. Starling (Jodie Foster) as she interviews Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a renowned psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer imprisoned in a maximum security facility. In an attempt to draw up a psycho-behavioral profile and catch Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine), Clarice builds a relationship with Hannibal, despite the fact that he hisses at her and torments her about her childhood. The torturous images of Buffalo Bill’s prey might make you turn away from your screen once or twice. This movie is also available on Netflix. 

“Scream” (1996)

Neve Campbell plays the tough Sidney Prescott in the first of the slasher tetralogy brought to you by Wes Craven, the director of the 1984 horror classic “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” In this film, we meet Ghostface, who hides behind a rubber Halloween mask and threatens his victims on the phone. Maybe the numerous jump scares or the iconic blood-soaked dagger will pull you in. Find this movie on Hulu.

“Halloweentown” (1998)

Perhaps Director Duwayne Dunham’s Disney Channel Original Movie will be more your speed this year. It is the tale of an adventurous teen witch, Marnie Piper (Kimberly J. Brown), who journeys to the supernatural Halloweentown with her grandmother (Debbie Reynolds). Once there and surrounded by goblins, vampires and citizens who have pumpkins for heads, Marnie must save the town from an evil being. It’s family-friendly and allows you to admire the magical creatures that we associate with the holiday. We also get a glimpse of the dearly departed Debbie Reynolds. If you have a Disney+ account, this heartfelt film is a great way to celebrate Halloween!