5 Spooky Things to Watch During the Fall

Pulse Perspective by Gunner Stuns

For a lot of us out there, the month of October is one for the ghouls and goblins– that is to say, filled to the brim with ghosts, vampires, werewolves, mummies and the like! With so many media options to choose from, it can be difficult to pick out what to watch so that you can get into the spirit of the spookiest season all year. Luckily, with how long these myths and monsters have been around, there are a few gems out there that I would strongly recommend you feast your eyes upon this time of year.

Castlevania (Netflix)

The last of a noble family of vampire hunters, a powerful witch and Dracula’s son have to team up in order to stop the vampire king from destroying all of humanity! No pressure, right? Based on the video game series of the same name, Castlevania is a great source of monster fiction, with hunters, magicians and creatures of the night all coming out to take part in Dracula’s war against mankind. It’s important to note that the show is extremely vulgar and viewers should expect lots of gore and some sexual content, particularly in the latter two seasons. However, the strength of Castlevania is in its characters, where the writing really shines as you get to watch them grow and evolve over the course of the series. The animation is also very well-done, with a pleasing anime-inspired art style and action choreography like I’ve never seen anywhere else. If you’re searching for a binge-worthy fang fest, Trevor Belmont’s battle against Dracula is the one to watch.

Van Helsing (2004)

In this action romp, Hugh Jackman stars as the titular Van Helsing, a Monster Hunter who travels the world fighting off supernatural creatures at the behest of the Vatican. Van Helsing is tasked with aiding Anna Valerious, played by Kate Beckinsale, in preventing Dracula from creating an army of newborn vampires, which pits the pair of them against all manner of monsters. While the film is very much an action movie, and it does have its silliness and camp, the best part of Van Helsing is how fun it is. As you follow Van Helsing on his quest, it's obvious how much the movie is intended as a celebration of the genre, with werewolves, Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein’s Monster, and other classic horror elements all coming together to tell this grand, larger than life tale. 

Underworld (2003)

Underworld is another action-thriller that features a secret war between vampires and werewolves, but from a much different perspective than how these films usually go. Kate Beckinsale makes her reappearance on this list as the vampire Selene, a warrior who fights against the rival clan of werewolves. During this modern-day, gothic adventure, Selene must confront the true nature of their war, as well as her own feelings towards herself and humanity thanks to a mysterious connection with the human Michael Corvin. Underworld is a thrilling movie that combines more modern action tropes found in films like The Matrix with the classic world of vampires and werewolves. Selene herself is also a great point of view character to follow, as she has the skills to take on the world, but not necessarily the ability to fully understand it. If you enjoy this movie, there are also plenty of sequels that further expand on the world and characters from the first film, making Underworld a great series to light that fire in your jack-o-lantern. 

Twilight (2008)

Just hear me out– this movie can be a great time. Bella Swan moves to live with her dad in Forks and finds herself mixed up in a Romeo & Juliet styled adventure with the vampire, Edward Cullen, that sends her head-on into the gothic world of vampires and werewolves. But, you knew that, didn’t you? This series is pretty infamous for its writing and dialogue, but that’s a big part of the draw to me. If you’re looking for something more entertaining, particularly if you have a group of friends with you, then Twilight is the perfect monster movie to watch. You’ll laugh at the unintentional comedy, the awkwardness, the costumes and of course, just how ridiculous it all is. Who knows? Maybe along the way, you’ll even find yourself on Team Edward or Team Jacob. 

The Mummy (1999)

In this reimagining of the classic film, oscar-winner Brendan Fraser stars as Rick O’Connell, a mercenary treasure hunter who winds up guiding historian Evelyn Carnahan to the fabled city of Hamunaptra. Unfortunately for Rick and Evie, they also accidentally help to awaken the long-dead and powerful mummy, Imhotep and have to stop him before he brings about the end of the world! This movie is a lot like Van Helsing in the sense that it’s another charming, action-romp with lots of camp. For similar reasons though, it’s a lot of fun! The characters are instantly likable, and the Egyptian-inspired sets are as captivating as they are creepy. From the intense set-pieces to the surprisingly sweet romance, The Mummy has a lot to offer for fans of monster flicks and sci-fi fantasy. There are plenty of secrets hidden beneath the sands of time, just waiting to be uncovered.