Fall is the perfect time of year to enjoy a movie with family and friends under the stars. With Halloween just around the corner, why not give your outdoor movie night a spooky twist?

Here are nine magical tips to help you host a frightening outdoor Halloween movie night.

Pick the right location — It’s important to choose the right spot in your backyard with just the right amount of light. Streetlights and other neighborhood lights can be distracting, so try to limit exposure to other outdoor lights as much as possible.

Choose comfortable seating — Above all, an outdoor movie night should be relaxing, so be sure you have plenty of space for blankets, camping chairs, pillows and beanbag chairs, etc. to keep everyone comfortable for the evening.

Set up your screen — No need to invest in a fancy outdoor movie screen. All you need is a white bed sheet or tablecloth, clothespins and a fence, wall or even two trees and you’ve got all the makings of an outdoor movie screen. If you’ve got a clothesline, drape your screen over the line and hold it in place with clothespins. Use a brick or stone to anchor the screen to the ground. If you’re working without a clothesline, simply affix the screen to your fence or an outdoor wall of your home.

Select your film — Probably the most important step to take since the movie is, of course, the feature of the evening. For some old time fun, choose a classic Halloween movie such as Hocus Pocus, Halloween, Nightmare Before Christmas, Addams Family or Beetlejuice. If it’s thrills and chills you’re looking for, select your favorite grisly horror film (just be sure it’s age appropriate for your guests). For family-friendly Halloween films, consider Harry Potter, Casper, or It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

Get your projector rolling — This will be your biggest investment for your outdoor movie night, but once the purchase is made, you’ll be able to enjoy movies under the stars with your friends and family for years to come! You can find several affordable projector options, like this portable LED projector on Amazon or at Walmart, Target or Best Buy. Add in a few small outdoor speakers and you’ll have home theater-quality sound.

Prepare the snack stand — What’s a movie night without snacks? Of course, you’ll want to be sure you’ve got plenty of the traditional movie time favorite: popcorn. But don’t be afraid to put a Halloween twist on your movie munchies. Check out these Halloween appetizers, finger food and drinkrecipes from Southern Living.

Create a spine-chilling mood — Goblins, ghosts and ghouls — Oh My! No Halloween party would be complete without the decorations. Give your backyard a wicked makeover with some of these Halloween decorating ideas from Country Living. Consider stringing up some outdoor lights around your homemade theater to create some ambiance for the evening. Grab a strand or two of Christmas lights — a simple and affordable luxury that can really take things up a notch.

Keep the bugs at bay — Mosquitoes could easily ruin your outdoor movie night, so be proactive and spray for bugs before show time. Have a can of bug spray on hand for any guests and consider setting up candles or tiki torches with citronella around the yard to help keep pesky visitors away.

When the sun goes down, the thrill begins. Cozy up under the stars for an eerily enchanting evening with your family and friends.