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Favorite Fall Films: An Autumn Movie Rec List

Angel Xin ’26 and Mira Ponnambalam ’26 (Features Associate) in Arts | October 21, 2022

English poet John Keats called the fall the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.” Besides the reddening leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and cool weather, the fall is also the time of year for Halloween, elections, and students returning to school. Anyone looking for a movie or show to fit these themes must look no further, for we have compiled a list of our fall favorites!
In the movie Flipped, Juli falls in love with Bryce at first sight. However, Bryce has always avoided Juli. Juli is strong-willed and free-spirited; Bryce is tactful and quiet; they seem like polar opposites—two parallel lines that would never intertwine. Or will they?
I love this movie because it shows the innocence of first love and the infinite possibilities associated with forming relationships. Fall covers the first term of a school year and represents new beginnings, just like when Juli and Bryce first meet. It is the time of year to meet and interact with new people!
The movie Senior Year is another perfect movie with a back-to-school theme. Stephanie Conway falls into a coma right before her high school prom, and 20 years later, she wakes up, hoping to claim her status as prom queen. Her struggle with her new body and old mentality creates a story to both laugh and cry to.
This movie matches the autumn spirit—as the protagonist navigates her high school life, we Lawrentians navigate through ours. This movie addresses several high school problems such as popularity, social connections, and academics, and it is a perfect comedy to enjoy with a cup of pumpkin spice latte.
Another recommendation is the television series Heartstopper, a coming-of-age show based on a popular graphic novel. In the show, Charlie Spring faces severe bullying after he is outed, while Nick Nelson struggles with his own LGBTQ+ identity. 
This series is one of the few shows that depicts young LGBTQ+ romances. In addition to its amazing character development, its scenes are constructed wonderfully. The golden shades of the lighting, the colors used to portray the characters, and the depiction of the refined and subtle emotion between the two boys is especially fitting and warming to the heart on an autumn day. 
With elections occurring in the fall, politics become critically important. The Netflix original film Don’t Look Up, is an allegory for the current climate crisis. This political comedy addresses problems within the current political system and the greed associated with power, noting the conflicts between the economy and the environment. Its plot is interesting, its lessons are crucial, and Leonardo DiCaprio is even in the cast—what more is there to ask for? Don’t forget– the fall season is also election season, and some of us Lawrentians are eligible to vote! Make sure to make your voice heard—every vote counts. 
No list of fall movies would be complete without Halloween movies. Halloween movies can be funny, heartwarming, or terrifying, depending on your preference, and I just can’t get enough of them. 
Some people find joy in being completely terrified. The Shining, a psychological horror movie from the 1980s, may not let you sleep easy at night, but it is a terrifying joy to watch. Jack Torrance, his wife Wendy, and his son Danny travel to an isolated hotel after Jack becomes its winter caretaker. However, strange supernatural forces are at play in the hotel.
The Shining is truly bone-chilling, which makes it a perfect movie to get into the Halloween mood. Jack Torrance famously says that “[all] work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Similarly, to avoid this “dull” fate, we Lawrentians may explore this spine-chilling film. 
The more recent horror movie, Us, starring Lupita Nyong’o, leaves viewers on the edge of their seats and truly demonstrates what makes watching horror movies so fun. A family finds themselves haunted by their doppelgangers during a trip to the beach. Us is filled with shocking twists and turns, and the way the film reflects reality is horrifying, making it the perfect movie for Halloween. 
However, not everyone likes horror movies. The comedic and slightly morbid media about the Addams Family would be a better fit for some. 
Whether they are in the cartoons from the New Yorker, the black and white 1960s tv show, or the ‘90s movies, The Addams Family is a joy to watch. There’s even a musical about them that Lawrenceville put on just last year! The wonderful thing about the Addams Family is that despite their strange, ghastly nature they are truly a perfect family. Enjoy the quirkiness of the Addams Family, in one of the older shows, movies, or even the upcoming Netflix show Wednesday, which will be released on November 23.


image: Courtesy of The Wrangler

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