By Megan Ruge Asst. living and arts editor
Halloween is coming up quick and that means the hunt for the perfect Halloween movie is on. Looking for the perfect Halloween movie for a steal might sound easier than it really is, so I have provided a list of Halloween classics available across different mediums that might do it for you.
Of course, Netflix isn’t the only subscription-based or free medium that can provide these films. There are other ways to access the online library of movies, like signing in to channel apps with your TV provider account information. The first Netflix film that I recommend is a Halloween classic, “The Addams Family.” Based on the original 1964 television series, this 1991 film brings this creepy, kooky family to life on the big screen. In the film, a clever con and his accomplice try to pull one over on this all-too-unusual family by tricking them into thinking one of them is a long-lost family member. The men ensue many forms of mayhem trying to carry out their evil plot.
The next film I have for you also comes from the Netflix archives, “The Corpse Bride.” A classic Tim Burton animation, featuring Johnny Depp, “The Corpse Bride” follows the story of an easily frightened man who is to be betrothed to a woman he finds less than interesting. One night, while trying to convince himself he is doing the correct thing, the man is abducted and sucked into the underworld by a ghostly bride who would rather have him for herself.
These next three films come to you from the archives of the “Watch Disney Channel” app. Everyone at one time or another looks for an outlet of nostalgia and we all remember the Disney Channel Original movies from “our generation.” So the next three movies are Disney Channel Halloween throwbacks that will bring out the child in all of us.
The first Disney Channel original on the list is an all time favorite, “Halloweentown.” We all remember the crazy world of Halloweentown, where all the things that we mere mortals dress up as on Halloween live in peace and harmony in another dimension.
For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, “Halloweentown” follows the story of a young girl named Marnie who finds out that she is from a long line of powerful witches when her estranged grandmother comes to visit. Soon after, Marnie and her two siblings are on their way to Halloweentown, a town where witches, goblins and vampires lead normal lives. When they get there, Marnie quickly realizes that an evil force is trying to take over Halloweentown. With the help of her mother and grandmother, Marnie must tap into her heritage and help save the day.
There are three other films in the “Halloweentown” franchise that are also available on the “Watch Disney Channel” app.
The next DCOM on the list is “Phantom of the Megaplex.” In this thriller, the local theater has an urban legend of a man who died in the demolition of the old town theater. It is said that his spirit haunts the new megaplex theater and is promising mayhem. When seventeen-year-old assistant manager, Pete, is putting together a big Hollywood premier for the megaplex, mass chaos and insane mishaps lead him to believe that the phantom may be causing all the trouble.
The final DCOM on the list is the 1990 child fright classic, “Don’t Look Under the Bed.” This film zeros in on the number one thing we all remember being afraid of as children, the boogey man. When strange things start happening in the town of Middlesburg, thirteen-year-old Frances looks like the culprit. To clear her name she enlists the help of her younger brother’s imaginary friend who shows her to rely on her imagination in her quest to defeat the boogey man.
These five films are a great way to start the search for the perfect Halloween film.
