Get Spooky With These 5 Summerween Movies Vol. 2

Happy Summerween! It’s a trend that got its start in the past few years of celebrating Halloween in summer. I compiled a short list of films that are spooky and somewhat scary (without being too intense) to enjoy during the Summerween season. To not mix up my Not So Scary Halloween movie recs I’ve done in the past, none of these movies will take place during Halloween season, to see those movies, click here.

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Sinners

Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their Mississippi hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

There is so many layers to this film from the cinematography, metaphors, and dialogue. While I was firmly glued to the screen in the theater along with the rest of the crowd, this is a film you can re-watch and still catch smaller details you may have missed the first watch. I think Coogler did a fantastic job of encapsulating so much in this piece. I enjoyed the action-packed scenes, supernatural effects, and the commentary on race and cultural diaspora. The film as its been described by critics is a solid blend of Horror and Historical Realism. A recommended must watch!

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Deadstream

A disgraced internet personality tries to win back his followers by livestreaming himself at an abandoned haunted house. When he accidentally unleashes a vengeful spirit, his comeback event becomes a fight for his life.

This film unlike the next pick below was scary and funny. It’s a horror comedy that feels over the top, yet feels real for an influencer that gets into trouble he can’t easily escape. I won’t lie, the jump scares did get me from time to time in this one, but they do a great job of building up to the final act of this movie. Props go to Joseph Winter who plays the influencer named Shawn in this film who makes the audience want to tune into his journey. His character made me laugh so much. The special effects were done really well and I think if you enjoy found footage movies you’ll want to add this to your movie list.

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Hollyblood

Determined to win the affection of the girl he loves, a shy teenager decides to dress up as a vampire, unaware that a real threat is on the prowl.

This is a great not-so-spooky Spanish teen romantic comedy film with horror elements. I loved that it is not afraid to be overtly silly and how it pokes fun at media such as Twilight. It’s a very over-the-top, but I think that’s what makes it so much fun to watch (plus I was laughing the entire movie). The film harps on a lot of tropes, but manages to create characters that will entertain you and have you invested in their stories. I would recommend this film if you’re looking for a fresh take on Vampire film genre.

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The People Under The Stairs

When young Fool (Brandon Adams) breaks into the home of his family’s greedy and uncaring landlords, he discovers a disturbing scenario where incestuous adult siblings have mutilated a number of boys and kept them imprisoned under stairs in their large, creepy house. As Fool attempts to flee before the psychopaths can catch him, he meets their daughter, Alice (A.J. Langer), who has been spared any extreme discipline by her deranged parents. Can Fool and Alice escape before it’s too late?

This film is a mixture of social commentary, camp, comedy, and horror. It’s one of the wackiest Horror films I’ve ever watched for sure. It took a while to grow on me but Fool’s journey into this kooky family’s house with a dark secret had me captivated. The film had a lot of moments that caught me by surprise and I ended up wanting to watch it again as soon as it was over. Though some parts of the film are formulaic, it has a certain charm to it and keeps the audience engage the entire film.

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Nope

Two siblings who run a California horse ranch discover something wonderful and sinister in the skies above, while the owner of an adjacent theme park tries to profit from the mysterious, otherworldly phenomenon.

Though this film has mixed reviews, I loved it. Like Get Out, Nope is a film full of symbolism and the smallest details giving it re-watch ability. You could watch the film multiple times and still find something new or meaning to take away from it. As a horror film genre fan, this film felt very original and fresh (especially in an era of reboots and copycat films). It made me think a lot (with its main theme of discussing sensationalism) and there were a couple of jump scares and scenes that had me spooked.

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What movies are on your Summerween watch list? Let me know in the comment section and share some recommendations as well!