It’s October. Some of your neighbors will spend this, the official first weekend of spooky season, going all-out with inflatable yard skeletons and ghosts. They will embark upon the annual attempt to make candy corn, aka high-fructose ear wax, a thing. They’ll adorn their front porches with those cotton spider webs that look nothing like real spider webs and instead just make it look like they went and ritually murdered a white sweater so they could hang its dismembered corpse across their doorway as a grisly warning to all other knitwear.

For me, it’s a more simple, elemental formula: Hot cider, cider donuts, folk horror.

The appeal of cider and donuts is universal, but folk horror might need some defining. Essentially, it’s horror set in remote, isolated areas where nature still holds sway. Well, nature paired with the superstitious beliefs of the locals, who tend to treat unwary outsiders with suspicion (if the outsiders are lucky) or malice (if they’re not).

The classic example is 1973’s The Wicker Man, in which an uptight, devout, and veddy veddy British policeman (Edward Woodward) visits a remote Scottish island to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. Turns out the locals have embraced a form of Celtic paganism, which doesn’t sit right with him. He says as much to the island’s aristocratic leader, a mysterious and charismatic sort played by Christopher Lee. Things don’t end well for our poor British bobby – though presumably the island will enjoy a bountiful harvest, so, you know: Big picture, it’s still a win.

Other founding classics of the genre include 1968’s The Witchfinder General and 1971’s The Blood on Satan’s Claw, which of the three films has the least going for it, apart from its title, which is, all reasonable people can agree, metal AF.

I love me some folk horror, and am never happier than when I can while away a damp, foggy (and thus obligingly atmospheric) October afternoon mainlining new and old examples of the form like Kill List, You Won’t Be Alone, Viy, The Ritual, Häxan, The Medium, Apostle, Midsommar, The Witch, Hereditary, Night of the Demon, A Field in England, Robin Redbreast, and Men. (Looking for more examples? Check out the documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror.)

Florence Pugh in Midsommar.

Gabor Kotschy/A24

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Some folk horror involves supernatural elements, but I confess a particular fondness for those stories that don’t – stories where it’s the folk themselves (read: the locals, and their beliefs) who are the true and only source of the horror. (I won’t spoil which of the above films traffic in human vs. supernatural evil, in case you haven’t seen them.)

Talismans and turtlenecks

The Wicker Man was the first folk horror film I saw as a kid, which is maybe why I harbor a deep love of folk horror set in ’70s Britain, a time and place when an interest in the occult became faddish, inspiring a wave of folk horror specifically inflected with Satanic panic. Many of these films were set in the past, but those like The Wicker Man were set in the then-present, a time when men wore wavy hair and tight bell bottoms. Christopher Lee’s Lord Summerisle, for example, sported a kicky tweed leisure suit topped off by a burnt-orange sweater.

It’s why I think of this very specific subgenre of ‘70s folk horror as Talismans and Turtlenecks.

I just came across a new-to-me example of T & T last Sunday afternoon, which was suitably cold and wet and misty: 1970’s The Dunwich Horror. A stiff-haired Sandra Dee, desperately attempting to shake her goody-goody image, plays a woman who falls under the sway of a young and hilariously intense, wide-eyed Dean Stockwell. (Seriously, you keep waiting for his character to blink, but instead he just keeps goggling fixedly at the world around him. At one point he makes a pot of tea, staring at it so fiercely through every stage of the process you start to wonder if he’s trying to convince it to hop into bed with him.)

Don’t get me wrong: It’s a cheesy film, filled with crummy dialogue and hammy acting and cheap sets and one fight scene so wildly inept that has to be seen to be disbelieved. I won’t reveal if the threat hanging over the film is human or supernatural (though the fact that it’s based on an H.P. Lovecraft short story should tip you off). But I will say that Stockwell sports a thick, curly hairdo, a cravat, two count-em two pinky rings, and a huge mustache that curls under itself at either end, in the process effectively turning my guy’s mouth into a parenthetical statement.

