Pumpkin season has arrived! It’s time to grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Brody Café, decorate your dorm, put on your headphones and settle down to watch your favorite fall films. If you're indecisive about what to watch or simply looking for a way to get into the fall spirit, continue reading this article to receive some insight into what films you should be watching and what fun fall experiences to consider including in your fall academic calendar.
For those who may be unaware, Hopkins is located less than one-and-a-half miles from Warehouse Cinemas in Rotunda (around a 30 minute walk or a 10 minute drive). If the proximity of the theater is not incentive enough, consider the available-every-Tuesday $7 tickets. Furthermore, if you are into “classic” horror films, this theater will be showcasing a variety of films for you to discover and indulge in all the way through Oct. 31. Accompanying these spooky films are some new releases that just happen to “fall” into the Fall category that we are hoping to encapsulate throughout this article.
Of these soon-to-be-released films, a notable one to mention is Practical Magic 2. Considered an “essential” Halloween film, the first Practical Magic movie follows two sisters (who happen to be witches) as they combat a serial killer ex-boyfriend and attempt to break the curse that prevents them from falling in love. In terms of aesthetics, the film is filled with deep red and orange hues, candlelit scenes, and many well placed falling leaves. The sisters are played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, and the film is available for streaming on HBO Max as well as Hulu (more on this as we go).
Another film to consider adding to your “Fall Movie Bucket List,” and whose showings begin on Oct. 1, is Verity. Adapted from the novel by Colleen Hoover, this psychological romantic thriller revolves around a struggling writer who is asked to ghostwrite for Verity Crawford, a bestselling author who has become comatose in the wake of a car accident. Deeply disturbing, this film (or novel, should you choose to read it) will leave your skin crawling and keep you questioning, long past its ending, what was true and what was false.
For users of Disney+, there are many autumnal films to choose from. A couple of noteworthy movies include Hocus Pocus and Jennifer’s Body.
Hocus Pocus, arguably one of my favorite fall films, takes place in Salem, Mass. and follows Max Dennison, his sister and his crush through their journey to kill the three witches he unwittingly resurrected by lighting the Black Flame Candle. This movie is perfect for those who want to experience a “spooky,” not “scary,” fall.
On the other end of the spectrum, Jennifer’s Body, a comedy-horror film, is ideal for those eager to watch a disturbing take on the high school experience. The story, told from the perspective of Anita “Needy” Lesnicki, follows Jennifer Check, Needy’s best friend, who becomes a cannibalistic man-killer after a bar catches on fire. While certainly more “thrilling,” the movie has been deemed by fans a thought-provoking piece representative of the societal pressures women face. This film is also available for free on Pluto TV (which is accessible on most browsers).
If you want movies that are not necessarily spooky in nature but that instead merely capture the “essence” of the fall season, I would consider looking into the following:
- Good Will Hunting (available for free on Pluto TV): This film follows a gifted 20-year-old janitor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who is given the opportunity to study math on the condition that he attends therapy. The movie is incredibly vulnerable, and its themes of change and growth are especially relevant during the transition from summer to fall (and the beginning of a new school year).
- Another film to consider adding to your watchlist is Dead Poets Society (only available to rent or buy as of right now). This story revolves around a group of boys enrolled in an all-male Episcopal boarding school who, inspired by their English teacher, re-start the “Dead Poets Society” and attempt to live life on their own terms.
- If romantic comedies are your preferred genre, watching Notting Hill will allow you to continue your romanticization of the fall season while simultaneously allowing you to indulge in the romanticization of friendships and human connection. This film takes the viewer through the obstacles a bookstore owner and a famous actress face while navigating their friendship.
Hopefully after reading this article, you have left with a couple movies you want to watch again or perhaps watch for the first time (maybe at the local theater). Even if these films did not spark any inspiration, I would definitely look at HopkinsGroups and consider going to watch the free films offered on the first Friday of each month. However, whatever the result this article may have been for you, don’t forget to enjoy the fall season and take advantage of all that Hopkins and Baltimore have to offer.
