Better than Paranormal Activity!

by Noah Stevens

Struggling with what to watch this Halloween? Tired of the same old jump scares, conjurings, and formulaic plots? Fear not! Here’s a list of three offbeat haunted house films that offer much more than just the standard fare. From a Japanese classic with a Scooby Doo spin to Guillermo Del Toro’s favorite Eddie Murphy movie, there’s something here for everyone. And listen, I’m not saying these are the best of the best horror movies, but I’m not saying there’s anything better out there, either.

1. House (1977) ─ directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi

Starting off with a bizarre, dark horse pick: the viewing experience that comes with Obayashi’s House is unlike any other horror film of the last three decades. At once a slapstick comedy starring schoolgirls, a terrifying haunted house feature, and an experiment in psychedelic filmmaking, House is going to leave you with more questions than answers ─ but that’s a good thing. This is for the viewer who is worn out by the constant barrage of grey-toned, whispery haunting flicks that have come out over the past few years. There’s not a dull or colorless shot in this movie. You might leave wondering what exactly you just watched, but you’ll want to come back to it again and again.

For Fans of: 1960s Scooby Doo, Japanese game shows, delightfully evil grandmas

Streaming On: Nowhere conventional.

2. The Innkeepers (2011) ─ directed by Ti West

Pulling off a clever take on the “haunted hotel” trope might seem like a stretch, especially with the oversaturation of haunted exploration content floating around lately. What could a film do that something real like Buzzfeed Unsolved or Ghost Adventures can’t? If The Innkeepers is any evidence, it’s quite a lot. Although it can feel closer to something in the vein of an early aughts “buddies at work” indie, that’s never a bad thing, and in fact, it leaves the viewer wondering what could possibly be coming next. Fake out jump scares mix well with true terror to create a pleasantly surprising mix of character-driven comedy, mystery, and a full-blown nightmare.

For Fans of: Juno, Clerks, a surprise appearance by Lena Dunham, crystal magic

Streaming On: Amazon Prime.

3. Haunted Mansion (2003) directed by Rob Minkoff

I know what you’re thinking: this isn’t scary! This is a movie for children! Nowhere in this article did I say my suggestions were going to be scary, I just said they were different. And Eddie Murphy’s The Haunted Mansion is different at its finest. A family movie that has it all: ghouls, goofs, and a Guillermo Del Toro endorsement. You can’t ask for more ─ but this movie gives it. The entertainment value is through the roof, even though the special effects don’t always hold up. You can throw this on in the background of all your Halloweekend activities and people will be sure to flock to your screen. Besides, with Eddie Murphy making a triumphant return to the screen this year, why not throw it back to one of his best films?

For Fans of: Eddie Murphy, Disney’s Vice Grip on Our Cultural Consciousness, sword fights

Streaming on: The VCR gathering dust in the attic of your childhood home.

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