Everyone has Halloween movies that are favorites to watch during fall, and many are seen as season classics. Of the many, many movies people have watched time and time again each Halloween, based on personal opinion, there are five main movies that climb above to the top of the chain every year: “Corpse Bride,” “Coraline,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Halloween Town” and “A Nightmare before Christmas.”
In fifth place stands the alluring film by the name, “Corpse Bride.” This film is based on a poem and was directed by the prominent horror director and author Tim Burton. Burton later wrote a book based on the movie he made about it. Even with it taking fifth place, this film is widely renowned. The reason this film is in fifth place is caused by the fact that it is not regularly considered a fall film since it does not include any fall elements.
“Corpse Bride” depicts a young man, Victor Van Dort, forced to marry a woman he is not familiar with in order to please his parents. However, when the time comes, Victor finds himself in the predicament of continuously failing to recite his vows. His frustration leads him into a forest where he does, after some time, perfect his vows and recite them aloud. His victory comes with a price, though, as he conjures the corpse of a young bride murdered before her wedding. Victor now has to find a way back to the world of the living without breaking the heart of the dead.
This film is a rollercoaster of emotions, both for the characters and the viewer. The music in the film adds an element of beauty as it matches the aura of the environment. There are jaunty jazz tunes as well as haunting but beautiful melodies that match the various scenes found in the movie perfectly. The cool hues of blues, purples and the pops of vibrant orange and red give the viewer a sense of personality in each of the characters. The blues of the corpse bride give her a quiet but loving stature, the yellow of the jazzy skeleton known as Bojangles give him an exciting feel. This film is definitely recommended for those who like the creative works of Tim Burton.
In fourth place resides “A Nightmare before Christmas,” an original idea from the brilliant mind of Tim Burton, directed by Henry Selick, who is a stop motion specialist. This movie is about the character Jack Skellington who is exhausted by his role as the Pumpkin King of Halloween. Jack ends up discovering doors to the other Holiday worlds and finds a curious interest in all things Christmas related. Jack means well – though he ends up stealing Christmas as a way to have a chance to do something different from his everyday life, which causes a commotion for everyone.
The elements used for Halloween Town are dark and spooky while Christmas Town has a stark contrast with warm and bright elements relative to the joyful season. If this film is considered a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie is widely debated – some consider it more on the Christmas side while others tend to consider it a Halloween movie. Halloween movie or not, though, it is the perfect movie for cuddling up in a blanket and enjoying during the fall season. This film is a beautiful example of the artistry of stop-motion animation.
Moving up, the live action movie by the name of “Halloween Town,” takes third place. This movie is relatively older than the others, being produced in 1998 – which is not a negative thing at all; if anything, it makes it a classic that continues on as a popular fall movie. “Halloween Town” was written by Paul Berndaum. This film is about a young girl by the name of Marnie whose mother wants nothing to do with Halloween. Marnie is greatly annoyed by her mothers’s insistence on staying home for Halloween, and wonders what the reason for that is. She has no idea as to why – until her grandmother drops by for an unexpected visit, asking for Marnie’s mother’s help defeating an evil that is invading her hometown of Halloween Town. From this, Marnie finds out that her mother, and subsequently she, is a witch, and that her mother had hidden it from her because she wanted Marnie to have a normal life. Marnie must team up with her siblings and complete her witch training while helping their grandmother defeat an ancient evil – all against her mother’s will.
From the exuberant characters, to the peppy music and colorful settings, this movie is a “fall feel-good.” This film did a wonderful job introducing the characters and adding certain details that add whimsy to the storyline. One example of this element of whimsy, is the grandmother’s bag which has no bottom, allowing it to be filled continuously without overflowing. Those who enjoy the first movie have something to look forward to as there are three other films in this series. This movie is fun and perfect for a family movie night.
In second place is the spellbinding film of “Hocus Pocus.” This film is directed by Kenny Ortega and written by David Kirshner and Mick Garris. “Hocus Pocus” is about two siblings who move to the town of Salem, Massachusetts, during the week of Halloween. Salem is rumored to be cursed by three witches, killed for stealing the souls of children to keep themselves young. The oldest boy tries to impress a girl by going to the abandoned house of these witches, and lighting the candle that is supposed to bring back the witches. The boy and his friends now have to defeat the witches before they become powerful enough to steal the souls of all the children in Salem.
This film is bewitching. The witch characters are spooky and mischievous which is a stark contrast to the “normal world” around them. This movie is a great mix of comedic relief and eerie Halloween fun. Viewers may see the original or the continuation, with the newest, “Hocus Pocus 2,” released in September of 2022. The second film is just as exciting, with the original actors and actresses, and the same witchy feeling. Some have given the movies, especially the newest one, a bad rap because of its more comedic nature compared to the original. This film will be left for the viewer to decide if it is worth being a celebrated classic or not.
Finally, taking the award for first place is the spooky film by the name of “Coraline.” “Coraline” is another wonderful example of the artistic genius of stop motion animation. This film is directed by Henry Selick, and based on a novel by the acclaimed writer Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is well known for his novels, such as “NeverWhere” and “American Gods.”
This film is about a young girl, Coraline, who moves to a new home with her parents who pay more attention to their work than anything else. The neighbor boy – who she is thoroughly annoyed by – gives her a doll he found that looks exactly like her. Along with the strange doll, she finds a mysterious door that only opens at night, leading her to a world that perfects everything she found wrong in the real world. Coraline thinks it is amazing but she finds that nothing is always as it seems when her new life takes a dark turn.
This film is a spiral of vivid imagination and mysterious reverie from the creator. The music in this film matches the scenes perfectly, alongside the curious character of Coraline. This film is based off of a book by Neil Gaiman which is a dark fantasy horror novel. The film is a great take on the more positive side of the story but still has chilling elements. As the viewer goes deeper into the film, they find themselves entangled in a web of mystery. There are questions that come up from specific elements added that further deepen curiosity. Some viewers decided to really dive into the specifics, although even those who do not will be further intrigued.
The colors of the characters bring out their personalities and dictate the mood of the scene. When Coraline first enters the other world it is bright and happy with colors matching the characters, and in the other world it is drab and gray, especially since Coraline thinks it is more boring than anything else. For viewers in the mood for something more exciting and mysterious, this route is perfect for movie night.
Movies are a great way to enjoy the Halloween season. Whether one wants a spook or fun there is always a movie available that matches the quota. There are many movies perfect for the Halloween season, the ones mentioned are just some of them. Ultimately, viewers will have to decide for themselves which Halloween movies they enjoy watching every year.