Whether people want to admit it or not, everyone enjoys at least one “chick flick”; a genre defined as being targeted to women by the Oxford Dictionary. While researching for this article, I found that along with the definition of the word, it was also listed as being “derogatory.”
While some may see it as that, I take pride in enjoying a good chick-flick; so began the combination of this love and my love for anything and everything spooky with the Halloween season. To the reader of this story thinking, “but it’s April, Halloween is still months away,” you would be correct, but being as it is my senior year and I will sadly not be writing for the Orbit during the 2025 Fall semester, I thought I would leave this for future reference.
Moreover, within the spooky community, those who enjoy everything creepy year-round, have a designated name for this time in the month of May- Half-A-Ween, the middle between the last and the next Halloween.
In spirit of Half-A-Ween, below are my favorite and most bingeable spooky chick flicks.
Honorable and must watch mentions:
- “Practical Magic” (PG-13)
- “Death Becomes Her” (PG-13)
- “Warm Bodies” (PG-13)
- ‘Totally Killer” (R)
“Elvira: Mistress of the Dark” (PG-13)
Following the success of her hit show, Elvira, Cassandra Peterson, struggles to keep both her ratings and economy from sinking. Just when Elvira thinks all is lost, she receives a surprising inheritance from her great-aunt.
As Elvira makes the venture to collect said inheritance, her convertible breaks down in the small and straightlaced town of Fallwell, Massachusetts. The townspeople think lower of Elvira due to her fashion, her background and her overall witty personality.
Meanwhile, she is also unknowingly fighting for an old “recipe book” with her great-uncle that contains more than just her aunt’s kitchen secrets.
Despite these opinions on her, Elvira continues to take pride in herself and remains confident even about who she is even in situations as daunting as being burned at the stake.
The movie is charming both in the sense of being both a kooky comedy, while also calling out the prejudice faced by those seen as different. Moreover, setting the story in Massachusetts and having details calling back to the Salem Witch Trials is a clear call out to ideals that ended in innocent women being convicted and killed due to witchcraft.
If you’re looking for clever jokes and something more fun and scary while also bringing spooky elements, “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark,” along with “Elvira’s Haunted Hills” and “Elvira’s Movie Macabre” should be on your watchlist.
“Lisa Frankenstein” (PG-13)
This movie follows high schooler Lisa Swallows two after her mother was brutally murdered in front of her. Since the event, her father has remarried, she moved both towns and schools and is not so accommodating to her new life.
Lisa has a new stepmother, which fits the archetype of an evil stepmother, and a stepsister by the name of Taffy- a complete opposite from her mother who tries her hardest to help Lisa through her trauma.
Lisa seems to only move past her horrific past in an even more horrific fashion, though. After an undead gentleman comes back to life through electric shock he and Lisa go on a streak of murders on the people that have hurt Lisa, while simultaneously building back the body the gentleman once had.
The film has a total ‘80s atmosphere, being both camp- a term used to describe something eccentric and often humorous- in fashion, comedy and the overall story that Lisa and her new partner take.
The film moreover navigates stereotypes in a humorous way, using misguided Lisa as a grey character as both a protagonist and antagonist at times.
“Heathers” (R)
One of the more dark films on this list, 1988’s “Heathers,” is iconic in every way possible: the writing, the fashion, the tone and every other stylistic choice the film chose to make.
The movie revolves around Veronica Sawyer, a high school student involved with the namesake popular clique of the school, the Heathers. The group consists of Heather Chandler, the leader, Heather McNamara and Heather Duke- all seen as pristine, yet cruel girls.
After newcomer Jason Dean, J.D., arrives at the school, Veronica seems to find him both interesting and intriguing, then pursuing a relationship with him.
After a catastrophic course of events involving both J.D. and Veronica, Heather Chandler’s life comes to an end due to an accidental and not so accidental poisoning by both Veronica and J.D. Trying to cover up the murder, J.D. stirs up a plan to make Heather’s death look like a suicide, and when the rest of the community catch wind of the the staged news, people seem to take suicide- specifically teen suicide- as the new hot ordeal.
Following Heather’s murder, the couple continues on a murderous streak, posing their casualties as the latest victims to suicide, to which the media seems to explode in nothing but support. Veronica, while first coming off as a more ambiguous character, realizes that not only is the topic of teen suicide being bandwagoned by media, but also through individuals of the community that not only were not close to the deceased individuals, but seemed to detest them.
The film takes on taboo and serious topics such as suicide, homophobia and more in both a comited way to call out the problems teens face, while also contrasting it with a dark humor tone.
It is admirable how the film can not only call out those that choose to only care for others after their passing, while also calling out the pressures faced by teenagers which is often overlooked.
“The Craft” (R)
Last but most certainly not least, and probably my favorite film out of the list, 1996’s “The Craft” is a film I will never get tired of watching. It not only encompasses the good and bad of female friendships and relationships to a tea, it also does so by adding magical elements to it.
The movie begins with Sarah Bailey, new student Sarah Bailey is introduced to the already formed and self proclaimed coven of Nancy Downs, Bonnie and Rochelle. After being hesitant on joining them, after a rumor is spread about Sarah by a short lived romantic partner that was also spread about Nancy by the same man, Sarah becomes the fourth member of the group.
Throughout their run as a coven, they are able to grow their trust in both the universe and each other, therefore allowing them to grow their power. Their magic ranges from physical transformations, to love spells and more, eventually leading to the group transforming from who they once were.
With this newfound power, the original three members of the group seem to get more and more power hungry, leaving Sarah to make more and more decisions on whether she wants to maintain her friendship and her spiritual ties to the coven.
The style of the movie is peak whimsy goth fashion, the tone of the movie is spooky, yet not too scary and the messaging of finding one’s own power is something that will never be forgotten.
