My Favorite Movies for the Halloween Season

     

Hello, fellow film critics and movie lovers! To celebrate the time of the season, I've decided to discuss some of my favorite movies to watch during the Halloween season. Some may be your typical choices, but others may come off as an obscure or even pleasant surprise. Ranging from stellar horror films to fun-filled goofy movies, here are my favorite films for the Halloween season.

Trick'r Treat (2007)

This horror film is the epitome of terror for the Halloween season. The movie tells a tale of one particular Halloween night in which a series of spooky events occur. From a tale of zombie schoolkids coming back from the dead to a virgin werewolf's first night out to kill, this festive film commemorates the holiday very well and remains one of the best horror films in recent years. It's a real treat laden with tricks!

Creepshow (1982)

Metaphorically, it's the precursor for Trick'r Treat. Creepshow started the idea of mini-episodes presented in a pulpy manner. This film, patterned with a talented cast of stars, is as humorous as it is terrifying. With an even balance of camp and stylish horror, this horror classic from George A. Romero and Stephen King suits the season and its creepy tone very well.

When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2001)

Now this one is a surprise to the unsuspecting reader that expects only the true horror and Halloween-themed classic. This obscure family Halloween film stars Christopher Lloyd as the main character's undead grandfather back by means of breaking a curse over the town forcing them to never celebrate Halloween. The movie, though not really scary or clever, is a lot of fun and filled with a ton of positive spirit for the holiday. Halloween is refreshed, restored, and glorified, showing its importance and true meaning with excellent storytelling and dialogue. This is one of my favorite Halloween films for its optimistic look at the holiday, which really does hit home for me.

Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)

To stray away from movies with meaning, I simply enjoy this one for its simplicity. There isn't much of a meaningful purpose behind this movie; it only makes me laugh. I've watched it ever since I was really little, and I still enjoy watching Ernest run around like a babbling idiot (as usual). It's a lot of crazy fun and, though not an expertly made film, is still a Halloween treat.

Halloween (1978)

This one doesn't take too much thinking to figure out. The iconic theme song, thick suspense, and excellent film-making make this film a staple for the holiday and its horror-marathoning fans.

The Evil Dead series (1981 - 1987)

Excluding Army of Darkness, the Evil Dead series lays out a perfect horror scenario and cleans house with a campy, bizarre bloodbath, both terrifying and entertaining the masses. At times, the movies are shot just well enough to induce nightmares, even in their low-budget simplicity. At other times, the dialogue and turn of events just gets so ridiculous that it's downright hilarious. The films feel like a horror funhouse. They're both a thrill and a laugh at the same time!

Boo (2005)

Now, this one is another obscure and subordinate Halloween movie in the eyes of the public. This horror takes place on Halloween when a group of teenagers break into an abandoned mental hospital that's claimed to be haunted. One by one, these teenagers become possessed and start fighting each other and "melting" at death. The movie is in no way the best, but it's still an interesting watch. It's much like an old movie from Sci-Fi; good for low quality expectations.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Firstly, this movie is NOT a Christmas movie! It's clearly a Halloween film. It starts on Halloween with Halloween characters and ends on Halloween. The film from the creative mind of Tim Burton has been known to bend its holiday intentions, but this is my argument. The movie has a memorable soundtrack with realistic themes and precise stop-motion animation. Since the very beginning of my life, this film has been a staple to my Halloween season marathon.

The Corpse Bride (2005)

Subsequently, this film is just as good and fitting for the season. With a gothic feel and haunting film-making, Burton creates another beautiful stop-motion creation. The whole concept of the undead and their world serves as ample evidence of a fun Halloween flick.

