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Zero time Tony Award winner • Production Assistant • Serial rewatcher
Much like clothes, candles, and fruit, movies have seasons too. Once the weather starts to cool down and the sun sets before 7:00 I break out my Halloween movies. For me, specifically, some of these movies have nothing to do with Halloween. They still get me in the spirit. I’m not a horror movie fan, but I never say no to a witch, a ghost, a goblin, or a man-eating plant. I’ve already watched the first two Halloweentown movies. That’s not saying much considering I can watch those any time of the year. Nevertheless, here are my fall/Halloween movie picks to get you into the spooky spirit.
Hocus Pocus
How could I write this article and not start with an absolute classic? In my eyes, this movie is the quintessential Halloween movie. The season does not start until you watch Hocus Pocus. There’s a reason that Freeform is playing it on the first night of 31 Nights of Halloween. Max, Dani, and Allison take a trip to the old Sanderson house and Max lights the black flame candle. The witches come alive after hundreds of years and plan to suck the lives of all the children in Salem.
The Halloweentown movies
The first two are my absolute favorites! The third one is okay and I don’t acknowledge the fourth one. You can’t go wrong with Debbie Reynolds playing a witch. There is so much perfection to be found there. Marnie Piper finds out she is a witch and follows her grandma to Halloweentown. Once there, she must fight the forces of evil with her brother and sister to save the lives of everyone.
Tower of Terror
A classic Disney movie based on a classic Disney ride. When I was young, this movie spooked me just enough without actually scaring me. To this day it’s still one of my favorites; I love a good plot twist. A reporter notorious for writing up fake stories finally has a chance to tell a real one. He takes his niece to investigate the 1930s disappearance of five people from the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
Phantom of the Megaplex
Phantoms + movie theaters + a reference to an Andrew Lloyd Weber classic = a very happy Francesca. This is a classic DCOM that, unfortunately, isn’t on TV as much as it should be. I’m grateful it’s on Disney+. On the night of a very special premiere, anything and everything that can go wrong does. All of the movies are experiencing major hiccups, and the workers seem to believe it’s the work of the Phantom of the Megaplex.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
This cult classic is probably one of the most iconic and most celebrated movies during the Halloween season. Fans dress up as their favorite characters and act out the movie as they watch it. If you can find this playing at a theater or a drive-in I highly suggest going. Please be safe about it! When their car breaks down on a dark road, Brad and Janet seek refuge in a nearby mansion. This home is inhabited by Dr. Frank-n-Furter, a cross-dressing scientist who is creating the ultimate male.
The Harry Potter series
Some might argue these movies are more Christmas appropriate. I don’t disagree. I love watching these at Christmas. However, they are about witchcraft and wizardry. Brew yourself some butterbeer and binge-watch them.
Little Shop of Horrors
That man-eating plant I mentioned before? This is the movie I’m talking about. It’s not Halloween necessarily, but no one will argue that running into Audrey II would be an absolute disaster. While hunting for a new plant, Seymour Krelborn lands on a Venus flytrap and takes it back to the floral shop he works at. It refuses to grow until it discovers the taste of human blood. Seymour tries to manage the plant’s appetite while balancing his crush on Audrey.
Beetlejuice
No surprise here, I’m obsessed with this movie. Winona Ryder, the queen of Halloween gives the best costume ideas. When Adam and Barbara die the Deetz family moves into their country home and shake everything up. The two of them team up with Lydia Deetz to exercise them out. When their efforts don’t work, they call Beetlejuice in for reinforcements.
Sweeney Todd
Ah, the demon barber of Fleet Street. Once again, it’s not explicitly Halloween but a barber who makes pies out of humans is another alarming disaster. After being exiled, Benjamin Barker returns to London. He is seeking revenge against a man who wronged him years prior. Under the alias Sweeney Todd, Ben opens up a killer barbershop.
Sleepy Hollow
Everyone knows the tale of the Headless Horseman, right? In this adaptation, Ichabod Crane is sent to investigate three decapitations. The culprit seems to be the mysterious apparition known as the Headless Horseman.
The Worst Witch
A personal childhood favorite of mine. Mildred Hubble goes to a prestigious school for young witches. She’s not the best witch in the bunch and gets picked on by her classmates. All the while, the headmistress’s evil twin sister is plotting to destroy the school. Mildred has to foil the plan before the Grand Wizard’s arrival.
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Zero time Tony Award winner • Production Assistant • Serial rewatcher
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