A lot of you will have never heard of this one, and that’s a shame. This was a made-for-television movie from the Halloween season of 1985. I honestly can’t remember it ever being rebroadcast after that initial airing. The movie is very similar in tone to HOCUS POCUS, and it’s unfortunate that it hasn’t become a cult classic in the years since like that movie, because it’s just as charming.
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR tells the story of a small New England town with a history of—wait for it—witchcraft. Some likable but none too wise teenagers recite a spell that they pilfered from the local museum in a graveyard on Halloween night. The witch who’d once cursed the town arises as a vampire, and she brings with her a horde of zombies and even a couple of werewolves. Some of the resurrected dead are out to cause harm, while others just want to have a little fun. They all end up at the big Halloween party in town, and hijinks ensue. It’s kid-friendly fare, sure, but it has enough Horror cred to satisfy the grown-up marks, too. Especially those of us who were around in 1985 and can appreciate the glorious nostalgia.
Yes, THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, buoyed by a soundtrack of classic tunes (and the voiceover work of Wolfman Jack), is, among so many other things, pure 80s deliciousness. There’s even a THRILLER-esque dance number!
