Welcome back to another episode of the Video Store Podcast, where we’re in full Halloween mode! We’re taking a walk down memory lane this week in the comforting archives of Disney. Well, perhaps comforting isn’t the right word for these films. There was an era of Disney where they seemed to relish making more edgy and spooky films. These films are perfect for dipping your toe in the water of the horror genre, or if you’re looking for something off-the-beaten-path for your Halloween viewing. We’ve selected four of these Spooky Disney films for the staff picks wall this week to help make your Halloween fun and pleasantly chilling.

First up is the 1949 Disney animated short film The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This gorgeously animated short film, based on the short story of the same name by Washington Irving, is an essential part of Halloween viewing. Told and sung by Bing Crosby, it is a great film best enjoyed with the whole family.

For something a little different this Halloween season, check out Disney’s undersung 1985 classic, The Black Cauldron. While not necessarily considered a horror movie, The Black Cauldron, does have horror elements, and in the original cut, was deemed so scary that it nearly got an R-rating! Based on Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain, The Black Cauldron is another great example of spooky Disney, and also one that’s accessible for the whole family.

From the era where Disney tried to inject a little bit of family-friendly horror into their catalog, comes 1980’s The Watcher in the Woods. The Watcher in the Woods has a wonderful cast, including Bette Davis and David McCallum. The film is elevated by its cast, creepy score, as well as a wonderful, ethereal mystery. Based on the book by Florence Engel Randall, The Watcher in the Woods makes horror accessible for teens and young adults.

Finally, we have 1983’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, based on the book of the same name by Ray Bradbury. Bradbury is a master of horror and sci-fi, and Something Wicked This Way Comes is a wonderful example of his mastery. Starring Jonathan Pryce, Jason Robards, Pam Grier, and Diane Ladd, among others, Something Wicked This Way Comes is a wonderful film for the month of October. Get caught up in the mystery and suspense of Something Wicked This Way Comes with your teens and young adults.

Thanks for joining us today at the Video Store Podcast for these lesser-known films from the Disney vault. Grab some candy on the way out, and come back next week for more film and television recommendations from the Video Store Podcast.

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