Is there an expiration date on free candy? A new survey has sparked debate over one of Halloween’s most controversial questions: How old is too old to go trick-or-treating?
According to the poll, 12 years old is the most popular cutoff, with 12% of people saying that’s when kids should hang up their pillowcases. Coming in close behind are ages 13, 14, 15, and 16. A tiny but shockingly stern 5% think 10 is too old, which sounds like the kind of rule made by someone who also yells at clouds.
But here’s the twist: the most popular answer by far wasn’t an age at all.
A full 26% of people said there shouldn’t be an age limit for trick-or-treating at all. So if your 17-year-old cousin shows up in a killer costume, maybe don’t slam the door in his face.
Of course, enthusiasm tends to go down if the costume is just a hoodie and a muttered “I’m a serial killer, they look like everyone else.” Effort matters, people.
And while we’re on the subject of Halloween etiquette, the survey also asked what people plan to do when trick-or-treaters come knocking. Good news: 61% say they’ll be handing out candy like the Halloween heroes they are. Another 21% admit they’ll be pretending not to be home, and 10% say they’re still undecided (possibly waiting to see how many mini Snickers they can eat before the 31st). Then there’s the 2% of cold-hearted ghouls who say they’ll answer the door just to tell kids they’re not giving out candy. Bold move.
Whether you’re team “free candy for all ages” or firmly in the “12 and under only” camp, one thing’s for sure: Halloween continues to stir up strong opinions.
And if you’re a teenager hoping to keep the tradition alive, maybe just skip the hoodie and go all in on something spooky, funny, or clever.
After all, candy tastes better when it’s earned with a little effort.
Halloween is basically here, and that means it’s officially pumpkin carving season.
But before you grab that serrated knife and go full horror movie on your gourd, here’s a simple tip that could save your masterpiece from turning into a moldy mess: Stop cutting the stem off your pumpkin.
Sure, tradition tells us to carve a lid on the top, yank it off, scoop out the guts, and go from there. But according to pumpkin pros and a bit of science, that top-down method is actually the fastest way to ruin your jack-o’-lantern.
Here’s why: the stem is not just some random little nub on top. It was literally the pumpkin’s lifeline when it was growing.
It connected the pumpkin to the vine that fed it nutrients and water. So when you chop it off, you’re basically removing the cork from the wine bottle of rot. It opens your pumpkin up to air, moisture, and decay much faster.
Instead, cut a hole in the bottom or the back of the pumpkin. That way, the stem stays intact, acting like a natural seal. Your carved creation will last longer and attract fewer bugs. (Unless you’re trying to summon flies for some reason, in which case… you do you.)
This carving hack has actually been floating around the internet for a while, but it still seems to shock people every Halloween. Think of it like carving 2.0.
Not only does the bottom-entry method help preserve your pumpkin, it also makes it easier to place it over a LED light. You just lift the pumpkin and plop it down instead of awkwardly reaching in from the top.
So this year, skip the decapitation and try the butt cut. Your pumpkin will thank you by not collapsing into a sad, mushy puddle by Halloween night.
Happy carving! And remember: the stem is your friend, not your target.
Apparently, Halloween isn’t just spooky for kids… it’s also terrifying for single adults?
A new survey from Dating.com found that 59% of single people say Halloween is one of the hardest days of the year… and 57% say it’s actually worse to be alone on Halloween than on Valentine’s Day. Which is wild, considering Valentine’s Day was literally invented to make single people feel awkward.
Almost 80% admit they feel lonely on October 31st, and more than half have even cried after opening the door to trick-or-treaters. (“No, I’m not crying… you’re crying. Now take your Snickers and leave me to my pumpkin spice despair.”)
So why does Halloween hit so hard? For one, it’s a very group holiday.
There are couples costumes, family parties, and squads of friends all pretending to be vampires together. And, if you show up solo, you may think you look like you wandered out of a haunted house looking for emotional support.
And even staying home isn’t exactly a win. Watching horror movies or baking festive treats alone sounds cozy in theory, but in practice it’s a lot more fun when shared with someone (anyone) else.
77% of singles admit they’ve pretended to have plans on Halloween, and 73% say social media makes it worse.
