5 movies to watch if you love Halloween but hate horror movies

If you love Halloween but hate horror movies, these movies are for you

It’s the most wonderful time of the year once again—and I don’t mean Christmas. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. We get to dress up, drink, and live in someone else’s shoes for one night. 

Although I’m a huge fan of the holiday, I’m an absolute coward when it comes to horror movies (or scary things in general). I once read the Wikipedia synopsis of “The Haunting of Hill House” and scared myself so badly that I asked my roommate to bunk with me for the night. 

If you like Halloween but not the terror that comes with it, here are a few spooky (but not scary!) movies you can enjoy without the nightmares: 

“Death Becomes Her”

“Death Becomes Her” is a 1992 black comedy that tells the story of a pair of aging rivals—played by Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn—who take a potion that restores their youth and gives them immortality. They soon discover that “every woman’s fantasy” is not all it’s cracked up to be. I’ll spare you the details, but it’s glamorous, campy and an absolute cult-classic. 

“Clue”

If you love Tim Curry movies, this one cannot be missed. “Clue” is a 1985 whodunit (and another cult classic) with an all-star cast based on the board game of the same name. It has murder, mystery, suspense, and a whole lot of laughs. The movie also has three alternate endings, so you can play along while you watch.

“Knives Out”

Odds are, you’ve probably already seen “Knives Out” but I’m going to put it on the list anyway. This 2019 movie is a whodunnit for the modern era featuring a contested will, awful, rich white people, even more murder, and Chris Evans in a sweater. That’s all that needs to be said. 

“Practical Magic”

This 1998 fantasy rom-com featuring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock was one of my favorite movies growing up. It has curses, romance, witches, and family. I’ll never forget wearing the VHS tape out (and my mom’s subsequent lecture). 

“Dracula: Dead and Loving It”

Fair warning, this movie is definitely not for children (even though I watched it as a kid). “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” is a 1995 Mel Brooks parody of the classic vampire tale. Instead of being frightening and grotesque like more recent adaptations, it’s hilarious, raunchy, and a lot of fun.