Courtesy of The Ontarion staff
Casper (1995)—Rebecca Thompson (Sports and Health Editor)
Halloween is always a time of year when I like to re-watch movies from my childhood. I’ve never been a fan of scary movies, but movies like Casper let me embrace my inner child. The friendly ghost story is cute, funny, and heart-warming as Casper befriends a young girl who has moved into his old home. The movie sees their partnership grow as they face mean ghosts, crazy adventures, and unwelcoming townspeople. Halloween is a time when we can be as childish as we like, and Casper is the perfect movie to unwind in the middle of midterms and revel in Halloween.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)—Claire Wilcox (Associate Editor)
The next best thing to playing the villain is playing the strange, misunderstood monster. Edward Scissorhands, for me, encapsulates that “Otherness” and makes it lovable. A couple years back, I dressed up for Halloween as Edward, complete with duct-taped plastic cutlery as my scissor-hands. As the night went on, of course, I lost all my pieces. All that aside, there’s something deeply gratifying about the way Tim Burton mocks normalized North-American society, from the first cookie-cutting scene to the pastel, cookie-cutter houses that line the streets of suburbia. Forget Batman, let alone the Joker—a spooky-looking, razor-sharp Scissorhands will save us all.
Halloweentown (1998)—Tiann Nantais (Copy Editor)
However ridiculous it may seem, when October rolls around each year, I feel the need to relive my childhood, courtesy of the Disney Channel. Growing up in the age of Disney Channel original movies, Halloweentown was an all-time classic. While I will admit that it may not be the highest quality motion picture, something about the semi-spooky alternate universe of Halloweentown got my friends and I very excited about this season. (Not to mention the fact that I’m in love with Debbie Reynolds.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNGYJRcq5BM
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)—Mirali Almaula (Digital Content Editor)
No movie says “Halloween” to me as much as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It’s enjoyable to see the details from the book on the screen but there’s more to it than just a good adaptation. Watching Harry discover the wizarding world actually feels magical. From the moving portraits and floating ghosts to the enchanted ceiling and charmed lessons, the movie doesn’t just tell Harry’s story, it breathes life into his whole world. I chose Harry Potter because when I think of Halloween I think of the feast in Hogwarts’ Great Hall.
Monster Squad (1987)—Tanner Morton (News Editor)
Growing up, I was always fascinated by the classic Universal monster movies. I thought the stories of Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man were creepy and cool, so when I heard that they were all in one movie, with a Goonies-like cast of kids, I was sold. Monster Squad is a pure ’80s action-horror-comedy, and when Dracula and co. descend on sleepy little suburbia, it’s up to Sean and his friends to take them down. From the monsters to the kid-centric plot, this movie has always screamed Halloween to me.
Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost (1999)—Sierra Paquette-Struger (Arts and Culture Editor)
To this day, whenever my dad makes pasta, he asks if I want “Scooby” noodles. It should come as no surprise, then, that Scooby-Doo is one of my fondest childhood icons. As a child, Scoob and the gang started and nurtured my eventual obsession with the horror genre. Ask me about an Emmy-award winning, must-see movie and I probably haven’t seen it. Ask me about Turkish indie horror flick, Baskin, and I’ve seen it three times. The Witch’s Ghost was the first movie I watched that genuinely scared the pants off of me. Its autumnal setting, forays into vengeance narratives, and chillingly powerful and merciless villain create the perfect storm. Plus, we meet the eco-goth rock band, The Hex Girls.
The Shining (1980)—Mariah Bridgeman (Photo and Graphics Editor)
Here’s Johnny! Normally an older flick such as The Shining would not be on the top of my list, but it never fails to keep me on the edge of my seat. The story begins with the main character Jack Torrance, a writer that becomes the winter caretaker at the sinister Overlook Hotel. After moving in with his wife Wendy and son Danny, it doesn’t take long for the family to start feeling the effects of cabin fever. Danny later demonstrates his advanced psychic ability through his imaginary friend Tony, which in turn reveals the hotel’s dark secrets that ultimately becomes a reality for Jack and his family.
When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2001)—Dana Bellamy (Editor-in-Chief)
While any one of my favourite movies could be considered Halloween movies, When Good Ghouls Go Bad is the only one that is exclusive to my October viewing year after year. The R.L. Stine-penned TV movie tells the story of Curtis Danko, a small town misfit who falls victim to a Halloween prank that leaves him to burn to death in a kiln—horrifying, right? Since the incident, the people of Walker Falls refuse to utter the word “Halloween,” never mind celebrate it, in fear he will return from the grave.
Image by Kylie Armishaw.