Classics: 3 Halloween Features for the Faint of Heart By Lauren Ennis

The thrills and chills have begun and things are going bump in the night. That bewitching hour is upon us once again. Halloween is the perfect time to celebrate all things spine-tingling, but for some of us the horrors of Halloween are all fright and no fun. This week I’ll be turning the spotlight on three screen favorites that will help even the most faint of heart to get into the spirit of the season.

And you thought you had a weird family...

The Addams Family: They may be creepy, cooky, and altogether ooky, but the only screams you’ll hear with this family are screams of laughter. Adapted from an offbeat comic strip both the 1960’s television series and the 1990’s film franchise chronicle the comic exploits of the monstrously misunderstood Addams’. While the film franchise features the deadpan wit and darker sensibility of the original comic and the television series focuses upon family friendly humor, all adaptations capture the daily absurdity of life for the fiendishly fish out of water family. Through their gothic tendencies and passion for all things macabre the wonderfully warped clan make for a delightfully distorted satire of the modern American family. Even in the midst of family fun, however, the Addams’ deliver plenty of gothic goodies and wicked whimsy to go around. For a frighteningly good time for the whole family spend some time with The Addams Family.

That slight come hither stare, it's witchcraft...

Bell, Book, and Candle: The common complaint that ‘I married to/am dating a real witch’ is taken to a whole new level in this hit romantic comedy. Like its television counterpart Bewitched, Bell, Book, and Candle follows the mismatched romance between a modern-day witch and a hapless mortal. The film begins with sultry witch Gillian lamenting her boredom and desire for a new romance. When Gillian crosses paths with a school days rival out with her fiancé, Shepherd Henderson, Gillian sees her opportunity to enjoy some wicked fun. She then casts a spell to seduce Shepherd out of spite more than genuine attraction. Complications ensue, however, when she breaks the code of witchcraft and begins falling for her spellbound target. Combining Halloween hijinks with all the classic elements of romantic comedy the film is a delightful alternative for couples looking to get into the spirt of the season without the shrieks. The film reunites Vertigo costars James Stewart and Kim Novak, who manage to convey even more chemistry in this second outing. Together the pair create cinema magic with Stewart’s folksy everyman acting as an ideal foil to Novak’s supernatural sophisticate. With scene-stealing supporting performances from Jack Lemmon and Elsa Lanchester the film is guaranteed to have you screaming with laughter. For a bewitching viewing experience spend a spell with Stewart and Novak in Bell, Book, and Candle.

Now that's how you put on the Ritz!

Young Frankenstein: Madcap adventure plus mad science proves the formula for comedy gold in this Mel Brooks classic. The film follows strait-laced scientist Victor Frankenstein (that’s pronounced ‘Fronk-en-steen’) as he reluctantly takes up the family business. The story maintains the framework of the familiar Frankenstein tale with Victor traveling to the ancestral estate and following down his grandfather’s famous path of madness, mayhem, and monsters, but with the crucial addition of Brooks’ signature humor. As a result, the film aptly pays homage to the monster movies of the 1930’s while spoofing the classic horror genre. Led by Brooks’ regular Gene Wilder the film features an expert comedic cast that includes Terri Garr, Peter Boyle, Cloris Leachman, Madeleine Kahn, and Gene Hackman. Easily one of Brooks’ most outstanding efforts, the film has attained iconic status and continues to be referenced across popular culture. Combining classic horror and contemporary comedy this monster mash is a Halloween must.