All posts filed under: HALLOWEEN

A graphic featuring thriller and horror movie posters.

Thrills, Chills, and Mind-Bending Twists: A genre-busting guide to must-see movies

Whether it’s October or July, you can cozy up with a blanket (with the AC on full blast), grab a pumpkin spice something or a tropical drink, and scare yourself silly with a good thriller or horror flick.

Every year, I compile a list of the best spooky and suspenseful films I’ve watched. This time, I’ve spiced things up by grouping them into 10 cleverly creepy categories.

A Halloween party scene with Halloween-themed food.

Dining with fellow Munsters on Halloween

One year for Halloween, I decided to bring a little classic TV charm — and a dash of gothic glam — to my living room with a spooky, small-scale celebration. I’ve always loved Halloween, but instead of going full haunted-house this year, I kept it cozy with a small gathering of ghouls, goblins, and a few brave humans.

Costumes were encouraged (of course), and I knew exactly who I wanted to channel: the darkly delightful Lily Munster.

A collection of thriller movie posters.

Brains Over Blood: A thriller fan’s guide to smart scares

As a Halloween enthusiast, you might assume that I really like horror movies … I don’t.

Plot twist: I’m not.

Blood, guts, and excessive gore? Hard pass. Movies like “Saw” and its many splattery sequels aren’t for me. I’ve also never been particularly scared of monsters, witches or zombies. Why? Because they’re fictional — and often so over-the-top that they feel more like fantasy than fear.

An image of a creepy doll.

Creepy dolls, Stephen King, and the artist who brings nightmares to life

Have you ever locked eyes with a porcelain doll on a shelf and instantly felt a chill crawl up your spine? If so, you’re not alone — and horror icon Stephen King would probably agree with you. Dolls have long been the stuff of nightmares in King’s world, from murderous clowns to animated Army men with a vendetta.

King’s fear of dolls is well-documented across his work. In “Poltergeist,” which he helped write for the screen, a young boy’s fear of a clown doll turns disturbingly real when the toy attacks. In “The X-Files,” King penned an episode centered around a haunted doll, and one of the darkest vignettes in his “Nightmares and Dreamscapes” series features actor William Hurt being hunted by vindictive toys — tiny green Army men that eventually bring about his demise.