Rated: TV-Y

Genres: Animation, Musical

Synopsis: It’s the spookiest night of the year and Baby Shark and friends are ready to dance to “Spooky Baby Shark” and more. 

Review: This is definitely meant for toddlers and preschoolers. It’s very repetitive and is well done for its target audience but others won’t enjoy it. It is one of those that as a parent I could sit through for my child without going crazy. 

Scoring: 3

Halloween Dance

Rated: NR

Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Musical

Synopsis: It’s Halloween and besties BeezBee the bee, Peanut the giraffe, and Brooklyn the lion already picked out their Halloween costumes.  Now it’s just about discovering where the best candys are found.

Review: This is a mash-up of (1) a story and (2) music with dancing.  This was definitely made for very young children but trying to follow the story when it’s interrupted with long dances may be difficult.

Scoring: 2

The Halloween Dragon (2020)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Synopsis: While exploring their new kingdom, an adventurous Wee Dragon named Boil and his buddy Scazzle discover a way to enter the Upside Down Wee World, an alternate dimension where everybody acts the opposite they normally would.

Review: This is one of those poorly done animated films that is geared towards young children.  I think the story is okay but the voices and the images annoyed me terribly.  If you have a young one you may want to try it but otherwise, I’d stay away.

Scoring: 2

The Halloween Family (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Synopsis: It’s Mischief Night and Larry the Zombie and Fred the Mummy are down in the dumps and Fred wants his mummy curse to be lifted.  Boo the Bogeyman tells them to meet up with a magical tree named Goul.  They set off and meet some crazy characters along the way.

Review: This is basically a rip-off of The Wizard of Oz.  I’d say the ideal audience for this is preschoolers.  The animation is poor, the voices are grating (and that’s being generous), and the story is average.  I don’t think anyone, but very young children would even want to sit through this.

Scoring: 1

The Halloween Family: Monster Showdown (2021)

Rated: G

Genres; Animation, Family

Starring: Lanny Norris and Kelsey Painter

Synopsis: Confident he knows more about Halloween monsters than anybody, Dracula challenges the whole universe to a monster trivia showdown.  At stake is the galaxy itself.  Well-meaning zombie Dave decides to assemble the smartest monsters in the universe to beat Dracula at the big trivia contest.

Review: I truly went into this with the lowest of expectations.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The graphics are still rough and annoying to watch but the voices are well done and the story is actually interesting.  I’d still say this is a movie you’d only want to watch with children but it’s tolerable.

Scoring: 2

Halloween Kickback (2021)

Rated: MA

Genres: Comedy

Synopsis: Three friends who went through college together find themselves in a financial bind after graduating college. They throw a Halloween party to raise money to get their lives on track.

Review: I don’t have a single good thing to say about this movie. It’s boring, stupid, bad acting, and full of clichés. Don’t waste your time. 

Scoring: 1

Halloween Non-Stop: Kids TV (2019)

Rating: TV-Y

Genres: Animation, Musical

Synopsis: Celebrate Halloween with spooky songs for kids. 

Review: The animation is colorful and not scary. The music is repetitive which is great for young children. 

Scoring: 4

Halloween Songs For Kids (2020)

Rated: TV-Y

Genres: Animation, Musical

Synopsis: Join Len and Mini from Tee Hee Town as they embark on spooky adventures and unfold mysteries. 

Review: This would be great for young children. It takes familiar songs and adds a Halloween twist. 

Scoring: 4

Halloween With the New Addams Family (1977)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy

Synopsis: A revival of the popular '60s TV comedy series "The Addams Family" has them preparing for Halloween in their own inimitable way.

Review: I loved reruns of The Addams Family, but this made for TV movie just lacks what made the show special. The actors are great but aren’t given a good script or good effects. I was so disappointed. Dull to the point of stupid. 

