Halloweentown Will Forever Slap
by Maggie Mahoney
Regardless of what Rotten Tomatoes has to say about it, Halloweentown will forever be a fan favorite when spooky season rolls around. It's the first of a four-movie franchise, but the original remains the gold standard.
Marnie Piper? An iconic tween protagonist. Debbie Reynolds, Singing in the Rain icon and mother of the renowned Carrie Fisher, as grandma Aggie? Revolutionary. The fact that this Disney Channel original movie can be enjoyed by adults and children alike? Enough to solidify it into my Halloween watch list year after year.
First of all, Halloweentown came out in the year I was born (shout out all the 1998 babies). Coincidence? I think not. If you haven't seen Halloweentown, God forbid, I’ll provide some basic summary. I recommend that as soon as you finish this article, pull your head out from whatever rock you’ve been hiding under and stream this film on Amazon ASAP! (This is not an Amazon promotion; eat the rich.)
The story follows 13-year-old Marnie Piper and her wacky family as she navigates her transition into her teen years and discovers that she is a witch (Gasp! As if being a teenager wasn’t spooky enough!). The film opens with a tragedy: while other kids are allowed to go out trick or treating, Marnie’s mother, Gwen, will not allow Marnie or her siblings to celebrate the holiday. Marnie, who loves Halloween, is distraught. However, when their grandmother pops in for a surprise visit, everything changes.
In true grandma fashion, Grandma Aggie encourages the children to get into the Halloween spirit against her daughter Gwen’s wishes Gwen attempts to scold and stop Aggie from talking about magic, but to no avail.
Before leaving, Aggie reads the children a bedtime story called Halloweentown, full of witches, vampires and monsters living in harmony with one another. When Marnie’s little sister points out that the witch in the story looks like Marnie, Aggie does nothing to discourage her. Before Aggie leaves, Marnie overhears her mom and grandmother arguing. Gwen believes Marnie should be raised as a mortal while Aggie believes she should begin her training as a witch. Aggie also asks Gwen for her help because she is concerned about the mysterious disappearance of Halloweentown citizens.
Marnie, begrudgingly accompanied by her little brother Dylan, secretly follows Aggie on her way home and sneaks onto the magical bus to Halloweentown. When they confront Aggie, she decides to take them home immediately. Despite what she may want, she needs to fix the danger in Halloweentown before training Marnie or entangling the children in a precarious situation.
This is where the somewhat hokey spookiness goes into full swing. From cringy ex-boyfriends to skeleton cab drivers, witchy brews, and scary but predictable villains, Halloweentown takes us on quite a ride. Plus, there’s a giant Jack O'Lantern in the center of the town, which is pretty dope in and of itself. If anyone can find a way to put one on the quad, let me know.
In spite of some outdated effects and a pretty basic storyline, Halloweentown wins you over with wholesome family fun and adventure. The film is ripe with nostalgia and sure to leave you delighted with its festive sets and witchy costumes.
Impressively, Halloweentown was filmed entirely in 24 hours, with characters doubling up as extras to keep up the illusion of a busy town and a surprisingly believable and bustling monster world.
It’s the type of film that you can watch again as an adult (as I often do) and only cringe a little. With strong acting, especially from Debbie Reynolds (Aggie), the movie feels like the right balance between kiddish and genuinely entertaining. Whimsical touches and positive messages about the power of family and good triumphing over evil fill every moment. I will continue to love it because of that.
So yeah, in my professional opinion, this movie and the subsequent films that sparked in its wake will forever slap.