It’s Spooky Season, and ’round these parts, we celebrate what is essentially the best viewing period on the calendar. Listen – I’m a big Christmas guy, but even with the plethora of great holiday movies out there, they don’t top what Halloween has to offer. So, if you’ve been a longtime reader of SoBros Network, you know that we’ve done a number of movie lists each Spooky Season. This year, I wanted to take a stab at something different beyond the typical “this is what I watched this year” film journal. I’ve watched quite a few of the movies listed below, and somewhat by accident, I realized there’s a whole subgenre of movies that tend to combine elements from horror and the comic book realm. So, if you’re looking to shake things up, maybe take a recommendation or two from the list of movies below that blur the lines between superheroes and supernatural.
Spooky Season Viewing for Comic Book Fans
Venom – The movie that spawned this list, Venom is icky and campy…I was watching it the other day thinking about how well it plays at this time of year for those who want something a little freaky but not so scary.
Werewolf by Night – Marvel did such a good job of making this one-off special presentation feel like an homage to the monster movies of yesteryear from a stylistic standpoint that it makes it feel like must-watch Spooky Season programming for me every year. I loved the old school horror vibes, the black-and-white, the strange creatures, and the gore (well…c’mon…it’s not gore gore, but gore for a Marvel movie).
Ghost Rider – While the sequel wasn’t all that much, I thought the original Nic Cage Ghost Rider was fun enough as one of those campy 2000s era superhero movies. It’s a flaming skull….what’s more ‘Spooky Season’ than that?
Blade – I don’t like this movie, but I know some of y’all do, so have at it. I mean….it’s vampires….so it counts.
Underworld – I never saw Underworld as a horror movie, though it does borrow several different horror tropes to execute its vision. Werewolves and vampires….blood and claws…it’s equal parts action movie and sci-fi bloodbath.
Resident Evil – I wouldn’t say it’s filled to the brim with horror vibes, but it is technically a zombie movie that kicks ass, so we’re going to count it on this list.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – Zombies, jump scares, and people getting chopped in half. Are we sure this is a Marvel movie?
Queen of the Damned – There’s no doubt that if I had seen this movie for the first time in 2002, I would’ve called it the greatest movie ever made. If that doesn’t tell you about teenage Stoney, I don’t know what will. But, it’s sleek, stylish, and features a sick ass numetal soundtrack to boot.
Dracula Untold – I watched this for the first time earlier this year and found it to be a little underrated. IT was a fun little action-centric Dracula movie that
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter – I was tempted not to include this here…because even I can be honest about it. Though I have a deep affection for this movie, it sucks. The book is fantastic, but the movie…sheesh. Still, I can’t help myself. I have to watch it every Spooky Season myself. It’s Abraham Lincoln kickin’ vampire ass.
Van Helsing – Campy as all get out, Van Helsing feels like one of those early 2000s era superhero movies like Spider-Man and Daredevil before it. Add in the spooky elements and this is a fun one that’ll get you out of your normal Halloween routine.
Constantine – I can’t believe I almost forgot this one. It’s developed a bit of a cult following throughout the years. It’s Keanu Reeves fighting off demons. What’s cooler and spookier than that?
Army of the Dead – Zack Snyder had some fun with this one and the result was a pretty fun action/zombie movie. Bonus points for a fun performance from Dave Bautista.
Hellboy – The original Hellboy movie from 2004, as done by Guillermo Del Toro, is the best Hellboy movie. Don’t even bother with the rest.
What are you watching this Spooky Season? Drop it in the comments below.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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