Halloween may be all about horror, but the holiday can be fun without it. Many people love Halloween, but hate being scared. Here are some Halloween movies to get you into the holiday spirit without making you keep a night light on all night.
“Halloweentown” directed by Duwayne Dunham
This film series begins when 13-year-old Marnie Piper (Kimberly Brown) finds out she’s a witch and learns the supernatural town her family is from is now in danger. It’s up to her and her siblings to save it. The four “Halloweentown” movies make an excellent Halloween movie marathon.
“Hocus Pocus” directed by Kenny Ortega
This 1993 film stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as witches in Salem, Massachusetts who are resurrected after three centuries when Max Dennison (Omri Katz) lights a black-flamed candle in the witches’ home. The witches’ goal is to gain eternal youth from the souls of children on Halloween night, and Max's little sister Danny (Thora Birch) becomes their prime victim. Max, with the help of his new friend Allison (Vinessa Shaw) and a talking cat, have to steal the witches’ spell book to stop them from taking his sister's soul and becoming immortal.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” directed by Henry Selick
The beloved pumpkin king of Halloweentown (not to be confused with the previously mentioned movies), Jack Skellington, has become bored with the annual routine of scaring people in the "real world." But when Jack accidentally finds Christmastown, he gets a new look on life, leading him to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking his place.
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“Edward Scissorhands” directed by Tim Burton
This 1990 film tells the story of an animated human being named Edward (Johnny Depp). When his creator dies before finishing his work, Edward is left with scissor blades for hands. A saleswoman named Peg (Dianne Wiest) finds Edward and takes him home, where he then falls in love with her daughter (Wynona Ryder). Despite his kindness and artistic abilities, Edward is seen as an outcast by the one he loves and everyone around him.
“Twitches” directed by Stuart Gillard
Twin sisters Camryn and Alex (Tia and Tamera Mowry) are separated at birth but reunite on their 21st birthday and use their magical powers to save a far away kingdom – their birthplace – from a dark force trying to destroy it.
“Corpse Bride” directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson
Victor (Johnny Depp) and Victoria's (Emily Watson) families arrange for them to be married. On the eve of the wedding, Victor practices his vows in the woods and places the ring on a tree branch – or so he thought. The branch then becomes a hand that belongs to Emily, a woman who was murdered after eloping. Now believing she is married to Victor, Emily pulls him underground into the Underworld to be with her. Victor has to get back above ground before Victoria marries another man.
“The Addams Family” directed by Barry Sonnenfield
Based on the TV show of the same name, a man claiming to be Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd), the beloved missing brother of Gomez Addams (Raúl Juliá), shows up at the Addams's mansion and the family is elated. Throughout his return, Fester cannot recall details from his former life and Morticia (Anjelica Huston) is convinced he is a fraud. When Fester gets the Addams family evicted, Gomez realizes "Fester" is trying to take the family fortune and he must challenge him.
Denicia is a reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.
