BONUS! A variety of autumnal media for your October and November

Hello my ghouls, ghosts and not-so-spooky beings! The end of October, Halloween, and November are fast approaching. Earlier this month I shared some of my favorite Halloween episodes and movies with you. However, I forgot to share some of my other favorites. Like, there was a point in my life where I asked everyone that I encountered “Have you seen Knives Out?!!!???” and then I didn’t even mention Knives Out in the post. Oops! So today, I’m sending you a lil bonus post in case you have some leftover candy and want to cozy up with some screen time or a good book this week/weekend.

I hope I’m not alone in thinking that November feels very cold and long in the beginning. I mean, we are all waiting for Thanksgiving at the end of the month, so we have to put some effort into enjoying the weeks that come before. Mysteries feel very on brand for the cooler months leading up to the new year, so you’ll see just a few specifically Halloween-themed recommendations here, and the rest are just general mysterious vibes. I hope you have plenty of options to choose from within this list of Music, TV, and Movies! (Book list to come).

TV

Modern Family

Pranks, jump scares, and costumes galore! Claire getting overly-into Halloween? Check. Haley wearing a skimpy costume? Check. Phil finally getting the one up on Claire’s scare tactics? Maybe…. you’ll just have to watch and find out!

Halloween S2 E6

Open House of Horrors, S4 E5

Halloween 3: AwesomeLand, S6 E6

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Phil Dunphy, S9 E5

Halloween 4: The Revenge of Rod Skyhook, S8 E5

Good Grief, S10 E5

The Last Halloween, S11 E5

Movies

Haunting in Venice (Hulu). This might be the spookiest one on the entire list! I am a BIG fan of Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot, so it’s no surprise that so many of the Agatha Christie spinoff movies are on this list. For the most part, they aren’t spooky or scary, they’re just perfect mysteries. But this one is actually a little spooky because of the haunting aspect. And it’s the only one on this list that is marked “Mystery/Horror”, but, it also has Tina Fey in it. So, viewer, beware!

Murder on the Orient Express (Amazon Prime, for purchase). If you’re watching these in order, watch Murder on the Orient Express before Death on the Nile. Murder on the Orient express was my first Hercule Poirot movie and it still has a soft spot in my mystery-loving heart. Maybe it’s the close quarters of the train, or maybe it’s just something about the production value and chosen actors, but this might be my favorite!

Death on the Nile (Hulu). BIG Gal Gadot fan over here. I just love looking at her, don’t you? This movie does have some cursed actors in it though (looking at you Russell Brand and Armie Hammer….) but sigh. I think the plot twist and Letitia Wright and Tom Batemen characters rescue it for me.

Knives Out (Free on the Roku Channel, Amazon Prime (for purchase)). Knives Out was one of the first mystery movies I watched and liked, or at least, could remember watching and liking. I know that I’ve grown a LOT in my mystery/thriller tastes so I’m currently rewatching it to see how things have changed. I’m tentatively expecting to be let down by it, but, I am also tentatively excited to be surprised and enjoy it just as much! The cast is just SO. GOOD.

Knives Out 2: The Glass Onion (Netflix). With all the vigorous love I had for Knives Out, I was a smidge disappointed in the plot of The Glass Onion. Something about the way they characterized Edward Norton at the beginning gave me too many Elon vibes. You know? Also, I don’t think I’m a big Edward Norton fan (does no one remember the horror he forced upon us that was Sausage Party?!!). Do these weird vibes stop me from rewatching it? Certainly not. I loved the guest stars, of course: Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monae, Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc (I mean!), and Kate Hudson (whose sweatpants storyline is oddly reminiscent of some Fabletics scandal that seems to be brewing…(But I miss her, I want more “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” movies from her!))

See How They Run (Hulu). This one is actually marked as a Comedy/Mystery, and tagged as a cozy mystery on IMDB. So you’ll certainly giggle a little bit and not be too scared. There’s some of that Irish humor in it which does has a place and time. And, if you love Saoirse Ronan, she’s one of the main characters! It’s set around a 1950’s movie set based on a popular play and hijinks ensue. I have a vague recollection of watching this, but I can’t quite remember the ending. So it’s back on the list for me to re-watch!

Agatha and the Truth of Murder (Amazon Prime for purchase). I have not seen this movie at all! It’s a 2018 “Crime” genre movie, with the description: In 1926, with her personal life in tatters and her writing in crisis, a young Agatha Christie decides to solve a real-life murder. I’ve always had a fascination with Agatha Christie, so I think this one would be a great way to spend an hour and a half. I’m watching it this year!

Music

All of these playlists are great for working from home, carving pumpkins, cooking dinner, or making a fall-themed treat. I’m partial to instrumental jazz music because once Caleb and I stayed in the most gorgeous Air BnB and when we checked in, the hosts had jazz music playing. It truly set the ambiance for the home in a way I’d never experienced before. Then and there I decided I wanted jazz to be the soundtrack of my home. Please enjoy!

It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Ambiance & Music

Positive Autumn Morning Jazz

Cozy Autumn Vibes

Sending you a sugar-filled, cozy, and colorful fall!

Love you, mean it.

Grace