Spirit Halloween, everyone’s favorite pop up Halloween store, has released the trailer for its feature length film based on the store. I wrote about this back in April when the news first hit. I’d like to throw shade at this project, but then again, a kiddie ride at Disney World-The Pirates of the Caribbean-has spawned 5 (five!) movies. Some of which aren’t half bad. So, let’s give it the benefit of the doubt.
I may be growing soft in my old age, but I’m slowly out growing horror movies that stick to true horror. Gore and violence and unrelenting fear just doesn’t sound like a good time anymore. Unless it’s zombies, I’m always game for a zombie flick. But Spirit Halloween, with its promise to be family friendly, is sure to bring the right amount of spookiness. Now, wait…before you start your hand waving, let me just remind you of some Halloween movie classics that have stood the test of time.
I’m thinking of one Hocus Pocus. Yep, the one that-29 years later-has a sequel coming out. A sequel that I know many are excited for. In spite of this film having three stellar actresses playing the witches, it can get pretty cheesy. And yet, and yet–almost 3 decades later it’s a Halloween classic that just won’t stop. What else has the same spooky vibes but doesn’t cross the line into psychopathic serial killers? Beetlejuice is one, Halloweentown is another and remember Little Monsters with Fred Savage? Great movie.
A time capsule for 2022
Nostalgia is one reason these movies have turned into classics. Grown ups returning to their childhood favorites and sharing them with their kids and tweeting about them to their friends. Nostalgia is a huge Hollywood engine these days. Which is why I think the Spirit Halloween movie may have something going for it. It’s not the nostalgia of yesterday will give this movie the will to rise up every October and haunt the 31 Days of Halloween Specials they run on network TV. It’s what it does right now. Which is to be a time capsule for 2022.
In the movie, the Spirit Halloween pop up store takes place in an abandoned Toys’R’Us store. If that’s not 2022, I’m not sure what is. The rectangle rainbow that borders the doors outside of the building are so familiar. There’s an empty Toys’R’Us store right down the road from me and-sans graffiti-the movie’s store looks just like it. In the trailer the giant stuffed teddy bear that comes alive is very Five Nights at Freddy’s. The Nerf-like guns the kids grab to defend themselves? Greatness.
The movie looks fun, which is what I think Spirit was probably going for. And for that, I applaud them. In 30 years, the kids that will watch this movie today will resurrect it again and it’ll take them right back to 2022. Hopefully the 2022 they’ll remember will be things like this, a cheesy and fun Spirit Halloween Movie. Not the fact that the world sometimes feels like a dumpster fire.