Whether someone likes a bloody horror flick or a camp film about haggard witches attempting immortality, Hollywood has plenty to spare.
Annenberg Media spoke with students about their favorite movies to watch during the spookiest time of year.
“Twitches”
If you want a feel good movie this holiday season, watch “Twitches”. Reunited for their 21st birthday, twin sisters, (Tia and Tamara Mowry) defend their kingdom from dark magical forces. It is a Disney channel original movie available on disney plus.
“It is so funny and also kind of deep….also like family and finding themselves. It moves me” said Wilfred, a Violin, Viola and Cello performance major.
“Hocus Pocus”
After moving to Salem, Massachusetts, Max Dennison (Omri Katz) ventures into an abandoned house with his sister Dani (Thora Birch) and their new friend, Allison (Vinessa Shaw). After not believing a story about witches and a coven, Max accidentally frees a triad of evil witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy) who used to live in that same abandoned house. Now, Max and his friends are on a quest to sell the book of spells from the ladies to ensure that they do not become immortal.
“It just reminds me that Halloween is supposed to be fun. Supposed to be light-hearted and spirited. And it doesn’t have to be just for kids,” said Kierstin Salinas.
“The Craft”
Navigating a new school in Los Angeles, Sarah (Robin Tunney) discovers that her gift of telekinesis appeals to a group of three wannabe witches, who are looking for a fourth member for their ritual practices. Bonnie (Neve Campbell), Rochelle (Rachel True) and Nancy (Fairuza Balk), like Sarah herself, all have troubled backgrounds, which combined with their nascent powers lead to dangerous consequences.
“The end, [when Sarah] rebels against all the other witches and she shows her true powers [is my favorite],” said junior Valerie Wu.
“Scary Movie” series
Taking comedy parodies to a whole new level, “Scary Movie” takes classic scenes from different teen movies and fires shots at each and every one. The film fires shots at the classic scenes from “Scream,” “The Sixth Sense,” “The Matrix,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “The Blair Witch Project,” then goes on to mock a whole myriad of teen movie clichés, no matter the genre.
This movie is not necessarily a scary movie, but it makes people laugh.
“Number three is my favorite. It has a good mix of humor, while at the same time still a little suspenseful,” said Matthew Donner, Business Administration major at USC.
“Us”
Taking a trip to the beachfront home that she visited as a child, Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong’o) is haunted by a traumatic event from her past. As the movie progresses, she is constantly worried something bad is going to happen. Her fears become a reality when four masked figures descend on the house and the Wilsons have to fight for survival.
“I like it because there’s a lot of allegory and parallels to American society and society in general,” said Jake Siddique’s, a NGO and social change major about “Us.”
Jordan Peele describes the double meaning in this movie as this country is afraid of the outsider within our borders and outside of them.
“The Conjuring” series
Before there was Amityville Horror, there was Harrisville. “The Conjuring” illustrates the true story of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga), world famous paranormal investigators, who were called to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful demonic entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most horrifying case of their lives.
Students feel like this is the perfect Halloween movie because the paranormal activity frightens them.
“I think the fact of the concept of something that you can’t see can hurt you.” said Trinity Reagon, freshmen at USC.
“Saw”
Photographer Adam Stanheight (Leigh Whannell) and oncologist Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) regain consciousness and are tied up at either ends of a dirty bathroom. They soon realize that they have been trapped by a sadistic killer named “Jigsaw” and have to solve puzzles in order to survive. Gordon’s family is forced to watch these heinous acts on video.
The “Saw” movies have a lot of suspense and it is not just war. In the movies he kind of takes people who have done several sins, whether it is connected to him or just in general, he puts them through trials where if you do not do what he says, you die. It is pretty cool,” said freshman Christa Tavares.
Happy Halloween Everyone!