Cosy scares: the spooky watches we return to every October
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Not every Halloween watch needs to leave you checking under the bed. Some of us like our scares with a side of nostalgia, a good soundtrack, and the comfort of knowing exactly how it ends.
This is our comfort horror list: the movies and shows we rewatch every October without fail. We’re looking for witches, slashers, spooky suburbs and at least one Disney Channel classic. So pull on your fluffiest socks, stock up on lollies and settle in. Tonight’s fright level: cosy.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 – 2003)
Sunnydale on Halloween basically always goes terribly wrong. Costumes turn real, dates turn dodgy, and Giles is left holding it all together. Any Halloween episode is guaranteed Scooby Gang mayhem.
Scream (1996 – 2022)
Never say “I’ll be right back”, never ask “Who’s there?” and always know your horror movie rules. Is it weird that these are my comfort movies? Scream and Scream 4 reign supreme in my book.
Twitches (2005)
Long-lost twin witches, one shared magical destiny, and a very iconic Disney Channel wardrobe. Peak 2000s sorcery.
Halloweentown (1998)
Marnie learns she comes from a long line of witches. Debbie Reynolds as her grandmother, Aggie, is the only grandma we’d trust with a broomstick.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Dragons, mermaids, a maze, and the return of You-Know-Who. Any Harry Potter film works for October, but this is the one where things get properly dark.
The Craft (1996)
Four teens, one coven, and a strong argument against using magic on your enemies. Nancy is still the blueprint, and she terrifies us still.
Ready or Not (2019)
A bride, a wedding night tradition, and a very deadly game of hide and seek. Turns out “till death do us part” was a bit more literal than she expected.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Three witches, one black flame candle, and the only Halloween musical number we’ll defend to the death. Bette Midler, we bow down.
Practical Magic (1998)
Two witchy sisters, one family curse, and a midnight margarita session. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman prove that sisterhood is the strongest spell of all.
Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
Five interlinked stories, one Halloween night and two very important rules: always check your candy, and never blow out a jack-o’-lantern before midnight.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Jack Skellington gets bored of Halloween and decides to take over Christmas. Is it a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? Why not both?
Coco (2017)
Miguel ends up in the Land of the Dead on Día de Muertos while chasing his musical hero. Spooky-adjacent, gorgeous, and guaranteed to make you cry, so keep the tissues close.
Final Destination (2000 – 2025)
Death has a plan, and it involves some very elaborate accidents. You will never look at a log truck the same way again.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun’s plan for surviving the zombie apocalypse: grab a cricket bat, rescue his mum, and pop down to the pub. Peak British comfort viewing.
Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2002, 2004)
Mystery Inc. is back to unmask a monster or two. Yes, Buffy is Daphne, and yes, Freddie Prince Jr is Freddie, and the world was never the same again.
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror (1990 – Present)
Springfield’s annual excuse to sell souls, summon demons, and turn Homer into a monster (again). Start with the early ones and work your way up.
Fear Street trilogy (2021)
Three films, three decades, and one very persistent curse on the town of Shadyside. It’s technically a slasher, but the mix of 80s/90s soundtrack makes it feel oddly cosy.
