Author: Dinah Kolka. Dinah is the founder of Decadent Serpent and a graduate of Edinburgh Napier University with a BA(Hons) in English Literature. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Salisbury Review and The Mallard. She was also published in the Scottish Book Trust’s 2018 anthology Rebel. In 2023, Dinah self-published her own collection of short stories, The Search and Other Stories.

I figured I would gracefully stop storing my favourite cosy films in my head and make a list instead. Please enjoy! It’s a list focused on giving you a solid dose of scaries and some of them MIGHT lead to sleepless nights. Watch with caution! I was honestly spooked crafting this article so I hope you read it with the big light on! (I know it’s awful, but precautions must be taken).

The Changeling (1980)

It was a cold night when I met my best friend for a film night. He’s been putting me through a series of hand-held horror films so we can eventually make our own, but that day, I explicitly said NO. I wanted to watch something cosy, I literally had to stand at the bus stop for 20 minutes as despite everyone hailing Edinburgh’s bus services, they aren’t actually that good when you try to get from one area to another. Either way, the point was that I was freezing and I wanted something warm to watch. And warm it was – we watched The Changeling and I knew it was the right pick from the very first minute. One of the first standard haunted house stories, it charmed me with its soft autumnal views and a mansion house in Seattle, Washington. The story describes a classical music professor starting a new life after a tragic family accident. You can imagine where this one is going! One of the Top 11 Best Horror Films as claimed by Scorsese, it certainly leaves an impression. For an added benefit, the film is based on a real story… better check the history of the house you inhabit as you never know what you may find!

The Others (2001)

This was the first horror film I have ever seen and I burned my popcorn while watching it. Additionally, I couldn’t sleep properly for like two weeks after. A few years back, I re-watched it and I was pleased to confirm that it stood the test of time. It’s a perfectly spooky watch, with dark rooms, flickering candles and ghosts in the walls. A woman awaiting the return of her husband from WW2 is stuck in a house with her children who are extremely sensitive to light. Such a perfect setting for a good story! The rehearsals literally gave Nicole Kidman nightmares so you might potentially expect the same.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Can this list ever be complete without Sleepy Hollow? We all love it and if you haven’t seen it, I urge you to give it a watch. I seem to be unwittingly succumbing into early noughties films but we all have to admit – there are slim pickings these days. And this film really rewards you – you follow a man investigating decapitations committed by The Headless Horseman. Make sure that you top up your hot chocolate before the film because you will not want to leave the sofa during it! It’s a masterpiece of creepies, a cherry on top of all things spooky. We have some urban legends, we obviously have Johnny Depp who is probably the only actor I have ever liked, and we have the turned-down saturation which is so sorely missed these days. Johnny Depp actually adopted the horse from the film which is very wholesome.

Crimson Peak (2015)

It’s actually been years since I’ve seen this one but it’s a gorgeous film. Everything you want from a spooky cinematographic experience – period clothing, massive mansions, and jump scares. A family tragedy, confusing love conflicts, this one is certainly one to remember. Again, some scenes were inspired by real events that happened to Guillermo del Toro which is a horrifying concept.

The Ninth Gate (1999)

I remember speaking to my friend at some point and she mentioned The Ninth Gate in the conversation. I was confused and explained that I’d never seen it, actually. She stopped in the middle of the street, looked at me and exclaimed ‘What do you mean you’ve never seen the Ninth Gate? It’s such a Dinah film! Go home right now and watch it.’ So off I went and watched The Ninth Gate. And you know what? She was right. It was so much fun. It was right up my street with the main character being a rare book dealer discovering a mysterious book that holds the key to something sinister. It got worse nearing the end but in my opinion, it was still a solid watch. Very cosy! (Just ignore the director. Ya know, death of the author and all).

The Woman in Black (2012)

A vengeful ghost, terrorised locals, everything you want from a cosy Halloween film! It’s pretty and spooky (no I was not able to watch it by myself, I was too spooked). Naturally, there’s a family tragedy and other classic horror elements. I love the colours and the atmosphere of it, it’s a perfect watch. What makes it worse, all the music boxes and mechanical toys were actually real antiques from the period! No wonder they sound so eerie, they are probably literally haunted. Anyway, a solid recommendation, do enjoy it!

Suspiria (1977)

This one is a no-brainer. It’s a beautiful, beautiful film with gorgeous colours and an incredibly potent story. It’s a visual feast and the rain scenes make you feel grateful that you’re indoors. The storyline is also something else – an American dancer joins a German dancing school, except she quickly realises that things are not what they seem to be. Whenever I write about something I really like, I often find that I don’t have much to say. And this is certainly the case here – if you haven’t had a chance – find some time to give it a watch as it’s beautiful and worth your time.

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

I don’t know how I feel about this recommendation – I haven’t actually seen this film since I was a kid. But I remember it had such an impact on me that (you guessed right) I couldn’t sleep for two weeks after seeing it. The eerie atmosphere and mystery around it made it a really captivating watch. The story follows a group of students and a teacher at a picnic and they vanish without a trace. I should probably re-watch it before recommending it, but consider it a recommendation from my younger self. Apparently, the vibe of the film was created by placing a bridal veil over the camera which sounds like something Lana Del Rey would have loved.

The Wicker Man (1973)

Give me a cosier viewing than villagers singing folk songs while a man is burning? The Wicker Man is a masterpiece in cinematography, it’s deeply unsettling and gorgeous, set on the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands – it does everything right. The chilling atmosphere of the film with the Christian man against a wild horde of pagans is truly everything you might want on an October evening. Apparently, the actress from the film called the location the “bleakest place on Earth” which pretty much describes the entirety of the UK so it’s fair.

The VVitch (2015)

I straight up adore this film. It’s got a perfect atmosphere, it’s very creepy, and they all speak Old English which makes it super quirky and completely intelligible for a section of the population that isn’t attuned to linguistic finesse (I feel like after reading Clockwork Orange I can handle all it all now tbh). Set in Puritan America (still yearning to those times – born to be an indentured servant in the New World, forced to send emails for money). The storyline follows a Puritan family expelled from their village who have to struggle on their own. And struggle they do. The point is, that the film makes for an incredibly cosy watch, which I strongly recommend.

I hope this selection will remind you of some of the solid classics and newer films that still hold up to scrutiny. Not all of them are masterpieces or my favourite films – but they’re certainly the cosiest of all. I hope this helps you pick your selection for the days before Halloween as you prepare to get spooked. Have any other films in mind? Feel free to submit your own list!