The Midnight Hour

I personally never heard about "The Midnight Hour" before in my life until a couple of friends and myself chose to watch it, but apparently this little made-for-TV film has a modest cult following and I've read in numerous praising reviews that it's a Halloween favorite of many horror fans that grew up during the 80's. It's not a bad film, but definitely not too great neither. "The Midnight Hour" is mainly a comedy feature and "homage" to old zombie movies instead of a typically 80's cheese and gore movie. A group of teenagers break into a costume shop on Halloween night and steal a chest that contains genuine witchery equipment to raise the dead. They all go to a remote graveyard together for a private party and the rest of the plot writes itself. The dead are raised, all right, but there are also several alternative types of creatures coming to life as well, like vampires, werewolves and a 50's cheerleader who seemingly doesn't seem to know how she died. Slow start, with overlong introductions of unimportant characters and a whole lot of Halloween information that isn't even accurate. There's also plentiful of clichéd situations/jokes, like the zombies not being recognized or even looked at as abnormal when they invade a Halloween costume party. I reckon this is a personal favorite of many, but personally I thought "The Midnight Hour" is bit boring and pointless as the zombies never really embark on a brain-eating rampage. It's an overlong film with full-length sing & dance intermezzos, for example a video that seems inspired by Michael Jackson's "Thriller". Speaking of which, the film does have a fantastic soundtrack including horror-themed songs like "Little Red Riding Hood", "Bad Moon Rising", "Clap for the Wolf Man" and of course Wilson Pickett's "The Midnight Hour".

I saw this movie ONLY ONCE when I was about 7 or 8 and it's still one of my favorite movies. I just remember how much it was like something i would have thought up back then (i was really into vampires and stuff) mixed with someone else's imagination. It is a really cute movie and I'm just now buying it..lol.

Sometimes on this website I really disagree with what the rating is for a movie on here. I understand though some movies that many other people like I don't or vice versa. But, this is one of those movies.

I suppose I should get to the story. It all takes place in the town of Pitchford Cove and near the beginning Phil Grenville (Lee Montgomery) shares with the audience and his classmates a bad history about the town that also includes his friend and classmate Melissa Cavender (Shari Belafonte). So the gang that also includes Melissa's man Vinnie (LeVar Burton), Mitch (Peter DeLuise) and Mary (Dedee Pfeiffer) go off to the local witchcraft museum in search of costumes for a Halloween party at Belafonte's place. Oh and if some of those last names seem familiar don't worry they are. They are either children or siblings of big stars like Harry Belafonte, Dom DeLuise and Michelle Pfeiffer. After they swipe some costumes they are then off to the graveyard where they accidentally awaken the dead and the terrible curse.

I found the characters in this movie stereotypical and felt I had seen these characters a hundred times before. For a movie with a rating so high I really did not find anything original or for that matter groundbreaking about this movie. I felt it was a tired old script, but perhaps I may be in the minority on that opinion.

The movie though does have some great classic songs though. And when I say classic I do not mean the 80s. I mean the 60s. The songs didn't really seem to 100% fit the characters or even some of the situations. The makeup effects though are really top notch and certainly a plus.

Also starring Kevin McCarthy as Judge Crandall or Mitch's dad. I really enjoyed McCarthy in this role, but it is a stereotypical 80s role for McCarthy. I just love seeing him angry and raging. Cindy Morgan also stars as teacher Vicky Jensen (who in fact is the same age as Shari Belafonte), Dick Van Patten as Phil's dad and Kurtwood Smith as Captain Warren Jensen.

I was only one year old when this movie came out and I saw it. It has stuck with me completely throughout the years, and will always for the rest of my life. The movie in itself was fantastic, funny, scary, you name it, this movie has it! It got me hooked on horror movies for life, and still remains my favorite movie of all time. The thing I remember most about it was the fantastic music, and that beautiful 1956 cadillac. I love this movie, and I have been unable to find a copy of it anywhere and it is never on tv anymore..it breaks my heart because i miss this movie so much! My opinion on this movie is, once you see it, it will stick with you forever!, It is a great fantastic movie for the whole family to enjoy. No nudity, no profanity, just clean cut humor for everyone. I highly reccomend it.

Now this is the kind of horror movie that I like, a movie thats good for both children and adults. This movie is a good choice for a Halloween get together. It's got a good cast, except for Harper which for some reason I just did not like in the movie, maybe it was that crazy dancing act during the party which reminded me of Micheal Jacksons "Thriller" which I understand was pretty popular during that time but unappropriate for this video. The story line of the 50's girl falling in love with the leading hero in the movie was touching and sweet and I loved the sad ending. I haven't seen this one in almost 18 years and it was nice to have seen it again. Rent this one for that special Halloween occasion and I'm sure you'll like it.