R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It (2006)

Probably the most juvenile of the picks on my list, this movie makes the cut for its creepy atmosphere and impressive concept idea. The idea of a horrifying monster that comes to life and comes after you once you think about it is truly creative and a clever premise. With the writer's reigns being held by Goosebumps writer, R. L. Stine, the movie is bound to have an ample amount of scares and awesome plot twists for its target tween age group. I still watch this today for the memories it brings back and for recognition of its truly unique concept.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

You knew, if you've read any Halloween movie list or TV guide, that Hocus Pocus was going to make this list. The Halloween family classic is a notorious pick for all Halloween movie junkies to watch every season. Much like Halloween, this movie doesn't take much discussion to figure out why it's in my top Halloween list.


Well, fellow readers, you have reached the end of my list. Any surprises or was everything nice and predictable? These movies are all close to me for several different reasons whether it be content or childhood memory, and I try to watch them every Halloween season to celebrate. Maybe some of my picks are the same as yours. I hope each and every one of you have a safe, satisfying, and Happy Halloween! Thanks for reading my list!

Dark Shadows (2012) review

(7/10)

   Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team up once again to bring us a movie with just enough gothic charm and dramatic twists to keep it afloat, though very derivative of Burton's past works. Though effective in entertaining the masses, Dark Shadows proves to be one of Burton's weakest films.

PLOT: Barnabus Collins (Johnny Depp) was once the child of a very wealthy family, whom the town of Collinsport is named after. Things are going very well for Barnabus until he decides to break the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green), an evil witch who curses his family with bad luck throughout the rest of their lives. Not only does Angelique curse the entire family, but she also hypnotizes Barnabus' current lover off a cliff and turns Barnabus into a vampire, cursed to live forever locked in a coffin underground. Many years down the road, in the early 1970s, the Collins family is still living, led by Elizabeth (Michelle Pfieffer) and Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller), but they are definitely not as rich as they used to be. Their son, David (Gully McGrath), is being "helped" by alcoholic psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), and their daughter Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz) is very strange. Things get even stranger for the family when Barnabus is dug up by accident and released to walk the Earth again. Barnabus has plans to restore his family honor, though he becomes distracted by the still-living witch plotting his downfall and the Collins' family aide, Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote), who greatly resembles the woman the witch hypnotized off the cliff that fateful day. The plot is somewhat basic, but executed excellently. The amount of dramatic twists this movie takes isn't phenomenal, but it accumulates enough to save this movie from having a kind of "hollow" plotline. Without the twists, we'd just have a backstory with no more excitement.

ACTING: The performances in this movie are all very brilliantly done. Johnny Depp plays a fantastic part as the gothic Barnabus Collins. Helena Bonham Carter and Eva Green complimented his character well with their performances as Dr. Hoffman and the witch, Angelique. Other fantastic performances came from Chloe Grace Moretz as Carolyn, Bella Heathcote as Victoria Winters, Jackie Earle Haley as housekeeper Mr. Loomis, the late great Christopher Lee as Clarney, and of course, the cameo of shock-rocker Alice Cooper. Each performance only enhanced the gothic and dramatic tone of the movie.

SCORE: The score and soundtrack in this movie are both amazing. Though familiar, the great Danny Elfman conducts an excellent score for the movie. The soundtrack includes classics from artists such as The Moody Blues, Donovan, and, of course, Alice Cooper. Each compliments its own scene accurately.

EFFECTS: The special effects, though flashy, are effective and well done. The effects of Angelique's injuries, the ghost in the manor, the werewolf near the end, and Barnabus himself were probably the most unique and well detailed.

OTHER CONTENT: Dark Shadows isn't a bad movie by far. It's entertaining, bearing an all-star cast, a killer soundtrack, and supple dramatic elements. However, this is probably the movie Tim Burton put his least effort into. Unlike Burton's other works, Dark Shadows misses out on an inner meaning or purpose, rather than to just entertain the masses. However, much like Burton's other works, Dark Shadows tries to convey a sort of realism through a unique, dynamic character. This movie fails at that as it does nothing to convey a true meaning.

   Dark Shadows is like a poor man's Edward Scissorhands; it uses some of the same story elements, such as the dynamic character in a surreal environment, but it fails in conveying a true meaning like Burton's past works. Though led by a superb cast, classic soundtrack, and well-executed plot twists, Dark Shadows feels more like a shot at making money by entertaining the masses. The movie is entertaining, but contains little true substance or significance.

