Ampersand’s Halloween season watchlist: The basics

I’m a big fan of all things spooky. I love a skeleton-y, sheet ghost fall aesthetic. I love beingscared. And I love Halloween movies — minus slasher films, sorry. If you’re a fan of cartoons, foreign-language films, or the iconic media that have defined American storytelling for generations, this list is for you. From childhood favorites to recent discoveries, here’s a curated collection of my favorite Halloween TV shows and films.

“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (1966)

The quintessential American Halloween special

For the first Halloween I spent with my partner, I had one requirement: we had to watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Bill Melendez’s animated adaptation of Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” comic strip follows the ever-faithful Linus, who decides to spend Halloween night waiting for the Great Pumpkin — the Halloween version of Santa, obviously — instead of partying or trick-or-treating with the rest of the gang. Like all “Peanuts” specials, it uses its simple premise to explore the universal themes of belief, excitement, and failed expectations with grace and a fantastic soundtrack by ultra-talented jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. In the 60 years since it first aired, it has become a multi-generational Halloween tradition for many families, including my own — my dad watched it as a toddler and watched it with me every year as a kid. As I’ve gotten older, trick-or-treating has come and gone, but “The Great Pumpkin” has stayed.

“Over the Garden Wall” (2014)

For lovers of cozy, vintage,and only slightly spooky autumnal vibes

Patrick McHale, known for “The Misadventures of Flapjack” and “Adventure Time,” produced “Over the Garden Wall” for Cartoon Network. The cult classic mini-series follows half-brothers Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Gregory (Collin Dean) as they travel through a mysterious land called The Unknown. It’s modern, but feels nostalgic and lived-in. Inspired by early American folklore, design and animation, the show is pure Americana — complete with dancing jack-o-lanterns, colonial-era schoolhouses filled with music-playing animals, steamboat-steering frogs, and the like. It also features voice talent from legendary actors like Wood, Christopher Lloyd, John Cleese, and the late, great Tim Curry. Pair it with a blanket, apple cider or some candy corn (don’t be a hater) for a perfect fall night.

“Poltergeist” (1982)

For fans of OG horror, practical effects, haunted houses and amazing climaxes

In “Poltergeist,” a family works together to bring back 5-year-old Carol Ann (Heather O’Rourke), who disappears into the closet in their poltergeist-haunted home. Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg’s suburbia-set classic is arguably one of the most influential horror movies of all time, inspiring film and TV like “Stranger Things,” “Insidious” and “The Conjuring.” Some effects haven’t aged so well, but others have aged remarkably. 4-year-old me was scarred by this movie, but it’s since become one of my favorites. In true Spielberg fashion, the final third of the film barrels on with an almost possessed energy and is jam-packed with groundbreaking, effect-laden moments. Sit back and enjoy OG horror movie magic.

“Midnight Mass” (2021)

For fans of religious horror, atmospheric storytelling and fresh takes on genre tropes

Mike Flanagan’s Netflix series “Midnight Mass” follows a sleepy fishing community that changes after a strange priest is assigned to a local church. It tackles themes of religion, faith, community and redemption, all while bringing a refreshing twist to the horror genre. My suggestion is to go into it as blindly as you can. The show took me entirely by surprise and I love it so much that I rewatch every year. It may not be as scary as its popular predecessor, “Haunting of Hill House” or as buzzworthy as “Carrie,” but in my opinion, it’s undoubtedly Flanagan’s magnum opus.

“Talk to Me” (2022)

For lovers of doom-filled, psychological supernatural horror

In this Australian A24 film directed by twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, a group of Adelaide teens turn summoning spirits with a monkey’s paw-like hand into a party game. They set surprisingly well-thought-out rules for the game, but emotional, sometimes quite gory chaos ensues. The squirm-inducing, high-energy horror film nearly swept the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (basically the Aussie Oscars), including awards for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay and Best Lead Actress. It’s genuinely brilliant, scary and disturbing, with a truly heartbreaking ending.