Scoring: 1

Hard Boiled (2018)

Rated: PG

Genres: Animation, Comedy 

Synopsis: A slice of Revenge and kung-fu mastery comes together in this hilarious animated comedy from the producers of Boonie Bears. These chickens lay their eggs Hard Boiled.

Review: Unless you’re prepared to explain what hallucinogenic mushrooms and bad trips are, I wouldn’t show this to children. I wouldn’t consider it funny but rather absurd. Skip this one. 

Scoring: 1

Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Movie 2 of 8

Rated: PG

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright, Mark Williams, Tom Felton, Kenneth Branagh, and Robbie Coltrane

Synopsis: An ancient prophecy seems to be coming true when a mysterious presence begins stalking the corridors of a school of magic and leaving its victims paralyzed.

Review: This second movie of the series continues introducing us to magical things.  It’s a little darker than the first but it’s also got more funny moments.  The Kenneth Branagh character is strange but shouldn’t a wizarding world be just that.  Again, we learn that people and things are not always what they seem.

Scoring: 5

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)

Movie 7 of 8

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes, and Robbie Coltrane

Synopsis: As Harry, Ron, and Hermione race against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, they uncover the existence of the three most powerful objects in the wizarding world, The Deathly Hallows.

Review: I personally like the innocence and wonder of the first few films.  This one is a lot darker.  The battle to defeat Voldemort is the primary plot.  The pacing here is a little slow and I found myself less interested, particularly in the middle.  This is another that you will probably only enjoy if you’re watching the series.  It’s well done but how much you’ll enjoy it depends on how much you like the darker and more dramatic storyline.

Scoring: 4

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

Movie 8 of 8

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes, and Robbie Coltrane

Synopsis: Harry, Ron, and Hermione search for Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle rages on at Hogwarts.

Review: After 7 movies of build-up to a finale, this one, thankfully, doesn’t disappoint.  The special effects are marvelous.  Even though I knew how it would end, having read the books, the movie still created an edge of your seat feeling.  The only negative is the ending.  We see the main characters sending their own young ones off to Hogwarts.  It makes me want to see the next steps even more.

Scoring: 5

Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire (2005)

Movie 4 of 8

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Robert Pattinson, and Robbie Coltrane

Synopsis: Harry Potter finds himself competing in a hazardous tournament between rival schools of magic, but he is distracted by recurring nightmares.

Review: With this movie we get a little bit of the wonder of magic back.  We get to see other wizards, Quidditch, lots of funny moments, and the beginning of feelings between Ron and Hermione.  I really enjoyed this one. It has the drama and intensity it should at this point in the series but it embraces magic again.  Please note the first 3 movies were rated PG but this one and all the rest, except for one, are PG-13.

Scoring: 5

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Movie 6 of 8

Rated: PG

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane

Synopsis: As Harry Potter begins his sixth year at Hogwarts, he discovers an old book marked as “the property of the Half-Blood Prince” and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past.

Review: Of all the series, this film is the most forgettable.  It helps us learn more about Voldemort’s past but it doesn’t do as much to move the series forward as the other movies do.  The focus on romance and love potions lightens the movie but also distracts from the danger.  It’s as if we’re watching a teen romance and drama mash-up.  If you’re watching the series, you shouldn’t skip this.  It has one very important character affected-I won’t spoil it.  As a stand-alone, you don’t need it.

Scoring: 3 

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2007)

Movie 5 of 8

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane

Synopsis: With their warning about Lord Voldemort’s return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.

Review: This is where the series really gets dark.  There’s always been an enemy and an element of danger but here it feels as if they are always under attack.  The childish wonder is no more.  We see Harry, Ron, and Hermione are no longer young children.  They are growing up.  That being said, there is magic, used for both good and bad.  We meet new characters and another level of the wizarding world.  Umbridge was brought to life very well.

Scoring: 4

Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Movie 3 of 8

Rated: PG

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane

Synopsis: Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard.

