Best Non-Traditional Halloween Movies

The only thing scary about this is the bully of a big brother Chet. Played by Bill Paxton, Chet lords his authority over his brother Wyatt (Ilan-Mitchell Smith) and Wyatt's friend Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) as they engage in their girl-catching shenanigans over a weekend while Chet and Wyatt's parents are out of town. Gary and Wyatt finally one-up everyone when they "make" a woman on their computer, who grants their every wish, so to speak. Seriously, they create an actual live woman on their computer.

This is a thriller starring Jodie Foster as a single mother who, along with her daughter, hole up in their new house's "panic room" while three burglars invade their home. Despite all the high-tech security equipment in the house, they have literally just moved in when the thieves strike and don't have time to figure it out. The panic room also happens to contain the safe with the money the burglars are after so the game becomes even more dangerous.

A not-that-scary movie that stars John Travolta as a small-town car mechanic who is struck by light. Not lightning, just a flash of sunlight that suddenly gives him super-mega intelligence.

You can't leave this one off your Halloween cue. I'm referring to the original of course. A group of guys literally set up a "ghost busting" service. Very unrealistic but very hilarious and fun for Halloween.

Definitely the scariest movie on my list, based on the Stephen King short story. John Cusack is a journalist who wants to check into a haunted hotel room--room 1408, of course, to do a story and debunk the rumor that it's haunted. Despite everyone's discouragement, including hotel management who have banned the general public from ever using the room because no one has ever come out alive, they make an exception after he signs a waiver absolving them of all responsibility for what may happen to him, and he checks in. You'll have to watch the movie yourself to see exactly what ensues.