By Emily Rosenberg, Arts & Features Editor
If you’re scrambling for something to indulge in this Halloween look no further than your Disney+ browser for “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” season 1 episode 19 The Ghost of Room 613.
Upon learning that 13 is approaching too old for trick or treating, the little blonde twins still want to have fun on Halloween. What’s more fun than sleeping over in an abandoned suite rumored to be haunted by an evil ghost who murdered her treacherous husband?
Despite being a Disney show for kids, it has funny and original dialogue throughout such as –
“Have you ever seen the ghost?”
“Sadly no, but I have seen Muriel in a hairnet,” and everyone shivers.
Aside from myself being a twin – because of the perfect dynamic between the twins, Ashley Tisdale’s fabulous performance as Maddie, and the hilarious writing for Mr. Marian Mosbey, The Suite Life has always been one of my favorite Disney channel shows. This episode highlights how truly original it is and why I will continue to go back to it no matter how old I get.
And don’t be surprised if you get physically scared. Disney channel was ruthless in the early 2000s.
By Jack McLaughlin, Staff Writer
“Super 8” is a great sci-fi thriller directed by JJ Abrams. The 2011 film follows a group of young kids in the 1980s who accidentally stumble on a bizarre plot that involves the disappearances of citizens and people getting attacked by a strange creature.
If you’ve ever watched the show “Stranger Things,” this film is incredibly similar with its basic concept of nerdy kids in the ’80s stumbling on a creepy sci-V monster they have to defeat.
The film is wildly entertaining, with the child actor ensemble being surprisingly good with the fairly basic material they’re given to work off of.
The most interesting part of this movie is the mystery surrounding the monster attacking this town, and the payoff to that isn’t the most satisfying, but the leadup to it was enough to keep me invested the whole time.
By Sean Cabot, Staff Writer
Japan’s Tokusatsu industry is dominated by the likes of “Ultraman,” “Kamen Rider,” and “Super Sentai” – the latter being the source of “Power Rangers’” stock footage.
While these shows have a surprising older following, there is a Toku series specifically aimed at older audiences. That show, “Garo,” follows a cabal of monster hunters through their superbly choreographed battles throughout the ages.
There are different storylines, ranging from urban fantasy to sci-V, but the golden armor that its various heroes all wear stays the same. Its styling is also consistently horror-oriented – the monsters are even referred to as Horrors.
But what it really has over other Toku shows is its stylish and inventive choreography. One of the later seasons has a fight wherein two swordsmen are simply fighting to prevent one another from drawing their swords.
Whether you’re looking to get into Toku, or already a fan, “Garo” is a great time.
By Sean Cabot, Staff Writer
From Robert Kirkman’s runaway success “The Walking Dead” to Kengo Hanazawa’s superlative “I Am A Hero,” audiences have a lot of great zombie comics to choose from.
But Haro Aso’s “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead” is my favorite recent zombie comic, and not for conventional reasons.
Akira Tendo is a desk jockey working for a terrible boss at an awful firm wondering where his life went wrong. So naturally, when the zombie apocalypse occurs, he’s ecstatic that he doesn’t have to go to work anymore and starts working on a huge bucket list.
“Zom 100” forces reaection on the horrors of our old lives instead of appealing to fears of hypothetical cataclysms – turning the end of the world into an opportunity to wipe the slate clean.
The art and black comedy are spot on, and a fair dash of terror puts a bow on a hilariously disturbing package.
By Leighah Beausoleil, Associate Editor
In an unknown Victorian town, two unlikely families attempt to form an arranged union between their son and daughter – Victor and Victoria – in Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride.”
The marriage is intended to benefit both families in regards to money and societal status, but
unfortunately nothing goes “according to plan.”
Though the two find themselves in love right away, the clumsy, nervous groom cannot seem to get his vows down. Practicing on a tree in the middle of the woods, Victor finds himself married to a corpse.
The victim of a grusesome murder, Emily has been waiting for the day someone would finally love her – maggots and all.
With the never disappointing musical work of Danny Elfman, the soundtrack to this stop-motion film is something to die for, especially the upbeat track “Remains of the Day” and melancholy “Tears to Shed.”
The contrast of the dark “upstairs” and bright and colorfulness of the underworld make the dead appear to be more lively than the actual living. Every character contributes such a vibrant personality to the movie.
If you have the chance, be sure to check out this Burton classic during the Halloween season.
By Haley Hadge, Editorial Staff
If you’ve ever found a kindred spirit in a furry friend then Disney’s “Frankenweenie,” directed by Tim Burton, will reel you in with the dynamic duo of Victor Frankenstein and his dog Sparky.
The film’s ghastly beginning will shock you to the core. The piece of your heart that holds your beloved pet’s memory will ache with empathy and envy.
It will leave you crying, laughing, and gasping.
Sparky is everything you could need in a protagonist. He’s cute, spunky, heroic, and a pal to Victor as he navigates the, arguably equally horrific, halls of middle school.
Victor’s desperation is omnipresent when he digs up the grave of his spark-less soulmate and turns his lost pet into a shockingly successful science experiment.
As an audience member you are forced to indulge in the beginning stages of the grieving process. But what a pleasure to see Sparky’s joy, even in reincarnated form.
By Mark Haskell, Staff Writer
“The Conjuring Universe,” created by James Wan, focuses on the exploits of Ed and Lorraine Warren, a married couple who witness and investigate paranormal events.
These exploits are real and mixed with film-centric elements including history, fantasy, horror, and you guessed it – jump scares.
The couple attempted to help people who are possessed by demons while the spin-off films focus on the entities encountered by the Warrens in the main films.
Out of the entire “Conjuring Universe,” the films I have seen are “The Conjuring,” “The Conjuring 2,” “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” as well as their respective spinoffs.
The spinoff I have had the opportunity to watch was 2018’s “The Nun” as a spinoff/prequel to “The Conjuring 2.”
If you and your friends are looking for a film series to binge this Halloween with drinks and snacks, then I would recommend watching “The Conjuring.”
By Emma Lyons, Editorial Staff
“Muppets Haunted Mansion” is the newest Halloween movie to be released onto Disney+, becoming available to subscribers on Oct. 8.
Gonzo the Great and Pepe are welcomed into a haunted mansion to attempt the arduous task of staying within its walls overnight – a feat never before achieved by any guest.
The movie has zany antics and wonderful musical numbers, such as “Life Hereafter” – one of the only parts of the movie which features the majority of the muppets cast.
While the first half of the film plays off spooky gimmicks and makes character introductions, the second half of the film begins to amp up the fear factor as Gonzo must face his deepest fears and Pepe is entranced by a serial bride – portrayed by Taraji P. Henson.
This film digs deeper into Gonzo’s character as he faces his fears and the expectations he holds himself to. It perfectly balances the eerie Halloween tone with the warmheartedness the Muppet Franchise always has.