5 movies to watch before Halloween

With Halloween approaching, many people are heading out to haunted houses, corn mazes and spooky events of all kinds. However, many will be turning on the television for frightful films. The 18th annual 13 Nights of Halloween returns to Freeform (formerly ABC Family) beginning at 5:30 p.m. this Wednesday, Oct. 19. Here are five monstrous movies not to miss:

1. “Hocus Pocus”

First released: 1993

“Come little children, I’ll take thee away,” into the land of the Sanderson sisters, a coven of witches who haunt Salem, Massachusetts. Starring music icon Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy in the lead roles, the cult classic follows the sisters as they torment the town in a quest to be immortal after a young man and his sister summon them back from the dead. Though the film only earned 30 percent ratings from Rotten Tomatoes, the zany film has become a household favorite after years of play during the 13 Nights of Halloween. The first airing this year will be 9 p.m. on Oct. 19.

2. “Halloweentown”

First released: 1998

Witch, Aggie Cromwell, welcomes audiences to her home, Halloweentown, where witches, warlocks and monsters of all shapes and sizes can live in peace. When her granddaughter, Marnie, learns she can train to be a witch, she follows Aggie from the mortal world to the land of the supernatural. Little does Marnie know she will be using her powers to defeat evil forces in the once peaceful community. This movie made famous by Disney Channel stars a budding Kimberly J. Brown and famed actress Debbie Reynolds. It would later be made a franchise with three sequels. UTK Campus Events Board will be playing the film at Vol Night Long beginning at 9 p.m. this Friday. The movie will air on Freeform at midnight Oct. 26.

3. “Addams Family Values”

First released: 1993

In many cases, sequels do not quite match the caliber of the original. However, “Addams Family Values” will not disappoint. Gomez Addams and his wife, Morticia, are thrilled with the arrival of their new son; but, children Pugsley and Wednesday abhor the new infant. To stop the children from harming their new brother, the Addams bring in the new nanny, Debbie, played by the ever hilarious Joan Cusack. But when Debbie sets her sights on marrying Uncle Fester, things go haywire for this eccentric clan. Keeping true to the original television series, the film is both mysterious and spooky with plenty of humor. The film will air Oct. 20 at 8:50 p.m.

4. “Dark Shadows”

First released: 2012

The king of creepy Johnny Depp brings Barnabas Collins to life in this film based off the soap opera of the same name. Barnabas, a vampire, returns to the world after two centuries buried alive. He must explore his town, Collinsport, in the modern era with his family and their strange friends; all must come together to defeat his ex-lover and witch, Angelique, who plans to ruin Collinsport and his name for good. Also starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter, this film directed by Tim Burton takes us to the campy 1970s with a mix of humor and horror. “Dark Shadows” begins at 5:40 p.m. on Oct. 26.

5. “The Nightmare Before Christmas”

First released: 1993

Also from Tim Burton, this animated classic is a multi-season movie following Pumpkin King Jack Skellington who is bored with his life. He finds himself enchanted with Christmas after stumbling into Christmastown, and he plans to take the place of Santa Claus for a change of pace. But not everything is holly jolly when the king of Halloween tries to “make Christmas.” Filled with catchy music from Danny Elfman, audiences will be singing ghostly songs well into the Christmas season. The movie kicks off the 13 Nights of Halloween at 5:30 p.m. this Wednesday.

Featured image by Emily Rogers/FreeForm News

Edited by Kaitlin Flippo