The Corpse Bride (2005) review

(9/10)

   This animated film from the mind of Tim Burton combines a gothic animation style with cartoonish emotions while still keeping the mood dark and creepy. Well-cast voice actors, precise and caricature-like animation, and a plotline thick enough to bring the story to life turn the film into a nice little journey into the gothic mind of Burton's fancy.

PLOT: Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp), the son of a wealthy family with new money, is set to marry young and beautiful Victor Everglot (Emily Watson), the daughter of a once-rich family of old money. However, Victor is still inexperienced, and doesn't even know how to get his wedding vows right. After embarrassing himself at the wedding rehearsal, Victor wanders off into the woods to hang his head in shame, practicing his vows along the way. He finally gets them right with practice, putting the ring on what he believes to be a tree. However, his recitation of the vows and placement of the ring awake a spirit in a wedding dress known as the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter), who believes Victor has broken her curse and has actually proposed. Victor then proceeds to faint and awakes in the underworld, where many corpses are there to greet him and tell him the story of the Corpse Bride. Meanwhile, news gets out above ground that Victor's run away with a mystery woman and a suave Lord Barkus (Richard E. Grant) steps in to take Victoria away from Victor. Victor must find his way upstairs again and stop Barkus from stealing Victoria away, as well as escaping the "marriage" of he and the Corpse Bride. The plot is excellently written, with a story that will keep more than just the normal movie-goer lively. The execution also followed as pretty great, keeping the central gothic theme while enthusing a more cartoonish tone.



VOICES: The voice acting in this film is excellently done. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter played their parts very well as Victor and the Corpse Bride. I could feel the chemistry going on between their conversations, even if they didn't end up together in the end. Among the other performances, everyone did a very good job at adding a cartoonish personality to the characters we see. My favorites would be that of Richard E. Grant as Lord Barkus, Albert Finney as Finnis Everglot, Joanna Lumley as Maudeline Everglot, Tracey Ullman as Nell Van Dort, Paul Whitehouse as William Van Dort, Christopher Lee as Pastor Galswells, and Danny Elfman as Bonejangles. Each performance was done very nicely.

SCORE: The score and soundtrack of this film is very delicately done by Burton's favorite composer, Danny Elfman. Elfman composes a unique theme for the film that can grow memorable for ages, with a wonderful and gothic style. The songs throughout the film are also very well written, catchy, and cartoonish as well as everything else. They're just a lot of fun with a touch of morbidity thrown in.

ANIMATION: The animation in this work from Tim Burton is excellently done, showing the animated significance seen previously in Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. The style of caricature-like characters Burton crafts in here are both comical and unique to his way of doing things. The animation moves so smoothly as well, adding personality to the characters within.



MISC. THOUGHTS: This film succeeds in doing something tough to accomplish without evident ridicule: blend gothic and cartoonish themes together. As seen in cult classics of yesteryear like Little Shop of Horrors, the film's don't usually get very many mainstream fans. However, Burton succeeds to appeal to all audiences in this film's execution. With all of the stylized execution, involved storyline, and emotional weight, there's little bad to say about the film. The only problems I had were a build-up of minor continuity errors. For example, the Corpse Bride tripping over a branch and running around when earlier she was shown floating across the ground without a foot moving. All of the errors are minor, but they build up to show the film's imperfections.

   Burton did strike animated gold again with this gothic cartoon of a film, with an involved storyline, excellent voice acting, delicate Elfman score, stylized animation, and many other cinematic perks. Only the minor continuity errors can throw it off its axis of cult-to-mainstream classic.

9 (2009) review

(7/10)

This post-apocalyptic animated film from the likes of Tim Burton and Shane Acker is a visual treat that sucks you into a whole other world, but it may seem a little too bleak with trouble deciding its target audience.

