Settle into spooky season with these 5 films

The leaves shift into an orange glow, the weather cools, and the nights grow darker. The coming of Oct. is laden with both great beauty and eeriness.

This odd mix of emotions from the warm hues of autumn and the long, colder nights creates the perfect atmosphere to bundle up and watch movies, mostly horror, of course.

Below is a compiled list of films that perfectly encapsulate this festive month.

I Saw The TV Glow (2024)

While much more of a psychological thriller than a horror movie, “I Saw the TV Glow ” is an identity crisis drenched in saturated colors. The film revolves around Owen, his friend Maddy and their relationship with the mysterious television show, the Pink Opaque.

Directed and written by Jane Schoenbrun, the film echoes the odd feeling that often coincides with the change of season. “I Saw the TV Glow” scares the audience in a much more emotional way.

The performances, cinematography and color-grading all ooze with style and beautiful eeriness. Justice Smith gives off a haunting performance and the movie has one of the most emotionally devastating endings ever put on screen.

Hell House LLC. (2015)

Easily, the most intense movie on the list, “Hell House LLC.” is a breath of fresh air compared to other found footage films.

Director Steven Cognetti expertly utilizes found footage’s advantages, such as establishing an eerie realism, while breaking away from frustrating tropes such as not showing the audience anything.

There is no point in the movie where the audience questions the irrational decisions of the characters because the film takes actual time to establish motivations and flaws.

“Hell House LLC.” also has some of the most effective scares in any horror movie within the past decade and has a genuinely well-done twist.

Cabin Fever (2002)

“Cabin Fever” is a great example of an autumn horror movie that is not a Halloween horror movie. Eli Roth’s 2002 film drives to establish an unshakable dread in viewers against the backdrop of a warm autumn cabin.

The film follows a group of college students taking a fall trip to a remote cabin, where a mysterious infection begins to wreak havoc among the group.

The film has a delightful, sort of camp to it but has genuinely harrowing and brutal scenes. While the characterization is not the greatest, the actors do a great job of delivering in these scenes.

A great entry film into the splatter house subgenre of horror, “Cabin Fever” is an excellent movie for an October night.

Trick ‘r’ Treat (2007)

The 2007 comedy-horror anthology, “Trick ‘r’ Treat,” is an underrated gem from the era. Directed and written by Michael Doughty, the film follows three intertwined stories all set within the fictional town of Warren Valley, Ohio.

From werewolves to zombies to the mysterious being known as Sam, “Trick ‘r’ Treat” delivers crude yet quality jokes, a few effective scares and an oddly satisfying story structure. The anthology is a great addition to any autumn watch list.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is widely considered one of the greatest cultural works. This classic about an androgynous, foul-mouthed mad scientist released in the seventies, trying to create his perfect man, became the longest-running theatrical film release.

All the songs will burrow into your brain, and you’ll be humming the melodies from tracks like “Science Fiction Double Feature” and “I’m Going Home” for weeks on end.

Every single performance goes beyond iconic, from the late Tim Curry’s legendary Doctor Frank-n-Futur to Susan Surandon’s and Barry Bostwick’s as the ditzy, innocent couple Brad and Janet, to Meat Loaf’s legendary song break.

With its ‘earworm’ musical numbers and iconic performances, even first-time audiences will recognize its influenced countless works.

Carter Cousino, reporter

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