In need of some horror movies this Halloween season? Here are some great monster movies you can watch with anybody.
‘Tis the season to scare your pants off! That is, if you’re someone who likes to go to bed pants-less and afraid. But not everyone loves the spookiness of the Halloween season. Maybe they even hate being scared. Well, scaredy cats, you’re in luck! There are plenty of monster movies you can watch that won’t give you nightmares or make you want to check under your bed.
Zombies
‘Warm Bodies’
Warm Bodies is young romance with a twist. The zombie Twilight that recognizes the absurdity of its story and plays off of that. Zombie Nicholas Hoult saves human Teresa Palmer’s life, and so begins the cute and rather odd relationship. It’s both a zombie film and a romantic comedy, sure to please the horror fans who can’t handle as much fright.
‘Zombieland’
If you need a good laugh, Zombieland and the film below are without a doubt the best options on this list. You don’t need to be a fan of the zombie genre to enjoy either of these films.
Zombieland shows the American zombie apocalypse with nothing short of hick Woody Harrelson on a hunt for the last Twinkie. It’s silly in the best way possible with over the top action, hilarious one-liners, and the perfect cast portraying memorable characters. It’s original, it’s clever, and it never feels like it’s dragging. Clocking in at less than 90 minutes, it’s such a quick and easy watch that you’ll be wishing it were longer.
‘Shaun of the Dead’
The British zombie comedy flick is brought to you by Shaun of the Dead. The first of Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, Shaun of the Dead is a hilarious zombie parody that somehow manages to balance ridiculous wit, ridiculous action, and the just plain ridiculous.
You can’t help but root for these loveable losers as the world around them collapses and they finally have to do something in their life. It’s also quite the who’s who of British comedy actors, so those of you familiar with British cinema will probably have fun pointing out all the familiar faces.
Vampires
‘Twilight’
And the eyes roll.
Criticize all you want, but despite all the flaws of Twilight it can be enjoyable. Just because it wasn’t meant to be a comedy doesn’t mean you can’t have a good laugh! Let’s not forget the music either. Not to mention the aptly timed recent release of the gender-swapped Twilight. After finishing the book, go back and watch this first film again, but imagine Kristen Stewart saying Edward’s lines and Robert Pattinson saying Bella’s lines.
Related: Stephenie Meyer announces gender-swapped Twilight
‘Dark Shadows’
Nobody said this list was exclusively good movies.
Look, we love Tim Burton, especially when he collaborates with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, but there’s just no saving this movie. That said, since you know it’s going to be bad, you can maybe enjoy it for the campiness. Laugh at it instead of with it. It’s Halloween after all, you’re supposed to be having fun! At the very least, you can enjoy the visuals (because no matter how bad a Tim Burton movie is, the visuals will always be striking), and the amazing cast.
‘Only Lovers Left Alive’
Unlike the first vampire flicks, this one does not have levity, but it’s a fantastic film nonetheless. It isn’t a particularly plot-driven film. By the end you might find yourself asking, ‘What exactly happened?’, but as the saying goes, it isn’t about the ending, it’s about the journey.
With Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton as our lead vampires, Only Lovers Left Alive shows a more realistic take (as realistic as vampires can be) on beings who have lived for centuries, and the disenchantment they’d have with humanity as the years pass.
Frankenstein and his Creature
‘Frankenweenie’
Remade from his own short film version of 1984, this Tim Burton animation is very classically Burton (and we don’t just mean because it’s in black and white). It’s a sweet story about a boy and his dog, and it isn’t overwhelmed by visuals or a convoluted narrative.
The look is still gothically Tim Burton, and it has the charm and heart of some of his best work. It’s also a definite watch if you’re a fan of Mary Shelley’s novel. This film is full of references to the original story, both overt and subtle.
‘Edward Scissorhands’
Another Tim Burton classic, Edward Scissorhands is a more subtle interpretation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and probably even more of a touching story than Frankenweenie.
Perhaps not the most original story, an outsider who is initially accepted by the community then misunderstood and shunned when things go bad, it is still done with grace and subtlety, and the perfect juxtaposition of beautiful melancholic brightness.
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
There really isn’t much that can be said about The Rocky Horror Picture Show that won’t ruin the experience for a first time viewer. Rocky Horror is the sort of thing you have to just dive into, and when it’s over, wonder what you just watched.
It’s a musical. The songs are catchy. It’s horror. It’s comedy. It’s fun. It’s weird. Give it a try if you haven’t already. At the very least it will be an experience.
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