As a lover of chilly weather and orange leaves, I’ve gotten sick of watching the same old Halloween movies every time autumn comes around. For those who feel the same, here are seven movies that you can watch while cozied up on your couch with a cinnamon-scented candle going. The following are movies that take place in the fall/give that vibe but are underrated or rarely rewatched during the fall as a celebration of the in-between season’s arrival.
- Big Daddy (1999) Directed by Dennis Dugan
“Having a kid is great… as long as his eyes are closed and he’s not moving or speaking.” Adam Sandler tends to get a lot of flak for his movies; his absurdly stupid sense of humor is the cornerstone on which his films are built, and because of that, they’re often empty-headed and ridiculous. However, Big Daddy is different from Sandler’s other crass projects: it reflects on the importance of family and adult responsibility. The movie takes place in New York City around Halloween and centers on Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler), who adopts five-year-old Julian McGrath (Cole/Dylan Sprouse) to prove to his girlfriend that he is capable of making a commitment. When he discovers that she isn’t amused by his decision, he tries to give the child back, but fails, and is forced to raise a kid as a sluggish, unfit parent. The movie is the perfect blend of touching scenes and ludicrous signature-Sandler comedy.
- Coco (2017) Directed by Lee Unkrich
“You make me un poco loco!” Coco isn’t based on Halloween like most movies during this spooky-centered season; instead, it takes place in a bustling Mexican city on the Day of the Dead, or how they refer to it in Spanish, Día De Los Muertos. The protagonist, Miguel, is a musician in a family whose roots are buried in the banishment of music from their household. He goes on a journey in The Land of the Dead to uncover family secrets and follow in the successful footsteps of his favorite singer. The film delves into rich Mexican culture through magnificent colors and animation. Watching it feels like you’re actually with your family, because although they can be stubborn, you still love them.
- Pitch Perfect (2012) Directed by Jason Moore
“You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.” Pitch Perfect is like Mean Girls but with a cappella geeks on a college campus. The movie takes place over the course of the entire school year, but predominantly highlights the fall semester, where freshman Beca Mitchell (Anna Kendrick) develops a found-family within The Barden Bellas, an all-girls a capella group that competes with groups at their own and other colleges. The Barden Bellas had been unsuccessful at competitions due to their overworked routines, so Mitchell steps in to put a modern twist on their performances in hopes of being more victorious at future competitions. Mitchell takes to another freshman, Jesse Swanson (Skylar Astin), who is part of The Barden Bellas’ all-boys rival a cappella group, The Trebelmakers. I love a forbidden romance moment, especially in an unserious context. A couple among rival a cappella groups? Scandalous!
- Submarine (2010) Directed by Richard Ayoade
“You’re too good for me. You’re too good for anyone.” If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard anyone talk about this movie, I’d be dirt poor. In fact, I’d have no money at all. Submarine is a criminally underrated, cinematically creative Welsh film set in the 1980s. It’s action-packed with drama, comedy, romance, and coming-of-age (A.K.A. all of the best genres). The film revolves around 15-year-old Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts), who is determined to lose his virginity before he turns 16 and prevent his parents from getting a divorce. He meets his peculiar classmate Jordana Bevan (Yasmin Paige) and is instantly enthralled by her persona. The gloomily enchanting movie explores love and depression in teenage years in comparison to adult years. The movie is most known for its soundtrack, which is written and performed by Alex Turner, lead singer of British bands Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets. The movie is super popular among fans of the two bands; Turner’s performance on the soundtrack was remarkable and was the cherry on top of the fantastic film.
- The Batman (2022) Directed by Matt Reeves
“I’m vengeance.” The Batman is a mysterious fall film that turns a new leaf and completely reinvents who Batman/Bruce Wayne is as a character. A grim, hair-raising creature of the night with a dark presence, like a beast roaming the crime-infested streets of Gotham. The same goes for The Riddler. Who was once an unserious villain straight from the vibrant, childlike pages of a comic book is now a horrific, uncatchable outlaw who leaves whispers behind at the crime scenes of his grisly murders. The film is a game of cat-and-mouse where Batman (Robert Pattinson) serves as a detective while following the murders of the elite citizens of Gotham, which have riddles left behind as clues. The film pulls a great deal of inspiration from Se7en (1995), directed by David Fincher, which is a movie I contemplated putting on this list. If you watch Se7en before watching The Batman, you’ll be able to identify the striking similarities between the two movies. The constantly gloomy weather, the unlawful, slummy city, a fugitive that commits repulsive murders and leaves behind cryptic clues, the list goes on. The Batman is just that, but brings in the superhero/supervillain aspect.
- Whiplash (2014) Directed by Damien Chazelle
“There are no two words in the English dictionary more harmful than ‘good job.’” Whiplash is another New York City film, but drastically different from Big Daddy. The movie homes in on the jazz music scene at the competitive Shaffer Conservatory, a fictional music school where Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is determined to be “one of the greats,” no matter what it takes. Neiman excels at his school and becomes the center of attention to Terrance Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), the conductor for the highest-level band at the school, who makes it his job to make Neiman’s life a living hell. Desperate to prove himself to Fletcher, he becomes addicted to improving. I promise I’m not insane for saying this movie is one of the best fall movies ever. It utilizes a warm and fuzzy color palette that makes you feel comforted (which contrasts with the anxiety-inducing plot) and thrilling jazz music, along with super visually-stimulating camerawork that keeps you on your toes. The film really considers the fine line between pushing someone to success and pushing someone to discouragement.
- Wild Child (2008) Directed by Nick Moore
“I didn’t start it, it wasn’t my fault, and if this were America, I would sue.” If you grew up wanting to be shipped off to Hogwarts, you’d definitely enjoy this movie. Wild Child is about a self-absorbed fashionista, Poppy Moore (Emma Roberts), who, as a form of discipline for her rebellious behavior, is sent to a strict English boarding school, where she makes waves in her new uptight community. Roberts is well-known for her spirited characters. In this particular movie, Roberts’ character really mirrors her other roles, such as Madison Montgomery (American Horror Story: Coven) and Chanel Oberlin (Scream Queens). This movie was the gateway to her being typecast into further portraying more fierce identities, such as Montgomery and Oberlin. I adore the back-to-school vibes that the movie gives out and how much Roberts’ character contrasts with her British peers.
Hopefully you enjoy these movies and stay tuned for more film talk from me on The Comets’ Tale website!
