Rare News Desk
For the majority of Americans, the most exciting holiday season comes near the end of the calendar year. But for some of us, the week preceding October 31 is the one we anticipate with eagerness and excitement. For Halloween freaks like me, this time of year brings as many traditions with it as Thanksgiving or Christmas. After all, for all its roots in European tradition and folklore, Halloween remains an exclusively American holiday.
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No Halloween would be complete without curling up on the couch after dark with a near-lethal amount of candy corn to watch my favorite spooky movies. There are a handful of films, however, that conjure the sights and sounds of my favorite time of year like no others. These movies encompass everything about All Hallow’s Eve that makes it so much fun.
Here, then, I offer you my list of Halloween flicks guaranteed to get you in the Halloween spirit.
1) Trick ‘R Treat (2007)
The first time I sat down to watch this horror anthology written and directed by Michael Dougherty, I knew it would be a movie I would watch again every Halloween thereafter. Trick ‘r Treat depicts four different stories occurring simultaneously one Halloween night in the neighborhood of a small town. As the tales unfold, it is revealed that all the characters’ fates are horrifically (and sometimes humorously) intertwined. Superbly acted with brilliantly detailed set design, this film has everything we Halloween devotees love: monsters, mystery, and mayhem. It all culminates in a deliciously creepy climax involving candy, blood, and a vengeful trick-or-treater named Sam with a burlap sack on his head. Just trust me. If you enjoy Halloween even a little, you will relish this one.
2) It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
No other Halloween film brings me a more solid feeling of nostalgia for my childhood than this yearly favorite from the Peanuts gang. This is one that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Despite being mocked by everyone around him, Linus believes in the existence of a mysterious entity known as “The Great Pumpkin”, who he says will rise from the pumpkin patch on Halloween night. Every time I watched this television special as a kid, I secretly hoped Linus’s lonely vigil in the pumpkin patch would pay off. It never did, but every year I continue to watch (and hope.)
3) Halloween (1978)
Beloved by horror fans everywhere, this classic slasher film is a must-see for all Halloween aficionados. Starring Donald Pleasance and Jamie Lee Curtis in her feature film debut, a murderous psycho named Michael Myers escapes from an institution to terrorize teens in a fictional midwestern town. Of course, all this havoc is wreaked on Halloween night while children are out trick-or-treating, adults are partying, and the local authorities are embarrassingly ineffective. Despite having almost no graphic violence or gore unlike many horror films being produced today, the original Halloween is one of the most terrifying experiences in cinema history. It is a must-see every October.
4) Disney’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949)
I only recently became reacquainted with this childhood classic when I purchased The adventures of Ichabod and Mr. toad on DVD. Narrated by Bing Crosby, this short animated retelling of the classic tale by Washington Irving was produced more than 20 years before I was born, yet endures as a work of art that any contemporary youngster would enjoy. I remember being absolutely mesmerized by it as a small child and, along with Scooby-Doo, it’s probably where my love of Halloween originated. The ominous atmosphere of Ichabod Crane’s late-night ride through the forest lingered in my memory for years. I highly recommend this one to anyone who has a love for the season, whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart.
5) Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
When the third installment of the Halloween franchise opened in theaters, it was met with negative critical reviews, poor box office returns, and a legion of disappointed and confused Halloween fans. The movie had nothing to do with Michael Myers or the slasher genre.  Instead, it featured the diabolical tale of a novelty toy company with plans to unleash a reign of terror on Halloween night by killing millions of children across the country who would be wearing their masks. Despite its awful initial reception, this chapter of the franchise has become a cult classic among a segment of horror fans over the years. There is just something compelling about the three Halloween mask designs (a jack-o-lantern, a witch, and a skull) and that obnoxious commercial jingle repeated ad nauseam throughout the film. When I view this preposterous movie with its outlandish plot, I am instantly in the mood to haul out the Halloween decorations and commence to scaring the neighborhood kids. If you’ve never seen Halloween III: Season of the Witch, give it a chance this Halloween. You might just join the ranks of those of us who have come to enjoy it.
Set aside an evening this week to dim the lights, pop some popcorn, and sample one or more of these quintessential Halloween favorites to get you into the spirit of this exciting time of year. Have a happy Halloween!
