Great Romantic Films for Halloween

Ifyou are not into slasher, blood thirsty, scary, thrillers, during Halloween, there is an alternative-a cool romantic movie with a supernatural spin. Here are some of my favorites. Break out the popcorn, strawberries and chocolate, invite your friends or lover, and make a bit of love magic on Halloween night.

Bell Book and Candle (1958) The beautiful Kim Novak plays the sexy witch, and James Stewart plays the stressed out executive who falls in love with her, after she casts a spell, of course. There is some great witch “lore” in this movie…perhaps created by Hollywood or left over from Middle Ages beliefs. The familiar “Pyewacket” the cat, assists her mistress in bewitching the unsuspecting Jimmy Stewart. Another little legend was that witches can’t cry…but she cries up a storm when her spell backfires and she falls for the man she bewitched. Jack Lemmon plays her warlock brother. He’s fabulously witty and charming in this, one of his first films.

Practical Magic (1998) If you are into witchery, this is a great movie with tons of ritual, spell magic and witch lore. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman star as two sisters raised by aunts who gave them chocolate cake for breakfast and taught them all about practical magic. The two beautiful witches work to take a curse off their family. Their curse is that no man can love them without dying. In the meantime, they fight off some wicked supernatural stuff, including a demon. True to the romantic elements of the film, they finally lift the curse and can marry whomever they wish and live happily ever after.

Bewitched (2005) I guess Hollywood just loves Nicole Kidman as a beautiful witch, because she’s played a witch twice. I suppose she likes the role as well. This modern day movie is nothing like the popular TV series. But has a nice twist to it. Isabel meets a self-absorbed television film guy who wants to do a remake of “Bewitched.” He unknowingly casts Isabel Bigalow as Samantha. Seems Isabel and Shirley Maclaine ( who plays Andora, are both real witches). Love comes along of course between Will Ferrell and Isabel. NOT one of my favorite movies, but it’s worth a look if you like Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman.

I Married a Witch (1942) The beautiful Veronica Lake plays the witch who “bewitches” a politician played by Fredrick Marsh. A 18th century Salem witch curses the family line of the man who sentenced her to death so that the sons will always marry poorly. The only way the curse can be lifted is if one of the descendents marries a witch. Great witchy lore here and some cool special effects for the time. I Married a Witch is witty and cute even by today’s standards, and it’s probably the precursor to the popular Bewitched, television series.

What Women Want (2000) Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt are very funny in this little fantasy about an egomanic who has an accident (putting on panty hose) and can suddenly hear what women are thinking. The movie highlights the different ways men and women think about love, sex and each other, with some hilarious results. It doesn’t have any witchy lore obviously, but it’s a good movie with a supernatural twist.

Just like Heaven (2005) Here is a different kind of supernatural movie. Imagine a girl in a coma, whose spirit “haunts” the guy who took over her apartment—yes while she’s still in a coma! Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo star in this quirky romantic comedy where there are no boundaries between life and death when it comes to love.

Bedazzled (2000) This is a remake of a British film by the same name, but this time the devil is the beautiful Elizabeth Hurley who grants Elliot (played by Brandon Fraiser) seven wishes to win the affections of the woman he loves. Unfortunately he trades his soul for these seven wishes that just don’t seem to work as he is promised by the devil. Elliot transforms into several powerful men, but no matter how fabulous he is, the devil has “loopholes” with each wish, and he can’t win.

Ghost (1990) This movie is hands down the best of all time when it comes to a supernatural theme and a hauntingly beautiful love story. Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and the fabulously funny Whoopi Goldberg light up the screen with this tale of love and betrayal. A young stockbroker (Patrick Swayze) is murdered before his time, leaving behind the love of his life, Demi Moore. Because of his love he is able to stay on earth as a ghost and finds his killer, who happens to be his best friend. (or was) Oda Mae Brown (Whoopie) plays a “medium/psychic” who is able to communicate with him and help him find the killer before he goes after Molly (Moore).

Meet Joe Black (1998) The devil meets love in this very long, but intriguing movie. Brad Pitt is “achingly” handsome as the devil, Anthony Hopkins is his usual brilliant self, and Claire Forlani exhumes an ethereal air as the woman who conquers the devil’s heart. (This is before the Botox on her lips). The devil (Joe Black) announces to media Mogul Bill Parrish, that his days are numbered, he’s about to die. Parrish has a daughter who falls madly in love with Death and then it gets complicated as Death decides to take the girl with him, Parrish fights him, Death in the end does the right thing… so watch the movie.

Beastly (2011) This is an urban tale with the same story line as Beauty and the Beast. Although the reviews weren’t great, I found this movie to be hugely entertaining. The plot focuses on Kyle Kingson, a wealthy and arrogant high school student. During an environmental event, he is disrespectful to a classmate, who is secretly a witch in disguise. The witch then casts a spell on Kyle to disfigure his body and face, giving him one year to find love or be left with his monstrous appearance forever. He falls for a nice highschool girl (yes this is a highschool movie) and the rest is “Beauty and the Beast” history.

Cristina is author of Gypsy Wisdom, Ancient Magic for the Modern Witch, and Magical Folk Love Spells, all available at Amazon.com


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