Netflix And Chills: Halloween Edition

I thought we’d put Netflix & Chill to bed for the season, but apparently Mother Nature didn’t get the memo! With temperatures still feeling decidedly summery here in the desert and Halloween just around the corner (and a recent request from my high school bestie Nat for some seasonal movie recommendations), I figured it was only fitting to bring the series back for one last round. This time, we’re trading summer blockbusters for thrills, chills, and some seriously spooky fun!

XO, Lindsay

SCREAM

Growing up, I was a complete and total scaredy-cat, so slasher flicks were strictly off-limits. It wasn’t until college that I finally felt brave enough to try one. My first foray into the genre? The 1996 classic Scream, which a group of us rented from Blockbuster (remember those?) late one night during my sophomore year. We watched it at a friend’s house, which happened to be eerily reminiscent of Drew Barrymore’s in the film, with a back wall made up almost entirely of French doors and windows. I’ll never forget sinking further and further into the couch, convinced Ghostface was lurking just outside. Despite being scared out of my mind, Scream was an absolute revelation. From the filming locations to the costumes to the witty one-liners, everything about it is forever etched in my memory, and no horror film I’ve seen since has managed to surpass it!

Where to watch: Hulu, Peacock & Paramount+

THE CHANGELING

Another one that has stayed with me since my first viewing, this 1980 thriller is absolutely haunting. Not your typical scary movie (there’s no blood or gore, and no masked figures jumping out at the screen), it’s a slow burn in the very best way. The story follows a widower, played by George C. Scott, who relocates to a historic mansion he soon suspects is haunted. There’s an eerie stillness throughout that makes the mounting suspense all the more unsettling. A scene involving a ball ever so slowly bouncing down a staircase still manages to give me chills everytime I watch. Little-known fact: The movie marks Dawson’s Creek star Joshua Jackson’s big-screen debut in an uncredited role as a baby in a stroller.

Where to watch: Prime & Tubi

HALLOWEENTOWN

Not scary in the slightest, this 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie is pure Halloween joy! Set in a magical little town where it’s Halloween 365 days a year (sign me up!), the story features a wonderfully quirky cast of characters, plenty of witchy magic, and one evil warlock determined to ruin it all. The first two sequels are equally charming and have become October must-watches in my house. And in a delightful real-life twist, Halloweentown II co-stars Kimberly J. Brown and Daniel Kountz fell in love years after filming and tied the knot in 2024!

Where to watch: Hulu & Disney+

FRAILTY

One of my favorite movies of all time, this 2001 thriller is nothing short of brilliant. In it, Bill Paxton plays a father convinced he’s been called by God to destroy demons disguised as ordinary people, a mission that takes a devastating toll on his two young sons. I still remember renting it with my parents when it first came out on video and being thoroughly blown away by the disquieting narrative. Dark and gripping, the movie will keep you guessing until the very end. Even more impressive? Frailtyhappens to be Paxton’s directorial debut! If you haven’t yet seen it, now is the perfect time!

Where to watch: Tubi & Apple TV

DEAD AGAIN

Not your traditional scary movie, this 1991 thriller is terrifying nonetheless! I first saw it well into my twenties and was absolutely riveted. At the heart of the story is a private detective, played by Kenneth Branagh, who takes on the case of an amnesiac woman (Emma Thompson), only to uncover a decades-old murder with an eerie connection to the present. The acting! The twists! The locations! And that cigarette scene! It’s one of the most cleverly crafted and memorable films I’ve ever seen!

Where to watch: Prime & MGM+

Thanks for Reading!

Happy watching—and happy haunting!