It’s tough scrolling past photos of matching “Barbie & Ken” costumes when you’re dressed as “Person Eating Candy Alone, Again.”
So if you’re flying solo this Halloween, remember: you’re not alone in being alone. Just think of it as the one night you can wear a mask and emotionally hide behind it.
It’s the kind of professional advice kids dream about: a real, actual dentist just gave Halloween the green light to go full sugar overload.
Dr. Olivia Mason, a dentist from West Virginia, has gone viral for suggesting that when it comes to protecting your teeth, eating all your Halloween candy in one sitting is actually better than dragging it out over days or weeks.
Yep, you read that right.
Dr. Mason, who runs Almost Heaven Family Dentistry near Wheeling, told her local news station that from a dental health perspective, a sugar binge is technically less harmful to your teeth than snacking on candy day after day. The reason? Frequent exposure to sugar gives cavity-causing bacteria more time to do their thing. If you’re only attacking your enamel once instead of over and over, your teeth (weirdly) come out ahead.
So if your kid housed their entire candy haul in one night, don’t panic—they may have accidentally made the dentist-approved choice. Just maybe not the stomach-approved one.
Of course, Dr. Mason did clarify that this strategy isn’t exactly a health win overall. Eating a mountain of candy at once isn’t easy on your digestive system, and might end in some serious sugar regrets. But when it comes to dental hygiene, it’s kind of a smart play.
She also dropped some candy wisdom: the worst offenders for your teeth are sticky, chewy treats like Starburst or Jolly Ranchers. Those little guys cling to your enamel and can be tough to brush away. Chocolate, while still sugary, melts more quickly and doesn’t stick around as long—which makes it slightly less evil in the eyes of your dentist.
The advice might sound like a Halloween fever dream, but it checks out.
The American Dental Association has shared similar guidance over the years, noting that it’s better to consume sweets in one sitting rather than snack on them all day.
Just make sure to follow it up with a good brushing, plenty of water, and ideally, a visit to the dentist sometime before next Halloween.
So go ahead, let the kids dive headfirst into their pillowcases full of candy. Just maybe keep a trash can—and a toothbrush—close by.
Disclaimer: From my earliest childhood memories until the moment I sat down to type this, I have never been romantically interested in another man. So while one never knows what tomorrow will bring, at this moment I can confidently say I am, and have always been, a straight white male.
I do consider myself an ally, though, so before we dive into bizarre examples of LGBTQ representation in pre-woke horror, I want to assure all members of the community that my goal is NOT to offend you. And thus, if I should fail, it is with my deepest apologies. And now, on with the show:
Positive portrayals of queer characters in horror movies were a lot harder to come by in the pre-woke era, and often had to be hidden, or “coded” in order to go relatively unnoticed by a public that was deemed not ready for them.
Some famous examples include “Bride of Frankenstein” and “Dracula’s Daughter” in the 1930s, and “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge” in the ’80s. (The “subtext” in that one couldn’t have been more obvious, but my clueless teenage ass missed it completely when I saw it in the theater.)
But every once in a while in those Before Times, queer characters weren’t hidden or hinted at. And the results varied widely. Here are some famous and infamous examples:
Tammy and the T-Rex (1994)
Theo Forsett plays Byron, best friend of Tammy, played by a young Denise Richards. Tammy’s going through some stuff, because her boyfriend Michael (Paul Walker) has been killed, and his brain stolen by a mad scientist and placed in the head of an animatronic dinosaur.
It happens.
Byron is out, loud and proud. And nobody seems to care. Even Michael, a high school jock, doesn’t flinch when they’re introduced at the beginning of the movie. And even after he becomes a rampaging (fake) dinosaur, Michael shows Theo kindness, sparing him while tearing apart several of his classmates.
Byron’s sexuality is only mocked by two dumb comic-relief cops, and their little jabs fall flat and feel out of place, because Theo is treated so respectfully by the film.
1994 may not be ancient history, but remember, this was three years before Ellen DeGeneres came out… and faced some serious career setbacks for doing so.
Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981)
This one’s weird. Like, really weird. ’70s teen idol Jimmy McNichol plays Billy, a high school senior being raised by his clingy aunt (the legendary Susan Tyrrell), who very much wants to have sex with him. She’s also prone to committing murder.
