When the leaves change colors and the air fills with the scent of apple cider, it can only mean one thing: the spookiest time of year is finally here. If you’re looking for some suggestions of older Halloween delights to watch for your celebrations, then you’re in the right place! Welcome to my guide to Halloween.

Genuine chills:

For those brave enough to search for a good scare this Halloween, there are two films that I recommend. The original “Scream” was released in 1996, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, and features the iconic “Ghostface.” I love that “Scream” is more of a horror murder-mystery than your typical slasher, carrying the terrifying fear and tension expected from a horror film with the delightful added element of both the characters and viewer not knowing who the killers are until the very end. Overall, “Scream” is a gripping mystery and scary thriller, and the goofy and energetic personality of Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) creates a surprising amount of genuinely funny humor that makes for a perfect Halloween watch.

Despite being over six decades old, “Psycho” (1960) remains a masterpiece of horror. The film rests on the utterly spectacular performance of Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates, who delivers a perfect blend of creepiness and normalcy which has me completely captivated in every scene he is in. The plot is amazingly clever in hiding the killer’s true identity, which creates an entirely unexpected and shocking twist, helping to make this film an absolutely quintessential horror film during this season.

Spooky laughs:

If you’re simply looking to enjoy some Halloween comedy, there are countless movies and television specials that you could watch, but here are a few of my favorites. “The Addams Family” was released in 1991 and is perfect for anyone who fell in love with the eerie family after “Wednesday.” For me, Gomez (Raul Julia) and Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) are the highlights here, carrying incredible amounts of entertaining, upbeat energy that create numerous comedic moments. That said, the sweet and loving relationship between Gomez and Morticia (Anjelica Huston) is another standout.

Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as a trio of funny and surprisingly musical witches named the Sanderson Sisters, “Hocus Pocus” was released in 1993 and takes place in our very own state of Massachusetts. The distinct personalities between the sisters is truly what makes this film memorable for me, creating countless laughs with their clashing attitudes and personas. Between the enchanting costumes—my favorite being that of colonial zombie Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones)—and Midler’s show-stopping rendition of “I Put a Spell on You” which I listen to every Halloween, watching this film is a wonderful way to spend the holiday.

While I adore all of these films, my favorite source of Halloween hilarity is watching countless episodes of “The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror.” The plots of these Halloween specials are absolutely hilarious because they frequently put the iconic characters of the show in creative Halloween-themed situations and brilliant parodies of famous horror movies like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “The Shining.” It’s almost impossible for me to choose my favorite episode because they all feature such unique and entertaining tales, but, if I had to choose, I would recommend the “Treehouse of Horror IV” for its three spectacular stories, one of which is an incredible parody of “Dracula.”

Halloween classics:

Now, there is only one Halloween classic that, without watching it at least once during the Fall, doesn’t truly feel like Halloween to me and that is “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Released in 1966, the animation is beautiful, the characters are adorable, it’s genuinely funny (Charlie Brown uttering “I got a rock” while trick or treating will never not be hilarious) and, come on, who wouldn’t want Linus’ Great Pumpkin, who visits pumpkin patches and gives gifts to children, to truly exist? I watch this special every year, and every time it brings me a warm and cozy feeling. I can’t wait to watch it for many years to come and, if there’s only one suggestion from this list that you watch, I hope it’s this one.

Conclusion:

Overall, there are many entertaining older Halloween programs that have been produced throughout the years and this list is just a small sample of some of my personal favorites. Whether you watch any of these or have your own classics, there is sure to be something for everyone on this wonderfully spooky time of year.