Halloweeny Movies

Hello Guys, Ghouls and Girls it’s Day One of Spooktober and we’re kicking it off with a nice, atmospheric post today. Over the next few days we will be introducing you to a number of fun, Halloweeny and Spooky things! Niamh here and I am kicking things off. Halloween has been a family affair for years, be it with my immediate family or with cousins and friends. After a few games and a lot of sweets, the number one thing to do is watch a movie that all the family can enjoy! So, after commenting on a number of posts and giving a number of suggestions to families, I thought I’d kick off Spooktober with our top eight suggestions to sit down and marathon in the run up to Halloween.

8. Goosebumps vs. Goosebumps. 

Anyone who grew up reading the Goosebumps series and watching the TV Show will remember how creepy these stories are. The most recent retelling of these stories includes actor Jack Black. One for the family to enjoy but, for those who grew up with Goosebumps, leave all expectations at the door because the original is ALWAYS better. 

The TV Show is better in my books. I was always weirdly creeped out from the series. Sometimes looking at it through my hands when I was younger. In terms of the movie, it follows two kids as they find the unfinished manuscript of R.L Stine’s latest Goosebumps book and the creatures from within escape the book. The movie has about two jump moments for younger viewers but older viewers may feel disappointed as they compare it to the original. 

7. The Addams Family Collection: 

Duh do duh duh *click click*Let’s be real most people have dressed up as a character from The Addams Family for Halloween at least once and with good reason. These movies are a classic with every one of the 1991-1998 movies being better than the last. For an additional giggle and movie night, include the short film from 1973 The Addams Family Fun-House and the animated version from 2019. 

A number of movies here but, in summary they follow the Addams Family, their antics and problems as somewhat ‘normal’ characters wish to change who they are or get rid of them! The family who defined ‘be yourself!’ Also, for any musical heads in the audience, look up the musical! 

6. Coraline

The creepiest child aimed Halloween movie ever made. I still get nightmares of The Other Mother – personally, I think it’s the button eyes and the potential of your eyes being stitched shut; I hate anything near my eyes. In moments of this movie, it is creepier than the entire of the Tim Burton collection I have further down our list. Warning to the little monsters watching this, it may cause a few nightmares.

The movie follows Coraline who travels through a secret door in her new home and discovers a strange idyllic version of her broken home but this alternate reality holds sinister secrets!

5. Disney Channel Original Movies. 

I for one grew up on these and still watch them! Any of our regular readers will know I looked at 2020 editions of the DCOMs for Halloween here. But, overall these films can be divided out into two categories a) Old School DCOMs and b) New School DCOMs. To make your lives easier, I’m going to recommend three of each; any not mentioned is down to personal taste and if you’d like to binge watch an entire genre of movies.

Old School DCOMs Must Watches: 

Halloweentown Series 

The top tier Halloween movie series from the Disney Channel of ALL time! Before we go any further, I always ignore Halloweentown High where they changed the main actress, it wasn’t as good!  

Don’t Look Under The Bed 

The movie that legit scarred me for life! I still can’t sit down and watch this entire movie yet. I’ve gotten half way through it in the past month. The story follows Frances, a teenager trying to understand what is causing strange things happening in her town. A guy Larry helps her but, it turns out he is an imaginary friend of children, more specifically her brother. 

This one from memory needs to come with a warning for younger kids because I honestly still cannot sit down and get through this movie! I am sure it wasn’t that scary, my mind probably made it 10 times scarier, but all I remember is that the Boogeyman transformation is horrifying. Aiming to just sit down with it and finish it again this week!. It was the first DCOM to receive more than a U movie rating.

Twitches

Just for the now generation to get a feel of cheesy late 90’s and early noughties DCOMs. Twitches – Twin Witches. Tia and Tamara from ‘Sister Sister!’ star in this one. It follows the story of twins separated at birth to keep them safe from the Darkness! The Darkness threatens to destroy their kingdom.

Two movies in this series and I watch this time and time again for the side characters’ stories as well as the main characters. One for those who love witches and wizards. 

New School DCOMs 

Descendants

The movie that Em and I need to do a cosplay from regardless of our age! It is all about the evil characters in Disney’s fairytales’ kids as they get given a second chance at going to school with the royals and good characters. 

The music numbers are FAB-U-LOUS, the costumes are divine and you are going to have a soft spot for at least one ‘evil’ kid in this series. This one is great to marathon over a number of nights as there are three movies in the series! You can thank me later cause, ‘we are rotten to the core’

Zombies 

Not as good as Descendants but, the latest addition of a singing, dancing and fun story. Sticking strongly with the DCOM overall messages in movies at the moment ‘everyone is different and accepted’ 

Upside Down Magic! 

This movie is one of the latest additions to the DCOM list for 2020. It follows Nory and Reina as they begin at Sage Academy. This movie is about never giving up, believing in yourself and above all friendship can conquer anything! 

4. Tim Burton’s Creations 

I love each and everyone of Tim Burton’s weird and wonderful creations! I’m the kind of person who sits down at any time of the year and enjoys each and everyone of these as I see fit to watch them! So, without further ado here are my top family must sees of Tim Burton’s Movies: 

With younger viewers: Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. 

With teen/older viewers: Sleepy Hollow, Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorshands  

3. Nightmare Before Christmas 

Now, to start off with the debates surrounding this film: This movie tops all other Tim Burton movies mentioned in my opinion so it gets its own number. The fun things about the Nightmare Before Christmas is that it can be both a Halloween and Christmas movie – we watch it October to December because of this!

This movie is all about Jack the Pumpkin King who becomes obsessed with Christmas in Halloweentown. Amazing songs, fun characters and an enjoyable storyline. This movie is a must watch for this time of year! 

2. Tower of Terror 

My all time favourite Halloween movie and one I come back to all year round too! Disney’s Tower of Terror aka the movie of the famous ride that was in Disney World. It’s the one movie I need to track down a new copy of as I am currently watching the entire movie on Youtube for the 100th time. It’s one of two Disney Halloween Movies from the 1990’s that I love that isn’t on Disney Plus and I honestly hope they change that as soon as possible! 

Tower of Terror follows a journalist and his helper as they investigate a 1939 mystery in which five people vanished in a hotel elevator on Halloween. Ghosts, a sinister secret and some creepy scenes for good measure! I adore this movie, it is personally my all time favourite Halloween movie.

1. Hocus Pocus

I’m assuming most of you read my top choice and nodded in agreement! I honestly believe when you find something good, don’t mess with it! That is why now and always Hocus Pocus will win the top spot on the list of Halloween family friendly movies! 

The Sanderson sisters! Everyone knows his story but if you don’t you need to see it! Trust me, if for some mad reason you haven’t seen this movie already, you NEED to watch this movie as soon as possible! 

And there you have it! My top eight movie marathon picks leading up to the most spooky time of the year for all the family to enjoy! Keep your eyes peeled for the next few posts, Emma’s been doing her research and we’re going to be hitting you with some interesting monsters and ghost stories and legends in the coming days!