October is winding down, and to be honest, Halloween isn’t my absolute favorite holiday of the year—but I’ll always have a soft spot for this season. There’s just something about the cozy autumn vibes, the crisp air, and the lighthearted spirit in the air that gets to me. These days, dressing up in costume isn’t really my thing anymore. I’m much happier staying in, relaxing at home, catching up on old traditions, and putting on a good movie or show.
Looking back, autumn always brings back memories of my little brother and me when we were kids. Every year, we’d either rent scary movies or head down to the local theater together. Sometimes friends tagged along, but most of the time it was just the two of us. It was our own little way of bonding, I suppose.
One year, we decided to elevate a simple movie trip by strapping on genuinely terrifying masks. We strutted into the cinema lobby like we owned the place, scaring unsuspecting people and watching them jump out of their skin. Absolute comedy gold.
That night, we had signed up for a full back-to-back horror marathon. My brother was notorious for getting spooked easily, but I was having the time of my life. Every time a monster popped out or a character made a ridiculously bad decision, I’d burst out cackling. My laughter was so loud and continuous that it ended up being completely contagious. It totally ruined the fear factor for him—by the end of the night, he wasn’t scared at all!
Truth is, I started watching scary movies way too young. Over the years, I’ve seen so many that, in my expert opinion, most “scary” movies should really just be labeled “mildly unsettling.” But back then? The more blood and gore, the better. Classics like The Exorcist, The Shining, Child’s Play, and Critters were my main courses of entertainment.
Critters in particular basically traumatized my poor little brother. I can still picture my mom renting it for us—I was six, and he was only four! Thank goodness they didn’t slap strict warning labels on movie covers back then. My mom honestly thought it was a whimsical family flick… little did she know!
Since then, I’ve devoured quite the buffet of spine-chillers: Saw (who doesn’t love a chaotic game?), Insidious (where the ghosts are scary, but the family drama is scarier), The Others, Alien, Get Out (a real eye-opener on how awkward family dinners can actually get), and more recently, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix.
Speaking of Netflix, if you’re looking for a good binge, they have a whole special Halloween section right now. Whether you’re into old-school classics, campy B-horror, psychological thrillers like Ratched or I Am Mother, nostalgic slashers like Final Destination, or awesome Asian horror movies and series such as Train to Busan and Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre—the list is endless! There are so many amazing movies and series out there, I think I’d need a whole lifetime to watch them all.
I asked Gemini some suggestions for a movie on Netflix.
Gemini’s Recommendations for Halloween Eve
Given your great taste—ranging from high-octane thrills (Train to Busan) to dark/gothic atmospheres (Ratched, Lizzie Borden) and mind-bending mystery (I Am Mother)—here are a few recommendations on Netflix that hit those exact notes:
- For high-tension zombie action:All of Us Are Dead (Series)
- Why you’ll like it: If you loved Train to Busan, this South Korean series is incredible. It follows high school students trapped in their school during a zombie outbreak. It’s fast-paced, emotional, and full of incredible action sequences.
- For gothic atmosphere & family drama:The Haunting of Hill House (Limited Series)
- Why you’ll like it: Directed by Mike Flanagan, it weaves scary moments with deep family dynamics, much like Insidious or Monster. It’s spooky, atmospheric, and beautifully crafted.
- For suspense & sci-fi thriller vibes:A Quiet Place or The Platform (Movie)
- Why you’ll like it: If you enjoyed the contained suspense of I Am Mother or the high-concept tension of Final Destination, both of these deliver intense, edge-of-your-seat storytelling.
As a Christian, people sometimes ask me if it feels weird to enjoy horror films or Halloween season fun. For me, it all comes down to where your heart is and the light you bring into it. God gave us imagination, a sense of humor, and the gift of fellowship. When we approach the season with lighthearted joy and good intentions, even the “scariest” things lose their power to intimidate—much like how laughing at jump scares took all the fear away for my brother all those years ago.
Fast forward to the present. While we’ve supposedly become responsible adults, we still want to hang out. That hasn’t changed a bit. But with the hectic crazy life of adulthood, it is sometimes a hassle to find a date that suits everyone. And thus a new tradition was started. We’ve just swapped movie marathons for tabletop adventures.
Our latest tradition is getting together on a Saturday to play Dungeons & Dragons. My brother is the Dungeon Master, and along with a friend and my husband, we gather for some fun amidst our busy adult lives. It’s something we’ve always wanted to try. My husband has painted miniatures as a hobby for decades, and a few months ago I’ve joined in on this hobby.
Tomorrow, we have a Halloween session. While my brother keeps the storyline a secret, he assigned me a quirky task: to paint miniatures of rabbits with pumpkin heads. I have no idea what kind of wild encounter my brother has cooked up for us this Saturday, but I know it’s going to be a blast.
At the end of the day, life is just too short not to pause and connect with the people you love. Whether that’s painting quirky miniatures, playing a table top adventure, sharing a meal, or rewatching an old favorite movie, I hope you take some time to make space for joy this week. Light always shines brightest when we bring laughter into whatever season we’re in.
How about you? Do you have any special ways you celebrate autumn or Halloween? Have you checked out any good spooky series or movies on Netflix lately? What are your favorite seasonal traditions, films, or game nights? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!