Enter Bo Svenson, playing a homophobic cop who’s determined to pin the murders on Billy’s gay basketball coach, Tom Landers, played by Steve Eastin. Tom is portrayed as just a regular guy who happens to be gay, which was really progressive for 1981.
He’s also one of the most sympathetic and heroic characters in the film, and the ending leaves no question about whose side you should be on.
Interesting Note: Four years later, Landers would appear in “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge,” one of the most thinly disguised gay horror movies of all time.
Killer Condom (1996)
A condom with teeth that bites off male genitalia, presented by the guys who made “The Toxic Avenger”? If this piques your interest, be warned: this is not a typical Troma movie. In fact, they didn’t make it. It’s a German film that they picked up for distribution.
At its heart, it’s a gay love story between a cop and the male prostitute he meets in the seedy underbelly of New York City while investigating the castrating prophylactics. The film is peopled with LGBTQ characters we actually care about and root for… unlike the real villain, who’s unveiled in the final act.
Interesting Fact: H.R. Giger – the Swiss artist who created the xenomorph in “Alien” – served as a creative consultant on this one.
Sleepaway Camp (1983)
The granddaddy of gender-dysphoric killer flicks. Or is it the grandmommy? All these years later, I’m still confused. By now, anybody interested enough to have read this far should know the plot, and its infamous twist ending.
A series of murders at a summer camp are revealed to be the work of Angela, a girl who was secretly a boy all along! At a very young age, Angela’s aunt decided to raise him as a girl, following the deaths of his sister and their father in a boating accident.
Oh, and just to pile on, Angela’s father was gay, and as a young child she/he witnessed Pops in bed with another guy; the implication being that this screwed her/him up even more.
I seriously doubt the filmmakers were trying to make a social or political statement; it’s all just shock value. But still, it sends the message that if your gender doesn’t match your genitals, people die.
Interesting Fact: Kenan Thompson of “Saturday Night Live” fame is producing a remake with the original writer-director. It’ll be interesting to see if they keep the same ending. My guess is no, but mainly because audiences will be expecting it.
Fatal Games (1984)
Students training at an elite athletics academy are being picked off by somebody who chucks a mean javelin.
The killer turns out to be a nurse named Diane, played by Sally Kirkland, who you may remember from “The Sting,”“Best of the Best,”“JFK” and a bunch of other stuff.
But the real reveal is that Diane used to be a man. She had gender reassignment surgery to become a woman so she could be a champion at javelining… which, I discovered while writing this, is an actual word! But Diane was disqualified from competition after tests showed she had too many male hormones.
In the film’s most absurd moment, once the final girl discovers Diane’s secret, she starts speaking in a male voice.
She tells her intended victim, “Don’t you understand? I have sacrificed everything. I have risked everything just to win. I even became a woman just to win!”
Yes, it’s transphobic as shit. But as with “Sleepaway Camp,” I really don’t think any statement was being made here other than, “Yo, dig this crazy twist!”
Still, I’m shocked this flick hasn’t been picked up by the anti-trans movement. I could see Riley Gaines screening it before her (hate) speeches and saying, “See? They’ve been doing it for decades!”
Looking for Halloween candy you can “borrow” from your kid’s stash without facing a full-blown tantrum?
Good news: there’s now a ranked list of sweet treats that adults love way more than kids do. Translation? You can swipe these guilt-free.
A poll from a few years ago compared candy preferences between adults and kids aged 8 to 14, and it turns out there are quite a few classics kids wouldn’t even notice if they mysteriously vanished. At the top of the list: Dove Dark Chocolate Bars, which kids apparently see as the broccoli of the candy world. Adults, however, are living for them.
Here are the top 10 candies kids are least likely to care if you swipe:
Dove Dark Chocolate Bars
Andes Chocolate Mints
Almond Joys
Mixed nuts (Okay, not candy, but still fair game.)
Baby Ruth bars
Butterfingers
Restaurant mints (like those wrapped ones by the register)
Heath Bars
York Peppermint Patties
Whatchamacallits
Basically, if it’s chocolatey, nutty, or minty, your kid probably won’t fight you for it. These are your Halloween safe zone.
