Happy Halloween, geeks! Our staff here at Geekwave is so excited to be celebrating the culmination of the spooky season, and are so happy for the chance to share our recommendations with everyone. Here are some of our favorite pieces of Halloween media to make your day just a little bit scarier.
Bentley’s Pick:
There is a reason Beetlejuice became a quick Halloween favorite. In my opinion, it is both Tim Burton and Danny Elfman at their very best, with iconic performances from Winona Rider, Michael Keaton, and Catherine O’Hara. The franchise has since expanded to a sequel, a television series, a comic book run, a novelization, and a broadway stage musical. Still, I think this original film stands above all of those, in its individual status as a true classic.
I couldn’t possibly bring up Beetlejuice without mentioning the incredible practical effects. The team managed to bring such a bizarre world to life in a way that felt fully realized. The strangeness is all so intentional, from the stop-motion sandworm to the genuinely horrifying “scary faces” the Maitlands put on. If you somehow haven’t seen Beetlejuice already, I highly recommend you give it a watch this Halloween season.
Emma’s Pick:
To this day, Scream is an undeniable Halloween classic. Every October, it resurfaces in the conversation, and for good reason, the success of the massive franchise all stems from the originality and charm of the first film. I rewatch it every year with my sister, and each time I’m reminded how perfectly it balances humor and horror. It never takes itself too seriously, yet somehow still manages to capture that eerie Halloween feeling that never gets old.
Kaden’s Pick:
As a rule I tend not to rewatch movies from my childhood. I find that many haven’t aged well, and I prefer to keep them perfect in my memory. Alien is not a movie that needs this treatment. Every time I watch Alien I find new understanding, new appreciation for its themes, practical effects, and its horror.
As a kid, I liked Alien’s gore and creepy alien designs. As I age, its themes of misogyny, corporate greed, and the horror of childbirth give the movie new life. The main character: Ripley, was, and still remains one of cinema’s most competent characters. While Alien’s sequel: Aliens, is a fantastic movie, nothing beats the original in my mind.
Ella S’ Pick:
I’ve never really been one for horror movies, but I really love IT (2017)! I think it is the perfect balance between jump scares and suspense. The case does a great job of portraying an iconic group of characters from one of Stephen King’s most iconic books, Pennywise is such an iconic horror monster as well as the red balloon and Georgie’s yellow rain jacket. IT has become an iconic movie that I’ve seen multiple times and love to go back to. I really recommend this movie for the Halloween season!
Ella R’s Pick:
I (somehow) was recently convinced to watch The Haunting of Hill House. Now, something you probably don’t know about me is that I am a massive wimp. But I finally gave in a couple of weeks ago, and I hate to say it, but this might be one of my new favorite shows.
Hill House is about so much more than just a haunted house. The familial relationships are raw and heart-wrenching. If you’ve never seen the show, prepare to spend more time crying than screaming. The series boasts incredible performances from more people than I should list. But this is my section, so I’ll highlight my favorites anyway: Victoria Pedretti, Kate Siegel, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the scares. I screamed out loud more times than I’d like to admit, but a particular jump scare later on in the show especially comes to mind–it nearly made me jump out of my skin. Pro tip: check the background regularly. If you’re perceptive enough, you’ll spot extra ghosts hanging around Hill House.
A few people have already fallen victim to my excited ranting about the series, so I’ll end my bit here. If you’re looking for a good scare (and a good cry) this Halloween, give The Haunting of Hill House a watch–it’s wimp-approved!
Jordan’s Pick:
You may be familiar with the little guy in this poster even if you haven’t seen the film. Sam has become a mainstay in Spirit Halloween and Halloween aisles. His iconic look has kept him popular even as the film remains a cult classic.
Trick R Treat is my absolute favorite Halloween movie. As a massive horror fan, there are many films I could recommend to make your skin crawl and leave you jumping at shadows. Those films don’t ooze Halloween spirit in the same way Trick R Treat does. The film is a horror comedy anthology that follows several stories in a town on Halloween night. They are all united by the presence of the film’s mascot, Sam, and a love of all things Halloween! He is an eerie little guy who ensures that everyone is respecting the holiday and celebrating in their own grotesque way. Its scares are more creepy and sometimes gross than outright scary. It’s a good one to watch if you have friends who aren’t as ready to dive into something truly terrible. The twists in the different tales and moments of black comedy break up the scares nicely. It also doesn’t hold back on the material. The feel of the film and the anthology approach make it feel like a Halloween special but made for adults.
So give Trick R Treat a try this holiday if you want something fun but also horrifying. Enjoy the film and celebrate Halloween and maybe Sam won’t get you!
Thank you!
We hope you enjoyed hearing our recommendations, and maybe even took our advice on what to watch this Halloween season. However you celebrate, we hope you have a fun, safe, and happy Halloween!
For more spooky content, check out Emma’s recent article about reading slashers!
https://thegeekwave.com/2025/10/reading-slashers-for-a-week/
Or learn more about how Geekwave is celebrating Halloween on our Instagram!
