Reel Scares: Alumni Film Picks For All Ages

For many, flipping the calendar to October marks the start of the true “most wonderful time of the year.” Halloween films reflect that same spectrum, from animated family specials to high art to campy B-movie slashers and psychological thrillers. 

In the spirit of the season, we asked some University of Calgary alumni and experts in film, communications and culture to share their top Halloween picks for whether you’re watching with kids or teens, or settling in for a grown-up scare.

Dallas Flexhaug, BCS’04, is a UCalgary Communications Studies grad, an award-winning journalist and anchor of Global News at 5 and co-anchor of Global News Hour at 6 on Calgary TV. She has hosted a number of high-profile events in the past including the UCalgary Alumni Association (UCAA) Arch Awards (2022, 2023, 2024).   

“What do I love about Halloween? The fun, of course!” says Flexhaug, a mother of two little ones herself. “Halloween offers an entire month to get into the spirit, and it’s not just about the spooky stuff — it’s the music, the decorations, the costumes. It’s a chance to be anyone or anything you want to be and embrace the joy and creativity of the season.”

For Kids: Beetlejuice (1988) 
It’s just scary enough to leave lasting memories (the shrinkers kept me up at night as a kid) and entertaining enough to watch over and over again.  Runners up: Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

For Teens: Scream (1996) 
The original from 1996. It’s simply the best. I must have seen it 100 times. The opening scene with Drew Barrymore… COME ON! AMAZING! Runners up: The Craft (1996) and The Crow (1994) with Brandon Lee.

For Adults: The Shining (1980) 
“Here’s Johnny!” Forever a classic and still oh so scary to me. Runners up: The Cabin in the Woods (2011) and Devil’s Advocate (1997).

Ishita Singla, BComm’16, a communications and marketing advisor for The City of Calgary and founder and artistic director of Madhuban Performing Arts, has plenty of experience in arts and culture. The Top 40 under 40 honouree in 2023 offered some non-traditional films for the season. 

“What I love about Halloween is that it’s kind of like theatre,” says Singla. “You get to play dress-up and be anyone for a night.”

For Kids: The Book of Life (2014)
The Book of Life might not be a traditional Halloween movie, but it totally works this time of year. It's super colourful, full of heart, and has a great story about family, love and Día de los Muertos. Honestly, one of the most wholesome animated films out there.

For Teens: Addams Family (1991)
Everyone's talking about Wednesday lately, but the original Addams Family (1991) is such a classic. It's creepy, funny and just the right amount of weird. Perfect for teens who like their Halloween a little spooky, but not too scary.

For Adults: The Skin I Live In (2011)
If you're into psychological horror with a seriously dark twist, The Skin I Live In with Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya is intense. It's one of the most chilling and disturbing films I’ve seen. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but perfect for Halloween if you're looking for something truly haunting.

Teigan Blondin de Boer, BFA’14, is a costume co-ordinator and costume set supervisor in the local film- and theatre-production scene. A graduate of UCalgary’s Drama program, her work spans puppetry, cosplay, circus and film, with recent credits including This Too Shall Pass, Wynonna Earp: Vengeance, My Life with the Walter Boys (Seasons 2 & 3), and Wind River 2. Naturally, her picks lean toward the visually stunning.

“Halloween might be my favourite holiday. As a costume professional, I love when everyone gets a chance to create characters, dress up as their favourite things and give out candy to spread a little joy,” says de Boer. “The homemade, DIY costumes are the best — people get so creative playing dress-up, no matter how old you are.”

For Kids: James and the Giant Peach (1996)
My top pick for a Halloween/fall movie for kids and families to watch, it's stunning in its overall production design and the cast of both live-action actors and voice actors is incredible. As an early Tim Burton work, it contains some easter eggs to Nightmare Before Christmas. It's the perfect blend of scary, whimsical and aesthetically intriguing to all viewers.

For Teens: Van Helsing (2004) 
You want Dracula, vampires, werewolves, Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein's Monster and Hugh Jackman? Try the 2004 Van Helsing. Is it campy, yes? Does it contain a lot of monsters, yes? Does David Wenham feature as a loveable sidekick? Absolutely. The story is flawed, the CGI is terrible, but it’s a cult classic. The direction is excellent, the production design iconic and the casting is superb. Everything you want in a mid-2000s cringe horror monster movie. 

For Adults: Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
A little less Halloween specific, but this dark fantasy will always be an October watch for me. With the mix of monster design (All hail Doug Jones, king of monster acting) that's out of this world paired with the creepy juxtaposition of life and death living side by side. From world building to the production design, it is a masterpiece that checks all the spooky season boxes. Otherworldly faeries, fauns and the pale man; child eater. Horror and fantasy blend seamlessly as they shift from 1944 to the fantastic worlds and underworld.

Jocelyn Illing, BA’21, is a UCalgary Film Studies graduate and the marketing and development co-ordinator with the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF). Having taken in many films through her work with CIFF and as a part of the UCalgary Film Society, her picks focused on more modern horror films. 

“Something I love about Halloween is figuring out a costume,” says Illing. “I love dressing up as different people or things from popular culture. In university, I dressed up as the alien baby from Eraserhead!”

For Kids: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The quintessential Halloween musical, The Nightmare Before Christmas pairs captivating stop motion with extremely catchy songs that are sure to have your kids singing for days. Additionally, the more scary bits are perfectly balanced with goofiness so that your kiddos do not keep you up at night.

For Teens: Happy Death Day (2017)
What happens when you turn Groundhog Day into a slasher movie? You get this delightful horror comedy! (Once you get over the fact that the main character's name is "Tree," you'll have a lot of fun)

For Adults: Barbarian (2022)
I don't want to say too much, as this film is best enjoyed going in completely blind, but what I can say is that it includes one of the best plot twists of the last decade. Grab some popcorn, sit back and prepare to be spooked.

Brennan Black, BA’18, a communications specialist with UCalgary and horror enthusiast who we have highlighted before, has some updated eclectic picks for spooky season. 

“I love the juxtaposition of having a day where we celebrate fear,” says Black. “All other days are based on positive emotions, the love of Valentine’s Day, the joy of Christmas, but I love the idea of there being a day where everyone can say, ‘I’m terrified of something, but for today I’m going to turn that into something fun!’”

For Kids: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Some say this is a Halloween movie, others a Christmas movie. I say both! It’s got beautiful stop-motion animation, a catchy soundtrack of songs, and a whole batch of fun and mischievous characters.

For Teens: The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix miniseries, 2018)
Loosely based on the Shirley Jackson book of the same name, The Haunting of Hill House is a binge-worthy miniseries full of genuine scares and true emotional beats. Plus, it has one of the greatest plot twists and reveals put to screen in a long time.

For Adults: The Thing (1982)
On top of the amazing and disgusting practical effects, John Carpenter’s The Thing is really a movie about trust and paranoia. It poses the question of what happens when trust breaks down in a small community, and what would you do if you could no longer believe the people around you or even your own body? Add in the chilling setting of an Antarctic research station and you have a sci-fi horror classic.

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Whether you’re handing out candy to the kids, hosting a teen-movie marathon or braving a late-night fright fest with a loved one, these alumni-approved picks prove there’s a Halloween/horror film for everyone.