‘The Spirit Of Halloweentown’ Review – An Emotional, Spooky Documentary About Small Town Life [Fantastic Fest 2024]

In the 1990s, St. Helens, a quaint, unassuming town in Oregon, was selected as the filming location for the much beloved Disney Channel Original Movie Halloweentown. Very wisely, the town decided to capitalize on the success of the film, and every year, it invites millennials and children of millennials alike to celebrate the spooky season with a Halloween festival.

At first glance, this slam-dunk premise would appeal to anyone who grew glued to the television with bated breath during the holidays, waiting for the newest DCOM film. Although The Spirit Of Halloweentown does touch on the filming of the movie, the festival, and how much it means to the town and fans of the film alike, the bulk of the movie revolves around how the city has changed after the festival’s impact on its local economy.

Viewers are introduced to an array of subjects with interesting backgrounds: A religious widow who feels like the town’s celebration of the holiday and the film has invited demonic entities into their presence; a cheerleading coach with abandoned dreams of becoming a professional dancer tries to reconnect with her absentee father while choreographing a number for the festival; a restaurateur’s rude response to a customer goes viral, and threatens his business and his already shaky relationships with the locals who view him as an outsider. A duo of ghosthunters investigate historical hauntings that have plagued the town long before the Halloweentown film came along. These varying lives create a smorgasbord of entertainment and drama throughout the documentary’s 95-minute run time.

The Spirit Of Halloweentown is an entertaining look into small-town life and politics. The subjects viewers are introduced to have complex, interesting lives filled with just as much tragedy and triumph as anyone else’s. This adds to the grounded and relatable charm that permeates the documentary.  The filmmakers wanted viewers to become invested in the lives of these individuals, and they accomplish this by highlighting traits that are both admirable and grating. It’s a joy to watch the various personality types bounce off each other in a town where everyone has known each other for most, if not their entire lives. There is a real sense of history, both good and bad, between many of the individuals.

The experience of characters like Mr. Halcomb, who purchased a long-dormant property in the town to capitalize on it being a tourist spot, is especially interesting. On the one hand, viewers will understand why the town is so willing to take him to task and shun him. On the other, he has very emotional moments in which he talks about how alone he feels. There is a sad irony to moments like these that make the documentary grounded and realistic, while also a little tragic. In the film’s lore, Halloweentown was created for all outsiders who were othered by those in power. In real life, the dynamics are a little more complex.

The strength of the film is in its ability to get viewers invested in the small-town squabbles, dreams deferred, and shunning that takes place. The Spirit Of Halloweentown is a charming and interesting look into a town transformed by the success of a 90s tv movie, and the lasting impact it has left on the residents.

The Spirit Of Halloweentown had its World Premiere in the Documentary Feature section of Fantastic Fest 2024. 

Directors: Bradford Thomason, Brett Whitcomb

Rated: NR

Runtime: 95m