It’s 2020 and the world got really weird and scary this year.  Many of us still want to celebrate Halloween in safe ways and what better way to enjoy the season than to host an Outdoor Horror movie night.  A movie night outdoors is a covid-friendly way to get together and be scared with your friends.

Here are some tips for hosting movies outside:

Seating: 

  • You have different options here.  Some people prefer chairs.  You can have some chairs handy or tell guests they can bring their own.  Blankets are also an option for those who prefer that, just have them in front of the chairs so visibility is great for everyone.

Screen:

  • You can have an outdoor screen on a stand, but a white sheet works just as well.  You can either build a simple frame for it and just staple the sheet to the frame or hang it from your house if that is an option.  We picked up cheap white sheets at Value Village for this purpose.

Projector:

  • Your options are buying one, borrowing one or renting one!

Other equipment:

  • extension cords
  • hdmi cord
  • DVD player or laptop
  • speakers

Wifi:

  • If you plan on streaming a movie, be sure your wifi is good in the yard where you plan to place your laptop.  If it isn’t great, then consider getting movies on DVD/Blu-ray for the event.

Lighting:

  • You’ll want to wait until dark to get the best image possible; projectors work best with minimal or no ambient light.  You may want to have some small lights around so that people can get up to go to the bathroom, etc.

Movie Snacks:

  • No movie is complete without snacks.  Setting up a popcorn bar is a fun way for guests to customize their own movie snacks.  Just have a giant bowl of popcorn ready with bags or bowls for each guest and have a selection of popcorn spice toppings for them to choose from.  You can also ask guests to bring sharable movie treats as well.

Keeping Warm:

  • Be sure to communicate to guests that the movies will be outside.  Have some blankets on hand so that everyone can keep cozy throughout the night.  Have warm drinks available, such as hot chocolate and tea.

Plan Ahead:

  • Test out the set up beforehand so you can problem solve any issues in advance!

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There is something frightening about watching horror movies outdoors; the darkness, the sounds of nature, etc. just add to the creepiness of the movie experience.  Choosing the right movie to accentuate this fear is essential!

This is my Top Ten List of Movies to Watch Outside:

 

  • The Blair Witch Project (1999)

  • Blair Witch (2016)

    • This movie has a scene near the end of the movie that makes me incredibly uncomfortable, which makes it one of my top picks.
    • “After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his vanished sister Heather, James and a group of friends head to the forest believed to be inhabited by the Blair Witch.”
    • https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1540011/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
  • Cabin in the Woods (2012)

    • If a remote cabin isn’t scary enough throw in some backwoods zombies!
    • “When five college friends (Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams) arrive at a remote forest cabin for a little vacation, little do they expect the horrors that await them.”
    • https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_cabin_in_the_woods
  • Evil Dead (1981)

  • The Forest (2016)

  • Backcountry (2014)

    • Not a true horror movie in my books, but an incredibly stressful situation!
    • “A couple (Missy Peregrym, Jeff Roop) on a deep-wilderness hike become hopelessly lost within an aggressive black bear’s territory.”
    • https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/backcountry
  • Willow Creek (2013)

  • Don’t Go in the Woods (1980)

  • Yellow Brick Road (2010)

  • Dying Breed (2008)

    • This is a great little After Dark film that is disturbing in many ways. It’s perfect if you get tired of Hollywood horror.
    • “Dying Breed interweaves the two most fascinating icons of Tasmanian history: the extinct Tasmanian tiger and “The Pieman” (aka Alexander Pearce) who was hanged for cannibalism in 1824.”
    • https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1064744/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

For more movie night ideas: http://halloweenpartyplanner.com/2018/09/05/hosting-horror-movie-nights/

For more Halloween party ideas see the new book by Halloween Party Planner: https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Party-Games-Activities-Celebrations-ebook/dp/B08KWSZ196/

Halloween Party Planner