If you’re not a horror fan, October can be an uncomfortable experience – from facing pressure to visit haunted houses to hurriedly closing your eyes and muting every unskippable horror movie trailer ad that inevitably pops up.
But getting into the Halloween spirit doesn’t have to mean scaring yourself silly. There are plenty of movies out there that embody the fun of the season without actively terrorizing their viewers. Here are five films you can enjoy today without quaking under the covers.
Clue (1985)
The classic comedy does a great job of building suspense and simultaneously soothing viewers’ fears with hilarious jokes and visual gags. The dialogue is witty, the story clever and the actors’ line delivery will leave you in stitches. It’s a perfect non-horror film for Halloween fans who appreciate the essence of a murder mystery without the gratuitous violence or gore.
Following the plot of the titular board game, “Clue” explores the secrets of an enormous, spooky estate that has become the scene of a murder. When everyone has means, motive and opportunity, how does this dinner party of morally dubious guests solve the crime before becoming the next victim?
Ghostbusters (1984)
“Clue” isn’t the only ‘80s Halloween flick with more comedy than horror. “Ghostbusters” is the quintessential Halloween comedy, and for good reason. The performances are stellar and the ghosts are iconic. And who could forget the scene-stealing final act villain?
“Ghostbusters’' has an admittedly bizarre premise, as a trio of disgraced professors witness irrefutable proof of the supernatural and take the opportunity to launch a business eradicating ghosts from haunted sites. While this story likely could have taken a far more sinister route, the highs and lows of the profession are presented as much more funny than fear-inducing.
Happy Death Day (2017)
Jumping ahead into this century, “Happy Death Day” is a more recent Halloween film that combines “Groundhog Day” with, well, a lot of murder. This one is definitely more violent than the previous suggestions, although I still didn’t feel afraid. While there are some spooky moments, the majority of the film cares more about making you laugh and letting you solve the mystery alongside the protagonist.
A callous sorority sister relives the day she dies over and over until she can unmask her killer and put an end to the cycle. Writing this out, it doesn’t sound very funny, yet it’s surprisingly comedic and even heartfelt in certain moments. If you can handle a bit of fear but stop short before horror, I think this is well worth a watch.
Twitches (2005)
Is any Halloween list complete without at least one Disney Channel original movie? “Twitches” is perhaps one of Disney’s most mature Halloween stories, exploring themes like identity, adoption and the complexities of forging bonds with adult siblings who grew up apart. And, of course, they’re also witches.
“Twitches” encapsulates the nostalgia of the 2000s Disney Channel era perfectly. It’s a fun flick with a healthy dose of Halloween magic and sisterly hijinks.
Warm Bodies (2013)
Zombie films are a tough sell for anyone who is repulsed by the garden-variety horror flick. Zombies are typically decaying, thoughtless, rabid – insatiable hunger incarnate. It’s scary and visually sickening. “Warm Bodies” is the exception, somehow managing to find and elevate the absurdity and levity of the genre.
It’s not completely sanitized and there is some gore that might not appeal to everyone.But at the core of this weird, weird film is an oddly sweet love story between a human woman and a zombie who mysteriously retained his humanity after death.