Review: This movie is a good story but there are changes that are noticeable.  The new Dumbledore has a very different appearance to the previous Dumbledore.  It’s not just the different actors, it’s the beard, costume, and so on.  Also, this movie felt very dramatic and very heavy and was missing the wonder of magic.  Magic is treated as a prop rather than a big part of the plot.  I did like seeing how they brought the dementors to life.  It was done very well.  You could feel the fear of them.  I still enjoyed it.

Scoring: 4

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Movie 1 of 8

Rated: PG

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane

Synopsis: An orphaned boy enrolls in a school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world.

Review: This movie is my favorite of the series.  I think it’s because we are being introduced to their world along with Harry.  It’s light and magical.  The later movies get darker with each one.  Truly fantastical.

Scoring: 5

Haunted Transylvania 2 (2018)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Musical

Synopsis: Turn your house into a Halloween haunted house party.  Sing-along and dance with this fun Halloween celebration for kids of all ages.

Review: This isn’t really a movie. It’s basically just as billed, a dance party. The pros: Many of the dance steps are simple enough that preschoolers could do them and you won’t mind the music. The cons: Certain scenes seem to be the same few movements over and over with the same music until you’re ready for them to move on to the next song.. 

Scoring: 2

Haunted Transylvania 3 (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Musical

Synopsis: Turn your house into a Halloween haunted house party.  Sing-along and dance with this fun Halloween celebration for kids of all ages.

Review: Like the part 2, this isn’t really a movie. It’s basically a dance party. The pros: Many of the dance steps are simple enough that preschoolers could do them and you won’t mind the music. The cons: Certain scenes seem to be the same few movements over and over with the same music until you’re ready for them to move on to the next song.. 

Scoring: 2

Haunted Transylvania: Mighty Mummy Madness (2020)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Musical

Synopsis: Follows Rags the little mummy and his bestie dragon, Tickles, on a sleuthing mission looking for the yummiest Halloween treats in the world.

Review: This is mostly dancing like the others in the series.  The story is not the main event.  If your children like the others, they will like this one.

Scoring: 2

Haunted Transylvania: Party Like Frankenstein (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Musical

Synopsis: Halloween is finally here and there's so much fun to be had in Monster Town. Brains the adorable zombie and Woof the werewolf pup travel up and down Monster Town looking for something very important, the best Halloween scare ever.

Review: Another just like the others. If your child likes the others, they will like this one. They are honestly so similar it’s boring to watch them back-to-back.  

Scoring: 2

Haunted Transylvania: Party Like A Werewolf (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation

Synopsis: Halloween is finally here and there's so much fun to be had in Monster Town. Brains the adorable zombie and Woof the werewolf pup travel up and down Monster Town looking for something very important: they want to know what makes werewolves so cool.

Review: This is the same as the others in the series. It’s basically a dance party where the characters repeat the same few moves over and over. Young children are probably the best age for this. 

Scoring: 2

Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker

Synopsis: Three young women accidentally bring back the Sanderson Sisters to modern day Salem and must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking havoc on the world.

Review: I find it difficult to review this movie without comparing it to the first. I did really enjoy this movie and after the amazing beginning I’d love a prequel. However, it’s missing some of the lightness and humor of the original as well as the spirit of Halloween and of Salem. I will say, all three sisters seemed mostly the same but the best part was the Swiffer and Roombas which is sad.  They needed more to work with. I wish the music was more Halloween themed. I don’t want to give any spoilers but I wasn’t thrilled with the end of the sisters’ stories. I’ll still watch again and probably every year but it’s not as magical as the original. 

Scoring: 3

The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash (2018)

Rated: G

Genres: Documentary, Musical

Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Jordan Fisher, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Doug Jones, Margaret Cho, Kelly Osborne, and Sharon Osborne

Synopsis: Fans, cast members, and celebrities alike gather at Hollywood Forever Cemetery to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Disney's Hocus Pocus and its long-lasting impact.

Review: If you’re a superfan of the movie, like I am, you’ll enjoy this.  I watch Hocus Pocus every year so I enjoyed the combination of learning about how the actors feel and watching a celebration of the movie.  It was like celebrating with friends.

