By Zahra Arshad

It’s that time of year again. The time when you can’t get told off for eating too many sweets. The time you won’t get shouted at for staying out late. The only time of year you want to be scared. However, if you are not a fan of trick or treating and Halloween parties, you might simply want to opt for a quiet night in, embracing all things spooky with one of these Halloween themed films:

The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993)

Two amazing creepy films to watch with the whole family. These films are supernatural dark comedies, that follow the Addams family and the many challenges and obstacles that they face. In The Addams Family, a man claims to be Uncle Fester, the missing brother of Gomez Addams, arrives at the Addams’ home. All is not clear, however, as Morticia suspects that the man is a fraud as he can’t remember anything of Fester’s life. Follow the family as they become evicted from their home.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

The perfect film for a night in on Halloween. Hocus Pocus is a horror fantasy film directed by Kenny Ortega, starring Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker. The film follows a trio of villainous witches, who have been resurrected by a teenager on Halloween night.  With witches, trick or treating, and a talking cat, what isn’t there to like about this film? Follow these teens, a young girl, and an immortal cat as they put an end to the reign of terror once and for all.

The Blair witch project (1999)

If you are interested in mysteries, creepiness, and witches then this is a film for you to watch. The film is a psychological horror directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez. It tells the story of three student filmmakers who film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch in 1994 near Burkittsville, Maryland. They disappear but their video and sound equipment (along with most of the footage they shot) is discovered a year later; the “recovered footage” is the film the viewer is watching. You got to watch to find out more about this local legend of the Blair Witch.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

A great Gothic supernatural horror film for fans of the director Tim Burton. The film is an adaption was loosely inspired by the 1820 short story ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ by Washington Irving. Follow Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp), a police constable sent from New York City to investigate a series of murders in the village of Sleepy Hollow by a mysterious Headless Horseman. The film mixes horror, fantasy and romance and features an extraordinary cast of characters that dabble in the supernatural. An exciting, suspense filled film that will keep you on your toes all night.

The Haunted Mansion (2003)

A great film for the family to sit down and watch during Halloween. A fantasy comedy horror film based on the Disney theme park attraction, directed by Rob Minkoff, the film stars Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Nathaniel Parker, Marsha Thomason, and Jennifer Tilly. Follow a realtor as he is summoned to a mansion that he discovers is haunted. While attempting to escape he gets swept up in the world of ghosts who need some help in breaking a curse.

Corpse Bride (2005)

An amazing animated fantasy musical that will put you into the Halloween spirit, Corpse Bride was directed by Mike Johnson and Tim Burton. The film follows a shy groom who practises his wedding vows in the presence of a deceased young woman, who was murdered after eloping with her love, and who rises from the grave, as she believes that Victor wants to marry her. However, Victor must escape the land of undead and find Victoria before she marries the villainous Barkis Bittern (Richard E. Grant). Watch as the land of undead rises, and becomes part of the living.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

This is a 2007 British-American musical period horror film directed by Tim Burton and is an adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Tony Award-winning 1979 musical. The film stars Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd, and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett. Sweeney Todd retells the tale of an English barber, who is a serial killer that murders his customers with a straight razor. Follow Sweeney Todd who vows revenge on Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) who had accused him of a crime he did not commit, and won’t be satisfied until he slits Turpin’s throat. A gruesome bloody film that is great for a Halloween movie marathon.