If you are a native cave girl like myself, while everyone was shopping for back to school supplies and grasping on to their last days of summer: you were stocking up on your halloween decorations at Dollar Tree. So now that September has officially arrived, let the ball officially drop on spooky season!
There’s something deliciously eerie about curling up in the dark with a blanket, a bowl of popcorn, and a film that makes your spine tingle. This is the official launch of our Spooky Season Movie Playlist: Whether you’re craving witchy aesthetics, haunted house classics, or slow-burn psychological thrillers, this playlist is your gateway to spooky season—Girl Cave style. Think femme fear, folklore, and a dash of glam horror. Ready to press play on the shadows?
It Follows is a psychological horror film that
premiered at Cannes in 2014 and quickly earned cult status for its eerie
atmosphere and allegorical depth. Jay Height (played by Maika Monroe) is a
carefree college student whose life spirals into dread after a sexual
encounter passes on a supernatural curse. The entity—slow, silent, and
shape-shifting—follows its victims relentlessly. Only those who've been
“infected” can see it, and the only way to escape is to pass it on through
intimacy.
Symbolism & Themes
Sexuality & Consequence: Fears
around STDs and emotional trauma
Paranoia & Isolation: The entity can appear as anyone—friend, stranger, even
family
Suburban Dread: The film’s retro aesthetic & dreamlike pacing evokes an uncanny vibe
The Craft (1996) is a cult classic that blends teen angst, witchcraft, and feminist undertones into a moody, magical brew. It’s a must-have on any spooky season playlist—especially for Girl Cave readers who vibe with femme power, aesthetic rebellion, and shadow work.
Plot & Vibe
Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) transfers to a Catholic prep school in L.A., where she meets three outcast girls—Nancy (Fairuza Balk), Bonnie (Neve Campbell), and Rochelle (Rachel True)—who practice witchcraft. Together, they form a coven and begin casting spells to reclaim power over their lives. But as their magic intensifies, so do the consequences.
✨ Themes: Identity, revenge, beauty, racism, trauma, and the seductive danger of unchecked power.
🖤 Aesthetic: Gothic schoolgirl fashion, candlelit rituals, and 90s alt-rock vibes.
🌀 Symbolism: The four elements, balance vs. chaos, and the spiritual cost of manipulation.
The Craft isn’t just a movie—it’s a mirror for every softgirl who’s ever felt outcast, powerful, or misunderstood. It’s about finding your circle, owning your magic, and learning when to walk away from toxic energy—even if it sparkles.
The Babadook (2014) is a masterclass in psychological horror—an eerie, emotionally raw film that explores grief, motherhood, and the monsters we bury inside. Directed by Jennifer Kent in her debut feature, it’s not just scary—it’s deeply symbolic, making it a perfect addition to our Spooky Movie Playlist.
Plot & Symbolism
Amelia, a widowed mother, is struggling to raise her troubled son Samuel. When a mysterious pop-up book titled Mister Babadook appears, it unleashes a sinister presence that begins to haunt their home. But the real terror isn’t just the monster—it’s the unraveling of Amelia’s psyche.
The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) is a chilling blend of ethnobotany, voodoo mysticism, and political horror—directed by Wes Craven and based on the real-life investigations of anthropologist Wade Davis. It’s not your typical zombie flick—it’s a descent into spiritual warfare, colonial tension, and the blurred line between science and sorcery.
Plot & Symbolism
Harvard anthropologist Dennis Alan (Bill Pullman) is sent to Haiti to investigate a mysterious powder said to turn people into zombies. What begins as a pharmaceutical mission quickly spirals into a nightmare of possession, political violence, and spiritual reckoning.
Beloved (1998) is a haunting, poetic, and emotionally complex film adaptation of Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and Thandiwe Newton, it dives deep into the psychological scars of slavery, motherhood, and memory.
Plot & Symbolism
Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman, lives with her daughter Denver in post–Civil War Ohio. Their home is haunted by a poltergeist—later revealed to be the spirit of Sethe’s dead child, whom she killed to spare from enslavement. When a mysterious young woman named Beloved appears, Sethe is forced to confront her past, her trauma, and the cost of survival.
Mother! (2017) is Darren Aronofsky’s surreal, allegorical psychological horror film starring Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem. It’s not just unsettling—it’s a cinematic fever dream that explores creation, destruction, and the exploitation of feminine energy.This one’s a must-watch.What it's About? A woman (Lawrence) lives in a secluded house with her poet husband (Bardem). Their quiet life is shattered when strangers arrive, triggering a cascade of increasingly chaotic events. But this isn’t just a home invasion—it’s a symbolic retelling of biblical creation, environmental collapse, and the emotional toll of being endlessly consumed.
Crawlspace (2013), directed and co-written by Josh Stolberg, is a psychological horror-thriller that blends domestic tension with claustrophobic dread. Not to be confused with the 2022 survival film of the same name, Stolberg’s version leans into twisted family dynamics and hidden trauma.
Plot Overview
Tim and Susan Gates (played by Jonathan Silverman and Lori Loughlin) move into a new home with their children, only to discover that the previous owner—deranged and obsessed—never truly left. He’s hiding in the attic and crawlspaces, watching, waiting, and plotting to reclaim what he believes is his.
The Village (2004) by M. Night Shyamalan is a haunting parable wrapped in suspense, folklore, and emotional depth. It’s not just a thriller—it’s a meditation on fear, control, and the cost of safety.Plot & Symbolism
Set in a seemingly 19th-century village surrounded by ominous woods, the townspeople live in fear of mysterious creatures they call “Those We Don’t Speak Of.” But as love, illness, and rebellion stir within the community, secrets unravel—revealing that the real monsters may not be in the forest at all.
This movie is a personal fave of The Girl Cave, underrated, but it tells a beautiful story of the power of love.The Village is a rich metaphor for generational trauma, myth-making, and feminine intuition. Despite lukewarm reviews, the film’s eerie tone, color symbolism, and emotional depth have earned it a loyal fanbase and frequent reappraisal.
0 Comments