Long before the days of trunk or treating in parking lots and visiting haunted houses, Halloween was a celebration of the changing seasons and thinning of the veil between the living and dead. It was a time to honor ancestors, ward off evil spirits, and acknowledge harvest bounty. But how did this ancient tradition evolve into the modern-day holiday we know today?
As Christianity spread through Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, it was combined with existing Pagan traditions, including Samhain — a Celtic festival that marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. With the rise of religious influence, November 1st became All Saints' Day, a day to honor all Christian saints. The evening before, known as All Hallows' Eve, eventually became Halloween. Over time, the religious aspects of Halloween faded, and the holiday became more secular. In the 19th century, Irish immigrants brought Halloween traditions to North America, including jack-o'-lanterns (originally made from turnips) and costumes. These traditions were adopted by different groups and eventually led to the modern-day customs of trick-or-treating and dressing up in scary masks.
Halloween's lore inspired literary works such as Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and countless films throughout the years. There are many movies and specials that draw from the historical folklore of Halloween, incorporating ancient superstitions in their plots, or which tangentially and delightfully focus on the meaning and rituals of the holiday. Here are 10 titles based on the lore and history of Halloween to check out this season.
The Halloween Tree
The Halloween Tree is a 1993 TV movie inspired by Ray Bradbury's 1972 novel that explores the origins of Halloween. This animated movie is suitable for both children and adults with its nostalgic, classic feel and important historical context about the holiday from different areas around the world. The plot follows four friends, dressed as a witch, mummy, skeleton, and monster, as they get ready to meet their friend, Pip, for a night of trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, they see their friend being taken to the hospital for surgery before seeing Pip's spirit running through the woods. The group spends the rest of the night learning about the history of Halloween while traveling through time to learn how different cultures celebrate the day.
How The Halloween Tree Explores the Holiday
This movie has a dark and unsettling feel to many of the scenes as the friends travel to an old circus, Ancient Egypt, the Dark Ages in England, France, and Mexico. They encounter scenarios that relate to their costumes and learn about the Celtic influence on our modern-day Halloween celebrations. It's a great watch for any age and truly one of the best animated movies to define Halloween.
Hocus Pocus
Kenny Ortega's 1993 hit fantasy movie Hocus Pocus is a cult classic starring Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker as the iconic Sanderson sisters. The three sisters are witches who were hanged for their wicked crimes in 1600s Salem, vowing to return and take revenge on the town. The movie tells the story of Max, his sister Dani, and their friend Allison after they unknowingly resurrect the sisters who must obtain a child's soul or perish at sunrise. It's a race against time as the sisters try to outsmart the children and become immortal.
How Hocus Pocus Explores the Halloween Holiday
If there's one thing that relates to Halloween, it's witches and the history of Salem, Massachusetts. The city has become synonymous with the holiday and honoring the 19 victims of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. Hocus Pocus is a campy, friendly-friendly watch that's perfect for the Halloween season.
Tales of Halloween
One newer horror comedy that does an excellent job of meshing together nearly every element of Halloween, including monsters, ghosts, aliens, and even the devil, is Tales of Halloween. This anthology features 10 different stories that intertwine with one another by all occurring on Halloween night and highlights the work of several different independent filmmakers. The cast stars horror icon Lin Shaye, Adrienne Barbeau, Barbara Crampton, and numerous other stars who combine new Halloween villains with classic legends to create a unique movie about the holiday.
How Tales of Halloween Explores the Holiday
Tales of Halloween may lack some thematic elements necessary for a five-star watch, yet this anthology steps out from the sidelines by diving into the darker side of classic tales like Hansel and Gretel and keeping each segment short and sweet. With the 10 different stories, there's sure to be something for every viewer, ranging from ghost stories to witches and pumpkins.
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It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a timeless Peanuts holiday special that follows the antics of Charlie Brown and his friends during Halloween. The short was first released in 1966 and screams Halloween with the costumes, trick-or-treating, and pumpkin patch scenes. The main story follows Linus, Charlie Brown's best friend, who is one of the few believers in the Great Pumpkin. This leaves Linus on a mission to spend Halloween night among the pumpkins in hopes the Great Pumpkin will appear with toys for the believers. There's also a Halloween party while Snoopy searches for the Red Baron.
How It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Explores the Halloween Holiday
Charles Schulz's It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown remains a must-watch during the Halloween season. The short not only captures the essence of the holiday perfectly but was one of the first children's specials post-World War II that reintroduced the idea of trick or treating, candy, and celebrating Halloween to kids. The practice of celebrating Halloween had lessened during and immediately after the war due to sugar shortages and rationing, along with the worry of kids getting into mischief. While it doesn't delve into history or lore much, it is a great depcition of the actual experience of Halloween for children.
Practical Magic
Practical Magic is another movie about witchcraft starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock as two sisters, Gillian and Sally, who are from a magical bloodline. They were raised by their aunts following their parents' death from a decades-long curse plaguing their family, where they learned the uses of practical magic. Unfortunately, the sisters have also been plagued with this curse that will doom any man they fall in love with to an early death. This leaves Gillian and Sally, now adults, no choice but to band together to rid themselves and future generations of this terrible fate.
