In 1998, the Disney Channel original movie Halloweentown aired, reigning supreme until the arrival of High School Musical in 2006. The film, starring Kimberly J. Brown, Debbie Reynolds, Judith Hoag, Joey Zimmerman, and Emily Roeske, tells the story of how the eldest daughter, Marnie (Brown) discovers the truth about her mother's side of the family after following her grandmother (Reynolds) to her home, which happens to be Halloweentown.
Surprise, Marnie comes from a long line of witches and will have to decide whether she will live in the human world or Halloweentown, choosing between remaining a human or becoming a witch. As the name implies, Halloweentown is where every creature, from witches to ghosts, vampires, monsters, and even fairies, can live in peace and harmony.
The legacy of Halloweentown
The TV movie was so popular that it spawned three sequels, the last 2006's Return to Halloweentown where Brown's Marnie was recast (where rumors naturally spawned). In the real world, Halloweentown was filmed in St. Helens, Oregon, where fans flood the town every Halloween season.
This is where the documentary The Spirit of Halloweentown finds its footing. With four weeks until Halloween, the documentary filmed by Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb follows a variety of people who live in the town, each with their personal connection to the Disney Channel film.
While many look at the film fondly, revealing props and fun details about some of the more iconic scenes, others don't care for the celebration. Amongst the drama and personal opinions, one cannot deny that Halloween brings in approximately a million dollars in revenue for St. Helens.
The Spirit of Halloweentown documentary review
What makes the documentary exciting and riveting is the in-depth look at everyday people who live and work in the town. There is a very real portrayal of life in this town where a cheerleading team is practicing a remarkable zombie performance, and a newbie to the town is bringing new life into a tavern.
We see the Queen of Halloween detailing why she loves the celebration, where the evidence is unveiled through costume contests and the reactions from visitors, both young and old. If there had to be a fault in the documentary, which even that word is too strong, is that we don't get formal introductions to the people we're following in the film, nor do we give any real attention to the Halloweentown TV movie.
I had hoped to see some film footage to play alongside the stories that were told in the documentary to avoid confusion (as it may have been some time since viewers have watched the film). I was half expecting to hear first-hand accounts of filming, or more details about how influential St. Helens had become since the film.
Understandably, St. Helens is a real-world Halloweentown that takes the name seriously. Halloween is more than the town's bread and butter; it is the time of year when everyone shines brightest: costumes, decorations, candy, and all.
But with those aside, I was delighted to have had the opportunity to watch and review The Spirit of Halloweentown early. I look forward to introducing my children to the Halloweentown film franchise and hope that it remains a beloved film for generations to come.
The Spirit of Halloweentown will be available on Amazon, AppleTV, and YouTube on Friday, Oct. 24. Stream the Halloweentown film franchise on Disney+.
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