Some movies just stick with you, even if they don’t have the best cinematography, effects, or even script. Below are some Halloween-related ones that I still watch every year. What underrated Halloween movies are your favorites?
Van Helsing (PG-13)
I don’t know if it’s the tragic almost-love story, the combination of some of my favorite gothic book characters, the studly Hugh Jackman—or a combination of all three—but I never seem to get tired of this movie. The action sequences, special effects (sort of), dramatic acting (mostly), and mystery embedded in this film made me wonder why I didn’t know about it until I found it playing on the Syfy channel one day back when we had cable. Sure, the storyline is a bit over the top and the cheesy one-liners can get the gag-reflexes going, not to mention some of the costumes are a bit impractical, but I think it’s still a pretty entertaining movie.
The Brothers Grimm (PG-13)
This weird, grim (of course), disturbingly puzzling, almost Tim-Burton-esk plot never fails to keep me glued to the screen in anticipation. I mean, who wouldn’t want to watch Matt Damon and his “brother” Heath Ledger fight the forces of evil to save a German village from the twisted spells of a fairytale queen? I would advise you though, not to watch it right before going to sleep…unless you want some really warped dreams.
The Little Vampire (PG)
(Not the animated one)
I think the acting, costumes, Scottish scenery, and fun characters compensate for the cheesy special effects and storyline that viewers may make of this 2000 family film. Since I’m naturally a history buff, especially for the medieval & renaissance era, I appreciate the main character’s journey through the past to help a new vampire friend and his vampire family discover how they can become human again.
The Others (PG-13)
Though the cast is limited and the setting singular, I like the individual journeys the characters take in this film to discover how the recent supernatural occurrences in their home are tied to a past event that afflicted their family long ago. Plus, a twist to the story sums up the built-up suspense we see throughout the rest of the movie, which is always a suspenseful movie plus.
The Village (PG-13)
Despite how some of you might feel about M. Night Shyamalan (*cough* The Last Airbender *cough*), I’ve been a fan of his suspense dramas and the plot twists they provide. Though this film is a bit slow in some parts—and even though I already know what the end-twist is going to be each time I watch it—it’s one that still keeps me on the edge of my seat.
Ashley Weaver 