Spooky Suggestions 2025
- The Gatepost
- Oct 31
- 9 min read
‘Calling All The Monsters’
By Liv Dunleavy
Asst. Arts and Feature Editor
In my attempt to find the corniest piece of spooky content, the first and only thing that came to mind was China Anne McClain’s famously catchy and never overplayed “Calling All The Monsters.”
This Disney classic has been enjoyed by many for years, almost 15 to be exact, and yet I still remember every word like it was yesterday. Sitting and watching “A.N.T. Farm,” wishing school was fun like Disney made it out to be, and then getting ready to trick-or-treat as a “Monster High” character.
The song evokes a lot of memories for 2000s kids. If you’re old enough to know this song, you know just how powerful it feels to scream these lyrics at a party or in the car around spooky season.
I did extensive research in preparation for this article, and by that, I mean I listened to the song on repeat for this whole month and watched the music video as well as the “A.N.T. Farm” episode as a refresher.
Along with those throwbacks of the media, I found a second music video produced in 2021 by Disney’s girl group Thriii. Sung by the three McClain sisters, it was a remake of the original song, including a feature by Messenger.
As an avid 2010s child, I definitely enjoy the original the most, though the re-release was a fun watch and wasn’t a terrible listen. But above all, the “Calling All The Monsters” episode of “A.N.T. Farm” was a wave of nostalgia and homesickness.
It was so refreshing compared to today’s TV shows. Even though the jokes are horribly corny and the acting was downright atrocious, I still loved it.
Take my advice and rewatch your favorite Disney show this year - you won’t regret it.
‘The Phantom of the Opera’
By Owen Glancy
Arts & Features Editor
The silent era for horror cinema is mostly defined by the German Expressionist classics of the early 1920s, such as “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” and “Nosferatu,” but to assume that all silent horror was German would obviously be phenomenally wrong.
American silent horror often focused on tales from classic literature, with the most prominent example being “The Phantom of the Opera” from 1925. This was Universal’s first major horror success, and the film for which legendary actor Lon Chaney is best known.
Chaney’s performance as the titular Phantom is the main reason to watch this film. He’s just as hypnotic and menacing as you’d want the Phantom to be, and he absolutely carries the film on his back. Chaney was also famous as the “Man of a Thousand Faces,” since he did his own make-up in every role he played, a facet of his character in this film that absolutely delivers a truly bone-chilling moment when he is finally unmasked.
Chaney is not the only quality aspect, however, as the production design truly gets you lost in this French opera house, a setting the film almost never leaves. From the opulent theater itself to the creepy tunnels and sewers underneath, this setting is perfect for creating a creepy atmosphere.
“The Phantom of the Opera” is the definitive example of silent American horror cinema - an atmospheric and moody film punctuated by a phenomenal central performance and an impressive early color sequence to boot. After watching this just once, this will soon become a new Halloween essential.
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
By Dylan Pichnarcik
Associate Editor
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a cinematic masterpiece that is sure to be the highlight of any fright night flick this Halloween - the film celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a cross between “Frankenstein” and a musical comedy, featuring performances from Tim Curry, who plays the mysterious Dr. Frank-N-Furter, an alien from the planet “Transexual” in the galaxy of “Translyvania,” alongside hit musical performances including “I Can Make You a Man” and “Wise Up Janet Weiss,” a duet with Susan Sarandon, who plays, as the title screen describes, “a heroine.”
The film also includes musical appearances from rock ‘n’ roll icon Meat Loaf, who portrays the doomed Eddie.
Meat Loaf does not have a long screen presence, only appearing for one song, “Hot Patootie / Bless My Soul.”
However, my favorite song from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” appears after Eddie’s untimely demise: “Eddie,” performed by Jonathan Adams and the ensemble cast at a tense dinner party where the guests pressure Frank-N-Furter to tell Dr. Scott (Adams) about Eddie’s whereabouts.
To which Frank-N-Furter responds, “That's a rather tender subject,” as he offers his guests more of the evening’s entree - I’ll let that sink in.
While this film isn’t full of perfectly timed jumpscares, it is sure to make you laugh and question why you weren’t born early enough to experience the 1970s.
This Halloween, grab your friends and teach them the “Time Warp” - it’s just a jump to the left, then a few random steps that will nearly drive you insane.
‘The House in the Cerulean Sea’
By Sophia Oppedisano
Editor-in-Chief
As this Halloween creeps up on us, I decided to trade horror movies and screams for a cozy, enchanting read that is still perfectly suitable for this spooky season.
Think of it more as a monsters-under-the-bed type of scary, if you will.
Just last week, I had the incomparable experience of reading TJ Klune’s 2020 novel, “The House in the Cerulean Sea.”
The story follows Linus Baker, a by-the-book case worker who is sent to investigate an orphanage on a mysterious island housing six magical children who have been deemed dangerous by the government.
The children include the likes of Lucy (short for Lucifer, obviously), the son of the Antichrist, Talia, a fiercely protective gnome, and Chauncy, an amorphous blob who hides under Linus’s bed and has dreams of becoming a bellhop.
Linus arrives on the island fearing the children and their capabilities as well as their caretaker - the mysterious, charming Arthur Parnassus.
As Linus softens toward the children and Arthur, he sheds his fears and long-believed stereotypes that these children are dangerous and scary.
The story and its description of the orphanage, the island, and the family Arthur has built for the children are a feast for the imagination, and Linus, our loveable, honest protagonist, confronts the impossible reality of finding family in an unlikely place.
The book uses the fantastical setting to explore real-world prejudice and explores themes of fear, oppression, inclusivity, and found family.
“The House in the Cerulean Sea” is a welcome respite from horror and gore this Halloween with a story akin to a grown-up fairytale.
