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Halloween and other Holiday Movie Recommendations

Last updated on: October 31, 2024 at 7:00 am   by Mark Wilson

Halloween and other Holiday Movie Recommendations 2024-10-28T21:34:04-05:00 Mark Wilson

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It’s that time of the year when several major holidays are celebrated within a two month span of time. This gives time for some American workers to take time off from their jobs so they can spend their hard earned dollars on commercial products for the occasion. It’s also a chance to watch some specially themed movies or holidays specials. So here are some recommendations.

(Some Descriptions Taken from Wikipedia)

Halloween

October 31, 2024

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) This isn’t so much of a Halloween film as it is a film that has an incident that takes place at Halloween. It also has a scene that takes place at Christmas. That’s because the story is divided into a series of seasonal vignettes, starting with Summer 1903, that relates the story of a year in the life of the Smith family in St. Louis leading up to the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (most commonly referred to as the World’s Fair) in the spring of 1904. The film stars Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien. It is one of the films that my wife Kristin watched over and over with our daughter Princess. It’s a classic with many take away lines and scenes.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948): The original cinematic universe blending comedy and horror. Besides their famous ‘Who’s on First’ routine Abbott and Costello appeared in several crossover movies with Universal Monsters. This would include besides the above mentioned film

In the 1948 film Abbott and Costello go up against  Universal’s greatest horror creations, Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), Frankenstein’s monster (Glenn Strange) and The Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.). Interestingly Bela once played Jesus in a stage play.

It also has a cameo by the classic horror actor Vincent Price as the The Invisible Man. If your kids haven’t seen it, it’s a good way to introduce them to good clean classic horror and classic comedy at the same time.

Monster Mash  (1963) Not a film but a song appropriate to the season. Monster Mash” is a 1962 novelty song by Bobby “Boris” Pickett (February 11, 1938 – April 25, 2007).

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) Christmas has Santa and Easter has the bunny and the beagle. Halloween has the Great Pumpkin. This is the classic Peanuts special where Charlie Brown and the gang go trick or treating and have Halloween fun, although Charlie Brown gets rocks in his bag instead of candy. While the kids are at a halloween party Linus and Sally go off to the Pumpkin Patch to await the arrival of the Great Pumpkin. Snoopy meanwhile climbs aboard his doghouse to fight the Red Baron. This animated classic kicks off the Peanuts holiday season.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller (music video)  (1983) Not an actual movie but a song with a cool video and a narration from Vincent Price. It’s great to dance to at Halloween.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986): I was in this musical in a small role back in my first year of college. The story centers on a floral shop worker who discovers a sentient carnivorous plant that feeds on human blood.  It is filled with catchy songs and comedy. It was directed by muppeter Frank Oz and starred a multitude of comedic actors that included  Rick Moranis,   Steve Martin, Jim Belushi, Bill Murray and John Candy. It is an adaptation of the 1982 off-Broadway musical of the same name by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, which is itself an adaptation of the 1960 film The Little Shop of Horrors by director Roger Corman that had a bit part played a young Jack Nicholson. Roger made  House of Usher (1960) which became the first of eight films directed by Corman that were adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and which collectively came to be known as the “Poe Cycle“.

The other horror comedy musical that John was in was…

Nothing but Trouble (1991) I’ve never seen this horror comedy film that received the Worst Supporting Actor Razzie at the 12th Golden Raspberry Awards. But I include this and Little Shop here because they are horror based film starring John Candy who was born on October 31, 1950. Trouble was a film written and directed by Dan Aykroyd in his directorial debut, based on a story by his brother Peter, and starring Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd (in a dual role), John Candy (in a dual role), and Demi Moore. It tells the story of two yuppies and the clients of one of them who are taken to court for running a stop sign in the bizarre, financially bankrupt small town of Valkenvania, which is dominated by a 106-year-old judge. Tupac Shakur made his acting debut as a member of the rap group Digital Underground.

