Redbrick’s Film & TV Writers come together to discuss their favourite Halloween films
The Thing (1982) – Connor Wilson
Carpenter expertly crafted a sense of paranoia and isolation
When it comes to Halloween films, John Carpenter’s name is going to feature a lot in relation to his aptly-named slasher Halloween, but I think his real peak in the horror genre came a few years later in The Thing. With this atmospheric and gory entry in the sci-fi horror canon, Carpenter expertly crafted a sense of paranoia and isolation, much scarier than any man-in-a-mask could ever be. Watching trust and sanity slip away from this group of men, as the creature-based violence ramps up in intensity, makes for an immensely entertaining but chilling experience – with not a single second of screen time wasted. The practical effects on display were groundbreaking at the time, and have since aged incredibly well too, bringing a level of authenticity to the bloody terror on-screen.
Truly a timeless film for how it looks, and how suspenseful it is, with Carpenter defining a moment in the genre and influencing hundreds of works to come afterwards. The Thing will always be worth a rewatch at Halloween.
Halloweentown (1998) – Jasmine Davies
It’s the perfect embodiment of Halloween nostalgia
Growing up, this film was my entire Halloween. Nothing will ever live up to those childhood days of turning on Disney Channel and getting lost into the magic that is Halloweentown. Join Marnie (Kimberly J. Brown) as she discovers she comes from a family of witches (one can only dream), and embarks on an adventure to save Halloweentown from evil forces.
Now, if you’re on the lookout for a spine-chilling horror to watch this October, this probably isn’t the pick for you. But, if like me, you’d rather cosy up and watch a more lighthearted fantasy film, Halloweentown deserves a place on your Halloween watchlist. It’s perfectly quirky – a little bit corny – yet still carries the spooky spirit of Halloween. Every October, I find myself returning to the whimsical world of Halloweentown. It’s the perfect embodiment of Halloween nostalgia – and a reminder that the season isn’t all blood and gore.
Coraline (2009) – Simran Sidhu
Coraline encapsulates an eerie atmosphere for adults as much as it does for kids.
Do you ever wonder if your dreams could come to life? Could a world full of magic be as close as on the other side of a door? This Halloween could be your chance to experience a dream-like world through the bewildering film, Coraline. With beautiful cinematography and the intricate stop-motion style, director Henry Selick creates a creepy yet delightful way to enjoy a Halloween film frenzy. After winning several awards, including a BAFTA children’s award for Best Feature Film, Selick’s fantastically written story flourishes in popularity, especially during spooky season.
Watch as Coraline (Dakota Fanning) meets many other weirdly wonderful characters who help her through her adventure. Even the smallest interactions come to be very important for her journey. Even though it is aimed at a younger audience, Coraline encapsulates an eerie atmosphere for adults as much as it does for kids. Join Coraline Jones (voiced by Dakota Fanning) this Halloween while she explores her new home, but is it in this world or another?
Fear Street (2021) – Summaya Mehmood
underneath the surface, lies a monumental transgression that shaped the fate of these two towns.
Lisa Frankenstein (2024) – Leo Slaidina
The film uniquely reimagines Mary Shelley’s story
From the writer of Jennifer’s Body came the feature-length debut film by Zelda Williams – Lisa Frankenstein. The film uniquely reimagines Mary Shelley’s story, offering it as a queer coming-of-age love story. Set in 1989, the story follows socially reclusive Lisa (Kathryn Newton) and the Creature (Cole Sprouse), whose grave Lisa has been visiting daily before it was hit by lightning. Throughout Lisa Frankenstein, the pair embark on a triple-homicide journey of people who had wronged Lisa in some capacity.
Although it is a romantic comedy, the film reflects Shelley’s perspective of grief from her novel, enabling director Zelda Williams and writer Diablo Cody to share their experiences through Lisa Frankenstein. Cody describes Lisa as having an opportunity to embrace grief, of her mother, by loving a dead man. Perhaps the true horror lies in how we cope with the death of a loved one.
Enjoyed this? Check out these other Spooktaculars from Redbrick:
Redbrick Halloween Spooktacular 2022
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