It's the most wonderful time of the year! Well at the very least top 3-Halloween!
I began to think up a list of Halloween traditions to get started on. Costumes. Candy. Glitter and of course the ultimate movie marathon.
Due to my inability to watch a genuine scary movie without screaming like a wet cat in a washing machine I have devised a list of 20 movies that can be used to trick your friends into a real treat (see what I did there?) These are your cult classics...and usually Disney approved.
So sit back and relax for the ultimate Halloween movie marathon (or Halloweenathon as the cool kids call it.)
1. Hocus Pocus (1993)
"I put a spell on you, and now you're mine!" Hocus Pocus is number one on my list for many reasons. With a witty plot, Bette Midler's magic and an immortal cat you've got a real cauldron of fun at your fingertips...or screen. The plot centers around three witches that come back to life on one creepy halloween night to steal the lives of the children in Salem. Their goal? As Alphaville once sang "forever young, I want to be forever young." With Disney's seal of approval it's a goodie for all ages.
2. Harry Potter Marathon (2001-2011)
Okay, okay, okay so technically movie number two is more than one movie, but the opportunity to have a hardcore Harry Potter marathon during Creepymas time seemed like a must. I will not give a definition of the franchise due to the fact that if you require one... well let's just say I don't know how this friendship of ours will bloom and blossom...I'm Sirius! So don't be a muggle, add this to the list with a batch of butterbeer. See you there yes?
3. The Corpse Bride (2005)
No Halloween movie marathon begins, ends or anything-s without a Tim Burton classic and while I personally keep 'The Nightmare before Christmas' for my Christmas marathon list, 'The Corpse Bride' is an excellent Halloween choice. First off you're dealing with classic stop-motion here, which just adds to the overall spookiness of the film. If that doesn't get you, the plot is about a young man destined to marry a (living) noble's daughter (who is also alive), however due to bumbling and nervousness this young man finds himself married to a corpse. It's less morbid than described and is one of my favourite rainy day classics. Tell me what you think?
4. The Addams Family Values (1993)
"They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky. They're altogether ooky, the Addams Family." In this fantastic film the Addams's welcome a new son to the family-Pubert. During this time Uncle Fester tries to find himself a partner to cure his loneliness and Wednesday and Pugsly devise a plot to get rid of their new sibling-permanently. Of all the Addams Family films this has the best derived dark humour. It's an all year round watch with a special shout out on Halloween.
5. Practical Magic (1998)
A Halloween must! Watch young Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman dominate in this creepy cult classic surrounded around the Owen sisters. Watch as they battle evil, find love, conquer curses (and bullies) and most importantly survive truly terrible dates. It's the perfect balance of "scary" and wonderful-it's scarederful! Without a doubt it's on my Halloweenathon list.
6. Halloweentown (1998)
So this film is from my childhood days. Picture it now: young Courtney, watching Halloweentown in her pyjamas on the weekend during the October Halloween movie influx. Not a care in the world except for a silly test or homework due the next week. Now let's sigh with nostalgic whisfulness and jump back into 2018. This movie is about a young girl with an obsession of spooky stuff. One Halloween her Grandma visits and this chickadee finds out that her entire family is filled with witches. She travels with her Grandma to Halloweentown (where it's Halloween 24/7-sounds a bit Tim Burton-y) to save the town and learn about her powers. It's costume-y and cute. Perfect for a family Halloweenathon.
7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
"I see you shiver in antici...pation." This film is one of the best movies to ever grace our screens! Ever! There was an attempt to revamp it in 2017, but we don't talk about that film, because it's terrible...like really bad! Very bad. The Rocky Horror Picture Show doesn't have a description that will do it justice, so just go and watch it please and I'll see you for the time warp at the next wedding, birthday, anniversary, baby shower or board meeting I request they play it in.
8. Casper (1995)
Ah Casper the friendly ghost. In some way or another you should be familiar with this term. Whether it be due to a healthy association to the film or referring to your imaginary boyfriend as 'Casper' in the forth grade...either way you know what I'm talking about. I don't know how to make it more transparent (see what I did there? Did you laugh? Yes or No?) For those who don't know what I'm talking about due to your under a rock upbringing, a paranormal psychologist and his daughter are hired to get rid of four ghosts in a haunted mansion recently inherited by the terrible Carrigan. One of the four ghosts is the kind hearted little spook we know and love as Casper.
9. Beetlejuice (1988)
All I'll say is don't say his name three times unless you want chaos. When Adam and Barbara find themselves dead, they struggle to adjust to the new ghost life they've been handed, which only becomes more difficult when the Deetz's move in with the intent to completely revamp the home that Adam and Barbara had invested so much time energy and life into. Another Tim Burton classic with Michael Keaton at the helm as Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice has a twisted, fantastically dark sense of humour that you rarely see matched in modern day films...and now I have to go because I've already said his name twice in this description, can’t risk a third.
