Why so few films about Halloween?

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aTOMiC
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Where are the Halloween movies?

Post by aTOMiC »

Curious because I had been asked about my favorite Halloween movies, I tried to refresh my memory by doing a Google search on the subject. What I found (with the exception of the John Carpenter Halloween franchise) there were precious few films that actually revolve around the holiday itself.
I mean except for "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown".

Oh sure I found entries like "Sleepy Hollow", "Nightmare on Elm Street", "Friday the 13th" etc. I found a long list of horror films that seem to fit the theme pretty well but aside from a few notable examples there aren't that many movies specific to the event itself. You'd think it would be fertile soil with which to conjure up ideas but it seems the most popular Halloween movies are ones that have little or nothing to do with....Halloween.

I get crap for this all the time but my favorite Halloween movie is Halloween III. I realize the film seems to veer off of the Michael Myers. canon but there's something about the plot I like.

Oh well I expect the following responses will be a cascade of movies I've long forgotten about or never saw that contradict the premise of this thread. Very well. Educate me. :biggrin:
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Post by High Lord Tolkien »

I like the classics like Dracula and Frankenstein.
It's fun to see my kids gets a little scared watching those old flicks.
Minimal special effects just acting and dramatic music works every time.

Bram Stoker's Dracula is one of my favorite horror movies.
Nosferatu is good too if you enjoy silent films.
It takes me a while to "adjust" to them but I like it.
The part where Nosferatu is walking around the town carrying his coffin is freaky. This skinny creepy looking guy carrying something twice as large as himself effortlessly......nice

I say every time a thread like this pops up, the Voodoo Doll from the Trilogy of Terror scared the fricken pants off me for years.
I saw it when I was 10 and I swear, I refused to watch it again until I was in my late 20s.

The first Evil Dead is scary, (the others are comedies).
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Post by wayfriend »

I like The Nightmare Before Christmas, but it's arguable if it's a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie (I don't watch this at Christmas.).

I also like The Corpse Bride, but that's not a Halloween Halloween movie. Still, though, the Tim Burton motion capture just seems to capture the essence of the holiday for me.

My kids LOVE Hocus Pocus, albeit that's kids fare. But it does center around a plot to take over the world on Halloween. And it does have a young Sarah Jessica Parker in a tightly wound bodice.

There's all The Simpson's Halloween episodes. If they're not on one CD, they should be.

Monster House is fun.

Oh, and EW listed the top 25 scariest movies today. [link]
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Post by Cameraman Jenn »

www.imdb.com/title/tt0092112/plotsummary

Here's one for you, TOM. :P
Now if I could just find a way to wear live bees as jewelry all the time.....

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Post by aTOMiC »

Cameraman Jenn wrote:www.imdb.com/title/tt0092112/plotsummary

Here's one for you, TOM. :P
Thank you, Jenn. That's exactly what I'm on about. I seem to remember seeing something about "Trick of Treat" before but I don't recall ever watching the film. I'll be looking for it now.

Wayfreind my family likes Nightmare Before Christmas for both holidays and my wife likes Hocus Pocus. It's goofy but its definitely on target regarding the theme.

Also my daughter always mentions the first dvd we ever bought for her.."When Good Ghouls Go Bad". I believe it was made for tv. Again it's goofy (and is not my favorite by far) but is a Halloween movie. :-)
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Post by Cameraman Jenn »

Just a word of warning... it's quite cheesy. :P
Now if I could just find a way to wear live bees as jewelry all the time.....

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Re: Where are the Halloween movies?

Post by Fist and Faith »

aTOMiC wrote:I mean except for "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown".
Shit, I still have nightmares about that one!!! 8O
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Post by [Syl] »

Idle Hands. Better than you might think.
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Post by balon! »

Casper the Friendly Ghost with Christina Ricci was a favorite of mine when I was a kid.
the Nightmare Before Chirstmas?

Was there a Halloween thing in Beetlejuice?
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Post by sgt.null »

Time Of The Great Pumpkin
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv759Sfw8bY
Lenin, Marx
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Good Dog...
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Post by aTOMiC »

sgt.null wrote:Time Of The Great Pumpkin
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv759Sfw8bY
THAT WAS AWESOME! We have a new annual Halloween tradition!
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Post by High Lord Tolkien »

sgt.null wrote:Time Of The Great Pumpkin
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv759Sfw8bY

Greatest post of 2008.
Thanks!
:biggrin:
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Post by Cameraman Jenn »

You tube says the video is no longer available.... :(
Now if I could just find a way to wear live bees as jewelry all the time.....

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Post by High Lord Tolkien »

Cameraman Jenn wrote:You tube says the video is no longer available.... :(
Works for me.
Try it again.
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Post by Cameraman Jenn »

It's working now. That was amusing. :)
Now if I could just find a way to wear live bees as jewelry all the time.....

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Post by Rigel »

balon! wrote:Casper the Friendly Ghost with Christina Ricci was a favorite of mine when I was a kid.
O_o

Damn, now I feel old :(
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Post by Kevin164 »

Monster Squad. www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9TWafhus90
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Post by balon! »

Rigel wrote:
balon! wrote:Casper the Friendly Ghost with Christina Ricci was a favorite of mine when I was a kid.
O_o

Damn, now I feel old :(
haha


whoops. :lol:
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Post by aTOMiC »

Monster Squad, eh? I just read the summary. I guess I missed that one back in the 80s. Sure looks like a Sam Raimi production via the special effects and the vortex. :-)

No mention of Halloween in the descriptions though. :-(
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Post by Kevin164 »

Goonies meet classic monsters. Best monster flick EVAR. Also "Saturday the Fourteenth" is fun for Halloween.


And lets not forget...Monster House.
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