The orange glow of my fairy lights is the only source of luminosity present in my room. My warm blanket feels like all I’ll ever need in the world. With fuzzy socks, a pumpkin-spice-flavored hot chocolate in hand, and my laptop open in front of me, I press play.
This article is my last hurrah in terms of fall and Halloween. Christmas begins on Nov. 1, and my opinion on that will not be changed. Or Nov. 2, considering the Day of the Dead and the overall after-effects of Halloween that linger for the next 24 hours. I’ve covered music, Starbucks, Halloween costumes, and the general romanticization of fall. Lastly, we have this: the final nail in the coffin, the ultimate etching on the tombstone. Here lies my final edition: the best Halloween movies.
1. Corpse Bride
The love I hold for this movie is immense; it’s one I have to watch year after year. Victor (Johnny Depp) and Victoria (Emily Watson) are arranged to be married. However, while practicing his vows in the woods, Victor accidentally marries Emily, the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter). From observing the use of colors to being entranced by every masterful scene, this movie is captivating. Emily’s haunting, bewitching beauty combined with all of the skeletons and ghouls featured throughout the movie make it a fundamental film to view during the season.
2. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Another iconic classic by Tim Burton. While this movie tows the line between being a Halloween movie and being a Christmas movie, anyone who has seen it can verify that it is undoubtedly a Halloween movie. The plot of the movie is centered around the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon), venturing to Christmas Town and proceeding to crave the merriness of it all. Even so, it is widely regarded as a Halloween film, as it should be; the majority of the film takes place in the dark and frightening Halloween Town. Cobwebs, spiders, full moons, jack-o’-lanterns, and endless other Halloween motifs can be found throughout each twist and turn of this movie.
3. Hocus Pocus
This movie has indefinitely cast a spell on the world. Perhaps the most iconic Halloween movie of all time, Hocus Pocus follows Max (Omri Katz), Allison (Vinessa Shaw), and Max’s younger sister, Dani (Thora Birch) as they try to undo the curse Max accidentally unleashed on the town of Salem. The curse is simply the unleashing of the three Sanderson sisters: Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), Winifred (Bette Midler), and Mary (Kathy Najimy). The movie was even granted a sequel in 2022, although I have not watched it. The enticing plot, Halloween aesthetic, and sinister witches make it a timeless classic that will always be on my annual rewatch list.
I turn off my fairy lights, stay under my blanket, and finish my hot chocolate. I shut my laptop, more enthralled by the Halloween spirit than ever before.