10. Ghostbusters (1984)/ (2016)
So I've included both the OG Ghostbusters and the new version of Ghostbusters. I know purists and sexists had a big issue with the 2016 version, but personally I loved it, I also loved the well thought-out cameo's of the original remaining 1984 cast members. As for the classic film-anything with Bill Murray will see me sitting in the front row. Both films involve a rag-tag group of paranormal investigators heading off to save a world that doesn't quite believe their job is real. I mean at the end of the day who ARE you gonna call?
11. Scary Movie Marathon (2000-2013)
So I use this to trick people into scary movie marathon's with me all the time. You just have to hope that they don't ask 'what movies' after you suggest a scary movie marathon. If they ask, I find laughing and saying "oh you" or compulsively listing halloween snacks serves as a great diversion. Scary Movie 1-5 gives you a great overview of genuinely terrifying movies but with a humorous twist. The words "Cindy, the TV is leaking" will forever be a classic.
12. The Haunted Mansion (2003)
There are just some old faithful Halloween movies and this is one of them. The Haunted Mansion was hella spooky when I was younger, now I just appreciate the details. There's so much to it. There's something for everyone: murder, family units, spider fears, real-estate, barbershop quartets, gypsy heads-you name it! It even has a moral to the story other than 'bitch don't go down there' or 'the aim of the game is to stay alive' that so many other scary movies have. Also Eddie Murphy is in it and his comic acting is fantastic, so I'd give it a watch.
13. Happy Death Day (2017)
This is not scary, I mean in the first death did I scream? Yes, but please refer back to the wet cat thing in the introduction. The movie centres on Tree, a self-entitled sorority brat who is murdered on her birthday. The catch: she returns to the beginning of the day each time she's murdered. So Tree (yes it's her real name) has to find her real killer before her days catch up with her. It was a goodie with a couple plot twists and some real character development you wouldn't expect from a slasher a movie but rather a movie like 'Groundhog Day'or ‘You've Got Mail.'
14. Bewitched (2005)
So, not a spooky, scary, dark or remotely trippy movie at all. Bewitched is about Isabelle, a real-life witch who gets a role in the TV series remake 'Bewitched.' Her co-star is the ever narcissistic, arrogant Jack whom Isabelle is deeply in love wit. It's really cute, a Hallowrom-com if you will? Nicole Kidman is an absolute treat and did I mention Michael Caine is in it? What are your thoughts here?
15. Igor (2008)
This film isn't as well known as the others. My sisters and I stumbled upon it many years ago and it quickly became a favourite. The movie is about an Igor with a talent for inventing. When his master dies, he takes it as an opportunity to create an invention and pass it off as his master's experiment. The only issue is that his attempt to create evil life results in a kind, theatrical "monster". With a suicidal immortal rabbit and a dimwitted Brain called Brian, this film is a guaranteed laugh. Genuinely a hidden gem.
16. Edwards Scissorhands (1990)
Alright this is the last Tim Burton film on my list. Besides the obvious Halloween appeal-the film also shows suburbia as a pretty fantastic monster all on its own. Your heart just goes out to poor Edward. Edward is a human-like creation with scissors for hands, once found he is adopted by a suburban family. Soon Edward experiences kindness, love, judgement and the truth behind one's intentions. This is one of my favourite Burton films and I think about it every time I drive past a hedge.
17. ParaNorman (2012)
ParaNorman is about a little boy who is ostracised by his town due to his ability to speak and interact with ghosts. Everything changes when he is given a quest that unleashes zombies and an ancient curse. I think the biggest part of this film is 'what you see is not what you get.' There are many plot twists in this movie. With interesting and strange characters plus a really fresh story, this is a goodie for any Halloweenathon pick.
18. Twitches (2005)
Twitches-twin witches. You heard me right! Alex and Cam are twin witches from another land separated at birth to ensure their safety. Once reunited they venture to their true land to save the day and battle the darkness. It's as cheesy as you fear, but honestly, I think we could all use a little bit more cheesiness in our lives. It's a feel good movie, without a complicated plot and it has tons of cute banter. If you dig it: did someone say Twitches 2?
19. Scooby Doo 1&2 (2002) & (2004)
This is an 'any-day-of-the-year' film duo, but that may also be due to my sister's obsession with the Scooby Doo franchise. Scooby Doo is the perfect addition to any movie marathon. The characters are well cast (let's not talk about the 2018 version of Velma and Daphne shall we?), the plot has a strong current of great humour and there are one or two fun plot twists insid. Besides what would you do without those meddling kids and that stupid dog?
20. Coraline (2009)
I saved the spookiest movie on my PG list for last. While it may appear as a harmless animation, Coraline is terrifying. I still have nightmares about people with buttons for eyes. Basically, a little girl moves into a new house with her parents. Her parents are always busy at work, which means Coraline is often ignored. One day Coraline goes through a weird door in her house and it takes her to a magical world where people look and sound like better, more caring versions of her parents, except they have buttons for eyes. Soon things spiral and perfection comes with an intense price. Enjoy your nightmares with this one...weird nightmares...
So there you have it: my (PG13) hair-raising Halloweenathon picks. What are your favorite movies to watch around the spooky season? I'm always looking to expand my list.