I thought it would be a nice idea to go back to your youth with these iconic yet forgotten spooky season movies because Halloween is steadily creeping up on us. I hope you enjoy them!
1. Don’t Look Under The Bed
In the year 1999, this masterpiece made its debut on Disney Channel. As I saw it for the very first time, I remember thinking to myself, “It’s Disney Channel; it can’t possibly be that scary.” I had a mistake. It’s possible that I saw it one more time around Halloween the following year, but I haven’t even thought about it since then.
I was a poor elementary school student who was terrified of the boogeyman persona. It was so terrifying that I was afraid to even look beneath my bed. In other words, I was terrified.
2. Mom’s Got a Date With a Vampire
Mom’s Got a Date With a Vampire, which made its debut on the Disney Channel in the year 2000, featured Caroline Rhea, who had previously been in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Charles Shaughnessy, who had previously appeared in The Nanny.
Despite the fact that it is not the most well-known Halloween movie on the Disney Channel (it is eclipsed by the Halloweentown series and Twitches), this vampire-themed film served as an excellent introduction to the fanged monsters for those of us who were children in the 1990s.
3. Corpse Bride
Tim Burton and Mike Johnson are the directors of the stop-motion animated fantasy picture Corpse Bride, which was released in 2005. The narrative of Victor Van Dort, a bashful young man who is getting ready to marry Victoria Everglot, whose voice is provided by Emily Watson, is told in this film, which takes place in a world that is both gloomy and Gothic, but also whimsical. Johnny Depp provides the voice for Victor Van Dort.
However, when he was practicing in the woods, he made a mistake and proposed to a strange corpse bride named Emily, who was spoken by Helena Bonham Carter. He did this by setting a ring on what he believed was a branch, but it turned out to be her finger.
Emily, whose body was found in the Land of the Dead, is the one who leads Victor there. It is there that Victor discovers the terrible history of Emily. Victor is caught between his responsibility to the living and his surprising relationship with the corpse bride. Emily, on the other hand, is hoping for love and happiness after the death of her husband. Through the use of Tim Burton’s characteristic combination of dark, quirky comedy and profound pathos, the picture delves into topics such as love, death, and redemption.
The stop-motion animation in Corpse Bride was praised for its amazing quality, as were the characters’ memorable qualities and the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack composed by Danny Elfman. It possesses the unique Gothic appeal that Burton is known for, and it has a tone that is bittersweet. It is regarded to be one of Burton’s most notable works in the animation genre.
I just recently viewed this creepy stop-motion classic for the first time in a few years, and let me tell you, let me tell you, it is still very much relevant today. With the likes of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Christopher Lee, Richard E. Grant, and a plethora of other legendary actors lending their voices, Corpse Bride unquestionably delivers both in terms of appearance and performance. In addition to that, it features several very fantastic tunes, all of which have that Danny Elfman charm.
4. Casper Meets Wendy
This witchy and, I suppose, ghostly film, which was released in 1998 and starred a young Hilary Duff as Wendy (yes, that Hilary Duff), is considered to have been rather successful following its first release. In spite of the fact that it was a sequel to Casper the Friendly Ghost, the production level of Casper Meets Wendy was not quite as high as that of its predecessor (looking at you, wardrobe department).
On the other hand, for us children, who didn’t notice or care about the rather poor production quality, it was still fairly charming. In addition, who can forget Wendy’s signature red overalls, bucket hat, and red onesie?
5. Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
As a member of the Scooby-Doo series, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is an animated feature that was released via direct-to-video in the year 1998. With a narrative that involves true supernatural components rather than the customary villains in masks, it distinguishes out from other Scooby-Doo adventures because of its darker tone, which is a departure from the standard Scooby-Doo adventures.
Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma, the members of the Mystery Inc. group, are shown in the movie coming back together after having gone their separate ways. Due to the fact that Daphne is interested in filming a new section for her television show, they make the decision to examine an island located in the bayous of Louisiana.
The monsters in this Scooby-Doo story turn out to be real, different from the majority of Scooby-Doo stories, which contributes to a more dramatic and eerie atmosphere. Not only do they come across vengeful pirate zombies, but they also come across mysterious cat people who are keeping a deadly secret about the history of the island.
The film earned positive reviews due to the fact that it offered a novel approach to the traditional formula, therefore introducing a degree of maturity to the series. Additionally, it was the beginning of a renaissance for Scooby-Doo, which resulted in a number of other direct-to-video features.
Once again, this is a timeless piece. The fact that I would rent this from the video store or watch it on television to the point where it would irritate my parents is something that I recall. In light of the fact that it has zombies, cat girls, and a banger music, this Scooby-Gang adventure is most likely the finest animated Mystery Inc. film.
“It’s terror time again!”
6. Gremlins and Gremlins 2
This one is dishonest in a few different ways, so let’s examine it. Not everyone remembers how adorable and fantastic the Gremlins movies are, despite the fact that we have all seen them (because they are so amazing). In addition, I included two movies in a single entry because they are both of the same quality.
There are some individuals who could consider them to be Christmas movies; but, similar to The Nightmare Before Christmas, they are also considered to be Halloween movies. After watching the baby Gremlins hatch, you can’t go out and harass people and then tell me that the movie you just watched isn’t like a Halloween movie.
7. Return to Oz
I am not sure where to begin with this movie. The wheelers, the woman with the interchangeable heads, The Gnome King, and all of the other unsettling practical effects are all included in this collection. Without a doubt, it is comparable to being in a fever dream.
Although I did not watch it when I was younger, I am aware that a lot of others did. I want to express my deepest condolences to those individuals who were able to see this as children and were left with a permanent scar.
8. The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron is unquestionably one of the most intriguing ones. Although it may be rather somber, it can also be ridiculously silly.
What is the reason that we have Gurgi, the pixies, and Taran’s ridiculous declarations about how courageous he thinks he is, but then we have The Horned King, the zombies, and the pterodactyl monsters all in the same movie? When I go back to the 1980s, I find it hard to believe that Disney would have permitted anything so horrific to be included in a movie.
9. Frankenweenie
Another Disney film (you can tell that I am a huge fan of Disney), but this time it is about a dog who has been reanimated from the dead. There are some individuals who would find Frankenweenie to be a little bit of a niche, but I find that it fits well with my peculiar sense of humor.
In addition, I did not watch this when I was a child, but I am aware that a significant number of other people did.
Frankenweenie’s popularity at the time of its release is not surprising given that film features a delightful main character, a cute zombie dog, and a style that is reminiscent of old Hollywood. Another scenario that should not be forgotten is the one in which all of the animals go crazy and terrorize the town.
10. Phantom of the Megaplex
My goodness, what is it that I can say about you, Phantom of the Megaplex? When I was a youngster, I don’t remember much about it, but I do remember that it stopped me from wanting to work at a movie theater. I don’t remember much else about it for sure. In addition, I recall the Phantom and his eerie attire, which was the reason I did not want to work in the theater.
Despite the fact that it was a Disney Channel Original Movie (back when they were actually decent), there were certain sequences that were unsettling for youngsters who saw it. I am looking at you, Phantom; I am grateful for the nightmares that I had as a youngster.
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