If you are eager to get an early start on your Halloween movie marathon, rest assured that Netflix has prepared fresh options to add to your queue. The platform’s newest spookfest “Nightbooks” was released on Sept. 15. It was directed by David Yarovesky and is based on a book of the same name by J.A. White. It follows a young boy named Alex (played by Winslow Fegley) who loves to write scary stories. 

For an unknown reason, Alex is dead set on giving up his obsession with horror and burning his stories. Before he can toss his “Nightbooks,” as he calls them, into the furnace of his building, he is lured into a haunted apartment and whisked away. The magical proprietor of the haunted apartment, an evil witch named Natacha (played by Krysten Ritter), is keeping Alex and a girl named Yasmin (played by Lidya Jewett) captive as her servants and forces Alex to write her a scary story every day for the rest of his life, or else. We follow as Alex takes on a crypt-keeper-like role, telling a handful of scary short stories while simultaneously trying to find a way to escape his haunted prison. 

The short stories are accompanied by live-action shorts with characters and backgrounds reminiscent of the style and drama of Halloween favorites like “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Beetlejuice.” The majority of the film contrasts bright neon greens, blues and reds with stark and subdued blacks and grays, a classic lighting scheme for Halloween films. 

Fegley plays the role of the creative but dejected Halloween protagonist perfectly. Following the noble tradition of the more family-friendly Halloween movies, you empathize with him and ultimately want to see him come out of the story happier than he went in. Jewett’s Yasmin is a well-acted, sobering reminder of what happens when a child loses their innocence too soon and of what we want to hopefully avoid with Alex. Ritter’s wicked but fashion-minded witch Natacha is equal parts fascinating and despicable. She brings to mind infamous silver screen villainesses such as Cruella de Ville or Maleficent, who captivate us but whom we nonetheless love to see get their comeuppances. 

These three main characters, along with Natacha’s magical disappearing cat Lenore, make up the majority of the film. Almost every scene with Natacha and the kids leaves you worried for their wellbeing and wondering what Natacha might do to them. This is certainly a testament to the strength of Krysten Ritter’s acting ability and how she can make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, even with a simple stare. This movie also highlights the strength of the two younger actors, as they are able to match the energy she brought to the table.

This film presents itself as an open and unapologetic love letter to the Tim Burton and R.L. Stine subgenres of horror without directly copying them. This is also a film about the validity and significance of scary stories and, despite how society at large has frowned upon those who enjoy being scared and occasionally scaring others, it is okay to be different. The film’s softer side thankfully does not detract from it’s darker moments of true dread, and downright ugly imagery and effects. It may be a little lacking in the jump-scare department, but considering the more family-friendly nature of the film, I won’t begrudge the filmmakers too harshly for this. 

Altogether this film was an enjoyably grim tale. It has me ready to pick out a costume and run out the door with a pillowcase, despite Halloween still being over a month away. So, if you find that you are tired of the same old bag of tricks every October, “Nightbooks” is sure to offer some exciting new share-sized treats that you and your friends and family can enjoy together.