Halloween movies for background noise

👬"Dead Ringers" (1988) — Jeremy Irons double-times it as twin gynecologists in this David Cronenberg feature, which is loosely based on the true story of Cyril and Stewart Marcus, who died in 1975. (On Prime)

• Never mind the Criterion write-up and the newish spin-off series that switches gender on the lead — this movie is just awful.

🪄"Magic" (1978) — I remember wanting to see this one as a kid; it was disappointing decades later. Anthony Hopkins plays a ventriloquist whose dummy is a domineering, uh, dude. (On Prime)

• Writer William Goldman was an absolute king, but the plot in this film is lacking.

🎣"Cold Skin" (2017) — As if the loneliness of being trapped at a remote lighthouse post wasn't enough to make you nervous, this story throws in a throng of mean creatures who attack every night … for some reason that's never fully explained. (On Prime)

• And, of course, there's romance.

What's next: Watch for recommendations for a few films I think are good, but have been mostly forgotten.