The Nightmare Before Christmas  (1993): This beautifully stop-motion animated film by master director Tim Burton tells the story of  Jack Skellington, the King of “Halloween Town”, who stumbles upon “Christmas Town” and schemes to take over the holiday. Filled with memorable songs  such as ‘What’s This’.

The great thing about this film as that it can also function as a Christmas movie as well as a Halloween one.

The Sixth Sense (1999): If you haven’t seen this classic ghost story directed by M. Night Shyamalan be warned; it has a great twist ending that most people who watched it say they didn’t see coming. As you watch it pay attention and watch the clues. It is a master class in filmmaking. A child psychologist played by Bruce Willis starts  treating a young boy played by Haley Joel Osment who has  a disturbing secret. He sees dead people. It is a great eerie film that will give you chills with some Christian imagery. It also illustrates beautifully for all souls day the reality of purgatory. The catechetical application is that we can help those souls by our prayers.

Bless the Child  (2000) This movie has little but some gore. It stars Kim Basinger as  a woman who discovers that her niece, whom she has adopted, is being sought by a Satanic cult seeking to use her supernatural abilities. What makes this film stand out for me is the display of intercessory prayer portrayed in the film especially by a group of nuns pleading to Jesus during a critical moment in the film. It also shows stepping in leading the characters in a path to safety

.

The Exorcism  of Emily Rose (2005) ‘Emily Rose’ however is not a straight out horror film. It is more like a courtroom drama with horror elements. The film however seems to go beyond the description of any one genre. Those of you, who might like to see it but are expecting ‘The Exorcist’, can rest assured. The movie is actually based upon the true story of a young German woman named Anneliese Michel who died in 1976 after a year of exorcism sessions given to her by her local priest. In the film version she is an American young woman named Emily Rose. Click on the link to read my whole review.

Constantine (2005) The plot is as good as a very low b horror flick , but tailored to fit an A class action movie. All the sound doctrinal theology is centered around Constantine and his mission to kick half-demon’s butts. Yes Half-demon, like the demigods in Percy Jackson. Just one of the many incorrect theological aspects of the film. Any theology that is off the beaten track of truth is made once again to serve the overall action of the film and not as a missionary effort to convince someone that this is actually true and you should believe it.  That is not necessarily bad in a picture, provided it serve the bigger purpose of portraying an overall truth that is beneficial to all who watch it. There are some bothersome theological errors and there are some “for the sake of the Plot” theological errors. Click on the link to read my full review.

I Am Legend (2007): The last place you would expect to find God is in a world overrun by vampires. The year is 2012 and 90% of the world has been wiped out by a lethal virus. 1% survived with immunity to the virus but were hunted down by the 9% that had turned into vampires. The last remaining normal human being is U.S. Army virologist Lieutenant colonel Robert Neville who is accompanied by his faithful dog Sam. He spends his days hunting, exercising, playing, searching for other possible survivors via a radio broadcast, and trying to find a cure for those turned into vampires, he has dubbed Dark Seekers.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” Psalm 139: 7-8

He thinks he is the last man on earth. Click on to read the full review.

Happy Death Day (2017): Groundhog Day meets a Slasher Horror Film. Happy Death Day and its sequel Happy Death Day 2U (2019) bring a time loop sci-fi theme to the horror genre.  It follows college student Tree Gelbman, who is murdered on the night of her birthday but begins reliving the day repeatedly, at which point she sets out to find the killer and stop her death. Time Loops are a subgenre of Time Travel movies, one of my favorite genres. I’m glad they made one you can watch at Halloween.

Time Cut (2024)

Just in time for Halloween another new Time Travel horror movie premiering on Netflix. It’s about a high school senior student and amateur inventor accidentally finds a time machine and travels back to 2003, the year her sister was murdered by an unknown killer. Looks good.

Heretic  (2024): Nov 8, 2024

A little late past Halloween but this latest entry to the horror genre showcases the dangers of being a Mormon missionary when two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attempt to convert a Scottish man, it turns out to be far more dangerous than they could have anticipated. Hugh Grant looks really creepy in this. It might be worth a watch.