Scoring: 3

The House With A Clock In Its Walls (2018)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Jack Black and Cate Blanchett

Synopsis: A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world.

Review: I found it to have lots of magic which I found very interesting but the story moved at an erratic pace.  I’d get interested, then bored, then interested, then bored.  The characters at time were interesting.  I think this is the type of movie that most people will like or not with no in between.  I found it to be mostly forgettable.

Scoring: 2

Hubie Halloween (2020)

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Family

Starring:  Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Kevin James, Ray Liotta, Steve Buscemi, Rob Schneider, Maya Rudolph, Tim Meadows, Michael Chiklis, June Squibb, George Wallace, Kenan Thompson, Shaquille O’Neal, Ben Stiller, Jackie Sandler

Synopsis: Despite his devotion to his hometown of Salem (and its Halloween celebration), Hubie Dubois is a figure of mockery for kids and adults alike. But this year, something is going bump in the night, and it's up to Hubie to save Halloween.

Review: At first I thought this would be similar to The Waterboy.  It’s not really.  Yes, the main character appears to have some challenges but that’s the main similarity.  It’s silly, sometimes juvenile, sometimes kind of stupid.  The overall message of kindness and giving and good coming to good people is sweet.  If you like Adam Sandler give this a try.  If you don’t, skip it.

Scoring: 3

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

Reviewed by: festive_films on Instagram

Rated: R

Genres: Horror

Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Anne Heche, Ryan Phillippe, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Johnny Galecki

Synopsis: After an accident on a winding road, four teens make the fatal mistake of dumping their victim's body into the sea. But exactly one year later, the dead man returns from his watery grave and he's looking for more than an apology.

Review: This is a classic, slasher  horror movie from the writer of "Scream” Kevin Williamson.  I enjoyed learning about the personal storyline to the characters in this movie. How their lives have changed over a bad decision.  Definitely worth a watch if you enjoy a slasher horror movie.

                                                       Scoring: 4

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)

Reviewed by: festive_films on Instagram

Rated: R

Genres: Horror

Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr, Brandy Norwood, Mekhi Phifer, and Jack Black

Synopsis: The murderous fisherman with a hook is back to once again stalk the two surviving teens, Julie and Ray, who had left him for dead, as well as cause even more murder and mayhem, this time at a posh island resort.

Review: The film takes place a year after the brutal murder of their friends Helen shivers & Brian cox by the fisherman. A great sequel with a twist ending .

Scoring: 4

Into The Woods (2014)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Musical

Starring: Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Christine Baranski, Tammy Blanchard, Tracy Ullman, and Johnny Depp

Synopsis: A witch tasks a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree.

Review: While I was looking forward to seeing numerous beloved tales woven into one, and done by a star-studded cast, I was disappointed.  I liked the story alright but the constant rhyming and singing literally gave me a headache.  I love musicals but this one was just too much and over the top.  It never gave you a break to catch your breath.  If you like fairy tales you may want to try it for yourself but if you don’t, or you don’t like lots of singing and music, skip it.

Scoring: 2

Into The Woods Sing-Along (2022)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Musical

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Christine Baranski

Synopsis: Sing along with your favorite songs from the movie with on-screen lyrics. 

Review: It’s basically the movie with the song lyrics on the bottom. Personally, as a fan of musicals, the movie was a big disappointment. It actually gave me a headache. If you like fairy tales and music, try it. 

Scoring: 2

Invisible Sister (2015)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Rowan Blanchard and Paris Berelc

Synopsis: Cleo’s Halloween science project goes awry, causing her popular older sister, Molly, to go invisible.

Review: I like the message of how we are invisible, meaning not noticed by others, often comes from inside us.  The sister who decided she was just a nerd so no one popular would ever like or notice her, learned her value.  I also like the relationship between the sisters.  Despite their differences, they have each other’s backs.  The turning invisible storyline was a little silly for adults but well done for young children and preteens.  A nice family film.

