Halloween is fast approaching and as an avid spook-fan I use this as an excuse to whack out as many creeps as I can!
However, also as a resident chicken, sometimes full on horror is still a no go.
So here I have compiled a handy dandy list of shows and films (that in my opinion) are just the right amount of scary that you can enjoy the season without having to change your pants.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
PG
Although I want to try and avoid obvious choices, I do feel I would be absolutely slammed if I didn't include this film - a truly iconic Halloween movie.
A curious youngster moves to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1996 - 2003)
12
I absolutely had to have an excuse to put my all time favourite tv show in here, and thankfully it couldn't be more relevant. Although careful! It's a super addictive series that once you start, you won't be able to put down.
A young woman, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.
Although all of the episodes are equally spooky in some shape or form, I recommend you watch these episodes specifically if you just want to watch for Halloween:
S02 EP06: Halloween
On Halloween, Buffy and her friends patronize an unusual costume shop where customers turn into whatever costume they are wearing.
S04 EP10: Hush - especially this one!
When everyone in Sunnydale loses their voice, the Scooby Gang must silently solve the mystery of the monsters who stole their ability to speak.
S04 EP04: Fear Itself
On Halloween, Buffy and her friends find themselves trapped inside a haunted frat house complete with real bats, zombies, and a terrifying demon.
Over The Garden Wall (2014)
PG
This charming 10 episode mini-series is actually one of the more bizarre entries on this list. Be sure to watch all the way to the end for the plot to unfold! A Dark fantasy world that I highly recommend.
Two brothers find themselves lost in a mysterious land and try to find their way home.
The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell (2018)
PG12
A show I didn't know I needed and Christine McConnell's crafting talent knows no bounds. This how-to-talk-show is full of fun characters, and is honestly an absolute delight to watch. I just wish it was longer!
Part cooking show, part sitcom in the vein of the Addams Family and the Muppet Show set inside the enchanted home of Christine McConnell, who has attracted hundreds of thousands of social media followers with her creepy edible creations.
Coraline (2009)
PG
Personally one of the creepiest kids films I have ever watched, Coraline has captivating, bright and super interesting visuals that'll keep you hooked.
An adventurous 11-year-old girl finds another world that is a strangely idealized version of her frustrating home, but it has sinister secrets.
Santa Clarita Diet (2017)
15
This (ongoing) series is a fantastic comedy-horror take on the undead I never saw coming.
WARNING; it's not for the faint of stomach, because although it's definitely not on the frightening side of horror, it is however, full of vomit, blood and body parts.
Sheila and Joel are married real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. When Sheila dies, their lives take a dark turn.
Paranorman (2012)
PG
Another stop animation gem by Laika; you've got ghosts, banshee's, zombies - the lot.
A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.
What We Do In The Shadows (2014)
15
Definitely one of the most genius comedies ever made, this mockumentary style vampire film is an absolute must watch.
Viago, Deacon and Vladislav are vampires who are finding that modern life has them struggling with the mundane - like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs and overcoming flatmate conflicts.
Practical Magic (1998)
12
A lighthearted, drama-filled romp through the world of some modern witches.
Two witch sisters, raised by their eccentric aunts in a small town, face closed-minded prejudice and a curse which threatens to prevent them ever finding lasting love.
The Craft (1996)
15
A teen drama with a sinister twist. Possibly one of the most iconic witch films to come out of the 90s. And between you and me, Fairuza Balk is really quite terrifying.
A newcomer to a Catholic prep high school falls in with a trio of outcast teenage girls who practice witchcraft, and they all soon conjure up various spells and curses against those who anger them.
Coming soon
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018)
(not yet rated)
As her 16th birthday nears, Sabrina must choose between the witch world of her family and the human world of her friends. Based on the Archie comic.
Watch the trailer below!
Honorable Mentions
Charmed (1998-2006)
Three sisters discover their destiny, to battle against the forces of evil, using their witchcraft. They are the Charmed Ones.
Stranger Things (2016 -)
When a young boy disappears, his mother, a police chief, and his friends must confront terrifying forces in order to get him back.
Supernatural (2005 - )
Two brothers follow their father's footsteps as "hunters", fighting evil supernatural beings of many kinds, including monsters, demons, and gods that roam the earth.
Bewitched (1964 - 1972)
A witch married to an ordinary man cannot resist using her magic powers to solve the problems her family faces.
The Witches (1990)
A young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse.
The Addams family (1991)
Con artists plan to fleece an eccentric family using an accomplice who claims to be their long-lost uncle.
Nightmare before Christmas (1993)
Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.
Scooby Doo and the Witch's ghost (1999)
Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Gang visit Oakhaven, Massachusetts to seek strange goings on involving a famous horror novelist and his ancestor who is rumored be a witch.
Shaun of the dead (2004)
A man decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.
Goosebumps (1995 - 1998)
A series of horror anthology stories based on the children's books by R.L. Stine.