HALLOWEEK #1

Welcome to the inaugural entry in fivethreeninety’s Halloweek series!

Each day this week I will be watching back to back festive films and logging them every evening on fivethreeninety in a Halloween celebration – with a cute logo to boot!

Here’s what I watched on day one….

Corpse Bride

Dir. Tim Burton
2005

I watched this film so often when I was younger, but hadn’t seen it in years. You know when you rewatch a once familiar film, and have that “Ah, yes – that’s how it goes” sensation? I had that with every moment of this film: I was an inch away from being able to quote every line.

Corpse Bride is an absolute joy. It’s visually stunning, with such a memorable world and set of characters. I had however, totally forgotten that this was a musical, which is probably a testament to the songs (they’re beautiful, but in a mostly soft subtle way).

Not to reduce an entire film down to how one female’s appearance, but you would be hard pressed to find someone not obsessed with Emily.

★★★★☆

Hubie Halloween

Dir. Steven Brill
2020

What is up with Hubie’s flask being a multifunctional tool & why is that not the worst thing about this film?

Back at the start of the year, when discussing the likelihood at being nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Uncut Gems; Sandler joked that if he didn’t receive the recognition from the Academy that he would make the worst movie ever. He… followed through.

I cannot believe that this film was made in 2020. To say it’s tone deaf is an understatement – I thought we as a society had progressed past the “don’t bully the man with learning difficulties” comedy films trope. There is zero relevancy to it, making it just uncomfortable to say the least. Genuinely still wrapping my head around it.

★☆☆☆☆

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Dir. Jim Sharman
1975

How many films are there that genuinely get better with each and every single viewing, even years and years down the line? Of the small list of films that would make that cut, this almost certainly takes the number one spot.

This was I think only my second watch, and being familiar with it makes it only more enjoyable. Being able to sing along at the top of your lungs is an experience like no other, and I’m already excited for my next viewing – there is something about it that just reaches out and captures you.

The songs are Halloween essentials, the performances delightfully campy yet somehow un-cheesy, the sets are divine and the looks are second to NONE.

★★★★★

Edward Scissorhands 

Dir. Tim Burton
1990 

I had only ever seen this film once as a tiny kid, so I was long overdue rewatching it.

I love how despite it obviously being a Tim Burton signature piece, it’s blended with this bright, colourful style. This was Burton’s first collaboration with Johnny Depp, with Depp’s melancholy performance told almost exclusive through his eyes you can see how Burton became obsessed with him.

What I had never clocked was how autobiographical it was of Burton to make – inserting himself as this weird kid in a colourful landscape is a little on the nose, but it does make for a very endearing, and heartbreaking film.

★★★★☆

---

A bit of a mixed bag for day one, I have a list of films I’m planning on watching this week but would love to hear suggestions, from all genres please! Just don’t insult me by suggesting Hocus Pocus, as it’s wildly out of character for me to not already have seen it this year and I will be adding it to the line up asap.

See you tomorrow!

Follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Letterboxd