Creepy Android apps for a spooktacular Halloween

October is one of the greatest transitional months of the year, shifting to truly colder weather, bringing on beer festivals, hoards of candy and delicious apple cider. Its also an exciting kickoff month for the end-of-the-year holiday season, starting with Halloween. Who wouldve thought that the Android phone could become such an important part of our Halloween rituals, carving digital pumpkins and even keeping tabs on our kids as they navigate the neighborhood in search of tricks and treats? Heres some great Android apps that keep things fun and safe for Octobers favorite holiday.

Creepy Tales (Free)

Everyone loves a good ghost story, and theyre never more poignant than on Halloween night. Whether youre hosting a Halloween party or you just want to cozy-up with a scary story, Creepy Tales is full of short tales that will raise the hairs on your arm. The app itself is pretty basic, with a home screen listing seven categories of creepy takes. Theres about 100 stories spread across these categories which span ghosts, demons, crimes and the paranormal, to name a few.

Carve a Pumpkin! ($1.49)

Like jack-o-lanterns but hate their slimy guts? Try carving a digital pumpkin right on your Android phone. This cute app gives you a blank canvas every time, with three main tools for customizing your orange gourd. Carve a Pumpkin (Lite) has a free-form knife for tracing out your own design, and a menu of faces to choose from. Theres some shaped stamps you can add for effect, with flying bats, words and other items to create the full effect. Unlike the Lite version, the full app has tons more effects and faces for your pumpkin, along with sharing options to spread your Halloween wishes across your favorite social media sites.

The Mask (Free)

What good is an Android phone if you cant use it to create silly faces? With The Mask app you can get into the Halloween spirit by choosing from a series of pre-selected faces, or create your own from a mask pack. Theres googly eyes, rotten teeth, monster mouths and more, all of which are interactive when you touch the screen. Make eyes open and close, knock a few teeth out and make your mask roar with horrific laughter.

House of Horrors - Movies ($0.99)

When I first started thinking of apps for this list, I jotted down TCM. The classic film channel is known for its comprehensive horror programs during the entire month of October. But I was glad to find an even more specific app for horror films, one that lets you view full-length movies directly from your Android phone. House of Horrors has about 100 classic movies befitting of Halloween season, with easy search options for browsing by genre, keyword, actor, title or director. Get details on each film, contextualizing its history and relevance in the film industry. Watch films on-demand or add them to your queue.

GhostCam: Spirit Photography (Free)

It seems a staple of most horror films is the modern cameras ability to pick up on elusive spirits. If youre having trouble tracking down real ghosts, you can create the effect with this GhostCam Android app. Add a ghost to a photo, choosing your own spirit visitor. Resize it to make the photo even more realistic, shifting its opacity, direction and effect. You can even save ghosts to a library for later use, and use the app to take live photos with a ghostly presence. Prank a friend, share the photo, and make Halloween that much more interactive.

GPS Tracker (Free)

Halloween is a thrilling night for kids of all ages, but its also an evening that invites potential danger. Track your family or friends in real-time while youre out trick-or-treating, making sure everyone is safe all all times. Using GPS technology, the GPS Tracking app will pinpoint the exact location of your crew, sending alerts when there is danger and letting you keep in touch as needed. This free Android app can also be used to check-in if the tracking thing is too much, helping you reach a safe compromise with kids and fellow trick-or-treaters.