Halloweentown (film series)

"Halloweentown"
Directed by Duwayne Dunham (1)
Mary Lambert (2)
Mark A.Z. Dippé (3)
David Jackson (4)
Starring Kimberly J. Brown
Sara Paxton
Joey Zimmerman
Emily Roeske
Debbie Reynolds
Judith Hoag
(More)
Distributed by Disney Channel
Release date
1: October 17, 1998 (1998-10-17)
2: October 12, 2001
3: October 8, 2004
4: October 20, 2006
Running time
336 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Halloweentown is a series of four fantasy horror Disney Channel Original Movies released by the Disney Channel between 1998 and 2006.

Background

Halloweentown proposes that fantasy beings such as Witches, Warlocks, Vampires, Werewolves, Mummies, Ghosts, Trolls, Ogres, Zombies, Pumpkin Heads (a race of people with jack-o'-lanterns for heads), Skeletons, Goblins, Humanoids with varying numbers of heads, Humanoids with varying number of limbs, and Humanoids with varying number of sensory organs are real, but have separated themselves from Earth's history to escape humans' fear and persecution. These characters created their own community, "Halloweentown", a thousand years ago in an alternate universe.

Travel between Halloweentown and the ordinary, historical world (which Halloweentown residents call "The Mortal World") is only possible with magical aid, and only at regulated times (on Halloween), until the portal seals at midnight. In the second film they permanently open the portal between the mortal world and Halloweentown, and events of the third film breach the gap even more.

It is stated that many of the traditions of Halloween in the Mortal World are parallels based on regular traditions in Halloweentown. An example of this is how mortals wear costumes that mimic the creatures of Halloweentown, and are often depicted as being more frightening than they are naturally. In Halloweentown, the residents dress up every day, and most are much friendlier than humans generally depict them.

Although magic is present in many of the details of daily life of Halloweentown, it appears that only a limited number of persons actually practice or control magic. These people are mainly human, and are called witches (female) and warlocks (male). These beings appear human, but possess some sort of biological extra-sensory ability which allows them to harness magic unlike their "mortal" counterparts. Magic is also hereditary in their families.

The Halloweentown movies concern episodes in the lives of the Cromwell-Piper family. The family matriarch, Agatha Cromwell, has been a pillar of Halloweentown society for centuries. Her daughter, Gwen Piper, married a mortal and chose to leave Halloweentown for a life in the Mortal World. At the time of the movies, she is apparently widowed. She has decided to raise her three children (Marnie, Dylan, and Sophie) apart from magic, and thus rejects contact with Halloweentown and the influence of her mother.

Cast and characters

Character Films
Halloweentown Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge Halloweentown High Return to Halloweentown
Marnie Piper Kimberly J. Brown Sara Paxton
Aggie Cromwell Debbie Reynolds Debbie Reynolds (cameo)
Sara Paxton (young)
Gwen Piper Judith Hoag
Dylan Piper Joey Zimmerman
Sophie Piper Emily Roeske (mentioned only)
Luke Phillip Van Dyke
Benny Rino Romano Richard Side
Kalabar Robin Thomas
Harriet Judith M. Ford
Kal Daniel Kountz
Astrid Xandra Radley
Alex Peter Wingfield
Gort Blu Mankuma
Ethan Dalloway Lucas Grabeel
Edgar Dalloway Michael Flynn (mentioned only)
Cody Finn Wittrock
Cassie Eliana Reyes
Principal Phil Flanagan Clifton Davis
Pete Todd Michael Schwartzman
Chester Jessie Harward
Natalie Olesya Rulin
Bobby Bob Lanoue
Scarlett Kristy Wu
Sage Katie Cockrell
Sapphire Kellie Cockrell
Silas Sinister Keone Young
Chancellor Goodwin Leslie Wing
Professor Precilla Persimmon Periwinkle Millicent Martin
Dr. Grogg Scott Stevenson
Aneesa Summer Bishil
Burp-Urp-Snurt-Pfsfsfsfst III Christopher Miller

Crew and other

Crew/Detail Halloweentown Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge Halloweentown High Return to Halloweentown
Director Duwayne Dunham Mary Lambert Mark A.Z. Dippé David Jackson
Producer(s) Ron Mitchell
Brian Pogue
Peter Lhotka Sheri Singer
Steve White
Sheri Singer
Don Schain
Writer(s) Paul Bernbaum
Jon Cooksey
Ali Matheson
Jon Cooksey
Ali Matheson
Paul Bernbaum
Daniel Berendsen
Paul Bernbaum
Max Enscoe
Annie DeYoung
Cinematographer(s) Michael Slovis Rob Neal
Composer Mark Mothersbaugh Kenneth Burgomaster
Running time 84 minutes 81 minutes 83 minutes 88 minutes

Reception

Film Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Ratings (in millions)
Halloweentown 72%[1]
Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge 62%[2]
Halloweentown High 65%[3] 6.1
Return to Halloweentown 63%[4] 7.5

References

  1. "Halloweentown". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  2. "Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  3. "Halloweentown High". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  4. "Return to Halloweentown". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
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