“That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain. . . .”
— The October Country, by Ray Bradbury
“Thinking only autumn thoughts” is how I operate during the fall season, and especially in October. I think autumn thoughts year round, of course, but in actual autumn those thoughts fill me with a warmth and comfort that’s unmatched by any other season. I’m one of Ray Bradbury’s “autumn people,” the kind who revel in every aspect of the most special season of the year. When I’m not taking in all of the sights and sounds of October outside my door, I’m hunkering down with classic, autumnal comfort movies that I love to rewatch every fall. Because it’s Halloween season, many of them are horror, but some make the cut because of autumn settings or release dates. So, just in time for the last week of October, here’s a list of some of the movies I most crave in October. Most of them will be familiar because I’ve written about them before, plenty of times in some cases, so I’ll keep the write-ups very brief—but hopefully still pithy!
Frankie and Johnny (1991)
My favorite, and an October theatrical release. A lovely movie about outcasts and misfits finding love in the big city. Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino are absolutely incredible here as two damaged people taking different approaches to their budding romance, while Kate Nelligan, Nathan Lane, Jane Morris and the rest of the supporting cast are simply brilliant. I tend to rank it as Michelle’s best performance, although the next one up is right there also…
The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
Another October theatrical release, featuring Michelle as Susie Diamond in a performance so iconic, so breathtaking, so perfect that I can hardly handle it. In fact, I can’t cope, as my dear, departed friend Lee would have said. Y’all know my feelings about this film and, unlike “Feelings,” they aren’t like parsley!*
*The real ones get this reference.
The House of the Devil (2009)
For me, this one’s quite possibly the ultimate autumnal horror movie. Taking place during a chilly New England fall, this slow-burn masterpiece from writer-director Ti West is an absolute must-watch close to Halloween. West captured the early ’80s with a stunning verisimilitude rarely seen onscreen since the ’80s. I fell in love with Jocelin Donahue thanks to her performance here as Samantha, a college student desperate for cash who takes an unusual babysitting gig at a remote mansion, where nothing is as it seems. West builds a looming sense of dread from the opening shots and never relents. A stunning achievement.
Late Night with the Devil (2023)
I wrote this about this one recently, after watching it again in September. Just mentioning it now makes me want to squeeze in one more viewing of it before All Hallow’s Eve! After all, it takes place on Halloween and I find new layers and more unexplained mysteries in it every time I watch.
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988)
With her first feature film, everyone’s favorite Halloween hottie Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) gifted us one of the great cult classics of all time. Not a big hit upon release in ’88, this hilariously raunchy, absurdly quotable, gothic campfest built its rabid fanbase over time. Those of us who’ve spent decades as members of Elvira’s Fang Club always knew the deal though: Elvira, Mistress of the Dark is comedy-horror solid gold and the ultimate showcase for our classy lassie with the sassy chassis.
The Howling (1981)
My favorite werewolf movie and probably in my top five or ten horror movies of all time. Joe Dante’s love letter to the genre is insanely rewatchable, with a stellar cast and groundbreaking tranformation scenes. It’s such a mood movie, so 1981, that it instantly transports me back to the comfort of that era every time I watch.
Wolf (1994)
More Michelle! This is another one I’ve written about extensively, so here’s the Cliffs Notes* version: Michelle looks gobsmackingly gorgesous and turns in a brilliant performance while Mike Nichols’s direction and Ennio Morricone’s musical score capture that eerie, classic monster movie vibe perfectly. And Jack Nicholson turns in an unusually restrained (for him) performance that really works for me.
*Notice I didn’t say, “here’s the TL; DR version” because I’m an old man and Cliffs Notes are much more in line with my generational touchstones. Now get off my lawn!
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Even more Michelle! October’s a big month for Michelle’s movies. Another one I’ve written about plenty of times before, What Lies Beneath is a slick, spooky, and well executed ghost story that hits all the right, creepy notes and features a fantastic lead performance by La Pfeiffer.
The Halloween films
Everyone has to watch some Halloween movies in October! That’s just the law! I tend to watch random entries in the series every year, although many years ago I ran the entire (original) series of films in October. In recent years I’ve tended to gravitate towards Halloween III: Season of the Witch—the non-Michael Myers entry, and a wild mix of scary sci-fi and Celtic horror—Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, and Halloween H20:20 Years Later,, each of which I love for very specific reasons. Halloween III is a singular experience, a film that’s more than earned its keep as a cult classic. In many ways, Halloween 4* is probably the best sequel to the 1978 Halloween, while I love Halloween 5 because it’s a glorious hot mess—and Tina!—and Halloween H20 will always be canon for me, the perfect way to wrap up Laurie Strode’s story (if only they’d stopped there).
*I love how they just said, “Eh, fuck it” and gave up on the roman numerals after Halloween II.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
My second favorite Tim Burton film, after Batman Returns, Sleepy Hollow has everything, including a deliciously spooky autmnal setting, wonderful performances, and a perfect blend of dark comedy and chilling horror. Burton regular Johnny Depp is terrific as a foppish Ichabod Crane, while the sets, costumes, and Andrew Kevin Walker’s script are all on point. As with all of the films in this list, Sleepy Hollow is absurdly rewatchable, and there’s no better time to rewatch it than right now in October.
The Lords of Salem (2012)
Filmed in and around the Halloween mecca of Salem, Massachusetts, Rob Zombie’s The Lords of Salem practically suffocates you with a forever looming, epic sense of dread that few films have ever matched. Another spectacular autumn setting sets the spooky vibes while Zombie’s restrained, slow-burn horror (there’s that description again) makes for an eerily unsettling experience throughout. Zombie’s made several great horror films, but this might be the most masterfully executed of them all. It’s masterfully executed, foreboding autumnal horror at its finest.
There are so many more I try to watch in October but it’s always tough fitting everything in, even when I start my official Halloween season viewing in August! There’s never enough time!
What are your favorite autumn/October/Halloween films to watch?
