My personal passion, my one true love, my dearest devotion – I am, of course, referring to my deep reverence for any piece of media falling under the supernatural umbrella. As it is now officially October, my obsession and expertise can finally be put to good use, as over the years I have acquired a list of several unsung heroes of the supernatural genre. 

While many can attest to my love for the Twilight Saga, even I understand that its dominance on the vampire/werewolf movie scene can be daunting and excruciating. I will admit that these listed are not your typical Halloween horror flicks. None of them are horror and very few are classically “good.” My advice to anyone actually taking my recommendations to heart: watch with some friends, make fun of the poor production and plot, and do not expect a big scare. Keeping this in mind, I present you all (in no particular order) with an imperfect but definitely enjoyable list of shows and movies that experience their prime in the Halloween season.

1. Cursed (2004)

This movie  steps away from being a spoof. It’s a classic werewolf tale, perfect for a boring October night. It’s a quick and entertaining watch. The movie opens with a brother-sister duo getting into a mysterious accident and leaving afflicted by a terrible curse (of the werewolf variety.) The two attempt to unravel their strange circumstances and undo the curse before the onset of the next full moon… The Backdrop is the culture of early 2000s Los Angeles and stars a fetus Jesse Eisenberg and Pacey from the hit Dawson’s Creek.

2. Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003)

I’m sure many are familiar with this show’s recent Netflix reboot, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and while I do enjoy that series, it’s tough to beat the 90s version. Originally based off of a character from Archie Comics (yes like Riverdale…) this show is formatted like a sitcom and follows the trivial adventures of Sabrina, who as the title suggests, is a teenage witch. This version of Sabrina is spunky, sassy, and very stylish, making her my personal favorite. An honorable mention under the Sabrina franchise is the short-lived animated series from 1999, Sabrina: The Animated Series. Both are very near and dear to me and perfect Halloween watches.

3. An American Werewolf in London (1981)

This is one of my favorite movies of all time and a classic in the horror/comedy genre. If you’ve never seen it, frankly where have you been? This movie follows  two American tourists who are mauled by a vicious beast in the English countryside. The survivor of the duo, David, faces a gruesome transformation into a gaudy werewolf creation of 80s special effects and his friend Jack, a repulsive ghost, haunting his newly-cursed friend. Throughout the movie, David faces not only the psychological terrors of his attack, but the culture-shock of an American desperately trapped in an unfamiliar city. Suspenseful, psychological, funny. Gotta love it.

4. Interview with the Vampire (1994)

I will admit that this movie is a bit long-winded. Following the centuries-long tale of two vampires, Interview With the Vampire could technically be classified as a historical drama. However, the best part of this two-hour film is the fact that it stars none other than TOM CRUISE and BRAD PITT??? I’m unsure if I could technically classify Cruise and Pitt’s characters as vampire lovers but sometimes this movie blurs the lines… If you’re looking for a strange drama with somewhat out-of-place actors I highly recommend this one.

5.  Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated (2010-2013)

Another nostalgia-ridden recommendation. After a zillion or so reboots, the Scooby-Doo franchise may have peaked with the release of this show. For a kid’s cartoon, Mystery Incorporated is insanely suspenseful with a dark, deepening mystery. The color scheme is perfectly gray and gloomy, ideal for a mild spook. I can remember shielding my second grade eyes from this dreary cartoon, or leaving with an unsettled pit in my stomach. To this day Professor Pericles still gives me chills.

6. Dark Shadows (2012)

Directed by Tim Burton. Consisting of a star-studded cast with Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Chloë Grace Mortez. This movie, based on a gothic 60s soap opera of the same name, follows a vampire newly released from a 200-year coffin sentence and determined to get revenge on those who have wronged his family. Mild romance but MAJOR gothic energy. While I initially watched with low expectations, I was greatly surprised and entertained.

7. Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

What can I even say here? It’s simply the best. While maybe not perfectly suited for Halloween, Teen Wolf is absolutely unrivaled in the realm of supernatural teen TV series. Each season’s premise is so original and tension-building and the cast only gets better as the show progresses. This six-season masterpiece follows high schooler Scott McCall on his journey from underdog to top dog (literally) when his life is turned around by a pesky werewolf bite. If you like suspense, romance, and extremely attractive lacrosse scenes, this is the show for you.

8. My Babysitter’s a Vampire (2010-2012)

She’s the girl next door… or is she? This Canadian movie turned show always seemed to make a fleeting visit during “Monstober,” chronicling the awkward and supernatural happenings of a group of high school vampires, witches, and psychics. If you grew up on this show like I did, we are basically blood relatives, one in the same. Despite being an annual watch in the good-ole days of cable, this franchise was a pillar of my childhood. Luckily, fans can now stream this series year-round on Netflix. 

9. Danny Phantom (2004-2007)

Danny Phantom comes from the brilliant mind of Butch Hartman, creator Fairly Odd Parents, and has an equally zany concept. The main character, Danny, is the son of two ghost hunters. Yet, after a ghastly lab accident, the teen finds himself with a ghost alter ego. Danny uses his newfound ghost superpowers to become a spooky superhero, rounding up the menacing ghosts in his hometown while still facing the trials and tribulations of adolescence. The animation of this show is nostalgic, the characters are lovable, and the premise is generally ghoulish and therefore Halloween-y.

10. Paranorman (2012)

Besides having a fantastic pun for a title, this movie is great. Much like Haley Joel Osment, this kid sees dead people. Norman is an outcast, not helped much by fact that he can see and befriend ghosts around his town. While it’s been a hot minute since I’ve seen this one, I do recall it being an instance where the claymation style works seamlessly. Paranorman is definitely overshadowed by Tim Burton’s chokehold on spooky claymation and deserves to be in the likes of The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride. 

Honorable Mentions

1. House of Anubis (2011-2013)
2. Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
3. Simpsons Treehouse of Horror (1990-present)
4. Vampires Suck (2010)
5. Beetlejuice (1988)

Disclaimer: I’m aware that Beetlejuice is by no means underrated, but it needed to be recognized on my list somewhere. In retrospect, there are a lot of overlapping themes and concepts in this article. Nonetheless, all of these are Nola-guaranteed, whatever merit that may provide. Finally, I assure you that EVERY show or movie listed is better than last year’s horrifying Halloween release, Hubie Halloween. Thank you for reading Raptors, have a splendid and spooky Halloween season! 🙂