You can watch it for free, with commercials, on Pluto TV, which I swear is a real streaming service and not something I made up. The Dunwich Horror is not remotely scary, but it does have something to say, I suppose, about the madness of crowds and what, back in grad school, we used to call “othering.” (The Stockwell character is the scion of an eccentric family that the local community has shunned for generations, you see.)

And that, of course, is the abiding appeal of folk horror: It takes those universal feelings of alienation and isolation that make us all feel like outsiders in our own communities and gives them flesh. When the supernatural is involved, sometimes that flesh pulses and oozes. Sometimes it’s furry and clawed.

But whenever the story is about our collective tendency to cling to belief in the supernatural, the flesh involved is all too human, and probably gets stabbed with a sacrificial dagger in the final reel. Happy spooky season, y’all.

This piece also appeared in NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss the next one, plus get weekly recommendations about what’s making us happy.

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For Halloween lovers, there is only one major problem with spooky season: it ends. But in a city where the change in seasons is more of a shift in mindset anyway, it doesn’t have to. Where there is a will to celebrate Halloween all year long in Los Angeles, there is a way.

There’s a unique, distinctly SoCal character to what haunts Los Angeles. A place as youthful and as sunny as L.A. shouldn’t have so many ghost stories to tell. Yet few would deny that something dark and eerie pulsates just below the balmy surface of the city of Angels. Some might argue it stems from L.A.’s history as “the serial killer capital”, giving rise to such dark true-crime legends as the Night Stalker and Hillside Strangler (to name a few). Others blame the city’s notorious inability to preserve its iconic history and local communities, with countless landmarks and neighborhoods often bulldozed for the sake of a new highway or commercial development, leaving citizens with only the fading memory of their bygone golden ages. Most put the blame on Hollywood, which is not only a notoriously cutthroat and exploitative industry, but also the birthplace of so many collective nightmares thanks to decades of horror films.

Yet as the entertainment industry faces yet another existential crisis threatening to turn Tinseltown into a ghost, it seems that what truly haunts L.A. are echoes of the same sad story repeated again and again through the ages. The meteoric rise of a few titans of industry inevitably ending in a catastrophic downfall, while the city caught in the wake of their ruin is left to pick up the pieces.

Regardless of its root cause, at the heart of every great haunting is one essential element that Los Angeles has always had in spades: great storytellers.

The Queen Mary

What is more quintessentially weird L.A. than a 90-year-old WWII ghost ship permanently docked in, of all places on Earth, Long Beach? The Queen Mary is the crown jewel for history and lore lovers alike in the SoCal area, with a mythic legacy that spans from the tragic mass death casualties she caused in the fog of war to, decades later, being mishandled by the House of Mouse as a failed Disney attraction. After millions of dollars of repairs over the last eight years, the Queen is back and better than ever, with year-round ghost tours like the more family-friendly Haunted Encounters and more in-depth Paranormal Ship Walk. The truly daring should also test their resolve with “57 Ghosts” (a live theater performance exploring the documented deaths on the ship through a seance) and the Grey Ghost Project (where you can participate in a genuine evidence-based paranormal investigation that’s been underway since 2020). The masochistic scare-seeker can now even book an overnight stay at the recently reopened room B340, which legends claim to be the most haunted hotel room — though, as the tour guides explain, this reputation initially stemmed from it being rigged for scares under Disney’s stewardship.

Even after removal of all the smoke and mirrors, though, reports of terrifying hauntings continue to this day. This spooky season, the ship will be celebrating the return of its Dark Harbour Halloween festival (which had been replaced by Shaqtoberfest), Haunted Cocktails in the Art Deco-style Observation Bar, and a two-hour-long Graveyard Tour. But there are advantages to visiting the ship in its off-seasons, whether to avoid the hellish hours-long traffic jam for parking or to experience events like the Transatlantic Vacation or New Year’s Eve bash where big band dance parties transport guests back into the ghosts’ timeline.

