As the summer months begin to fade into a distant reverie and the weather cools, the month of October brings excitement and festivities. Horror films, haunted houses, ghost stories, black cats and creepy smiles etched into pumpkins — arguably the best time of the year is upon us. While living in Southern California and being surrounded by evergreen trees may not make it feel like autumn, that is not to say that you can not get into the seasonal spirit, so here is a curated list of spooky October favorites to help get you in the mood!
Sinister Songs
Music is the perfect way to get you in the Halloween spirit, and while this whole article could be dedicated to all tunes alone, here are just a few favorites.
The first one is “Season of the Witch” by Lana Del Rey. Originally released by the Scottish singer Donovan in 1966, Del Rey covers the song as a part of the soundtrack for the 2019 horror movie titled “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.” Del Rey’s soft and deep register perfectly accompanies the eerie vibe of the lyrics and instrumentals of the song.
Following true to the witch theme is the song “My Girlfriend is a Witch” by American folk rock band October Country. The song was released in 1968 alongside a full-length album, but the track became what the band is known for. The guitar and drums present in the background of the song match the feel of rock music popularized in the 60s, making it the perfect funky track to add to your playlist.
Menacing Media
The only thing better than a spooky night in with all your favorite fall treats –– pumpkin bread, apple pie, cinnamon rolls, the whole shebang –– is the perfect movie or show to pair it with.
With her short blue hair and yellow raincoat, Coraline Jones in Henry Selick’s “Coraline” is an iconic character. Coraline grows irritated with her parents and her seemingly boring life, so she finds solace in the Other World –– a parallel universe where her parents are more caring and have a gravy train for the dinner table. However, when her Other Mother offers Coraline permanent residence in the Other World in exchange for having buttons sewn into her eyes, Coraline quickly learns that everything is not as it seems. Follow along on Coraline’s adventure as she tries to protect herself and her loved ones from an ill-doomed fate. The true appearance of the Other Mother, with her long, spider-like legs and eldritch smile is sure to send goosebumps down your spine.
As people begin preparing for the festivities by bringing out their Halloween decorations, you are sure to spot a Jack Skellington Jack O’Lantern on your neighbor’s porch or a life-sized figure of him greeting you as you walk into a grocery store. Jack’s grinning face and snazzy black-and-with suit have made him a well-recognized icon and the very embodiment of Halloween. Thus, watching the 1993 film “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a must for the month of October.
While older movies are always a thrill to revisit, new and blood-curdling films have hit theaters. Watch Mia Goth return to the big screen in another slasher original titled “Pearl.” This film serves as a character study of the main antagonist in its predecessor, “X.” Despite it being a more character-focused story, “Pearl” is still a bloody and thrilling prequel. If you are interested in watching “Pearl” or want to know more about it, you can read a New University review of it here!
“The Vampire Diaries” (TVD) is a teen drama that began airing in 2009 and concluded in 2017 with a total of eight seasons. Though it is hard to provide a premise for a show of this magnitude, here is what you need to know: present in the series are murder, betrayal, a complicated love triangle and supernatural beings including werewolves, witches and, of course, vampires. With 171 episodes in total with each being around 40 minutes, TVD is sure to last you throughout the fall months and likely even beyond.
Harry Potter is the perfect franchise to binge watch, and while it may not be horror in genre, it checks off a lot of other boxes. Its rich storyline, beloved characters and extensive lore make it a revisited watch year after year. Arguably, the autumn months are the perfect time to rewatch all eight of the films and immerse yourself in the magical and unusual world of Harry Potter.
Nightmarish Novels
If movies and shows are not your forte and you’d rather curl up under a fuzzy blanket with a thrilling book in hand, here are a couple of recommendations to help get you started:
Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History” is an intoxicating read, featuring obsessive classics students, violent murders and toasting to living forever. Set in Vermont in the 1980s, the novel is told from the perspective of the unreliable narrator Richard, who becomes enamored with the lives of his fellow peers and slowly becomes intertwined in their cult-like group. While the book is meant to poke fun at the naivety of upper-class academia, its eerie nature, eccentric characters and allusions to Greek tragedies make it a haunting read.
If you are more into the classics, a natural recommendation is “Frankenstein” by none other than Mary Shelley, the mother of Gothic fiction. The novel follows the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who — distraught by the recent passing of his mother — attempts to artificially create a beautiful humanoid only to end up with something else entirely. Frankenstein abhors the Creature despite it being his own creation and he flees the laboratory, leaving the Creature alone and confused.
While the story of Frankenstein and his monster has been referenced innumerably in pop culture, it is well worth reading the source material. Not only does the novel inspire fear within the reader, but Shelley also masterfully crafts a story that makes the reader question what it means to truly be human. Additionally, its profound exploration of themes such as loneliness, isolation, rejection and revenge make it not only the perfect seasonal read but a titular piece in literary fiction.
Spookiness extends to all kinds of mediums, whether you want a new playlist to get ready to, horror movies to binge-watch or some exciting gothic reads. Halloween is right around the corner, and it is not too late to get into the festive spirit, whatever that may look like for you.
Kamilla Jafarova is a Staff Writer for the 2022-23 school year. She can be reached at kjafarov@uci.edu.