The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror” Halloween specials

Satirical, outrageous, zeitgeist-rooted fun

In “Treehouse of Horror V” — my favorite of the 38 Simpsons Halloween specials — a fog that turns people inside out seeps into the Simpsons’ family home. The newly de-skinned family then puts on canes and top hats, dancing and singing about guts to a Broadway tune as their dog drags Bart away by his intestine. It’s ironic, slightly sinister, outrageous and deeply culturally rooted — all hallmarks of “The Simpsons” at its very best.

The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror” Halloween specials have aired annually since 1990, spoofing classic horror like “The Twilight Zone” and “Dracula” in a way only the residents of Springfield can. Not sure where to start? Check out “Treehouse of Horror II” (Season 3, Episode 7), IV (Season 5, Episode 5), V (Season 6, Episode 6) or VII (Season 8, Episode 4). Look closely, and you’ll recognize a few moments from your favorite memes. And beware of the fog that turns you inside out!

“Let the Right One In” (2008)

The best vampire movie you’ve probably never heard of

The melancholic Swedish horror film follows a bullied young boy, Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), who develops a friendship with the vampire girl Eli (Lina Leandersson) who lives next door. The movie is dark, disturbing, occasionally graphic and guaranteed to be unlike any horror movie you’ve seen before. You may have seen the American remake “Let Me In,” which starred Chloe Grace Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee, but per the critics, this one is infinitely better. It’s No.3 on The Hollywood Reporter’s Best Horror Movies of the 21st Century, No.1 on Rotten Tomatoes’s list of 40 Essential Vampire Movies, and No.70 on The New York Times’s list of the100 Best Movies of the 21st Century. This one deserves a watch.

“Young Frankenstein” (1974)

For fans of goofy humor, Mel Brooks and committing to the bit

In Mel Brooks’s iconic send-up of classic horror films, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (that’s Fron-ken-steen) travels to Transylvania and resumes the experiments of his grandfather, the mad scientist from the original story. Gene Wilder (yes, Willy Wonka) plays Frankenstein and a young Peter Boyle (from “Everybody Loves Raymond”) is The Monster. The movie is chock-full of memorable scenes, maybe the most popular being Frankenstein and The Monster performing “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in suits and top hats to prove the creature is not to be feared. It’s goofy, corny, very Mel Brooks, and was deemed the 13th funniest American movie of all time by the American Film Institute. Watch it now to prepare for FX’s upcoming sequel series “Very Young Frankenstein,” currently in development.

“Interview with the Vampire” (2022)

For fans of period pieces, great monologues and toxic relationships

The TV series remake of Anne Rice’s book follows Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) as he recounts his life as a vampire, including his tumultuous love affair with Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). Set in a dark, moody New Orleans, the show is atmospheric and immersive. Yes, there’s blood and violence, but there’s also family drama, complicated relationship dynamics and hundred-year queer love affairs. The series tackles race, abuse and sexuality in much greater detail than the ‘90s film, telling a reimagined story that’s multi-layered, dark and deeply satisfying. And the acting is second-to-none, with amazing performances from Reid, Anderson and Delainey Hayles. In my humble opinion, it is a booming, enrapturing masterpiece, and one of the best shows of the last decade, possibly ever.

“Beetlejuice” (1988)

For fans of Tim Burton, camp and Harry Belafonte

In “Beetlejuice,” a newly deceased married couple, the Maitlands (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin), befriend the misfit goth daughter (Winona Ryder) of the family they’re trying to scare out of their home. Struggling to remove them — even after stretching out their faces and even donning sheets — they ask for the help of Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a “bioexorcist.” With the technicolor afterlife, claymation sequences, and the supernatural disruption of the normalcy of suburbia, it is — in my opinion — the quintessential Tim Burton movie (skip the sequel). It’s a quirky, joyful gem of a film. The final scene — Winona Ryder dancing along to Harry Belafonte’s track “Jump in the Line” with ghost football players — is one of the best feel-good endings, and a sign that Burton and Belafonte are an unexpected match made in heaven.

Edited byAdilene Gomez Santiagoand Sammie Vassallo