The original idea for this post was to create a short list of Halloween movies that were safe for a person with photosensitive epilepsy. Photosensitive epilepsy is when sudden light/contrast changes trigger a seizure.
What this post quickly turned into was a list of movies that were not safe for photosensitivity. Learn more about photosensitivity and seizures from the Epilepsy Foundation.
The spooky season comes with dangers when you live with epilepsy or migraines triggered by flashing lights. Strobe lights seem to be a staple in haunted houses. Lightening flashes are a common scary ambiance in Halloween movies.
I watched each of these movies (I did so safely) to find these flashes. There were many of the classic movies that you wouldn’t expect that were disqualified from being photosensitive friendly.
Although the movies below do contain some amount of flashing, watching the movie in a bright space lessens the likelihood of triggering a seizure or migraine. This is because the contrast difference is lessened. The 🌞 indicates that the movie is most likely safe for daylight viewing.
Disclaimer: Not all photosensitivity is the same. You can use the below list as a reference if you are unsure of the photosensitivity safety. Please use caution when watching ANY movie if you are triggered by light changes.
Family Friendly Halloween Movies:
- Nightmare Before Christmas
- Hocus Pocus 🌞
- Adams Family (1991)
- Edward Scissor-Hands 🌞
- Beetlejuice
Halloween Classics:
- Halloween
- Poltergeist
- Ghostbusters
- Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn
Modern Halloween Movies:
- Underworld
- Silent Hill
- Tucker and Dale vs Evil 🌞
My goal is to watch almost every horror, thriller, slasher, and monster movie, in western culture, to grow this list.
There are movies that you can enjoy in the dark that do not have flashes. But that will be a (much smaller) list for another time.
What is your favorite Halloween movie? Is there a movie listed above, that surprises you that it is not photosensitive safe?
Epil(epsy)ogue 