10 Best Unintentional Halloween Movies

There’s plenty of Halloween movies to choose from, but some of these were never created with the intention of being shown during spooky season.

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The list of movie options for spooky season is long and varied, but many of these classics are repeated on a yearly basis. For those who want to enjoy Halloween in an alternative way, there’s plenty of films that were made without any intention of being enjoyed during the night of scares.

However, they still perfectly fit the themes, aesthetics, and tone of any other Halloween film and are thus perfect as a non-traditional choice. It might be that they actually borrow horror tropes, twist them in a unique way, or perhaps have become immortalized in how many Halloween costumes they’ve inspired.

Knives Out (2019)

Knives Out is already incredibly autumnal in its color palette, aesthetic, and coziness. But it’s not just the reds, oranges, and yellows that unintentionally create a Halloween vibe. The murder mystery elements and horror tropes elevate the piece further.

It’s hard to find a Halloween movie that doesn’t feature a secretive manor house at some stage. With the mysterious death of Harlan Thrombey at the heart of the action, alongside another spoiler-filled grizzly demise, there’s something creepy about this piece that feels reminiscent of the murder mystery dinner parties people often host at this time of year.

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

It’s easy to see how Harry Potter could be linked to the Halloween season. After all, there’s a spookiness to the grand Hogwarts castle, not to mention the potions, spells, and wizarding garb that support that fall aesthetic and tone.

What’s more, Sorcerer’s Stone actually includes scenes set at Halloween. The troll in the dungeon might be the danger of the season, but floating pumpkins and hundreds of candies and toffee apples, as well as an increase in poltergeist activity, result in this Harry Potter film feeling like a Halloween feature through and through.

The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

Is there an earlier Halloween film than this ’30s classic? The dreamlike quality of this picture quickly turns into a nightmare with the ghoulish Wicked Witch of the West causing trouble early on. The spooky atmosphere doesn’t end there, though, as The Wizard of Oz features terrifying flying monkeys and a forest full of beasts.

Whether it’s the aesthetic of the Scarecrow and his fall field or perhaps the ethereal green of the Emerald City, the color palette alone helps to form Halloween-esque visual. Of course, Dorothy and the gang have since inspired countless costumes for the big night, while the fantasy elements lend themselves to the film being unintentionally brilliant for the occasion.

The Terminator (1984)

The Terminator draws heavily from the horror genre, especially slashers like Halloween. The Terminator himself is an unstoppable monster; his invulnerability feels almost mythic at times despite playing heavily into science fiction. It is these themes that make this classic a great Halloween film, though.

The grungy cinematography helps to sell that idea further, but the fear can be felt in every scene, with the characters desperately trying to fend off this godlike robot. It’s The Terminator’s use of familiar cinematic tropes that draws the audience in.

The Dark Crystal (1982)

Jim Henson’s work is often aimed at families, yet there’s a sinister quality to the fantasy Dark Crystal that includes horror-fuelled imagery and other genre elements. It inspired the equally compelling Netflix series as well.

Perhaps it is the use of puppets that really brings this piece to the next level, with these characters aesthetically similar to the kinds of beasts people may display during Halloween; not to mention the gritty color scheme that was chosen. Dark Crystal’s adventurous tone still aids it in becoming a picture that the family can enjoy, but it’s scary enough for spooky season.

Bad Times At The El Royale (2018)

Bad Times at the El Royale is one pulpy crime-thriller. It’s psychologically enthralling, with a tension running through the piece that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats at all times. The themes of the film such as voyeurism, cult influences, and a mysterious stranger appearing out of nowhere all link to the horror genre.

The old motel that the ensemble is staying at almost doubles for a haunted mansion, as behind every door lies a secret waiting to be explored. Trapped inside by the horrific weather, surrounded by even more disturbing individuals, this film is intentionally scary but unintentionally perfect for Halloween.

Men In Black (1997)

Men in Black is far from a traditional Halloween film. Yet when breaking down its core elements — the mystery of a monster hiding amongst the public and a secret service ridding the world of evil — the themes definitely match the season.

Men in Black’s over-the-top weapons, comic book premise, and alien elements are certainly sci-fi in nature. But science fiction can still be great for Halloween, as the paranormal has often been linked to the extra-terrestrial. Plus which of these outer-space creatures wouldn’t make a perfect costume?

Zodiac (2007)

Murder mysteries always play into Halloween well, but there’s something even creepier about a narrative based on real-life events. The sadistic nature of the Zodiac killer is completely terrifying, not to mention that they never actually caught the culprit.

Zodiac portrays the story in such an authentic way that each scene will give audiences chills as the complexity of the case continues to build. There’s something almost supernatural about the nature of the murders and the obsession with leaving clues behind, which feeds into the scariest time of the year.

Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

Shaun of the Dead is a worthy parody of the zombie genre it is trying to replicate, but the zom-rom-com is also somehow superior to many of the productions it’s inspired by.

Not only has this Edgar Wright project become one of the go-to sources of costuming for Halloween, but it’s also one of the most rewatchable zombie films out there. It’s an homage to so many things but was never made with the intention of being a cult hit for spooky season.

What We Do In The Shadows (2014)

What We Do in the Shadows was clearly created as a fun mockumentary based on a very simple idea. Although Vampires are so intrinsically linked to Halloween, the piece was never purpose-built to be watched on the night itself. It has evolved greatly since its debut though.

The series has only expanded this world further, alongside Wellington Paranormal, which repurposed narrative beats from across sci-fi, fantasy, and horror to create a range of monsters for the police unit to battle. Ultimately, this underrated cinematic universe is perhaps one of the most hilarious non-Halloween Halloween hits!

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/best-non-halloween-movies-watch-spooky-season/