You might even learn a thing or two.
And don’t mind Lucy - he probably doesn’t mean it when he threatens to liquify your brain.
Probably.
‘The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t’
By Sarah Daponde
Asst. Arts & Features Editor
While your friends are busy watching “Hocus Pocus” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” jump into the forgotten classic of “The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t” for a timeless, endearingly spooky watch.
Originally released in 1979 on ABC, “The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t” has the nostalgic vibes of a Beistle Halloween decoration and the spooky effects of an Alfred Hitchcock film.
In the special TV program, Winnie the Witch of Halloween refuses to fly over the moon anymore, which puts Halloween in danger of being canceled forever. Count Dracula, assisted by his fellow monsters, has to convince the Witch not to quit.
The most charming part of this program is most definitely the monsters.
The opening scene features Dracula - iconic with his pale skin, black robes, and severe widow’s peak - watching a news broadcast in the living room of his haunted mansion, while Igor eats popcorn by his side.
The other horror monsters arrive at his mansion one by one, each with their own moment to shine. Warren the Werewolf, Zabaar the Zombie, the Frankenstein Monster, and the Mummy are all portrayed as their classic, spooky - but not quite scary - selves.
The monsters, led by Dracula, do everything they can think of to get the Witch to fly over the moon. But in the end, help comes from a heartwarming and surprising place.
The program runs 30 minutes long - the perfect length to fit in a happy ending for everyone, as well as an unexpected disco party.
‘Weapons’
By Antonio Machado
Copy Editor
As Halloween approaches, darkness falls across the land with the midnight hour close at hand, creatures crawl in search of blood to terrorize our neighborhoods, and our response? Make movies about them!
“Weapons,” helmed by “Barbarian” director Zach Cregger, was one of the best films released this year and an absolutely perfect choice to watch for a spooky movie night, as it features the scariest thing on this planet - a ginger microbang.
Featuring a star-studded cast, the film follows a concerned group of people in a small Pennsylvania town as they investigate the disappearance of all but one child of an entire elementary school class of children.
Through a kaleidoscopic narrative lens where we experience events through the perspective of different characters, Cregger delivers an intense and captivating story that will undoubtedly leave you at the edge of your seat - that is until you eventually jump back from the surprisingly frightful jumpscares!
The performances in this movie are absolutely spectacular. Julia Garner plays elementary school teacher Justine Gandy, who is troubled yet caring. We’re brought to sympathize with her and also be furious because she is, frankly, rather incompetent - in the way a horror movie protagonist should be.
Amy Madigan’s kooky Aunt Gladys is a performance for the books. If it were not for the Academy’s hatred for horror movies, she would undoubtedly be a contender for “Best Supporting Actress.”
The film is not just tense horror, though, as there are plenty, plenty of comedic moments throughout that actually serve to make the scary moments even more so.
“Euphoria’s” Austin Abrams plays a comedic relief heroin addict that spends the entire film begging for money and simultaneously serves a very unexpected role in the mystery of it all.
This film is an absolute standout in the slew of horror movies that have come out this past decade, and I highly recommend anyone interested in some horror fun to check this out!
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’
By Jesse Burchill
Staff Writer
Released on Sept. 5th, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” is the fourth “Conjuring” film and the ninth in the greater franchise.
Like its predecessors, “Last Rites” tells the story of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they look into genuine supernatural phenomena and specifically focuses on their final investigation - the haunting of the Smurl family in 1986 by a demon inhabiting an antique mirror.
The movie features the couple’s daughter, Judy, in a larger role than the previous films, giving her more to do in the fight against the mirror demon and making use of the psychic abilities she inherited from her mother to help the Smurls. It’s really nice to see Judy help out more in her parents’ work, even if it’s in their last adventure.
Furthermore, Judy’s relationship with her fiancé, Tony, may be one of my favorite parts, thanks to how it serves as an effective foil to the horrors going on elsewhere in the film, avoids slowing down the pacing, and has Tony actually playing a decent role in helping the Warrens fight the mirror demon.
Like its predecessors, “Last Rites” does not skimp on the scares. The Smurl family’s first paranormal experience after getting the mirror happens not even five minutes after it’s brought into their home, and it does not slow down from there.
The family is subject to the likes of vomiting blood and glass, several attacks from violent spirits, and ostracization from their neighbors and the media when they reach out to help in freeing themselves of the mirror demon.
In the end, “Last Rites” succeeds at being a solid installment - both as the final “Conjuring” film proper and on its own merits. It has the scares, the family drama, and one of my favorite endings in the entire series.
‘Soul Eater’
By Paul Harrington
Staff Writer
“Soul Eater” isn't exactly a show about kids trick-or-treating, but this show is a treat in itself.
This 2008 anime is deeply rooted in the supernatural and brings together a variety of characters inspired by mythology, religious scriptures, and weapons!
In this show, people can wield and also transform into weapons. Weapon wielders are referred to as “meisters” and form a deep bond with their weapons’ human counterpart.
You have Liz and Patty, the twin pistols, Soul Evans, the scythe, and Tsubaki, the multi-weapon brawler.
They fight alongside Death The Kid, Maka Albarn, and Black Star, respectively.
The charm of this series lies within its character design. No two characters have the same design, so it's refreshing to see such a diverse cast of characters.
The episodes aren't too heavy to follow and the majority of them are sure to make you laugh.
My only gripe with Soul Eater is that near the end of the show, it starts to deviate from the path that the manga took.
Now, to the majority of folks, this is not the biggest thing that you'll lose sleep over, but parts of the final act feel a little out of place when compared to the manga.
With all that said, this show is a certified Paul pick for the spooky season!
