Spirit Halloween

These are the consequences of IT and Stranger Things being so commercially successful. Every film studio now wants to make a "a group of goofy kids on the brink of going to high school get caught up in something spooky" film, and they always forget to add anything else remotely interesting to the movie. IT and Stranger Things work because each kid is unique in some way. They can't ALL be the annoying one. Even if I was able to look past the annoying main characters, there's not much to like about this movie. The animatronics are vastly underutilized and serve more as a commercial for the real product than an actual plot element. I'm sure if you're a kid trying to get into horror then this is slightly entertaining, similar to Goosebumps, but it feels so soulless and empty. This would've been so much better had they gone for an R rating and an older set of main characters in a legitimately high-stakes story.

IN A NUTSHELL:

If the name "Spirit Halloween" sounds familiar to you, it's because it's a real store in the United States and Canada. It's open every year from August to October to get customers in the Halloween mood and sell them all the costumes and decorations they'll need for the creepy holiday season. The store must look odd to viewers in other countries that don't celebrate Halloween!

The story definitely has a "Stranger Things" vibe. When a new Spirit Halloween store appears in a deserted strip mall, three middle school friends who think they've outgrown trick or treating make a dare to spend the night locked inside the store Halloween night. But they soon find out that the store is haunted by an angry evil spirit who has possessed the creepy animatronic characters. The kids embark on a thrilling and spooky adventure in order to survive the night and avoid becoming possessed themselves.

The movie was directed by David Poag and written by Billie Bates. Hey, Billie! My maiden name was Bates! I wonder if we're related!

THINGS I LIKED: It's always fun to see Christopher Lloyd in anything. He gives a fun over-the-top performance as the villain in this flick. He's looking pretty old in the movie, yet he still has incredible energy and enthusiasm. Unfortunately, we don't get to SEE him but for a few minutes in the beginning, but we do get to hear his voice as a spirit during much of the movie.

Rachael Leigh Cook is so cute. It's hard to believe she's getting roles as a mom.

The trio of adventurous boys is played by Donovan Colan, Jaiden Smith, and Dylan Martin Frankel.

Fun fact: Do you remember Toys-R-Us stores? Me too. My 4 sons and I spent a lot of time in money in those while they were growing up. It's sad they all closed. They still sell toys online though. The big building in the movie where the Spirit Halloween store is set up was a previous Toys-R-Us store in Rome, Georgia.

The scary movie has plenty of jumps and scares, creepy moments, and adventurous moments that kids will get a kick out of.

One of the characters' names is Bo. I have a son named Bo!

Question: So, how old do you think is too old to go Trick-or-Treating?

Fun soundtrack.

There are several side stories that parents will appreciate because they teach valuable lessons.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: Ultimately, the movie feels like an Infomercial for the store. Did you know the Spirit Halloween store also has a YouTube channel?

Some of the visual effects and acting aren't that great.

None of the acting is Oscar-worthy; however, it fits this type of movie and budget.

It would have been fun to have a little bonus scene after the final rolling credits.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Like all movies geared toward teens, there is farting.

Some "mild" profanity Destruction Kids trespass in a store There are some scary images and moments that could easily frighten young children. Ages 10 and up is probably best recommended.

THEMES: Second marriages and blended families Death of a loved one Tradition Halloween Trespassing Spirits of the dead Friendship Curses Growing up Accepting change Possession

Every classic horror movie is contrived, tropey, filled with recognizable genre cliches. I love those cliches-dumb characters, haunted houses, body snatchers, poltergeists, jump scares, creepy clowns, all of it. These are bricks to build a house, and they need concrete told hold them together.

Spirit Halloween The Movie is just the building blocks and a blueprint of a horror movie. It's not real. I can't think of a more soulless horror film. It's the bare minimum needed for a plot, character arcs, and themes, along with the typical horror tropes, yet nothing is remotely original. An hour long commercial.

I sat down with my 12 year old son to watch this 2022 family Halloween-themed movie titled "Spirit Halloween". I hadn't heard about the movie prior to sitting down on All Hallows' Eve to watch it, so I wasn't really sure what I was in for.

Writer Billie Bates churned out a fair enough script and plot for the movie, though "Spirit Halloween" wasn't really the most enjoyable or interesting of family Halloween-based movies out there. Sure, it was watchable, but this is hardly going to become a Halloween classic. The story was just simply too mundane.

The acting performances in the movie were fair enough. I was only familiar with Christopher Lloyd and Marla Gibbs on the entire cast list here.

The special effects in the movie were actually fair enough for a movie such as this. Not scary though, as it is a family-friendly movie.

Watchable for what it was, but you're not in for a particularly outstanding, memorable or ghoulish Halloween-based family movie here.

My rating of "Spirit Halloween" lands on a four out of ten stars.

I think grown adults forget it is a show for KIDS, probably around 9 and up. That being said it was a good background movie. I had it playing while I was getting some things done. It wasn't something to write home about but good nonetheless. I even paid full attention a few times and liked making connections. Though I wished we saw more of what was being connected. I wouldn't mind seeing the history of that. The acting was so/so but I expect nothing less from a movie like this. This isn't the 90s and early 2000s anymore. Haha.

In the end I am glad I watched it at least once. I love the store and I love the fact that it pops up from no where and then pops up from no where and gets a movie!