By Taylor Nigrelli
Sports Editor
‘Tis the time of year to dress up, decorate houses, take candy from strangers and, most of all, watch Halloween films.
Halloween movies have always been a favorite of young American adults. Some thrill us from start to finish, leaving us at the edge of our seats. Some fulfill the strange and unexplainable urge to be scared. Some rekindle childhood memories.
Unfortunately, Halloween season is but a few weeks long, leaving very little time to enjoy the full spectrum of Halloween films. However, if you’re only able to watch five Halloween-themed films this year and you were wondering which five you should and where they rank among each other, you’ve come to the right place.
5. The Conjuring (2013)
Technically, this isn’t a Halloween film. But any movie that will truly frighten you is appropriate for Halloween season. And “frighten” might be too soft of a way to describe what this movie will do to you. “Disturb” and “emotionally scar” might be better ways to put it. “The Conjuring” tells the (allegedly) true story of the Perron family whose house was haunted by the spirit of a 17th-century witch. The film features all the horror favorites: possession, creepy children, a skeptical cop and plenty of moments that will make you shudder in horror.
4. Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001)
This Disney Channel classic is far superior to the other films in the series because of its mix of excitement and familiarity. You know Halloweentown. You’ve been there. You’re excited to be back. The film features a revenge plot orchestrated by the son of the original’s villain, Kalabar. Considering this is a children’s movie, it’s not likely to keep you at the edge of your seat. But if you’re looking for an escape to your childhood, a trip to Halloweentown is the way to go.
3. Hocus Pocus (1993)
Kenny Ortega’s now 20-year-old classic is a throwback to a time when children’s movies didn’t have to be remotely child-appropriate. The film features three witch sisters wreaking havoc on Salem, Mass. after being accidentally resurrected by the bumbling main character. But it also features a search for Satan, scene after scene of innuendo, potential child murder, actual child murder and a house built on the bones of children. So, it’s a little heavy on the harming of children.
But there’s plenty of fun aspects as well. A talking cat with a British accent, a zombie, a cool dance number and Sarah Jessica Parker all make appearances. The movie’s a fun watch that’ll make you wonder how your parents ever let you see it at such a young age.
2. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
So, this is actually a television short and not a movie. But it’s too much of a classic to leave off this list. The movie tells the tale of the Peanuts gang’s Halloween. Anyone who grew up in America and is generally conscious during the month of October knows what goes down. Linus convinces Sally to wait for the “Great Pumpkin” with him, Charlie Brown ends up with a bag full of rocks and Lucy is aggressively rude to everyone she encounters. It’s only 25 minutes long, but Charles Schulz makes every second count.
1. Halloween (1978)
The perfect Halloween movie; just look at the title. John Carpenter’s horror classic opened the door for the entire “slasher” genre. The movie entails legendary villain Michael Myers, who inexplicably murdered his sister at age six. He ends up breaking out of a sanitarium, driving to his hometown of Haddonfield, Ill., and stalking his younger sister. The film is masterfully directed and perfectly paced. The build-up is a perfect length, and the final 20 minutes is the most-thrilling sequence in horror movie history.
There you have it. Watch these five movies and have a fantastic Halloween, everyone.
