Snuggle up with these Fall-esque books and movies

With signs of fall weather fully underway, some people turn to snuggle up, mug of tea in hand and a cozy book ready, to spend the limited hours of sunlight and the wee hours of night reading or watching movie marathons. For those that don’t automatically turn to “Gossip Girl” at the first sign of an autumn chill, here’s a Gamut-curated list of autumnal entertainment that will satiate every wistful fall romantic.

“Clue” (1985)

Based on the popular board game and book series of the same name, “Clue”’s mystery theme is featured by the three separate endings available for viewing, all presented sequentially on home media. A classic comedy murder mystery set during a dark, stormy night in New England, six strangers are invited to investigate the sudden murder of their host, Mr. Boddy. With crackling thunder, pouring rain, and gloom and doom all around, this iconic mystery film is best enjoyed at night under blankets, and preferably with rain sounds played in the background, if real rain is not an option at time of viewing.

“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004)

Arguably the most autumnal installment of the beloved book and movie series, J.K. Rowling’s third episode of “Harry Potter” is the perfect comfort movie to turn on as the temperatures lower and the leaves start changing. Set during the start of the fall school year at Hogwarts, the movie is full of music, cozy sweaters (jumpers, as the British say) and everything that will whisk you away from the perpetually sunny Southern California to the Scottish highlands. From the orange, red, and yellow hues of Scotland’s scenery to the lavish depictions of fall foods during the Halloween and Thanksgiving feasts, “The Prisoner of Azkaban” is a nostalgic classic to play while you warm up with a glass of pumpkin juice or butterbeer!

“The Secret History” by Donna Tartt (1992)

Notorious for its slightly unnerving yet engrossing storyline, “The Secret History” is the perfect read during the fall-winter transitional period. The gothic-infused tale of suspense follows a curious classics transfer student from California to the rainy east coast Hampden College. Tartt takes a spin on the usual whodunnit stories to weave a “why-dunnit” that the unreliable narrator, Richard Papen, describes throughout the book. Now a staple in every dark academia book list, the story provides the perfect fall imagery as characters hole up in the library, don blazers and vests during the 1980s age of neon, and murder each other when the stakes get too high.

“The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde (1890)

Oscar Wilde’s only full novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” revolves around the tale of an attractive young man who sells his soul to keep his eternal beauty and youth forever. Set in Victorian London, Wilde paints a mesmerizing story of Dorian Gray’s descent into hedonism, reveling in dark, smoky opium dens, sweeping courtships of actresses, and eventually homicide. The gritty cobblestones of London’s decrepit East End and the lavish West End set a distinctly baroque, dramatic feel to this English literature classic that all but screams autumn.

“Dead Poets Society” (1989)

Taking place in an elite New England boarding school, “Dead Poets Society” and its academic atmosphere is the perfect fall movie for when you need to bawl your eyes out to something that isn’t “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” The movie stars Robin Williams as John Keating, an English teacher at Welton Academy who inspires his students with the beauty of poetry, love, and language. His eclectic teaching style that immerses both his disciples and the audience is shrouded in his “carpe diem” philosophy (translating to “seize the day”). The romanticized version of boarding schools with Doc Martens and secret rebellion comes head to head with the harsh reality of academic pressure and familial expectation through supporting characters, Neil Perry and Todd Anderson. The film perfectly caters to the autumnal nostalgia as it combines an introspective mood with breathtaking fall scenery of billowing wool coats and crisp auburn leaves falling off trees.

We hope you enjoy our picks for this (frankly superior) season!

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About the Contributors

Sydnee Cho, Staff Artist

Sydnee Cho, a junior on the Gamut, is serving her third year as an illustrator and writer. Despite her intimidating nature (so she thinks), she adores the color pink (hence her phone case), Monster High, The Devil Wears Prada, and talking to others. Sydnee claims that she is a fashionable person, which is obvious with her mindblowing total of 11 piercings and shining silver jewelry. Alongside, she has a dangerous addiction to making money and spending it on online shopping, working as a waiter in LA county. Not so surprisingly, her favorite thing in the world is money. She usually spends her time listening to 80s and 90s music, as well as Lana Del Rey, or playing Royal Match (she is currently on level 3945!). To the freshmen who are nervous about their new adventures in high school, Sydnee gives the advice, “Calm down and chill, life ain’t that deep.”

Nandita Bussa, Staff Writer

Passionate about writing and journalism, Nandita grew up reading a variety of books that inspired her to have the dream to someday publish her own. As a sophomore staff writer this year, journalism is a way to express herself and develop unique writing styles. She holds a special personality of being extroverted and a little nerdy. Her friends describe her as a friend who is non-judgemental, trustworthy, and a shoulder to lean on. In her free time, she loves to play volleyball, watch '90s Rom-coms and K-dramas, and listen to fun boy band music, such as One Direction, BTS, and Queen. She also enjoys watching all kinds of movies, such as Titanic, Mean Girls, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Breakfast Club, and Disney Movies like Hercules and Anastasia, while being interested in a variety of Greek Mythology. Adding on, she also likes historical musicals such as Hamilton, Newsies, and Six, and she has a fierce taste for food, loving spicy Indian food and Indochinese food.

Vanessa Marin-Ixlan, Staff Artist

A new part of Gamut’s staff this year, Vanessa Marin-Ixlan is currently a junior that is excited to take on her role as an illustrator. Vanessa joined the school’s newspaper to experience a more professional work environment and work with other talented illustrators. She has loved drawing ever since she was a kid, starting off with sketches of magical dragons and later making her way into comics. Full of creativity and expression, Vanessa’s dream is to become a comic artist and create her own comic books in the future, so she is truly ecstatic to see her illustrations being printed on paper. Along with drawing, Vanessa enjoys theology, poetry, biology, and animals. She can often be found going on walks or lounging and reading scientific papers. Excited for the year ahead of her, Vanessa is looking forward to getting to know her fellow staff members and meeting people that have similar interests to her.