How do you access your Netflix streaming account?
Notice how I didn’t even ask if you had a Netflix streaming account? Because of course you do. And if you don’t, then you need to leave me a comment immediately letting me know why so I can properly explain why you should (unless you’re Amish and then what would you be doing on the internet anyway?)
Netflix has a lot of different ways to access its content: on a smart TV, through your gaming console (like a Wii U), with a streaming media player (like Roku or Apple TV), on a Blu-Ray DVD player, through the Netflix app on your smart phone or tablet, or directly online from your laptop or desktop. (For a full list of access devices, check out a complete list from Netflix).
I’ve got all of them. Literally. I have something from every category. But the way I access Netflix most of the time is directly through our Roku hooked up to our TV. My only complaint about this method is that your browsing ability is limited and most of the time, you need to know what you want to watch before you sit down. It why I usually go to Netflix.com, find my selections, add it to my queue, and then sit down to watch it all.
In preparation for the night before Halloween (which is a Friday – yay!) and Halloween night (a Saturday – double yay!), I thought I’d check out what scary movies are available and decide how gory I wanted to get and what an 8 year old can handle.
Imagine my delight when I logged in and went to look for the Horror genre and found a whole section called Halloween Favorites. Even better, it was already sorted by “Suggestions for You.”
Netflix is so smart it knows that I’ve got an 8 year old boy in the house (or some sort of child based on all the shows that get watched). But it also knows that we watch grown up shows too (because we watch everything under my profile).
And voila! Some not-so-scary Halloween shows for the little ones like Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest or Casper’s Scare School. And even though we don’t like to get too scary in this house, we might be ready for more than cartoons.
Evan, the 8 year old boy, is at that age where he likes to be scared but not too scared. He’s a big fan of the R.L. Stine series “Goosebumps.” (We just saw the movie, by the way, and all of us loved it!). So R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour movie and tv show might be right up his alley.
Even better is that if he does like these shows, we can use the easy More Like This recommendation tool on Netflix to find shows that are similar in nature of have some of the same stars.
As for me, I scare pretty easily so I browsed through the Halloween Favorites list and ended up with selections that might be okay to watch as a family and some are perfect for a blanket, some popcorn, a glass of wine, and my husband sitting very close by.
For families with older kids or grown-ups that scare easily
An old TV show may seem innocent enough but what was creepy and scary back in 1963 still holds its own today. Trust me on this.
It’s time to introduce a whole new generation to the creepiness of Alfred Hitchcock without completely ruining their love of showers or birds.
They’re creepy and they’re spooky and altogether ooky. I’m not sure how well the nostalgic flavor of The Addams Family will translate but I’m willing to give it shot. I’m pretty sure this one won’t cause any nightmares.
Let me get this out of the way. I am NOT a Tim Burton fan but kids seem to love this movie. I’ve watched it. Kinda sorta. Maybe I’ll watch it again but actually pay attention this time.
Another Tim Burton movie but don’t let the rating fool you. I remember a friend who got this movie for her preschooler and put it on while she made dinner. She came back to find him terrified and probably scarred for life.
“I see dead people” was the punchline for probably a decade but remember that this next generation has no idea what the secret is. I’ve only seen this movie once. I think I’m ready to see it again and catch all the things I missed the first time.
If you liked The Sixth Sense then you’ll love another of M. Night Shymalan’s movies, The Village. This one was so overlooked but we thought it was fantastic when we first saw it. And yes, there’s another twist headed your way.
You like twists in your scary movies? You’ll like this one then. I’m pretty sure I figured it all out before the secret was revealed to the audience but I loved this one and didn’t even mind Nicole Kidman.
Confession time: I never read Flowers in the Attic. I think I was the only girl in middle school who didn’t. I think I can skip the books and head straight for this version which I’m pretty sure won’thave me terrified (it looks pretty cheesy).
Now it’s time to get freaky scary. This is another old film but one that scared the pants off me. Did you ever see the more modern The Seventh Sign with Demi Moore? It shares a little bit of storyline but Mia Farrow will definitely creep you out.
Nobody ever said it was a good movie. They probably just said it’s a scary movie. And it is. But what else would you expect from Stephen King? And I bet you’ll never hear the names Isaac and Malachi the same. Ever again.
I know I saw this one. I know it was scary. But that’s pretty much all I remember. I think it was just a slasher flick with a slightly better storyline and slightly better acting. A nice 90s throwback.
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So how’s that for some Halloween entertainment? But you’ve only got tonight and tomorrow night because I just can’t see watching the scary stuff any other time of year. And while we’re talking about it, what’s your all-time favorite scary/creepy movie?