Scoring: 3

IT (2017)

Reviewed by: michelle_floflo­_1 on Instagram

Rated: R

Genre: Horror, Thriller 

Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis 

Synopsis: 7 young friends, also outcasts face a shapeshifting evil that emerges every 27 years to prey on children. Over the summer, they must face their worst fears and the clown named Pennywise. 

Review: I absolutely love this movie. It’s scary and also has a few funny moments. I love seeing how they come together to face and outsmart the killer clown. If clowns scare, you (like they do me) this is definitely a must see! There are a few bloody scenes but nothing too bad. 

Scoring : 4 

It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Rated: NR

Genres: Animation, Comedy

Starring: N/A

Synopsis: The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween while Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin.

Review: Another classic from the Peanuts gang.  Poor Charlie Brown, pitiful costume and all, doesn’t get candy.  Linus convince Sally to wait with him for the Great Pumpkin.  The best part is how Linus believes with all his heart, no matter what everyone says.

Scoring: 5

The Legend of Hallowaiian (2018)

Rated: PG

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Vanessa Williams, Mark Hamill, and Tia Carrere

Synopsis: When three young friends uncover ancient Hawaiian legends, they unleash a giant pineapple-headed monster wreaking havoc on the island and it’s up to them to save their hometown.

Review: You have to look past the flawed animation and look at the story.  It’s not too scary for children.  It has a good message of respecting and acknowledging family and ancestors as well as friendship.  It’s a bit silly but fun for family viewing.

Scoring: 2

Lego Star Wars Terrifying Tales (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Starring: Christian Slater

Synopsis: Dean, Poe, and BB-8 must face their fears, stop an ancient evil from rising, and escape to make it back to their friends.

Review: If you enjoy Lego Star Wars, you’ll love this.  It’s just silly enough to keep it from getting too scary but it has enough Star Wars to keep it interesting.  I think I may have liked the characters even more than the story.

Scoring: 3

Liar, Liar, Vampire (2015)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Family

Starring: Rahart Adams and Brec Bassinger

Synopsis: When Caitlyn, the most popular girl in school, mistakes new kid Davis for a vampire, he gains instant celebrity status.  Davis enlists the help of his next-door neighbor, Vi, to dial up his vampire act.  Together, will they fool the school?

Review: This movie is probably best for pre-teens.  It’s got all the peer pressure and social issues faced at school.  The story handles these issues pretty well while being honest but keeping it at a G rating level.  My only issue was that it seemed to wrap up to quickly and neatly.

Scoring: 3

Lil’ Monsters (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Musical

Synopsis: Find out which of this colorful crew of creeping cuties will be crowned best dancer in town as they strut their stuff at the Halloween dance-off.

Review: I think it’s more about the music and dancing than the story, although it does address self-esteem.  Young children should enjoy this group and dancing along.

Scoring: 3

Lil’ Monsters 2 (2020)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Synopsis: Follows little mummy Rags and his dragon pal Tickles in the search for Halloween legendary monster Little Frankenstein.

Review: The movie starts with ghost Boo, who has a voice that’s so annoying it’s hard to listen to, and Jackie The Jack-O-Lantern who is so shy she doesn’t think people like her.  Boo is on a mission to help her.  This is a cute movie for very young children.  It’s the typical lower quality animation but it’s just right for them.  Adults won’t enjoy it.

Scoring: 3

Little Monsters (1989)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Howie Mandel, Fred Savage, Ben Savage, Daniel Stern

Synopsis: A boy discovers an incredible and gruesome world of monsters under his bed.

Review: This isn’t really for young children.  There’s language and some scenes that may be scary to them.  Other than that, it’s a cute family film.  It won’t make children afraid of monsters, in fact it might do the opposite.  We learn it just takes light to make them go away.  There are lots of hijinks and pranks that will keep you laughing. It’s hard to explain without giving spoilers.  It’s silly and funny and, well, fun.

