Happy Halloween, and to all a good fright! We asked our contributors,
What scary movies do you watch for comfort, not chills, especially at this time of year?
If you’re like me, Halloween has really snuck up on you this time around. And that’s a real shame because it is truly the most wonderful time of the year. There’s nothing better to catapult me into the spirit of the season quite like a reliable comfort horror. While many people don’t find horror movies particularly comforting, fans of the genre know that the feeling of enveloping yourself in your favorite slasher or creature feature is equal to wrapping yourself in a warm blanket straight out of the dryer. Read on for my personal list of 10 horror movies that provide me with comfort in one way or another, and even some Halloween scares.
SCREAM (1996)
Stream on Paramount+
The biggest element that makes any movie a comfort watch for me is familiarity, and SCREAM definitely takes the top spot in that regard. A movie I can quote from beginning to end, and in fact have, much to the chagrin of my friends and loved ones. SCREAM is a horror landmark, offering timeless meta commentary on the genre we know and love. And thanks to the countless Ghostface masks sold in costume shops worldwide, it’s also inseparable from the Halloween season. Guaranteed to have you ready for the upcoming Halloweekend in two hours flat.
THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (2012)
Rent on YouTube, AppleTV, Google Play, Amazon etc.
In what could even be seen as SCREAM for a new generation, THE CABIN IN THE WOODS offers a more updated spin on a meta horror movie, with scares and humor in equal measure. Thrilling no matter how many times I rewatch it, and with enough familiar tropes and stock characters to be instantly comforting, THE CABIN IN THE WOODS is another sure-fire crowd pleaser. Beyond the pure comfort that this movie provides, it also provides a plethora of unique costume ideas if you find yourself in a pinch before the big day.
JAWS (1975)
Rent on YouTube, AppleTV, Google Play, Amazon etc.
JAWS is a movie that understandably gets most of its love during the summer months, but this classic is good any time of year. Not only is it masterfully scary, but the setting of Amity Island is so cozy and comforting, it’s hard not to be swept up by it. Bask in the glow of the three amazing lead performances and get wrapped up in the warm nostalgia that so many Spielberg movies inherently possess.
THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974)
Stream on Tubi, Amazon, Freevee, Paramount+, and Showtime
This entry probably seems like the least comforting movie on this list, and it is true that very little about THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE is even remotely comfortable. It feels hot, sticky, and grimy, even through the screen. However, something about how iconic so much of the imagery and dialogue is shrouds the movie in this aura of comfort. Even though it still manages to get my heart racing each time I watch it, knowing every solitary beat of this movie makes it comforting. My body relaxes into the couch every time I hear that flash bulb sound effect.
SLEEPAWAY CAMP (1983)
Stream on Tubi, Amazon Prime, Freevee, Peacock, Crackle, PlutoTV, PLEX, fuboTV, and Philo
SLEEPAWAY CAMP embodies the kind of comfort that can only be provided by a movie made with two bucks and a dream. Alright, well, probably more than two dollars given the special effects alone, but I wouldn’t go too far beyond that. The amateur nature of the film is what makes it so special and so comforting. It’s like watching a home movie that you hope to God you aren’t a part of. Throw this on at a Halloween party and it’s sure to be a conversation starter.
IT (2017)
Stream on Netflix and HBO Max
When I think of IT, I think of a warm summer day and the kind of innocent joy that you can only access when you are a kid. It’s a movie full of pure friendship and love and acceptance, there’s just also the matter of a killer clown devouring children. When watching IT, you feel like you’re a part of the Loser’s Club, and no matter how old you are, you feel like you belong. There is also something so undeniably comforting about the world of Stephen King’s Maine, even at its most terrifying like in Derry.
JURASSIC PARK (1993)
Stream on HBO Max and Peacock
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, JURASSIC PARK is a horror movie and you can argue with the wall. Now if it’s been a while since you’ve revisited this one, allow me to remind you that it’s a perfect movie. It instantly takes me back to being a child, laying on the floor of my TV room, watching JURASSIC PARK every Friday night at sleepovers. It’s pure nostalgia and epic dinosaurs, and a John Williams score so gorgeous and sweeping, it’s impossible not to find some sort of comfort in it.
MALIGNANT (2021)
Stream on HBO Max
The comfort that I gain from MALIGNANT has less to do with the movie itself (which is fantastic) and more to do with the time that it came out. When I watch MALIGNANT, I am immediately taken back to its release last Halloween season when the horror community was simply buzzing about it. That’s not to say that people weren’t divided on it, but even its biggest detractors had to admit that it was a wild ride. I had the time of my life watching MALIGNANT for the first time and just the thought of it lights me up inside and brings me immense comfort.
ONE CUT OF THE DEAD (2017)
Stream on Shudder
ONE CUT OF THE DEAD is a movie that every aspiring filmmaker can find some comfort in. While it is in part a bloody zombie movie, at its core it’s a really beautiful story about family and the love that is shared as they try to create a film together. Without spoiling too much, it takes enough twists and turns to make it even more rewarding on a rewatch, and no matter how many times you watch ONE CUT OF THE DEAD, you’ll be able to appreciate all the ways it is deeply hopeful, inspiring, silly, and impressive.
KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE (1988)
Stream on PlutoTV, PLEX, and Paramount+
Our final entry is a Halloween essential in my household, and there are few things more comforting than that. KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE is so silly and delightful that it immediately puts me at ease. It also doesn’t get better than a special effects team led by the Chiodo Brothers. With that creature design, and that theme song, the movie all but demands of you to have a good time. To me, that’s what comfort horror and the Halloween season are all about.
Tags: Comfort Horror, Horror, Riley Cassidy
No Comments