1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach 90802, queenmary.com

Spooky Meter: 5/5. Those seeking out scares on the Grey Ghost will never leave disappointed.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

As the resting place of so many famous Los Angelenos, from Judy Garland to Griffith J. Griffith, it’s only natural that myths of restless spirits abound at this 1889 cemetery. But in typical L.A. fashion, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is less a place for mourning the dead and more a place for experiencing gratitude for the living, or rather, for the people who have come from all walks of life to make this city great.

A number of events are held at the Cathedral Mausoleum, Masonic Lodge, and Fairbanks Lawn, most popularly the Cinespia outdoor film screenings, which have expanded beyond just summertime to include an entire month dedicated to horror classics in October, with the 2024 lineup starting Oct. 5 with 1974’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” On Oct. 26, the cemetery will also host its 25th Annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration, touted to be the largest one of its kind in the United States, with over 100 altars erected by members of the community as well as musical performances by Grammy-winning artists. On any given morning, you can catch one of the free daily yoga classes offered on Fairbanks Lawn, join locals walking their dogs, and admire the free-roaming peacocks flaunting their stuff. If you’re lucky, you can even spot an adorable member of the feral cat colony, which is lovingly looked after by the cemetery’s groundskeeper.

6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90038, hollywoodforever.com

Spooky Meter: 3/5. There’s no better way to test your mettle as a horror movie aficionado than to attend a nighttime screening while feet away from the corpses who helped bring those scares to life on the silver screen.

Greystone Mansion and Gardens

(Iris Schneider / Los Angeles Times)

This stunning Tudor-style Beverly Hills estate turned public park might be the lesser known of Doheny’s L.A mansions, but it’s the one where shots rang out one fateful night in 1929 that left two men dead, a mystery for the ages, and according to many, some very restless spirits. Oil tycoon Edward Doheny, who served as the loose inspiration for “There Will Be Blood” (which used the Greystone as a filming location), found himself embroiled in a scandal that threatened prison time. Soon after, both his son and his son’s secretary were found dead in the guest bedroom in what the police deemed a murder-suicide, though many believe the official narrative to have been a cover-up.

Today, the Greystone’s opulent gardens and jaw-dropping city views are open to all from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with self-guided tours of the first floor offered once a month. If you’re looking for an audio guide with all the scandalous details, theories and ghost stories about the case, check out the BBC’s eight-episode “Oil in Blood” series from the “Assume Nothing” podcast. The city of Beverly Hills hosts many other lovely events year-round, from screenings of films that feature the mansion to play readings and even gardening classes.

905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills 90210, beverlyhills.org/greystonemansion

Spooky Meter: 3/5. It isn’t just death that haunts this place. It’s the dark shadow of the American dream, which cost Doheny everything in the end.

Heritage Square Museum

(Richard Harbaugh / Getty Images)

Tucked away in a corner of Montecito Heights are eight pristinely preserved Victorian-era structures, each with their own story to tell about the Southern Californians who lived in them during our first century of statehood. Though the Cultural Heritage Foundation that preserves this living history acknowledges the many “tales of interesting paranormal occurrences that have happened at our museum,” it still insists that none of their buildings are haunted per se, but rather “‘visited’ from time-to-time by their original owners.”

Yet increasingly, Heritage Square Museum is becoming a hot spot for the occult-curious thanks to regular events like the Magic Market Pop Up (which, after Oct. 6, will return to the location in spring 2025), ghost tours, outdoor movie screening nights (most recently featuring Guillermo del Toro’s gothic “Crimson Peak”), and seasonally-themed performances ranging from horror operas, ballets and spooky immersive live theater. But the overall vibe is best encapsulated by the spirit of Belle Boy, the museum’s late and beloved orange cat, who reportedly still haunts his favorite room in the Octagon House, and which some visitors claim to have felt brush past their legs in a cold gust of air.

3800 Homer St., Los Angeles 90031, heritagesquare.org

Spooky Meter: 2/5. The stained-glass church outfitted with a wooden altar inside is by far the most cursed corner.