Scoring: 3

The Little Red Car Scary Halloween Songs (2019)

Rated: TV-Y

Genres: Animation, Musical

Synopsis: Each toe-tapping song in this nursery rhyme collection is animated with colorful characters that live inside the magical world of Little Red Car. 

Review: The songs are fairly repetitive for children and the words are on the bottom of the screen. It’s a good family show but I think very young children might find it scary. 

Scoring: 3

The Little Vampire (2017)

Rated: NR

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Jim Carter

Synopsis: The story of Rudolph, a thirteen-year-old vampire, whose clan is threatened by a notorious vampire hunter. He meets Tony, a mortal of the same age, who is fascinated by old castles, graveyards and - vampires. Tony helps Rudolph in an action and humor packed battle against their adversaries, and together they save Rudolph's family and become friends.

Review: This was a really cute movie that families can enjoy together.  I liked the message of not judging people before you know them and the value of friendship. 

Scoring: 3

Maleficent (2014)

Rated: PG

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning

Synopsis: A vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.

Review: After growing up with the story of “Sleeping Beauty”, I enjoyed seeing this fresh take on the evil Maleficent.  We get to know her, how she lives, why she has the feelings she does, and how being magical affects her.  It is a departure from the good guy/bad guy Disney and shows Maleficent to be both.

Scoring: 4

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)

Rated: PG

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Harris Dickinson

Synopsis: Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play.

Review: As with the original Maleficent, we get to see characters that are both good and bad.  Unfortunately, the characters aren’t as relatable and as likable as they are in the first movie.  As with too many sequels, this one doesn’t quite live up to the first one.

Scoring: 3

A Meowy Halloween (2018)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Family

Starring: Amie Wrenn and Aaron Fletchersmith

Synopsis: When their home is haunted by a dream spirit, it’s up to Whiskers to figure out what is haunting them and how to send the ghost to the other side.  She’ll use ghost hunting, the Nekkomeownicon, and Wally’s credit card to get the job done.

Review: I found this to be quite boring and a fairly stupid.  The special effects with the animals were poorly done, the acting is subpar and the story was slow.  If you like movies with talking animals that may be a redeeming quality for you.

Scoring: 1

Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches (2021)

Rated: TV-Y

Genres: Animation, Comedy, Musical 

Synopsis: On Halloween, Mickey tells Pluto a story about two witches-in-training, Minnie the Wonderful and Daisy Doozy, who must pass four tests to graduate from the Witch Academy in Happy Haunt Hills.

Review: This is a very cute movie with enough of a plot to keep adults entertained but all the Disney Junior parts to keep young children interested. 

Scoring: 4

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Drama, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, and Samuel L. Jackson

Synopsis: When Jacob discovers clues to a mystery that stretches across time, he finds Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.  But the danger deepens after he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers.

Review: I would describe this as an introduction to scary movies for children. Not very young children as the story could be difficult for them to follow. Even I didn’t get how they were managing a time loop at the end. This is a Tim Burton film and it has his weirdness stamp but it doesn’t have the lighthearted whimsy. 

Scoring: 3

Mom’s Got A Date With A Vampire (2000)

Rated: TV-PG

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Caroline Rhea, Laura Vandervoort, Charles Shaughnessy, Robert Carradine, and Jake Epstein

Synopsis: Two children are grounded but the son wants to go to a concert and the daughter on a date.  They decide to set their mom up on a date so she won’t be home and they can go out.  All goes well until they suspect her date is a vampire.

Review: As silly as the premise is, I really enjoyed this movie.  It’s one of those sit back and relax but still be entertained movies.  It’s not really scary and I think it would be great for families.

Scoring: 3

Monster Class: Halloween (2020)

Rated: NR

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis: Dracula teaches the class of monsters all there is to know about Halloween.

