Spooky season is upon us, which means watching Halloween movie marathons with friends. These Halloween marathons should always include the classics from past decades. There is no doubt that old horror movies are the best to watch in order to truly feel the Halloween magic that sparks the inner child in each of us. When someone is asked about their favorite Halloween film, one usually says Beetlejuice, Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, or Scream which are all top tier films. Although these iconic movies are all classics and popular household names, they are not comparable to The Addams Family. However, the Addams Family may contain the components of a Halloween movie, the film started as a TV series with no ties to the spooky holiday. Consequently, when it comes to mind, many kids from our generation associate the Addams Family with Halloween.  

The Addams Family was first depicted as a TV series before it was a film in the 1960s. However, for most people like our parents, they usually recall the rebirth of The Addams Family movie that was released in 1991. The movie centers around a not so typical family living in a dark and medieval themed mansion that screams Halloween. The Addams family consists of Gomez Addams, Morticia Addams. Pugsley, Wednesday, and many more. The family is forced to live in the “normal” world, while facing the issue of their long lost uncle who seeks to steal their family fortune. Further, The Addams Family is considered the forefront of all Halloween movies that holds the title as one of the best gothic comedies, according to movie critics like Roger Ebert. The Addams Family is considered iconic in which it created a new genre that mixes two components of darkness and comedy. 

It has been 28 years since the movie adaptation was released in 1991. The Addams Family has longevity, relevance, and a huge fan following so it was not surprise that on Oct. 11, 2019, it was rebooted as an animated movie. In the new movie, the plot is based around the family preparing for a visit from their even creepier relatives. A big conflict arises as a reality TV star, Margaux Needler, plans to rid the town of the household even though the Addams’ don’t want to leave. The recent release is very different in comparison to the movie released in 1991; the differences are evident in the fact that it is animated but also because the recent film has more of a modern twist.

Many are happy to see the family back on screen and to be able to sing along with the catchy theme song. However, the animated movie definitely has received much criticism and has added to the controversy of rebooting old classic films. Do you think the animated film will be up to par with the 1991 adaptation? Or do you think people should stop reproducing old movies due the risk of tarnishing their legacy? There are many other variations of the Addams family, like the 1992 cartoon or the popular 1960’s television series. In fact, the Lodi High School Drama Club will be introducing their rendition of the Addams family musical on the big stage in March of this school year. Currently, the Drama Club is in the beginning phases of their audition process with former and new members. This is not the last time you will hear about the drama production of the Addams Family so make sure to stay tuned for more updates!