All Saints Day/All Souls Day

November 1/2, 2024

The Song of Bernadette (1943): This is about Saint Bernadette Soubirous who was the visionary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes. It starred  Jennifer Jones in the title role and horror icon Vincent Price as Vital Dutour, Imperial Prosecutor. You get a horror actor in a Catholic saint movie. A two for one special.

The Reluctant Saint (1962)  St. Joseph of Cupertino (June 17,1603 – September 18, 1663) could easily be the patron saint of slapstick comedians.   This young man resembles the kind of character you might find in a Jerry Lewis, Laurel &  Hardy or Mr. Bean picture.  He’s not that bright,  is scorned at by the well to do, and seems to destroy expensive and valuable items in his vicinity.  But in the end he comes out on top as an inspiring figure who has beat the odds and has achieved remarkable success in some way or other.  It is a compelling religious drama with lots of humorous touches, but could easily have been a great slapstick comedy (or even a musical) having great sight gags and physical comedy (and great musical numbers) and still retain its  Christian themes and tone. The great thing about this particular film however is that it is based on a real person and real events and not a character created by a talented comedian.

Cabrini  (2024): This is the latest movie to join the ranks of great films about great saints. So it is a great film for All Saints Day. Here is my take on the film.Cabrini Was Awesome. I haven’t enjoyed a cinematic experience this much in quite a long time. It was a great faith based film in the traditional hollywood style of films such as The Song of Bernadette (1943) Going My Way (1944) or Francis of Assisi (1961). Everything from the cinematography to the musical score, from the storytelling to the acting was nothing short of amazingly fascinating.

Also Check Out Cabrini Reactions.

The Carpenter (November 1, 2023)

Not a Saint movie, but a new Christian movie.

An adopted viking orphan becomes a carpenter’s apprentice to Jesus. The orphan, Oren, fights as a side hustle. His experience training as a carpenter with Jesus as his mentor changes his lifestyle.- IMDB

I told a coworker who is into wrestling about this and he said he would check it out.

Election Day (also Democracy Day)

November 5, 2024

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) The president is not the only office up for election. This classic lighthearted political satire film is directed by Frank Capra (It’s a Wonderful Life) and stars Jean Arthur and James Stewart (It’s a Wonderful Life). The story is about a naive, newly appointed United States senator who fights against government corruption, and was written by Sidney Buchman, based on Lewis R. Foster‘s unpublished story “The Gentleman from Montana”. It was loosely based on the life of Montana US Senator Burton Wheeler, who underwent a similar experience when he was investigating the Warren Harding administration. 

The film believe it or not was controversial in the US when it was first released, with attacks from many politicians claiming that it brought Washington into disrepute, but it was very successful at both the domestic and international box offices, and it made Stewart a major star.

Abbott and Costello Service Comedies

Japan used this Buck Privates as propaganda to demonstrate to its own troops the “incompetence” of the United States Army. The film was shown to U.S. troops in every theater of war.

Dave  (1993) This is a American political comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters (1984)) and starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver. Kline plays the president of the U.S.A. and also plays a man named Dave  who looks like the president. He is recruited by the Secret Service to become a momentary stand-in for the President of the United States after he has a heart attack while having a stroke with his chief of staff. This is a very charming funny film with a lot of heart. The type of president we are not going to elect.

I forgot that I was hired to do a job for you and that it was just a temp job at that. I forgot that I had two hundred and fifty million people who were paying me to make their lives a little better and I didn’t live up to my part of the bargain. See, there are certain things you should expect from a President. I ought to care more about you than I do about me… I ought to care more about what’s right than I do about what’s popular. I ought to be willing to give this whole thing up for something I believe in.

Air Force One (1997): The movie is another Die Hard on a plane type film where a group of terrorists who hijack Air Force One and the President‘s (Harrison Ford aka:Han Solo, Indiana Jones) attempt to rescue everyone on board by retaking his plane.

I would like a remake where Donald Trump uses some of his wrestling movies on some terrorists.

