Gilmore Ghouls: Lorelai And Rory’s Ultimate Halloween Movie Marathon
October is upon us this week, and with it, the pumpkin-spiced magic of Halloween. And who better to guide our spooky season cinematic adventures than our favorite fast-talking, coffee-loving, movie-obsessed duo, Lorelai and Rory?
While the Gilmore Girls may not have hosted an official Halloween movie night at the Dragonfly Inn (imagine the snacks!), we’ve pieced together a few film frights they’ve mentioned throughout their seven seasons that might just make up their ultimate Halloween movie marathon.
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The Shining
In the unsettling world of ‘The Shining,’ we venture into the eerie corridors of the Overlook Hotel and the slow descent into madness of its winter caretaker. Lorelai humorously references this in the early days of ‘Gilmore Girls’, noting the perils of an all-work and no-play lifestyle
Well, we like our internet slow, okay? We can turn it on, walk around, do a little dance, make a sandwich. With DSL, there’s no dancing, no walking, and we’d starve. It’d be all work and no play. Have you not seen The Shining, Mom?
LORELAI
Psycho
In the thriller ‘Psycho,’ we’re taken into the world of Bates Motel and witness the unforgettable, spine-chilling shower scene that would go down in cinematic history. Lorelai, in her characteristic wit, draws a parallel to this iconic moment, but for a slightly less menacing reason (I’ll give you a hint, it has eight legs).
LORELAI: Did you not hear me screaming?
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LUKE: You were screaming?
LORELAI: Yes, like Janet Leigh in “Psycho.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
In the nightmarish world of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street,’ the sinister Freddy Krueger haunts dreams, turning slumber into a deadly trap. With his razor-sharp glove, he’s become an iconic figure of terror. Contrast this with Lorelai’s critique of the ‘Final Destination’ series:
Okay, but, see, I’m sorry. They did not even come up with a villain. No Freddy, no Jason. The villain is death? How lame is that? Who is seeing this movie?
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The Omen
Damien, the ominous child at the heart of ‘The Omen,’ is no ordinary boy. With eerie events surrounding him, he’s famously known as the antichrist, ushering in spine-chilling suspense and terror. Now, imagine likening this dark character to… a hamster? Leave it to Lorelai.
Look, I know it was bad, but this was a vicious hamster! This was like a Damien hamster with little beady eyes and a big forked tail and a cape with a hood and, ugh…
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Carrie
‘Carrie,’ Stephen King’s terrifying tale, introduces us to a shy teenager with telekinetic powers who faces unrelenting bullying. One of the movie’s most iconic scenes involves an unsuspecting Carrie having pig’s blood dumped on her at prom – an act that triggers a nightmarish vengeance. Rory invokes this chilling scene when discussing her school assignment with Paris, Louise, and Madeline.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. They’ve basically just moved off the plan to dump the pig’s blood on me at the prom, that’s all.
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Christine
‘Christine’ revs up the narrative with Stephen King’s chilling tale of a vintage 1958 Plymouth Fury car that becomes murderously possessive of its owner. The story cautions us about the dangers of obsessive love, albeit through the eerie roars of an engine. As Dean eagerly shows Rory the car he’s building for her, he teases with the question:
DEAN: Okay. Uh, did you ever see “Christine?”
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RORY: Yes.
DEAN: Well, it’s nothing like that. Come on.
The Amityville Horror
‘The Amityville Horror’ delves into the harrowing events faced by a family that moves into a large house where a mass murder was committed. Despite its lovely facade, the home holds sinister secrets that terrify its new residents. Eerie apparitions, cold spots, and haunting events galore. Now, while the Gilmore residence might not be home to vengeful spirits, Lorelai’s sentiment rings clear:
No, that house is not safe. It’s like “The Amityville Horror” without all the good times.
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Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The chilling tale of extraterrestrial beings replacing humans with emotionless duplicates. The tension mounts as Donald Sutherland discovers the sinister plot, culminating in that unforgettable, spine-tingling moment of realization. Channeling the same essence, when little Gigi draws a line on the floor, prompting a loud scream after Lorelai takes away her marker, Lorelai says:
If that’s your Donald Sutherland “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” impression, it’s a really good one.
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Frankenstein
In Mary Shelley’s classic, ‘Frankenstein,’ a groundbreaking experiment leads Dr. Frankenstein to create a monstrous being, commonly mistaken as ‘Frankenstein’ but truly the nameless creature, often depicted with bolts on the side of his neck. After witnessing Paris’s bully tactics on poor Brad, Rory jestingly retorts:
It’s amazing how you manage to hide those bolts on the side of your neck. What is that, just really good cover up?
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Young Frankenstein
To wrap up our fright-filled yet delightful Gilmore Girls Halloween movie marathon, we can’t resist throwing in a twist with Mel Brooks’s iconic parody, ‘Young Frankenstein.’ This comedic reimagining of the Frankenstein tale, complete with quirky characters and memorable lines, captures the hilarity that Brooks is known for. Lorelai certainly recognizes Brooks’s comedic genius while talking about getting a tattoo:
What do you mean, why? The Two Thousand Year Old Man, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie – you don’t think Mel has earned the right to have his face on my butt?
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👻 There you have it! A Gilmore-approved Halloween movie marathon. With their accurate references to each movie, it’s safe to assume the Gilmore Girls have watched these on a dark Halloween night!
