1990's Halloween Movies We Forget Exist

Last night, as I scrolled Disney+ to check out what older Halloween movies are still available, I realized there are so many that are in a vault or the original ones are lost somewhere!

Sure, the ever popular Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown series and Twitches 1& 2 are available, but there are a few misisng that I love!

O Susie Q

Released October 03, 1996 this movie stars Amy Jo Johnson (yes, the pink power ranger) and Justin Whalin. Confession time- I probably had a crush on Justin Whalin just because of his dimples!

No, it's not just the name. Its this quirky story of a kid who lost his dad, moved to a new town, and realized that a ghost cheerleader haunted his room/house. It's really about figuring out who you are and learning to learn with grief. It's on YouTube now, but I miss a quality version!

Under Wraps

The 1997 Under Wraps movie is the FIRST Disney Channel Original Movie! Yet it's been in a vault forever! Part of the issue is that it's difficult to transfer those older films into digital due to the way movies were created. I'm not into all the techs and specs and don't fully understand, but I know its difficult to digitize anything that's as old as we elder millenials are (or beyond).

Anyway, apparently Under Wraps JUST came back on Disney+ so I will definitely be watching. This quirky DCOM movie features Mario Yedidia, Christian Copelin, and many others.

Essentially, three kids accidentally revive a 3000 yr old Mummy & have to figure out how to return him before midnight on Halloween. Quirky & fun! Who doesn't love a good DCOM too?

Little Monsters

Fred Savage and Howie Mandel make this movie worth it, although it is rather weird, but it was 1989, so most films were. A little kid finds a monster under his bed, traps it, and then goes on the wildest experience ever!

It's available for streaming on a few platforms and is available for free on Pluto Tv.

Ernest Scared Stupid

This 1991 film features Jim Varney as a garbage collector in a small Missouri town. Next thing we know, a troll is out to get the entire town and Ernest has to figure out how to stop what he unleashed!

It's available on Disney+ and a myriad of other platforms. I remember it being incredibly silly and stupid, but ya know, we gotta relive 90's corny, right?

Casper

This 1995 classic with Christina Ricci and Devon Sawa pulled on the heart strings of every teenager across America, but it was actually released in May of that year; so no where near Halloween.

At any rate, Casper's story combined with the family drama of Kat had us captured. Basically, Casper haunted a historic mansion, falls in love with teeanger Kat, and antics ensue to save the house, Kat's dad, and even Casper himself... mostly due to his insane ghost uncles...

Of course, none of us will ever forget Casper's most famous line of "Can I keep you", when Casper temporarily transfers into a boy. I imagine all of us were secretly wishing it was Devon Sawa saying that to us, individually :)

Tower of Terror

One of my favorites, Steve Guttenberg and Kirsten Dunst track down the story behind a very old mystery at the very haunted Hollywood Tower Hotel. It's comical, it makes you jump, and I love all the actors.

Also, while many think the movie inspired the ride, it's actually vice versa. The Tower of Terror ride (in Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World; NOT Disneyland) actually opened in July 1994.

The first movie to be inspired off of a ride, it premiered in 1997. It's actually my favorite movie, outside of Hocus Pocus, to watch around Halloween, but it's also dang hard to find!

It's not available for streaming, DVD's are limited, and sometimes it gets pulled from YouTube. One of those strange movies that we wish was out of the vault but doesn't seem to be available because of licensing issues. Sigh.

So, there are plenty of other movies that often get overlooked. This series is just featured on the cutsy fun late 80's/early 90's movies. I did and still do avoid horror types of films so any of the Screams, I Know What You Did Last Summer, IT's, Pyscho, and the likes I avoid.

For some unknown reason, I was allowed to watch Stephen King's "The Cats Eye" with Drew Barrymore as a child and still have issues with cracked/spotty baseboards (evil trolls live in them, you know). I also remember Pet Semetary, Poltergeist, and some others I'd care to forget. So yea, nope. I'll take my Disneyesque halloween movies for sure :)

What's your favorite Halloween Movie?