Since I already did a comedic horror movie a few weeks ago, it probably won’t be too surprising to learn I’m not a huge fan of scary movies. Things that try for jump scares just for the sake of scaring someone isn’t the cinematic experience I’m in for, but I get that there are people who are all about that. Since there are a multitude of lists out there suggesting the scariest movies possible for Halloween, I thought I’d go down a different path and offer some movies I enjoy that fit the Halloween theme but are a little lighter in their substance. My suggestions include:

MOVIE: “Spaced Invaders” (1990, PG, 100 min, watch it: DVD, hoopla)

Perhaps you know the story of the original airing of Orson Welles’ “The War of the Worlds” in 1938 where a panic of debatable size started after hearing the story of a Martian invasion. Well, take that idea and turn it on its head where you have Martians in outer space hear this broadcast and assume there is actually an invasion of Earth going on, and you’ll have this movie!

Well, there is a little more to it than that since these Martians are particularly incompetent and hilarity ensues as they land in a small, rural area of Illinois and head out in search of the invading Martian forces. It just so happens to be Halloween, so townsfolk assume they are kids in very elaborate costumes.

I’ve loved this movie since the first time I saw it and enjoy the humor throughout the movie. There are a few raunchy jokes from time to time, but on the whole, it holds up well as a family movie. It was panned pretty universally upon release, but has gained a cult following over the years of people who just enjoy a silly and entertaining movie.

A highlight for me in this one are the great costumes for the two main human kid characters. One is a stellar duck costume and the other is a ridiculously elaborate Alien costume (as in the aliens from the movie “Alien”). Also of note, the girl in the Alien costume is Ariana Richards who was also Mindy in “Tremors” and Lex in “Jurassic Park,” two more great movies from my youth.

MOVIE: “Thir13en Ghosts” (2001, R, 91 min, watch it: DVD, AMC+)

That’s not a typo, that’s how the movie was billed and is spelled that way still on IMDb and everything. I’ll be completely honest and say this movie is not a compelling story by any means. Why would I then recommend it? Well, I was looking for things that are off the typical recommendation lists for Halloween and this movie is always the ones that comes to mind for ridiculously over the top gore. I’m not a fan of “gotchya!” scary movies that are all about freaking people out and making them jump from fright. This movie isn’t very scary, but man is it gory, and that’s something some people go for on Halloween.

Basic premise: a collector of rare things takes particular pride in a collection of ghosts he’s managed to capture in his house. After his passing, a down on their luck set of relatives that inherit the house move in, glad to have somewhere to call home. Until they realize they’re in quite the haunted house. They try to find a way to get rid of the ghosts but almost cause havoc by letting them loose instead.

While this movie wouldn’t ever get awards for the writing or acting (even Tony Shalhoub and Embeth Davidtz look like they’d rather be somewhere else), the production value is actually pretty top notch. This is a good looking movie and the gore value is vivid because of it. Full disclosure: the reason I always recommend this movie for horror buffs is because of one particular scene where a character in the movie gets sliced in half. It isn’t the way you’d think… this person is cut in half vertically and the results are disgustingly engrossing.

MOVIE: “The Thing” (1982, R, 109 min, watch it: DVD, Prime, AMC+, Peacock)

Easily the top of the list for me in a “scary movie” genre and one of the few movies with intentional jump scares I actually enjoy watching, this movie holds up well with its practical special effects even forty-two years later. Sure, some horror aficionados may turn up their nose and yawn as the movie progresses because this story isn’t a constant horror fest, but a slow burn of suspenseful horror.

Kurt Russell is a member of a research team in the Antarctic who witness an odd site of a Norwegian helicopter pursuing and shooting at a sled dog. The dog makes it safely to the Americans who can’t understand the rampaging Norwegian and shoot him in self-defense. When they explore the Norwegian post, they find death and destruction everywhere. Upon returning, they find a horrific sight in the dog pens as the recently arrived dog morphs into a monster trying to assimilate the other dogs.

As people get infected as well and they find out these creatures can perfectly imitate another life form, everyone starts to distrust everyone else, no one knowing who is still human and who is a Thing. We, the audience, only find things out as the characters do in the movie and, even by the end, you might still be wondering who is, or was, actually infected or not. The movie stays with you, part of its lingering appeal.

Side note: for those who have seen “The Thing” and enjoyed it, I’d also recommend “Fallen” (1998, R, 124 min, watch it: DVD) with Denzel Washington and John Goodman. There are many similarities and, while it is more of a suspense thriller and not a horror movie, there are still many chills you’ll get watching the movie, all the way up until the end.

So, are any of these what to watch for you? Halloween is a time when scary things are plentiful and, despite the election being scary for just about everyone it seems, these movies offer some alternative scares. Whether you’re a family after some silly scares, a gore-fiend looking for a new bloodbath, or someone who is in for a more cerebral fright, these offerings will provide for a great movie night.

Kent Kraft is someone who loves seeing creative Halloween costumes and television shows often use Halloween episodes for some fun bits. My favorites include meta references in “WandaVision” with Wanda Maxmioff and Vision dressing up as their characters look in iconic comic books and in “Castle” when Nathan Fillion dresses up as his character Captain Malcolm Reynolds in “Firefly.” Honorable mention goes to Ross dressing up as “Spud-nik” in “Friends.” My absolute favorite is the DiMeo family in “Speechless” who dress up in amazing “Back to the Future” costumes (which you should absolutely look up online!).