PLOT:The future is bleak. Due to the creation of machines with great minds, mankind has become extinct. The robots have taken over. The only living thing left in the area is a group of little beings made out of cloth and spare parts with ordered numbers painted on their backs. One in particular, number 9 (Elijah Wood), wakes up in a lab next to a dead scientist with no clue what's going on. The only thing he finds interesting is a talisman with strange markings on it. 9 goes out scavenging and meets another being like himself numbered 2 (Martin Landau). After a big fight with one of the fierce machines, 9 meets the rest of the group, including the mean-spirited leader, number 1 (Christopher Plummer). Against 1's orders, 9 sneaks out and attempts to save 2, who got kidnapped in the fight. However, 9 only awakens an even more evil monster. It's a good plot executed almost greatly.



VOICES:The voice acting in this film was very good. Elijah Wood played a great part as the brave and adventurous 9, as did Christopher Plummer as uptight 1. The cast is nearly all-star aside from these, including the shining stars of John C. Reilly as 5, Crispin Glover as 6, Jennifer Connelly as 7, and Alan Oppenheimer as the Scientist.

SCORE:The score was very well done and intense by the team efforts of Danny Elfman and Deborah Lurie. It matched the intense and thoughtful themes of the film.

ANIMATION:The animation in this film is beautiful and detailed. Some of the aspects of the animation (fire, the cloth, dead bodies) seemed almost real and the rest was just purely beautiful and well done.



OTHER CONTENT:This film gave me something to think about. I liked the apocalyptic aspect of it involving the humans and the robots, though it was fairly familiar. This film had a way of trapping you in its story and keeping you involved in its world and how things are in it. However, this post-apocalyptic film might seem too bleak for some audiences to handle. All humans are gone, and the only beings left are artificial ragdolls bent on saving what's left of the world; not to mention, (SPOILER) they kill off over half of the cast. Also, I believe this film had a tough time finding out its target audience when it was released. The trailers advertised it as being for pre-teens and the animation suggested it was for some younger audiences, but this film has way more thought and frightening situations. This film enhances the feelings of despair, desolation, horror violence, death, and lack of hope, so it at least involves an audience that can fully comprehend it. Aside from the targeting errors and bleak outcome, the film was very involving.

OVERALL,a good animated film with a good plot, very good voice acting, intense score, beautiful animation, a good post-apocalyptic aspect, and an involving story, but it's a little familiar, the outcome may be a little too bleak for some, and the film has trouble deciding its target audience.

Beetlejuice (1988) review

(9/10)

This has always been one of my favorites. I love the unique style, plotline, and character development put into it by Burton. It's more than an 80s classic; it's a pretty good mark in movie history.

PLOT:Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara (Geena Davis) Maitland are a young country couple living in the sticks of Winter River, Connecticut. This year for their vacation, they decided just to take it at home with each other. However, riding back home from a regular trip to town, the couple swerve off a bridge and crash into the water below. The couple somehow make it back to the house and notice strange things going on. They don't accept until later on that they are now ghosts and didn't survive the crash. The house is rented out and a city-based family moves in, including artisic Delia (Catherine O'Hara), the simple-minded Charles (Jeffery Jones), and the strange Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder). These people tear up the house and start to drive the couple ragged, but they need help being ghosts. They start to hear about the bio-exorcist, Beetlejuice (Michael Keaten), and contact him, which is when things start getting crazy. It's a really good plot executed awesomely.



ACTING:The performances in here are very good overall. Michael Keaten stole the show as Beetlejuice, even if he didn't have as much screen time as the others. He really let loose and made the character interesting. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis also played a pretty funny part as the unaware couple. The other shiners would be Catherine O'Hara as Delia, Jeffrey Jones as Charles, Winona Ryder as Lydia, Sylvia Sidney as Juno, Robert Goulet as Maxie Dean, and Glenn Shadix as Otho. The performances were really great in this movie.

SCORE:The soundtrack in this movie is another one of the best parts of it aside from the plotline. The great Danny Elfman, whose work for Burton is very famous. The themes and background score produced in here is very detailed, fitting, creepy, contagious, and loveable by all. It was perfect.