But beware: not everything is up for grabs. The same poll found the exact candies that kids are way more into than adults. So unless you’re ready to start a candy-fueled uprising, steer clear of these:
Sour Punch Twists
Pop Rocks
AirHeads
Nerds
Gummy Bears
Ring Pops
Double Bubble gum
Sour Patch Kids
Welch’s Fruit Snacks
Pixy Stix
Basically, if it fizzes, pops, sours your mouth, or dyes your tongue a shocking color, it’s sacred. Hands off.
So go ahead, dig into those Almond Joys and York Patties with zero shame. Just maybe wait until they go to bed—because even if they don’t like them, they might suddenly decide they need them the moment you’re caught with a wrapper in your hand.
If you’re in the mood for a little black magic, cauldrons, and broomstick chaos, this list of the 15 best witch movies ever made has you covered.
It runs the full spellbook, from funny and campy to dark enough that you’ll want to sleep with the lights on. Witch movies never really go out of style, and this lineup proves that point, mixing timeless classics with modern horror favorites.
At the top of the list sits The Wizard of Oz (1939). Between Glinda’s glitter and the Wicked Witch of the West’s green face, it’s basically the blueprint for every witchy trope we still love today. Then there’s The Witches of Eastwick (1987), which gave us Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer conjuring chaos—and somehow still made devilish Jack Nicholson look like he was having the time of his life.
Of course, Hocus Pocus (1993) is still the Halloween season’s MVP, with the Sanderson sisters proving that campy magic never dies.
And fans of cozy covens will never get tired of Practical Magic (1998), the holy grail of midnight margaritas, while Bell, Book and Candle (1958) delivers vintage witchy glam with Kim Novak at her most bewitching opposite Jimmy Stewart.
Newer witch tales take things to much darker places. The Witch (2015) and Hereditary (2018) remind us that witchcraft isn’t all sparkly wands—it’s goats whispering in your ear and family dinners that go horribly wrong. The Blair Witch Project (1999) turned found footage into a cultural phenomenon, and The Conjuring (2013) brought demonic possession back to the big screen with a vengeance.
Even the fairytale witches made the cut.
Sleeping Beauty (1959) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) prove Disney’s been warning us about wicked stepmothers and cursed apples for decades. And tucked among these timeless classics is a new addition: Weapons (2025), already getting buzz for its eerie, witchy undertones that feel straight out of a nightmare.
So whether you want a broomstick comedy, a spellbound romance, or a horror flick that’ll make you swear off forests forever, these 15 witch movies cast a spell that never wears off.
(Now if only someone would teach us that “light as a feather” trick for real.)
Halloween is already the scariest month of the year – now add the very real possibility of stabbing a knife through your own hand!
Nearly half of all pumpkin-related knife injuries will happen in the coming days. So, if you’re breaking out the carving kit, consider this your official safety PSA.
According to a recent study in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, the U.S. sees about 2,000 E.R. visits per year related to pumpkin-carving accidents, and they’re pretty much all in the month of October. That number only includes the people who actually go to the hospital – so the total tally of pumpkin-carving injuries is much higher.
84% of pumpkin-related knife injuries happen in October
It makes sense… because who’s carving pumpkins in July? Sure, there are a handful of cooks incorporating pumpkins into meals in other months. (Looking at you, November.) But according to the stats, more than 4 in 5 pumpkin/knife injuries (84%) happen in October.
The majority of those injuries are in the second half of the month… because if you’re carving your pumpkin more than a week out, you’re looking at a pile of orange mush on your porch by the 31st. So yeah, it’s just volume. If you carve a pumpkin this year, chances are you’re doing it this week.
Nearly half (46%) happen in the final week leading up to the big day, with the final three days seeing the most injuries. So if you show up to the E.R. with a hand covered in pumpkin innards and blood this week, you might have company.
Your thumb and index finger are at the highest risk
The study found those two digits are the prime targets. Roughly 60% of carving-related cuts involve one of them – or if you’re a real overachiever, both. Taking a pumpkin-carving knife to the thigh may happen, but it’s rare. 88% of pumpkin-carving cuts are hand injuries.
Kids are the most likely to get hurt
Kids between 10 and 19 make up 32% of pumpkin carving injuries. Another 20% happen to kids under 10. So while it may feel like a safe holiday activity, it can get bloody real quick.
