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 your fedoras 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."

What do you get when you cross a classic crime noir film with HP Lovecraft? You get the HBO original film called Cast A Deadly Spell. It was directed by Martin Campbell and written by Joseph Dougherty. Starring Fred Ward, David Warner, and Julianne Moore.

Plot:

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.

The script was written by Tiziano Sclavi, Thomas Dean Donnelly, and Joshua Oppenheimer.  The film stars Brandon Routh, Aníta Briem, and Sam Huntington.

Plot: 

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.

Keanu Reeves has played some iconic roles, such as one part of a time-traveling, rocking duo known as Bill and Ted, Neo of  The Matrix, John Wick, and then there’s Constantine. This film was nominated for a Saturn Award in 2006 for best horror film, and won the ASCAP Film and Television Top Box Office Films award the same year. The film was directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis, and Kevin Brodbin. It stars Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, and Djimon Hounsou.

Plot:

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!