Old Zoo picnic area and hike

(Jess Joho / Los Angeles Times)

Rusting cages and graffiti-ravaged enclosures are all that remain of the abysmal failure that was the Griffith Park Zoo (now known as the Abandoned or Old Zoo) ever since it opened in 1912. The infamous Griffith J. Griffith — who in a bout of paranoia once shot his wife in the eye— all but forced the city to accept his “gift” of a dilapidated ostrich farm. Despite being refitted for 15 animals (including bears, lions, monkeys, elephants and reptiles), it was still criticized as an ugly, underfinanced eyesore. Legend has it you can still hear the growls and roars from inside the decaying cages of the mistreated. The picnic area captures that distinct uncanniness of L.A.’s hauntings, with a beautiful expanse of lawn juxtaposed against the dilapidated remnants of a mogul’s dying empire. While you can walk straight up to the site via a flight of stairs from the small parking lot adjacent to Merry Go Round Lot 2, you can also reach it from above by hiking the easy 1.5 mile loop that diverges from the Fern Canyon Trailhead near Merry Go Round Lot 1.

Merry Go Round Lot One, off of Springs Drive/Griffith Park Drive, Los Angeles 90027, laparks.org/griffithpark

Spooky Meter: 3/5. A lovely (if still unsettling) picnic spot by day, there’s a reason the annual Haunted Hayride utilizes this location to terrify after dark.

Philosophical Research Society

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

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The not-a-cult Philosophical Research Society located in a Mayan-style courtyard in Los Feliz may seem mysterious from the outside looking in. But from the inside, this nonprofit arts and culture organization appears to be nothing more than a diverse community of inquisitive minds happy to spend an entire Saturday listening to lectures about death and dying at the Memento Mori Festival hosted in their 200-person auditorium. PRS boasts a packed calendar of esoteric events, like a monthly Death Cafe meetup (complete with tea), mystical workshops, obscure film screenings, theatrical readings of literature and folktales, macabre puppetry, magic lantern shows and much more. The library (open Thursday-Friday) is a purple-hued treasure trove of rare tomes spanning a wide range of thought-provoking topics, while the bookstore (open Tuesday-Friday) is attended to by volunteers who welcome your questions and curiosities.

3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles 90027, prs.org

Spooky Meter: 1/5. No ghosts, according to reporting by The Times’ Deborah Netburn — but the PRS does have the skull of a German mass murderer somewhere.

Clifton’s Republic

(Jess Joho / Los Angeles Times)

There’s no doubt that Clifton’s is “cursed,” if you ask current owner Andrew Meieran, whose multiple attempts to reopen this iconic redwood-themed 1930s DTLA landmark have been thwarted by flooding from burst pipes, the neighborhood’s struggling economy, and a whole global pandemic. “This is what happens when you, politely speaking, piss off the spirits here,” Meieran explained, pointing to a bizarre 7-inch mound warping the hardwood floor in his office. Apparently, he’d made the mistake of moving furniture around the room right before their scheduled summer 2024 relaunch, and inexplicable equipment malfunctioned beneath the antique bar cabinet. This new mishap left only the historic Pacific Seas tiki bar ready for limited weekend reservations. “This place has a life of its own. It’s alive, fully aware, and responsive,” Meieran claims.

Ghosts permitting, the grand reopening of the Monarch Bar and Gothic Lounge is now set for Oct. 18, along with a year-round Spirits & Spirits experience that pairs historic cocktails with haunted tales. There’s an undeniable, intoxicating mystique embedded into every inch of the five-story building, which once primarily served as a cafeteria and community hub frequented by some of the city’s greatest creatives, from sci-fi author Ray Bradbury to Walt Disney. Meieran used to write off some of the more sensationalist legends about Clifton’s, like rumors of a mistress’ remains being scattered in the ballroom. Until, that is, he confirmed that he himself had swept up said ashes without realizing it at the time. Now, he lets the haunting call the shots, as it guides him to reviving the building however it sees fit. “I know when it’s happy, and I know when it’s not,” he says. “It loves people. It loves to be inhabited. It loves to be explored. It loves playfulness.” And he learned the hard way that Clifton’s also refuses to let any of its spirits be forgotten.

