While The Observer seems to want to encourage Case Western Reserve University students to get outside and see as many locals as possible, sometimes staying indoors can’t be avoided. The pull of the couch or TV becomes too strong to ignore, and you’re forced to snuggle up and watch a movie—or a show, or maybe even read a book. Here are some of my favorite fall media recommendations across genres, from dark comedies to coming-of-age classics to reality TV.
Movie:
“Hook”
If you liked Knives Out, then this adaptation of the infamous Murder Mystery board game will be just for you. In a secluded New England mansion, six strangers attend a tense dinner party where the bodies begin to pile up. More funny than scary, the film has three alternating endings, paying homage to the open-endedness of the board game, although most people, myself included, prefer the third.
“Little Women” (2019)
Unlike summer blockbuster Barbie, director Greta Gerwig’s previous film Little Women screams fall. This adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s novel brings the March sisters to a modern audience and features some of the most recognizable actors of our generation: Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Timothée Chalamet, to name a few. While not all of the scenes in this film take place in the fall, some of the most iconic ones do, and their nostalgic, bittersweet tone definitely evokes cold weather.
“Fantastic Mister Fox”
While everyone is probably familiar with this Wes Anderson classic, it’s always worth mentioning in case anyone hasn’t seen it yet. The stop motion animation is amazing; it is set against a backdrop of rich reds and golds, inspired by fall, that pair perfectly with the orange fur of the foxes. Watch and laugh as Mr. and Mrs. Fox and all their animal friends pull off a dangerous heist and escape from a trio of evil bird keepers.
Some honorable mentions for fall-themed movies—since there are so many good ones—include Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting, What We Do in the Shadows, Twilight, and any of the Harry Potter movies, but especially Harry Potter and a prisoner of Azkaban.”
TV:
“Beyond the Garden Wall”
This animated miniseries and its half-American, half-Halloween aesthetic are about as autumnal as it gets. The series follows two brothers, Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Greg (Colleen Dean), as they journey through a mysterious forest known as the Unknown. On their journey, they encounter everything from talking animals to real demons and skeletons in pumpkins, all under the cover of fall foliage. Although this series is aimed at children, it is surprisingly dark and does a very good job of emulating the unsettling feeling of being lost in the woods.
“The Great British Baking Show”
Nothing can make you feel more comfortable than watching the cutest reality TV contestants you’ve ever seen whip up some amazing baked goods. My personal favorite season is season six, but bakers from every year are amazing and make great spreads.
Honorable mentions for fall TV shows include Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl and Once Upon a Time.
Books:
“Never let Me Go”
Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2005 novel blurs the line between science fiction and literary fiction. It follows the lives of Katie H. and her friends Ruth and Tommy as they attend a secluded boarding school where things go a little… wrong. As the story progresses, you begin to understand exactly what’s wrong with the world these three exist in, and its dark, brooding themes make it the perfect fall read.
“M-train”
Singer-songwriter-author Patti Smith reflects on loss and her final years in her second memoir—her first, Just Kids, is also worth a read. Smith travels all over the world, from Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul in Mexico City to Reykjavik in Iceland, but mostly keeps readers in her head. Its slow, reflective pace and black-and-white photography are sure to put readers in the autumnal mood—repeated mentions of cafes and coffee shops also make it the perfect book to read with a hot drink.
Another good fall read is the original books on which some of the previously mentioned films are based, such as Little Women, Dead Poets Society, and Fantastic Mister Fox, as well as classic novels such as Wuthering Heights. and “Rebecca”.