Halloween Movies

With only a few days left until Halloween, it’s time to get intense with the Halloween movies. There are some classics, there are some new creations, and there are some childhood favorites that we never outgrew.

Hocus Pocus 

First of all, this is probably the most watched Halloween movie. Whether you love it or hate it, it defines Halloween. The three witches are called back by a kid who doesn’t believe in hocus pocus, but he’s about to start because they are back from there centuries long nap and ready to steal some children.

Nightmare before Christmas

People argue whether this is a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie. I honestly welcome an excuse to watch it to celebrate two holidays. Tim Burton is perfect, especially for all things creepy and delightful. The music is beautiful and the art perfectly embodies both holidays featured. I love the idea of a whole town dedicated to one holiday, especially being in one circle of trees in the middle of the woods.

Halloweentown 

This Disney classic takes a different approach to witches, making them relatable teenagers with extraordinary hobbies. Marnie has the best grandma who wants to teach her magic and take her on adventures. It’s fun and silly and has a giant pumpkin in the town square. You can also visit that pumpkin in St Helens Oregon, where they celebrate Halloween with pride every year.

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Dark Shadows 

What’s Halloween without Johnny Depp? His awkward old fashioned manners, Michelle Pfeiffer and all her loveliness, vampires, werewolves, and ghosts all make up a very random and quirky Halloween story.

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Casper

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 Casper the ghost, a Halloween icon, just wants to be a normal kid when an unsuspecting family moves into the mansion he and his uncles haunt. His uncles cause chaos, but Casper finds a friend in Kat, a teenage girl with no previous experience with ghosts. They’re an unlikely couple, but both outcasts, and they have some cute moments together.

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Hotel Transylvania

This animated movie addresses the cliches of Dracula and other classic monsters, while spinning a fun modern version making Dracula an overprotective father. Mavis is so cute, and I love Jonathan’s goofiness. It’s a fun take on how a Halloween world would coexist with us mere mortals and how, in this day and age, we would totally love them all.

Addams Family  

One of my personal favorites, a story of a morbid and strange family that love everything creepy especially each other. Wednesday’s poker face and violent habits are hands down the best thing about this movie. She’s innocently evil and it’s adorable. The sheer creepiness of their habits should make them alien, but they have such a lovable family bond. They live in a heightened Halloween reality and view cliche suburban families with polite horror.

Addams Family Values is another good one, though not quite as spectacular. It’s mostly saved by Wednesday, no surprise. I especially love her response of pity to a boy’s declaration of love. She’s just my favorite. I’m currently making my way through the original show and it’s delightful.

There’s also Coraline, _The Little Va_mpire, Scooby Doo, and shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Grimm, and Charmed. These few among several others are classic Halloween favorites. Watch them while making your costume or carving pumpkins, or eating spider shaped cookies.