648 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 90014, sevenrooms.com

Spooky Meter: 4/5 The ballroom on the second floor is reportedly the most active spot, thanks to the specter of a woman who is reputed to show up in photos.

The Wolves

(Jess Joho / Los Angeles Times)

Standing where the historic and purportedly haunted Hotel Alexandria’s ballroom once saw her glory days hosting the likes of Charlie Chaplin, this Belle Epoch-style Parisian cocktail bar isn’t afraid of leaning into spooky antiquity. Staff and patrons report feeling cold spots and hair-pulling near a painting that hangs in the back, and co-owner Isaac Mejia even had three different mediums confirm that the women’s bathroom is haunted by a little girl. According to one medium, the ghosts are also happy to see how their antiques that decorate the bar are still admired and lovingly cared for via regular polishing by Mejia. With fancy period-themed drinks like the 1920s Cocktail and one of the best burgers in Los Angeles, it’s a place any soul, living or dead, would be happy to haunt forever. It’s also ideally situated for a spooky bar crawl, with goth karaoke bar the Veil and the historic (and haunted) speakeasy Rhythm Room L.A. just a block away.

519 S Spring St., Los Angeles 90013, thewolvesdtla.com

Spooky Meter: 4/5 This is the only location on our list where the reporter experienced potentially paranormal activity, when a martini glass slid across the table seemingly of its own volition. Though, to be fair, it could’ve just been the result of a sweaty cup from the heat wave.

SugarMynt Gallery

(Jess Joho / Los Angeles Times)

Situated right next to the original Pasadena home featured in John Carpenter’s “Halloween,” this horror media-focused art gallery by local SaraRose Orlandini feels like stepping into one of your scary movie slumber parties of yesteryear. The current exhibit, “Nostalgic Nights in Haddonfield,” features a cozy VHS corner that invites viewers to curl up with an ’80s/’90s-kid memory of experiencing these life-changing classics for the first time. The gallery’s permanent collection spotlights the special FX artists, set designers and behind-the-scenes photographers who have defined the essence of Halloween for not just Angelenos, but the world over. Aside from original scripts, screen-used costumes and a dedicated “Hocus Pocus” room, you’ll also find antiques like the 1920s Dennison‘s Party Magazine that’s credited with originating many of America’s modern-day Halloween traditions. Those who can’t get enough during business hours can even stay overnight at the gallery’s ScareBnB.

810 Meridian Ave., South Pasadena 91030, sugarmynt.com

Spooky Meter: 1/5. Like a warm blanket on a cool autumn night, you’ll be lulled into a sense of security that doesn’t end in a jump scare here.

Cobb Estate, a.k.a. the Haunted Forest Trail

(Jess Joho / Los Angeles Times)

Not much remains of the once-grand 1910s Cobb Estate, aside from the gated entrance, a couple of crumbling stone walls, one staircase and beautiful mountainside views along the breezy hourlong hike colloquially referred to as the Haunted Forest Trail. Despite tales of seances, secret societies, satanic rituals and murder, the Altadena Historical Society traces rumors of its supposed haunting to after the Marx brothers purchased it in 1956, before demolishing the decaying mansion in a failed bid to rezone it for a cemetery. In all likelihood, reports of screaming, chanting and strange lights can be attributed to the sight becoming a popular destination for mischievous teens and vandals. The 1.5-mile loop forks to the left of the Sam Merrill Trailhead and ends at the covered reservoir.

Cobb Estate Trailhead, 3302 Lake Ave., Altadena 91001

Spooky Meter: 2/5. Allegedly, the staircase is haunted by the angry spirit of Charles H. Cobb, who pushes or even yells at trespassers to leave.

