As the crisp autumn air ushers in the season of spooks and thrills, Halloween often conjures images of frightful creatures and bone-chilling scares. However, not everyone is in the mood for a heart-pounding horror film. For those seeking a gentler plunge into the eerie atmosphere of the holiday, a selection of delightful "not-so-scary" movies. This continuing series offers a carefully curated variety of cinematic treats that are the perfect blend of whimsy, laughter, and just a hint of Halloween magic.
From friendly ghosts to mischievous ghouls, these films capture the spirit of the season without sending you hiding behind the sofa, making them perfect for anyone looking to celebrate Halloween without the fear factor. So grab your popcorn and settle in, kittens, as we explore three hauntingly fun films that prove Halloween can be just as enchanting as it is eerie!
The topic we will be covering with this trio of films is a genre called noir. The definition from Merriam-Webster says:
Noir is crime fiction featuring hard-boiled, cynical characters and bleak, sleazy settings. So grab yourfedoras and prepare your inner monologue. These films are not your typical hard-boiled mystery… These mysteries also deal with angels, demons, vampires, and werewolves. Oh my!
Cast A Deadly Spell
"In a world where magic is real, love and lies are the deadliest spells."
The year is 1948... everybody uses magic. Los Angeles, 1948, and magic is used for everything from cocktails that mix and pour themselves, to zombie butlers, to murder. This makes things tough for private eye Harry Philip ('H.P.', wink-wink) Lovecraft (Fred Ward). He's the only man in town who doesn't use magic. It's because of this that the richest man in LA - Amos Hackshaw (David Warner) hires Lovecraft to recover the stolen Necronomicon, a book of immense evil, containing incantations powerful enough to revive the sleeping Outer Gods.
To make matters worse, Lovecraft isn't the only one searching for the book. He's up against a ruthless gangster, who happens to be Lovecraft's ex-partner. Throw in a witchy landlady, a sultry singer, and a jalopy full of gremlins. Harry's up to his eyeballs in trouble. He'd better act quickly, though, because the full moon is on the rise, the zombies are on the prowl, and someone's about to cast a deadly spell.
This movie is better than the trailer makes it seem. Fred Ward makes an excellent hard-boiled detective that would make Humphrey Bogart proud. The idea and concept are so unique; who knew that Lovecraft could blend so well with a detective story? The blend of special and practical effects is amazing. One of my favorite scenes is when a stone gargoyle tries to grab the Necrocomicon from Lovecraft. If you are looking for a unique, spellbinding mystery to add to your movie list for spooky season, this is a definite must.
Dylan Dog Dead of Night
Living investigator. Undead clients. Zombie partner.
The next private eye on the list is also very easy on the eyes! His name, Dylan Dog. The movie, Dylan Dog: Dead of Night. Its release date was April 29th. This film is based on a graphic novel by Tiziano Sclavi and directed by Kevin Munroe.
Dylan Dog (Brandon Routh) is a private detective who specializes in the affairs of the living dead. Armed with silver, wooden bullets and a razor-sharp wit, Dylan works his latest case: tracking down a dangerous missing artifact. If he fails, the results will be dire; a war will break out among the werewolves, vampires and zombies who prowl the monster-infested streets of New Orleans.
This movie is fun from start to finish! Brandon Routh, best known for his role as Superman in the movie Superman Returns, sure is nice to look at! The best parts of this film are the wit and banter between Dylan and his friend Marcus, played by Sam Huntington. My favorite scene is in the grocery store, where Dylan is trying to help Marcus come to terms with the new chapter of his “life.” In my opinion, this movie is one of those films you will definitely want to watch every year, and it’s not just for the eye candy!
Constantine
Hell wants him. Heaven won't take him. Earth needs him.
To make amends with God and earn his place in Heaven, occult detective and humankind's reluctant hero, John Constantine, finds himself caught in an interminable battle between the forces of good and evil. However, banishing rogue demons to the pits of Hell hasn't quite cut it.
A skeptical LAPD officer, Angela Dodson, asks John to shed light on the baffling death of her devout twin sister Isabel, providing the gifted supernatural investigator with a chance to atone for himself. As their fates become inextricably interwoven, the unlikely duo must join forces to unearth a sinister conspiracy and stop the impending Apocalypse. Is Constantine destined to save the world from evil?
This film is intense from the very start, from Constantine's casting out of a demon to his interrogation of Balthazar. Just like with the other recommendations, this film has dazzling special effects! So if you are looking for an intense thrill ride, this film has it all!
Well, cats and kittens, this meeting is coming to a close. I hope these cinematic treats unnerve you in a good way, and help you settle into the spooky season!
Have you seen any of these films? Which one is your favorite? What films would you recommend to the scaredy-cat club? If you want more mysteries, check out this other article entitled Scaredy-Cat Club Presents: It's a Mystery!
Hey fellow nerds! Before you dive back into that gaming session or start your next binge-watch, here’s the deal with Couch Soup: we’re a completely independent pop culture site run by genuine fans who get just as hyped as you do about the latest games, comics, movies, and TV shows. No corporate overlords, no AI-generated content, just real people who know their Metroid from their Mass Effect.
Unlike the big corporate sites, we don’t chase clicks or stir up drama. Sure, we might have some hot takes (looking at you, controversial season finale), but they come from a place of genuine passion and respect for the creators and fandoms we cover.
Want to support what we do and join what we think is the coolest community of pop culture enthusiasts on the internet? Check out our supporter tiers – each packed with perks that’ll level up your fandom experience. Every contribution helps keep us independent and lets us keep nerding out with you!
Thanks for being part of our quest – now, back to our regularly scheduled geekery!
Shana is originally from Findlay, Ohio, and currently resides in Largo in Central Florida. She proclaims that in life she “always has the BEST seat in the house!” Being diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy from birth has not stopped her from living life to the fullest. Her poetry has been published in 6 different collections. She loves Renaissance Festivals and any film that has copious amounts of sword fighting. She’s also addicted to yarn and chocolate!
The wait for Season 2 is almost over! We got our first official look at Toph and Aang learning to bend other elements. So excited to see my girl on screen! Hoping they do her character justice. Season 2 comes to Netflix in 2026, will you be tuning in?
James Gunn's DCU is in full swing, as less than a year after his reboot of Superman, we get Supergirl, who's a bit lost in her place in the world and therefore drinks and is a bit reckless. But don't worry, her dog Krypto is here to pee on a Superman-headlined newspaper for comedy. Seriously, […]
Cancer sucks, and games are awesome; so why not use games to raise money to beat cancer! Game On Cancer is currently in the middle of its Holiday Spectacular, raising money to support Cure Cancer. Streamers have been going live since the 1st of November in support of this great cause, and you can join […]
The Pokémon GO City Safari is heading to Australia for the first time ever this weekend! If you're in Sydney on the 13th or 14th of December, be sure to check it out. You can find all the details at pokemongo.com
After 10 years, the Four Horsemen are back in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t! But do these magicians still have their mojo all these years later? Join Tom as he gives his thoughts on the latest entry in this magic-heist series.
The Predator franchise has seen a surge in popularity recently, and shows no sign of slowing down with the newest entry, Predator: Badlands. Join Tom as he gives his thoughts on Trachtenberg’s third film in the series.
Join in with Michelle in her Booze, Boobs, and Reviews series covering what she is watching. This installment is about Blink Twice! Have you seen the film? How much wine did it take you to finish?