EFFECTS:The effects in here weren't as fantastic as some of the Hollywood effects you see today, but they were still really good. I love the old effects used in here for the sandworms; I've always loved these kind of effects. The effects used to make the gruesome ghosts look real are very creepy and realistic as well.

OTHER CONTENT:This has always been a favorite film of mine. It's funny, smart, creative, and like no other. I believe this movie should get even more credit than it has already. I believe there should be more movies like this: wild, creative, and just unique. However, this movie is flawed. There are moments where it does come off as very cheesy with some of the dialogue and situations. The rest of the dialogue was pretty solid and smart though. Despite its few cheesy flaws, I believe this movie should stand taller in the film industry and be more of an inspiration to others.

OVERALL,an awesome movie with an awesome plot, very great performances, creepily-perfect Elfman score, old and realistic effects, and just an overall creatively wild and unique feel that other movies should have, but a lot of it can come off as cheesy sometimes.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) review

(9/10)

To clarify things, I find this as a Halloween film, not a Christmas-crossover. Burton and Selick's bizarre, multi-holiday masterpiece conveys so much for such a little film.

PLOT:In the world of Halloween where nightmares reign and the horrible is praised, the pumpkin king of Halloween, Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) is getting bored with the monotony of Halloween every year. He goes on a walk and finds a circle of doors where the portals to the other holidays abide.  He's enthralled by the look of the Christmas door, so he opens it and enters. Once inside, Jack discovers Christmas and the feeling he gets inside from it. He likes the idea of Christmas and decides to show his fellow companions in the town of Halloween. Of course, they can't feel what he felt and they add their own Halloween ideas to the idea of Christmas. Jack ponders why they can't understand what he does, but he eventually strikes a breakthrough when he decides to steal Christmas for the year. However, ragdoll-frankenstein, Sally (Catherine O'Hara), the creation of Dr. Finkelstein (William Hickey), has a vision that it will all turn up in flames and tries to stop Jack. Will Jack's Yuletide idea succed, or will Sally's vision lay its course? It's a very unique plot executed as wonderfully as Burton and Selick can do it.



VOICES:The voice acting in here is pretty great. The voices are fun and unique, adding fun emotion to the characters. I think Chris Sarandon played a very great part as the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington. His character is all the more memorable. I also enjoyed Catherine O'Hara as Sally; she had such a gentle and meaningful voice for the part. The other shiners would be William Hickey as Dr. Finkelstein, Glenn Shadix as the Mayor, and Paul Ruebens as Lock.

SCORE:One of my favorite soundtracks. It's beautiful, grim, and unique. The great Danny Elfman supplies the singing voice for Jack as well as being the composer. His voice is hypnotic, operatic, and very intricate to the sound of the whole soundtrack.

ANIMATION:This is what the film is known for, and I can see why. The characters are animated in a certain way that no one else could have seen them in. They're all different shapes and sizes. It's something in the vision of Burton only. The animation itself is very whimsical and detailed, almost wonderous I'd say. It's some beautiful claymation.



OTHER CONTENT:I have always found this a Halloween film. It has Halloween characters throughout, and its starting and ending point is Halloween. Yes, it borrows Christmas at half of the movie, but that doesn't turn it 100% for Christmas. I liked all the lessons and feelings Jack had felt because I've felt them more than once in the past. I can relate to him easily: always wanting something new, never understood, and frustrated with how things are. I also appreciate the pop-gothic darkness the dynamic duo of Burton/Selick put into this film. It's more for teens than kids or adults, because of the feelings conveyed and the darkness witheld. However, if you can get past all the ghouls, post-emo core, and more serious aspects, it's still a true kid's film at heart with songs abundant throughout.

OVERALL, an awesome Halloween film with a uniquely executed plot, fun voices, beautifully intricate soundtrack, whimsical animation, characters I can relate to, and a strange gothic feel that tinges this for teens, but it's still just a masked kid's film at heart.