31 Days of Halloween: Something Wicked This Way Comes

1983, Jack Clayton (The Great Gatsby) -- Disney

OK, what is it with classic America not decorating for Halloween around the time of Halloween? Are you telling me on October 24th in the 1940s, middle America didn't at least put a jack-o-lantern on the porch, or maybe a spooky scarecrow or two? Trick or Treat-ing was already a thing in the 40s so there should have been at least some reference to the kids building costumes. Alas...

The movie begins with "the lightning rod salesman" (Royal Dano, The Outlaw Josey Wales) wandering into Green Town, Illinois with an evocative voice over of a boy being all nostalgic over Autumn in the 40s. This is prime Bradbury writing style, as he wrote the screenplay for Clayton based on his 1962 novel which he had already adopted from his own 40s short story. We are then introduced to Will Halloway (Vidal Peterson, ST: TNG: Unification II), the narrator, and his best friend Jim Nightshade (what a last name! Shawn Carson, The Funhouse), and their picturesque little town with iconic shop keepers and Will's dad, the librarian, who is suffering a mild depression over his age, and having married late in life.

The carnival is coming to town, and almost immediately it proves itself magical. From just the sound of a steam whistle, to an instantaneously built midway, the boys recognize something is just not right here. And then there's its ring leader Mr. Dark (Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses) littering the town square with his advertisements. And things get scarier and more mystical after just opening night with the locals lured into various traps of an arcane nature.

This is a classic Disney style adventure of a magical & horror nature meant for kids. The victims of Mr. Dark's dark magic are all adults, falling to their own desires and folly, and only the kids seems to recognize something is awry. But its also a story of the love between a father and a son, who despite their challenges, are strongly bonded. There is really no true violence, not real death, but a lot of kid-level scary things. Maybe I am not as in touch with my kid-level whimsy as I thought (dude, this post says otherwise) but it didn't do much for me. Its just another example of things that don't hold up as well over time.

I love David Grove's poster work....