An Alternative Autumn Film Guide

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Lisa Frankenstein (2024) © MXN Entertainment
Lisa Frankenstein (2024) © MXN Entertainment

November: a lawless wasteland between holidays. It’s too early to be over excited for Christmas (it is, you know it is), and Halloween has passed so it’s no longer prime horror film season. In honour of this liminal space of darkness and mulchy leaves here are ten cosy, slightly weird films to match the vibes and keep you occupied.

10. Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)

Starting the list off with a hear me out choice, I present Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, the sequel to 2002’s cult classic live action Scooby Doo film. While the first establishes the dynamics of this iteration of the Mystery Gang, both films still mostly rely on familiarity with the cartoon series to get them working. For me what makes Monsters Unleashed more compelling than the first instalment is how it relies on the team dynamic throughout. The first instalment splits the gang up at the start and needs them to come together eventually to defeat the evil. Call me boring, but I think the only conflict in Scooby Doo should be them and the bad guys, not each other. In Monsters Unleashed the gang is forced to reckon with the monsters of their past being brought to life as more than bad guys in costumes, but rather as real supernatural creatures. It’s high stakes, it’s spooky without being truly horrible, and it’s really, really fun. The perfect post Halloween treat.

Clue (1985) © Paramount Pictures

9. Clue (1985)

Next up on the list is a dark comedy mystery film based on the iconic board game Cluedo (or Clue, depending on where you’re from). While Knives Out (2019) is an absolute classic autumnal watch full of cosy knitwear and crunchy leaves, Clue is the OG ensemble cast murder mystery. Set in a dark old mansion with the characters, locations, and weapons we know from the game, this film is a super silly take on the genre that even comes with three different endings to explore.  More fun than a board game!

8. The films of Rob Reiner

While this may be cheating a little, I do think Rob Reiner is an absolute champion of autumnal vibes so it’s hard to choose just one of his films. We all know When Harry Met Sally (1989) is prime autumn watching, but did you know that Reiner was also responsible for Misery (1990) (technically horror but who’s counting), Stand by Me (1986), and my personal favourite The Princess Bride (1987). For me, a good autumn film is about transition, and all of these films perfectly occupy that liminal space between the light and fun of summer and the cosy hibernation of winter. Whatever your flavour of autumn (romantic yearning or existential crisis) there’s a Reiner film to fit the vibe.

7. Labyrinth (1986)

Next up we have what was probably the number one film from my brother and I’s Saturday night rental list (shout out to the days of video rental stores, we miss you) and probably the bane of my parents life in the early 2000s: Labyrinth. Accidentally making a wish to the Goblin King to take her baby brother away, grumpy theatre kid Sarah must navigate a mysterious labyrinth and adventure her way to win his freedom. Between the incredible hand painted sets, iconic costuming, and a whole load of fantastical weird puppet creatures, the film perfectly captures the transition period between childhood and adulthood. It’s an absolute nostalgia fest perfectly suited for popcorn on the couch. For extra fun try pairing it with The Dark Crystal (1982) or The Last Unicorn (1982) (or both!) for the ultimate 80s fantasy night in.

6. The Goonies (1985)

Another 80s classic adventure tale, this time with a ragtag crew of children rather than puppets. The Goonies follows an all star cast of familiar faces (Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Ke Huy Quan) as a group of teenagers who venture out one stormy day in search of forgotten pirate treasure. We’re talking booby traps, ancient legends, a family of mobsters, all with a healthy sprinkling of found family and wholesomeness. A classic from Steven Spielberg, it’s the stuff of legends (literally).

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) © Warner Bros.

5. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Based on a play of the same name, this lesser known Frank Capra black screwball comedy came out before holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and is quite criminally underappreciated. Cary Grant stars as recently married cynic Mortimer Brewster, who visits his beloved aunties on Halloween to introduce his new wife only to randomly discover their hobby of poisoning bachelors and burying them in the basement. Chaos very much ensues as Mortimer does his best to resolve the increasingly ridiculous situation, which also involves one brother who believes himself to be Theodore Roosevelt and another who is also a serial killer and in the market for body disposal. A very silly fun watch.

4. Rebecca (1940)

Much like Reiner you could make a case for many of Hitchcock’s films as strong autumnal watches, but for the purpose of simplicity I’m going with one of my favourites, Rebecca. Based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier, the film follows a beautifully naive Joan Fontaine who falls in love with the surly and mysterious Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier). Following an impulsive marriage they return to his country estate, Manderley, where Fontaine finds herself struggling to live up to the legacy of Maxim’s first wife—the titular Rebecca. It’s noir, it’s gothic, it’s frankly awkward as hell at times, and Judith Anderson as Rebecca-obsessed housekeeper Mrs Danvers is absolutely iconic. Not the cheeriest film on the list (okay, not cheery at all) but with its story of a ghostless haunting it’s a perfect fit for the dark nights.

3. The Addams Family (1991) & The Addams Family Values (1993)

While this may be an obvious choice to some, with the popularity of recent Netflix show Wednesday (2022) it feels worth revisiting these classics from Barry Sonnenfeld. While the Addams’ may feel like classic characters to us now, at the time of production there was a struggle to get the film off the ground due to the TV show’s relative obscurity. It’s only due to the success and perfection of these two adaptations that the family were rightly refreshed back into the household names they are today. Though the sequel is my personal favourite, and the most autumnal, it would be nothing without the first adaptation in which long-lost Uncle Fester is reunited with the family and we’re introduced to their world alongside him. The production value is incredibly rich and the cast are beautifully committed, making both films  highly enjoyable watches.

Death Becomes Her (1992) © Universal Pictures

2. Death Becomes Her (1992)

Between Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance (2024), Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Taste’ music video, and Adele’s Halloween costume, it’s the ideal time to revisit this 90s classic starring Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep as long-time frenemies who take their rivalry to the next level. Without giving too much away, the film follows our divas as they take a mysterious potion to become immortal beauties and fight over Bruce Willis. It’s wonderfully absurd in the best way. The whole cast absolutely commits to the piece and it’s in these earnest (you’ll get that pun later) performances that the film finds its footing.

1. Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

Okay, now technically this could easily be classed as a horror film, but to me it’s a comedy first so we’re allowing it. Written by Diablo Cody (Jennifer’s Body [2009]) and starring Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse, Lisa Frankenstein is a fun mix of Corpse Bride (2005) and Weird Science (1985) in which a lonely teenager befriends a newly reanimated Victorian corpse (bugs and all) and together they go on a murder spree and fall in love. It’s cute, it’s funny, it’s downright disgusting at times, and it’s definitely been overlooked in this year’s horror film releases, so get on it. You won’t regret it.

Words by Camille Murray


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