Mystic Museum

(Jess Joho / Los Angeles Times)

A perfect date spot for oddity-inclined couples and friend groups, the Mystic Museum is your one-stop shop for witchy wares, occult necessities, cursed antiques, horror movie merchandise and human bone collections. Its immersive exhibit in the back is worth checking out, with an intricately designed interactive maze that changes seasonally but currently showcases scenes from classic teen horror campus movies. The caffeine and sugar addicted might want to stop by the nearby Horror Vibes Coffee too, where the staff is friendly, the patrons are gothy, and the themed drinks are far tastier than they sound.

3204 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank 91505, themysticmuseum.com

Spooky Meter: 3/5. The exhibit is not quite up to par with the craftsmanship of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, but it’s still full of Instagrammable moments.

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

(Jess Joho / Los Angeles Times)

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As one of the few famously haunted Hollywood hotels still left standing and mostly intact, the Roosevelt is a gorgeous relic worth treasuring. Offering respite from the tourism raging right outside its front doors on the Walk of Fame, when you step into the Roosevelt you feel transported to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Guests can be found dancing to the weekly free jazz nights hosted in the lobby, which is across from the ballroom that hosted the first-ever Oscars ceremony. The lively Spare Room speakeasy on the mezzanine has two bowling alleys available for reservations, while classic film screenings and shows take place at the Cinegrill Theater. Staff acknowledge that, as part of their onboarding, they do learn all of the hotel’s lore and ghost stories, especially tales of Marilyn Monroe, who had her own penthouse at the hotel and reportedly can still be seen applying her makeup in the mirror hanging on the mezzanine staircase. But many also claim to have had their own paranormal experiences, especially the security and cleaning staff, who say that the activity is most present during the quiet hours of early morning.

7000 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90028, thehollywoodroosevelt.com

Spooky Meter: 2/5. The real terrors are kept outside, on this notoriously hellish stretch of Hollywood Boulevard.

Museum of Death

(Erek Michael / Los Angeles Times)

While this recommendation comes with every disclaimer and trigger warning imaginable, we couldn’t not include this relic of kitschy Hollywood Boulevard shock tourism. Despite moving to a new location on Selma Avenue, its guts remain the same unrelenting parade of human horror and depravity turned into a spectacle for your entertainment. Amid displays of everything from violent crime scene photos, cannibalism, serial killer artwork and real autopsy footage, you’ll find the bathroom situated beside a wall of human skulls rotating in protective cases like rotisserie chickens. You don’t come to this museum for education, contemplation or anything redeeming whatsoever. But there is a certain honesty in its confrontation. “Here are your monsters, L.A.,” the Museum of Death seems to say, with exhibits often showcasing the Los Angeles Times’ own headlines. This is what we inflict on each other — if not literally, then through the morbid fascination that’s led to an entire cottage industry of exploiting the worst crimes against humanity.

6363 Selma Ave., Hollywood 90028, museumofdeath.net

Spooky Meter: 5/5. It is impossible to leave this place feeling undisturbed by the experience.

Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis on stage

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This week’s show was recorded in Chicago with host Peter Sagal, judge and scorekeeper Bill Kurtis, Not My Job guest Kara Jackson and panelists Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Alzo Slade, and Scaachi Koul. Click the audio link above to hear the whole show.

Who’s Bill This Time

JD Meets Tim; Login Logistics; The Golden Nugget Anniversary

Panel Questions

The Sleepy Couch Conundrum

Bluff The Listener

Our panelists tell three stories about what’s going on with Montana rancher Arthur Schubarth, only one of which is true.

Not My Job: We quiz Kara Jackson on fun parties

Kara Jackson released one of the most celebrated albums of 2023, and before that was the National Youth Poet Laureate. Her first single was “No Fun/Party,” so can she answer our questions about fun parties?

Panel Questions

The Right Way To Gossip; Insta-Family; Rodent Plan B

Limericks

Bill Kurtis reads three news-related limericks: A New Mystery Machine; Buzzless Bubbly; Salad With A Friend

Lightning Fill In The Blank

All the news we couldn’t fit anywhere else

Predictions

Our panelists predict, after chicken tenders, what food innovation will we be celebrating in 50 years.