Swing Vote (2008) A unique parablish type of film. In a unbelievable remarkable turn-of-events, the result of the presidential election comes down to the vote of just one man played by Kevin Costner. Kelsey Grammer as President Andrew Boone and Dennis Hopper as Senator Donald Greenleaf vow to win his vote.

Lincoln  (2012): This film is directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, and stars Daniel Day-Lewis as United States President Abraham Lincoln. The screenplay by Tony Kushner was loosely based on Doris Kearns Goodwin‘s 2005 biography Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln and covers the final four months of Lincoln’s life.

The film focuses on Lincoln’s efforts in January 1865 to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude by having the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution passed by the United States House of Representatives.

New Christmas Before Thanksgiving 2024

Does releasing Christmas movies before Advent bring in any box office revenue? I would add these to my Christmas movie list but they might be out of theaters way before Christmas and I think they are at least worth mentioning.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: Nov 8, 2024

I hope his new movie does well. This early Christmas movie is opening against a late Halloween movie. Both with religious themes. From the man who brought us The Chosen Dallas Jenkins, now gives us the movie based on the 1972 novel of the same name by Barbara Robinson. It centers around the Herdmans, a group of juvenile delinquent siblings who have inadvertently found themselves starring in the town’s Christmas pageant, and stars Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Molly Belle Wright, and Lauren Graham. It will be interesting to see what he does with something outside  what he is best known for. Kristin and I have been going to Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston, R.I. to hear Fr. Wilson give a biblical and catechetical lesson on each episode. It’s quite inspiring and informational. Very faith filled experience each time we go.

Red One (November 15, 2024)

After Santa Claus (code name: Red One) is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas. (IMDB) This is the Christmas film that you didn’t know existed but can only imagine wanting it to.

Veterans Day

Monday, November 11,2024

Saving Private Ryan  is a 1998 American epic war film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat. Set in 1944 in Normandy, France, during World War II, it follows a group of soldiers, led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks), on a mission to locate Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) and bring him home safely after his three brothers have been killed in action. The cast also includes Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Barry Pepper, Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Adam Goldberg and Jeremy Davies. It lost best picture to ‘Shakespeare in Love’, which always puzzled and bugged me.

Hacksaw Ridge(2016) The film focuses on the World War II experiences of Desmond Doss, an American pacifist combat medic who, as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, refused to carry or use a weapon or firearm of any kind. Doss became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor, for service above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Okinawa. Andrew Garfield stars as Doss, with Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Vince Vaughn and Richard Pyros in supporting roles.

Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain’s Journey November 8,(2024)

Remains of POW chaplain Emil Kapaun identified after 70 years. Another chaplain embarks on journey to greet them, inspired by 419 chaplains’ sacrifices. The convergence of their paths from different eras leads to a healing moment.-IMDB

Thanksgiving

(November 28, 2024)

And looking ahead to a few other movies at the end of November and December.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973): Another classic Charlie Brown holiday special where the Thanksgiving dinner consists of a feast of toast, pan-fried popcorn, pretzel sticks, jelly beans and ice cream sundaes.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) with John Candy and Steve Martin. It is one of the few Thanksgiving themed movies out there. It stars Martin as a Chicago advertising man who struggles to travel home from New York for Thanksgiving  who ends up traveling with John Candy’s lovable oaf of a shower-curtain-ring salesman as his only companion.

They get into all types of scrapes involving Trains, Planes, Buses, and Automobiles. It has one of the funniest scenes I’ve ever seen in a movie.

Free Birds (2013) A thanksgiving animated sci-fi movie where two turkeys named Reggie and Jake travel back to the first Thanksgiving to prevent turkeys from being domesticated and eaten by humans. The film stars the voices of Owen Wilson (Loki) Woody Harrelson (Hunger Games, Cheers) and Amy Poehler (Inside Out, Parks and Recreation) with a great supporting role by Star Trek’s George Takei.

Some Other New November Movies That Look Good

Just in Time For Thanksgiving

 

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