Even grown-ups should probably use those orange safety knives
Adults aren’t immune to those same injuries, which is why many experts suggest ditching real knives altogether. Blades that are too sharp can easily slice through more than just your pumpkin. And knives with a sharp point run the risk of blasting through the whole gourd and straight into your hand on the other side.
Those flimsy orange pumpkin carving tools that come in kids’ kits? They’re designed to be dull enough to not slice through fingers, but strong enough to saw through pumpkin skin. Unless you’re planning some real high-level pumpkin carving, anything more than that is probably overkill.
Young kids should skip the carving altogether
If you’ve got little ones helping out, experts recommend skipping the carving entirely for kids under 10. Let them paint their pumpkins or slap some stickers on instead. Bonus: zero cleanup, and that jack-o-lantern they’re so proud of won’t shrivel up into a pile of goo in two days.
A new survey found that nearly one in three adults (29%!) still admit they’re afraid of the dark.
And not just in a “haha, cute” way. 24% sleep with a nightlight, and 10% go full “lights on” all night. Surprisingly, men are more likely to admit this than women.
Of course, some people make peace with fear by continuing to force themselves to experience it. About 28% of adults say they love horror movies. So yes, we’re a nation of people who leave the bathroom light on after watching The Conjuring.
Men top the charts in horror fandom… 33% say they love scary movies compared to 24% of women…
But they’re also more likely to have nightmares afterward. Big talkers until Pennywise shows up.
The survey also found that horror movies take a real toll on sleep. 28% of people say they’re more likely to wake up in the middle of the night after watching one, 22% say they sleep worse overall, and 12% say they sleep fewer hours.
So the next time someone laughs at you for sleeping with a nightlight, remind them: at least you’re not the one who watched Hereditary at midnight and now thinks your coat rack is haunted. Or maybe that’s you too.
You send your kid out in a $40 costume with a $3 plastic pumpkin, hoping they return with enough sugar to last through Thanksgiving. But what exactly are they bringing home? Here are their Halloween candy odds.
The stats nerds at the online gambling site The Action Network crunched numbers from DoorDash, Instacart, and other candy sources, and came up with Vegas-style odds on what will be landing in that bucket.
So, when your kid walks through the door with a pillowcase full of sugar, you’ll know the odds of finding what you’re looking for. Here’s what your little monster is most (and least) likely to drag home.
10 Candies with the Highest Odds
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – 67%
Practically a Halloween guarantee. If your kid doesn’t come back with at least one, did they even go out?
Peanut M&M’s – 65%
Solid choice. Somehow feel healthier even though they’re not.
M&M’s – 62%
The peanut-free classic ranks first in most likely to break open and be found loose in the bottom of the bag.
Kit Kat – 60%
Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar and toss it directly into my face.
Snickers – 58%
When your neighbors go full-size, it’s usually this. Respect.
Sour Patch Kids – 55%
First they’re sour, then they’re gone. Kids trade for these like they’re currency.
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate – 50%
The bar that started it all. Still holding strong.
Milky Way – 45%
Like a Snickers without the crunch. The soft-spoken cousin.
Twix – 33%
Whether you’re Left Twix or Right Twix, you’re still only getting one.
Gummy Bears – 33%
Classic, chewy, and just the second non-chocolate candy on the list.
Tricks in the Treats: The Low-Probability Oddballs
Candy Corn – 23%: You either love it or hate it. There is no in between.
Raisins – 4%: Someone out there still thinks this counts as a treat. It doesn’t.
Toothbrush – 2%: There’s always one house, usually owned by a dentist with a guilt complex.
If you live in Mississippi, your kid has a 46% chance of getting candy corn. But kids in Hawaii can breathe easy, just an 11% chance.
Happy Halloween! May the Reese’s odds be ever in your favor.
![Tammy and the T-Rex (1993) [Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray Promo Trailer]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NlW0EAhXJbE/hqdefault.jpg)
![Killer Condom (1996) [Vinegar Syndrome 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Promo Trailer]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lDUcmCuwMdA/hqdefault.jpg)
![Fatal Games (1984) [Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray Promo Trailer]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EN5foKBQGGw/hqdefault.jpg)
