After Tricking Treat

Settling down onto the sofa after chasing who knows what around the neighborhood, gather the loot you’ve collected as taxes or tithes and pop in one of these all-time frightful, sort-of family-friendly movies. In no particular order, here are some of my faves.

1. Young Frankenstein: Good thing I didn’t catch all the jokes in this Mel Brooks classic. The late Peter Boyle was the best and Gene Wilders’ quirky-creepy performance fits better alongside Terri Garr than all those Umpa-Loompa’s. Favorite bits: The Abby-Normal Brain and the monster teeter-tottering with the little girl.

2. Watcher in the Woods: Scared me silly. The fact that we played in Grandma’s back acrage wood, riding bikes along the narrow paths before mountian biking was considered a sport, watching the underbrush rustle as the breeze swept down the trail in front of us. There was even a toppled trunk were the ‘lightening’ struck. Broken glass, pleading ghosts, Narek. Those Betty Davis eyes. I think a remake would do well, especially with all the tricks CGI can do.

3. Child of Glass: Another one of Disney’s dark-side movies. A child whispering nursery rhymes, especially Frere Jacques, gives me the eebie-jeebies even to this day and I never want to go near an old well. Antique, turn-of-the-century dolls cause my hairs to stand on end.

4. The Dark Crystal: I know their Muppets, I know. Gelph-lings are nice. Nasty vulture-like things, not so much. Sucking the life out of you for some mystic crystal, I can relate to that.

5. Legend: Tom Cruise before he was Tom ‘Crazy’ Cruise. Loved the unicorns, what girl doesn’t. Cloven devil dude - makes me want to be a better person, resisting the temptation to touch the unicorns galloping through life. Damsel in distress - I wanted her gravity-defying, Maid Marion-esque clothes. I imagine the creepy, fairy boy as a good version of Shakespeare’s Puck.

6. The Never-Ending Story: Legend for kids. I wanted her clothes too and I think I had my first adolescent crush on Sebastian. I really felt his fear in the library attic though I don't quite trust the flying dog. Hey! Yet another pretty, white horse.

7. Casper: He can be my ghost and I’ll take the eclectic architecture of the house too. The dance at the end, when he’s a real boy – aahhhh. Take that Pinocchio.

8. Matilda: L-O-V-E her! So sweet. Danny DeVito and his wife, Rhea Pearlman are great as her wacked-out, self-absorbed parents. But stealing the show from Miss Mara Wilson is Pam Ferris’ character, Ms. Agatha Trunchbull. “I'll send you to the pokey!”

9. Harry Potter: Does it matter which one? Witches, wizards and werewolves -oh my. Unicorn, don't forget the unicorn.

10. Lord of the Rings Trillogy: Ditto number nine though not very farmer-friendly. Halloween, Christmas, Valentines, Arbor Day… any occasion merits a marathon showing. Shadowfax, the white steed horse-god Gandolf got to ride into battle, and let's not forget Legolas had a white horse too!

11. Hocus Pocus: How could I forget! Kathy Najimi riding a vacuum… priceless. An immortal black cat who happens to be a strapping young lad, a black candle curse and teenage romance. No white horses though.

12. The Princess Bride: I don’t need a reason to watch this movie. Who here doesn’t have the entire dialogue memorized? "Anybody want a peanut?" or "My name is Inigo Montoya; you killed my father; prepare to die." Farmboy is a term of endearment and who hasn't swooned over the line, "Death cannot stop true love; all it can to is delay it for a while." Now if I only heard "as you wish" to my every request... Wesley and Buttercup 4-Ever!! Notice the horses?

13. Beetlejuice: Can we all say “Day-Oh”. The deceased never had it so good. Classic Danny Elfman soundtrack. Beetlejuice, BEEtlejuice, BEETL----

I know there's more out there to be had. What movies made your Halloween list?

Labels: Random Thoughts