Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The Five Best Halloween Movies

I actually meant to write this post earlier in the month, but as usual, time got away from me. Nick and I like to start breaking out the Halloween movies (and candy) in the weeks leading up to Halloween, it’s sort of our fall tradition to have a Halloween movie marathon weekend with chili and candy. 
I’ll go ahead and admit that I’m a total chicken when it comes to scary movies (or scary anything for that matter), so most of my picks are on the lighter, funnier, quirkier side.  If you’re looking for hardcore, scary, gory Halloween movies, I am not the person to ask.  So here are my five favorite Halloween movies:
Arsenic & Old Lace - This one is one of my all-time favorite movies!  It features Cary Grant, crazy family members, and Halloween.  It just doesn’t get much better than that.  It also has one of my all-time favorite movie lines, “Insanity runs in my family.  It practically gallops.”  If you only watch one Halloween movie this year, I highly recommend making it this one.
Hocus Pocus – This one is just funny and cute.  It’s usually what we watch on Halloween night. It’s kid friendly, so fine to have on when trick-or-treaters come to the door.  We both grew up watching this one.  I suspect it is most loved by people who were kids in the 90s.
House of Wax - I hadn’t heard of this one until a few years ago when my husband convinced me to watch it.  It has Vincent Price and is creepy without being too scary.  It’s a great one for a late night Halloween movie marathon.
Edward Scissorhands – This one actually really scared me the first time I saw it as a kid, (I told you I was a chicken!), and I refused to watch it again for several years.  But it has Johnny Depp, and you can only resist Johnny Depp for so long, so I gave it another try a few years ago.  I love it.  It also has Winona Ryder, who I think is an incredible actress.
It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown – Can you really have a list of Halloween movies without this one on it?  It’s timeless, and one you’re never too old for.  It just seems to have come to mean the beginning of the fall season, and that Halloween is coming soon. 
So what about you?  What are your favorite Halloween movies?  Do you prefer scary or cute and light?

14 comments:

  1. I like your tradition of movie night with candy and chili :) I'll have to check out Arsenic and Lace, I have seen it done as a play, but not the movie. Sounds interesting. And you are right, who can resist anything Charlie Brown?

    Honestly, I'm sitting here thinking Halloween/scary movies and nothing comes to mind because I usually don't watch the scary ones, I let my imagination get in the way if I do :)

    If it is a scary movie, I did like Sixth Sense.

    Happy Halloween!

    betty

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    1. I've never seen the play, but I'd like to. I love the movie!

      I'm the same way with the really scary ones; my imagination takes over, and then I can't sleep.

      I hope you had a very happy Halloween.

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  2. Your tradition sounds like so much fun! I'd love to do something like that around here someday. Charlie Brown is great! I'm glad it made your list. It makes mine too. :)

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    1. We enjoy it, so it just kind of turned into something that we do every year. I don't think anyone could leave Charlie Brown off of their list. :-)

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  3. Oh I'm a total wuss too! lol I can't do scary or I'm freaked out for days over any little noise and with the herd and all the trouble they can get into it's just not happening. I'll have to check some of these out. I loved Hocus Pocus but it's been years!

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    1. I know what you mean about noise. It seems like at least one of the fur kids is always getting into something, and I'd rather not imagine that it's some kind of serial killer coming to get me! :-)

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  4. Greetings Danielle,

    I showed your posting to my human, Gary. He has told me he really likes your choices. And "House of Wax" is a Hammer Horror production. A production company that is starting up again.

    Pawsitive Halloween wishes,

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)

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    1. Penny, that's great to hear that Hammer Horror is starting up again. I hope you had a very happy Halloween.

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  5. That sounds like a wonderful tradition, Danielle! I'm not a big fan of scary, either. I LOVE "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."

    I also like "Shawn of the Dead," a silly comedic spoof on "Dawn of the Dead."

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    1. I've never seen "Shawn of the Dead". We may have to add that one to our list for next year.

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  6. I am SO glad that you didn't pick Halloween or any Freddy movies. I LOVE Arsenic and Old Lace! What a great idea. I will have my partner pick it up and we'll have movie night.

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    1. I've never seen any of the Freddy or Halloween movies, and honestly haven't had any desire to. You just can't compete with Cary Grant!

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  7. I love Hocus Pocus! teehee. I always watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Halloween Night. :)

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    1. Isn't Hocus Pocus great?! I usually end up watching it and It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown a few times around Halloween.

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