Halloween is here, and everyone is looking for music, shows, and movies to get them in the spirit. While MCU titles are often light-hearted and filled with jokes, more recently, the studio has been experimenting with darker themes and characters.
Just this year, Marvel has released several properties that explore the creepier, more intense parts of the cinematic universe. With the premiere of Werewolf By Night gaining praise, it begs the question of what other MCU projects are great to watch during the spooky season to get them in the mood.
Werewolf By Night (2022)
Aside from the She-Hulk finale, Werewolf By Night is Marvel's latest release. It's the studio's first Halloween special, and with the positive reception it's received, hopefully, it isn't the last viewers see of these characters.
With a title like Werewolf By Night, a horror film is to be expected, but regarding what Marvel's known for releasing, this hour-long movie has exceeded expectations. It pays homage to the first-ever horror films of the twentieth century in several ways, from the sets and intentional camera angles to the score and the black-and-white effect. Werewolf By Night lives up to its label as a Halloween special, offering chilling surprises and thrilling action sequences sure to shock viewers.
Captain Marvel (2019)
Captain Marvel introduces Carol Danvers to the MCU. Set in the '90s, she crashes on Earth during a fight with the Skrulls. She meets Nick Fury, and together, they discover Carol's forgotten past and save the world from impending doom.
Captain Marvel is often criticized and regarded as the worst film in the MCU, but there's no denying that the concept of Skrulls is interesting. There's a chance that anyone the hero comes across could be in disguise and not be the person thought they were (as evidenced in this movie and the larger cinematic universe). The species' ability to shape-shift is awesome, but it also keeps viewers on edge. It's like the Skrulls are wearing costumes so identical to their source, that no one can tell who's who.
What If...? (2021 - )
What If...? is the MCU's version of the anthology comics series of the same name released by Marvel Comics. This show explores how different the stories fans have come to love would be if one thing in the main timeline had happened another way.
Narrated by Jeffrey Wright, What If...? explores infinite possibilities, playing off of the stories of the Infinity Saga. Halloween is a lot like this show. It's a holiday where anyone can be anything. The possibilities are endless, and the night is filled with fun. With the science fiction and fantasy elements that are given room to thrive, this series is great to watch around the Halloween season.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Spider-Man's first solo film in the MCU sees the webbed hero fight the Vulture and unravel his plot to sell weapons made with alien technology on the black market.
Homecoming is mostly a fun teen movie with great characters and a wonderful story about Peter trying to prove to Tony Stark—and himself—that he has what it takes to be a hero. At the beginning of the climax, however, film takes a frightening turn when Peter realizes who the Vulture really is. This is easily one of the best movie villain twists, and the subsequent car scene is haunting as Adrian Times begins to piece the truth together.
Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
The second Avengers team-up movie sees the gang up against Ultron, one of Tony's creations with a mind of its own. While this may not be the most highly regarded MCU film, it brings the Maximoff twins and Vision into the larger story.
Age Of Ultron has some of the most chilling and thrilling scenes in the cinematic universe — at least in the trailer. It doesn't translate as well in the actual movie, but the film still manages to feel creepy. Ultron himself is terrifying, largely due to the special effects and James Spader's brilliant yet menacing voice work. Wanda's powers of illusion also add to the fright this movie exhibits. While Age Of Ultron may sometimes be forgotten among the more recent spectacles Marvel has come out with, the Halloween season is the perfect time for a reminder of how great this film is.
WandaVision (2021)
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WandaVision is the continuation of Wanda's journey since losing Vision in Infinity War. The show wonderfully captures the stages of grief while also keeping the fun of the MCU alive.
Being the first Marvel series to debut on Disney+, WandaVision knocks it out of the park. The show delivers all the chills in the form of darker scenes in each episode that suggest something sinister is going on, and the thrills are offered throughout the series as the truth is revealed. If it isn't already perfect for a rewatch this spooky season, it has its own Halloween episode that brings all the fun and leads into the wild third act of the show.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
The Winter Soldier is the second Captain America standalone movie. Despite this fact, the events of this film have enormous repercussions for the whole MCU as it reintroduces Bucky to the story and cracks SHIELD wide open.
This movie is arguably the most thrilling installment in the MCU. What viewers thought they knew about SHIELD was turned on its head in an action-packed and frightening series of events. The Winter Soldier has several elements that make up a good movie. It's shocking, there’s running and hiding, and the stakes are high. While Marvel takes a lighter, more action-based approach to the film, it's still an amazing movie, and a great one to watch around Halloween.
Moon Knight (2022)
Moon Knight follows Steven Grant, a museum gift shop worker, whose life isn't what it seems, and he doesn't know it yet. Oscar Isaac plays the titular character, and he's able to brilliantly capture the humanity of two different characters at the same time.
Moon Knight delivers the Halloween fright to viewers, mostly in the editing and the way it forces one to question what they already know about the characters and the world they have already been shown. The show is darker than most MCU projects, evident in the violence, the villain's actions, and the careful yet authentic themes of mental health.
Daredevil (2015 - 2018)
MCU fans have been over the moon since it was announced that Daredevil would be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is because out of all the Netflix Marvel shows, his is regarded as the best, and Charlie Cox plays the character phenomenally.
Daredevil is a very dark show. It features several intense and violent scenes that make the heart race, and the dim lighting and soundtrack don’t help in making it feel lighter. This is the perfect show to rewatch or get into right now because it offers all the elements perfect for an October binge, and it will give viewers an idea of the beloved character that is already showing up in projects like She-Hulk and No Way Home.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
The Multiverse Of Madness is one of the MCU's latest films to be released. It follows Doctor Strange and America Chavez as they try and outrun the Scarlet Witch who's keen on stealing America's universal-bouncing powers for her herself.
Multiverse Of Madness certainly delivers the madness, but it also brings elements of horror not present in the usual Marvel project. The Scarlet Witch in particular brings a lot of mind-bending choreography, terrifying faces, and awful jump scares that give the film a frightening feel. With Sam Raimi, horror aficionado, as director, it's no wonder this movie has all the chills and thrills that it does.