Halloween is upon us!

The motel has been so incredibly excited for this year’s Halloween season. Maybe because it’s nice to get excited about something, and something as simple as a holiday and the changing of seasons surely counts.

This time of year makes me reminisce about the amazing east coast trip I’d gone on with my good friend, we’ll call her Pisces, just last year. As a west coast girl, I’d always daydreamed about what it would be like to see the autumn sights and sounds. Thankfully, my daydreams had paid off. The trip checked off so many boxes on my list and I fully intend on going back in the future. I am lightly eyeing Connecticut and Woodstock, Vermont. Though, I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to revisiting Boston and Maine.

During our trip, we got the chance to visit Salem, Massachusetts. It is the ultimate Halloween destination and we were so lucky to have visited the quirky town during its peak season in October.

These are spooky stories with a tinge of elegant artistry, intelligence, and a subtle, rosy tint of romance, in all its shapes and forms. So without further ado, here we go!

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola (who I also mention here), this movie tells the infamous tale of Count Dracula. It is an extremely artful interpretation, full of castles, blood, and luscious sin. The cast is absolutely perfect. Winona Ryder is gorgeous in this movie and though Keanu Reeves has gotten criticism for his horrible English accent, I find I still enjoyed him very much as Jonathan Harker. I definitely plan on reading the book this year!

The Love Witch (2016)

Elaine is a beautiful young witch determined to find love and the man of her dreams. She’s cunning, manipulative, and a little too good at what she does. Death and complications ensue. This movie is a perfect mix of Halloween and femme fatalism. It boasts artful scenes, costumes, and makeup reminiscent of the 1960’s. One of my absolute favorites!