Review: I found this to be very educational and interesting. The problem is you have to sit through an awkward voice over of Dracula with way too many pauses and the back and forth between the cartoon class and live people videos, which are repeated. I think it’s in an unusual place. The animation will be a turn off to older kids but the content is too advanced for younger kids. Give it a try and see what you think. 

Scoring:2 

Monster High: Ghouls Rule (2012)

Rated: TV-Y7

Genres: Animation, Family, Fantasy

Synopsis: When the freaky-fab guys and ghouls of Monster High get wrongly accused of Halloween hijinks by a group of normies, things get spooky.  Can they prove their innocence in time for a spooktacular celebration?

Review: I had never seen any Monster High shows or movies so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Considering it seems geared towards preteens and children, I was still entertained.  It would be a good one to watch as a family.

Scoring: 2 

Monster Island (2017)

Rated: NR

Genres: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Johnny Rose and Katie Leigh

Synopsis: When Lucas finds out he comes from a long line of monsters, he sets out in search of his family.

Review: While there is plenty of monster fun for the whole family, the main themes are the importance of family and self-acceptance.  A monster wants to be human and a human wants to be a monster.  Rather than embracing who they are they want to be like others.

Scoring: 3

The Monster Squad (1987)

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy

Starring: Andre Gower and Robby Kiger

Synopsis: A young group of monster fanatics attempt to save their hometown from Count Dracula and his monsters.

Review: I’d say this has the same feel as Goonies.  It’s good for people who like monsters and 80s preteen/teenage films.  I was bored and didn’t enjoy it.  It took too long for the story to get interesting.  That being said, this is considered a classic and has a lot of fans so if you like this style of movie, give it a try.

Scoring: 2

Mr. Boogedy (1986)

Rated: TV-PG

Genres: Family, Fantasy

Starring: Richard Masur, Mimi Kennedy, Kristy Swanson, Benji Gregory, and David Faustino

Synopsis: A novelty salesman moves his family into a new house.  Initially dismissing incidents as more of their father’s practical jokes, the family soon learns that the house is haunted by people who lived in the house 300 years previously.

Review: This is a good scary movie for children.  It’s just scary enough but there’s a lot of silliness and the scary scenes are also funny.  I think it would be a good family movie night.  I will say that children who are easily scared or very young children may not be up for it.

Scoring: 3 

Mummy, I’m A Zombie (2014)

Rated: PG

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Synopsis: In the sequel to Daddy, I’m a Zombie, the fate of the planet is again in Dixie’s hands as she fights to end a battle between the living and the dead, while also balancing her popularity and campaigning for student council.

Review: This movie was okay.  I think it’s geared towards preteens and older children but I honestly didn’t mind it.  I wouldn’t watch it again unless I was watching it with a child.  My favorite part was Dixie having to learn that with the social politics in her school she had to make a choice between her friends, who aren’t popular, and the popular girls who suddenly took an interest in her.  This would make for a good conversation to help children deal with similar issues at school.

Scoring: 3

The Munsters (2022)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Jorge Garcia and Sheri Moon Zombie

Synopsis: In this prequel to the television series, Lily falls in love with Herman against her father’s objections. 

Review: Is there a word to describe disappointing and awful?  It was both. It was missing the sweetness of the series while being dark and with horrible lines in the story. It was almost painful to sit through. Skip this one for sure. 

Scoring: 1

Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy

Starring: Will Forte, John Stamos, Darren Criss, Taraji P. Henson, Yvette Nicole Brown

Synopsis: On Halloween night, Gonzo is challenged to spend one night in The Haunted Mansion.

Review: I want to preface this with the warning that how you perceive the movie may be affected by your familiarity with the ride at Disney.  I’ve ridden it countless times so that may be why I liked the movie so much.  Unlike the previous movie with Eddie Murphy, this one is truer to the ride and makes many familiar references.  The Muppets are their usual quirky selves so if you love them you should love this.  It is PG and may be scary to very young viewers but I think children will love it and it’s a great family film.

Scoring: 4