Entertainment
'90s Halloween Movies You Forgot About
Let me begin by saying that not just any old spooky film can automatically be considered a Halloween movie — it just isn't that simple. But it's also a completely subjective idea. To me, for instance, the best Halloween movies ever are the ones which celebrate the horror genre or Halloween itself, are tremendous fun to watch or which, for whatever reason, became a staple of Halloween slumber or movie parties. Suffice to say, that means that all of us have probably watched a lot of Halloween movies in our time, and as a result, there's probably tons of '90s Halloween movies that you've forgotten about.
And let's face it, that era was a prime time for enjoying spooky slumber parties or Blockbuster video movie nights at home, where we filled up on candy and popcorn and enjoyed some ghoulish fun. Sometimes that meant watching films which, in retrospect, we were probably way too young to be watching, but wasn't that also part of the fun of Halloween as a kid? From family classics, to ludicrous monster movies and salacious slashers, these films were likely all a part of your childhood Halloweens (for better or for worse). Here's 16 Halloween movies from the '90s which you may just have forgotten about:
1. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
As a teenager, Halloween H20 came with the lush appeal of Josh Hartnett (and might I just say, what an absolute babe), which might go some way to explaining just why the rest of the film was so forgettable. Though it might not be one of the most memorable films of the Halloween franchise, it's actually still a great deal of fun to watch.
2. Wishmaster (1997)
For the latter half of the '90s, Wishmaster was one of those horror films which was always left available on the shelf during the scary movie video rushes of Halloween. As a result, it became something of a slumber party staple, and everyone thought it was terrifying. Except in retrospect? It's nothing but total, goofball fun.
3. Don't Look Under The Bed (1999)
You might have forgotten about this Disney Channel original movie, but it's so well worth remembering. Featuring a prank pulling boogeyman and a young girl who invents an imaginary friend in order to defeat it (as you do), the film is Halloween greatness from start to finish.
4. In The Mouth Of Madness (1994)
John Carpenters's Lovecraftian tribute to pulp horror tropes is a truly maddening cult classic (in the best possible way), making it perfect for Halloween. It's enormous fun but also features a chilling finale which creeps right under your skin when you least expect it to.
5. The Halloween Tree (1993)
This Hanna Barbera animated movie about a bunch of kids working together to save their bestie from spooky, Halloween doom is a total treat. I'd also completely forgotten about it right up until this second, which feels kind of criminal because it's clearly a Halloween cartoon classic.
6. Idle Hands (1999)
A film about the hand of a slacker teenager which becomes possessed by a demon, Idle Hands is ludicrously underrated fun. The third act of the film also just so happens to be set at a supreme high school Halloween party, which gives it some extra festively-spooky points.
7. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
It's '90s era Tim Burton, so of course you can expect tons of pumpkins and gleeful scenes of spooky locations at every turn. As a throwback to classic British horror films of the '70s, the movie also comes with a fantastically quaint overall feel to it.
8. Night Of The Demons 2 (1994)
Definitely one of those films that you made someone's older sister rent out on VHS on Halloween based only on the scariness of the video box cover art. Except, truthfully? It's more fun than horrifying, featuring a gang of teenagers attending a haunted house party on Halloween which just so happens to be hosted by a demon.
9. Under Wraps (1997)
Who didn't dream about having the opportunity to come to the aid of a 3,000 year old Mummy as a kid? OK, so it maybe wasn't at the top of everyone's Halloween wish list, but after seeing Under Wraps, it definitely got put under consideration.
10. Candyman (1992)
The reason you may have forgotten this movie is because you've successfully blocked out the horrifying memory of being dared to say "Candyman" fives times into a mirror at every slumber party of the '90s ever.
11. Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)
Just when you'd managed to convince yourself as a kid that Freddy Krueger wasn't real, Wes Craven came along and made his first meta-horror movie which suggested otherwise. Wes Craven's New Nightmare is sorely underrated, so if you have forgotten about it then be sure to check it out again this Halloween.
12. Urban Legend (1998)
As far as teen slasher films of the '90s go, Urban Legend was one of the absolute silliest and the most fun. It might not have been very scary (even watching it as a young teenager), but how could a movie which co-stars Joshua Jackson and Jared Leto possibly be bad?
13. Tales From The Darkside: The Movie (1990)
Joyously creepy, this anthology horror movie features a bunch of short, spooky stories and a supreme cast which includes Christian Slater, Julianne Moore and even punk-goddess Debbie Harry. It's perfect Halloween fare with stories devised by masters of horror like Stephen King and George Romero.
14. House On Haunted Hill (1999)
Based on the 1958 classic horror, I can remember House On Haunted Hill scaring me silly at a Halloween slumber party when I was a teenager. In retrospect, it totally isn't that bad (especially not by 2016 standards) but it is campy, gory fun.
15. Bride Of Chucky (1998)
One of the best comedy-horror films of the era, Bride Of Chucky was completely ridiculous with preposterous deaths and an outlandish sex scene between two puppets. If you like your horror to be blood thirsty, self-aware and very silly then this is definitely a movie worth revisiting.
16. The Exorcist III (1990)
OK, this one is genuinely chilling and not the sort of movie that any of us should have been watching when we were younger (although tons of us did). Don't let the fact that it's a sequel to one of the greatest horror movies ever made put you off, because The Exorcist III is a terrifying experience all of it's own.
I strongly recommend that we revisit all of these forgotten '90s scary movie gems of past Halloweens asap. Because truly, whether genuinely scary, totally goofy or just plain comedy, they're all perfect for a spooky movie binge in celebration of Halloween.
Images: Walt Disney Pictures (2); Universal Pictures