How Practical Magic Explores the Halloween Holiday
There's no doubt witches, black cats, and magic have been associated with Halloween for years, but what connects them together? Our world's history of witch hysteria and the blending of religious beliefs shined a light on divination practices. With some of Halloween's origins focusing on the veil thinning and connection with the supernatural surging during this time, it's clear why witches and even fortune-telling acts like bobbing for apples define October 31.
The Midnight Hour
While it's common for TV movies to miss the mark, The Midnight Hour from 1985 is a horror comedy that captivated viewers with its charm and campy feel. The movie stars LeVar Burton, Shari Belafonte, Lee Montgomery, and even Macaulay Culkin in his first uncredited role and follows a group of friends as they unleash an ancient curse on their Massachusetts town. There are witches, zombies, werewolves, cheesy dance moves, and even some romance in this great piece of gateway horror for young or older viewers. The movie's soundtrack is also impressive, with songs from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Three Dog Night, and The Smiths.
How The Midnight Hour Explores the Halloween Holiday
The Midnight Hour is another movie that takes classic Halloween lore and brings it center stage. Melissa is related to a witch who was put to death hundreds of years earlier but returns from her grave, party-goers start turning into vampires, and zombies stroll the town, all elements of a successful Halloween movie. It's an older movie that takes a lighthearted approach to the holiday and has numerous reviews from viewers stating how this movie influenced their love of Halloween.
Sleepy Hollow
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The 1999 gothic horror film Sleepy Hollow is based on the short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, written by Washington Irving in 1820. The original story tells of a headless horseman rumored to haunt Sleepy Hollow and Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher who ends up being run out of town by the ghostly horse-riding figure. The movie's take on the legend shows Johnny Depp as Ichabod, a constable investigating several murders that seem to be linked to the horseman's return. Depp's character is skeptical of the superstition, but as he digs deeper into the case, he starts to believe in the supernatural.
How Sleepy Hollow Explores the Halloween Holiday
While the legend isn't directly stated to return on Halloween, the visuals of pumpkins, fallen leaves, and autumnal tones throughout the movie make it a go-to watch during the season. The story's ties to the Revolutionary War, witchcraft, and mythical creatures connect viewers to ancient folklore that has embedded itself in Halloween throughout time. As one of Tim Burton's many collaborations with Depp, Sleepy Hollow is an eerie watch for those interested in horror legends.
Trick 'r Treat
Another delightfully wicked horror anthology that captures the essence of Halloween is Trick 'r Treat, a 2007 film written and directed by Michael Dougherty. This movie intertwines four stories, all taking place on the same Halloween night in a fictional Ohio town, and each incorporates the villain known as Sam. The stories are told in a non-linear fashion and follow as the characters break Halloween traditions that ultimately lead to their demise. Trick 'r Treat perfectly blends classic Halloween lore like trick-or-treating, decorating, haunted houses, and costuming and brings them to viewers in a terrifyingly nostalgic watch.
How Trick 'r Treat Explores the Halloween Holiday
One of the most unsettling parts of the movie is that the villain, Sam, has the outward appearance of a regular child in a Halloween costume. Yet, under the burlap sack mask is a demonic figure, whose name is short for Samhain, who is believed to have existed since ancient times. On the surface, Trick r Treat seems like another generic Halloween movie, but this film has gained a dedicated cult following since its straight-to-DVD release, and has a surprisingly excellent cast (Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Dylan Baker, and more).
Halloween
It's impossible to discuss films about Halloween lore without mentioning one of the most iconic examples of meshing the holiday and cinematic horror: the Halloween franchise. It all started with the 1978 classic Halloween from horror legends John Carpenter and Debra Hill, which follows the violent antics of serial killer Michael Myers. The wildly successful franchise now has 13 movies, only adding to the complexity of the Halloween multiverse. These movies are the pure essence of the holiday, full of jump scares, gore, and all the autumn elements to celebrate the season of fear.
How John Carpenter's Halloween Explores the Holiday
However, it's not just Michael Myers' return each October 31 that makes the Halloween movies a staple in the holiday horror genre. The franchise expanded some of its plot lines for the sequels, focusing on the Cult of Thorn, its control on Michael, and those branded by the symbol. The Halloween films have always had a touch of the supernatural in the main villain, but they find a way to maintain their roots in Samhain and the dark, ritualistic side of the holiday.
The Real Story of Halloween
The Real Story of Halloween is an excellent watch for those who want a nonfiction, historical look at the holiday's origins. This History Channel film is one of the best documentaries you can find about Oct. 31, and takes a deep dive into the ancient traditions of Halloween, including the Celtic festival Samhain. Along with exploring Halloween's roots, the documentary also explores how it has evolved over time to become a commercialized holiday in America and across the globe.
How The Real Story of Halloween Explores the Holiday
For those interested in learning about the true history of Halloween, this is an entertaining yet educational watch. It shows viewers how different cultures have influenced the holiday and why certain traditions, like dressing up and trick-or-treating, are still popular today. Documentaries may not be as thrilling as some of the holiday's horror flicks, but they provide valuable insight into the origins of our October 31 celebrations.
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