We all love a good scare from time to time. However, sometimes you’re not in the mood for something that’ll leave you hiding under the covers. Sometimes, you just want something comforting. Something that feels like a warm blanket, with maybe a little bit of blood. That’s where comfort horror comes in.
The Monster Squad (1987): Monster Mash for the Kid in All of Us.
This one is pure nostalgia. It’s a love letter to classic monster movies that’s perfect for a Halloween night. The Monster Squad must save their town from Dracula, the Wolfman, and the Mummy. This film is full of so many iconic lines you can still hear them quoted today.
The Monster Squad is an easy movie to sit back and enjoy. Sure, the effects may be a bit dated, but the charm is timeless. It comes from a magical time in horror history when any weird idea could be chucked at the wall and get greenlit. It will remind you of when you first fell in love with horror.
Hocus Pocus (1993): Witches, Black Cats, and a Whole Lotta Sass.
Okay, yeah, it’s technically a Disney movie, but Hocus Pocus has earned its place as a Halloween staple for a reason. Three witches are accidentally revived by a virgin on Halloween, and then Bette Midler performs the campiest act of her career. Not to mention, it features the best version of ‘I Put a Spell on You’ that you will ever see.
It’s a movie you can watch with your family, your friends, or even by yourself. It’s one of those movies that brings back the feeling of ’90s Halloween. The sequel may have been a little underwhelming, but the first Hocus Pocus is still a film to die for.
The Addams Family (1991): They’re Creepy and They’re Kooky, Mysterious and Spooky…
This film perfectly captures the spirit of Charles Addams’ macabre cartoons. It brings the iconic family to life with a pitch-perfect cast and a wickedly funny script. The film is about a family that has everything. What they want most is their Uncle Fester, who has been missing for 25 years. However, things are not always what they seem.
The plot doesn’t matter. What matters is the atmosphere, the jokes, and the sheer delight in spending time with this wonderfully weird family. The Addams Family celebrates the beauty of being different and the importance of sticking together. You’ll laugh, you might cry, but you’ll definitely have a good time.
Shaun of the Dead (2004): Zombie Comedy That’s Bloody Brilliant.
Edgar Wright’s zom-com masterpiece is the perfect blend of horror and humor. It’s a film that’s both genuinely scary and laugh-out-loud funny. The film follows Shaun as he tries to save his friends and family during a zombie apocalypse. Unfortunately, Shaun isn’t the brightest bulb and decides to take them all to his favorite pub.
Shaun of the Dead is endlessly rewatchable. Not just for the jokes and the gore, but for its surprisingly heartfelt story about friendship and growing up. This film revitalized the horror comedy genre and proved that horror films can have heart. Even if it is beating outside of its chest.
What We Do in the Shadows (2014): Mockumentary Vampires With a Taste for the Absurd.
This mockumentary follows a group of vampires as they navigate modern life. This includes paying rent, doing chores, and just being around other people. While this sounds like a somewhat boring premise, it is one of the funniest horror films ever made.
These vampires are roommates and squabble over normal household tasks such as dishes and cleaning. But that’s what makes the film work. These are not all-powerful lords of the night. Instead, they are just random people who became vampires at some point and are struggling just like the rest of us.