The Highlander’s Favorite Halloween/ Spooky Season Movies

It is spooky season, y’all! Here are the Highlander’s staff picks for what Halloween movies you ought to watch to celebrate.

Alaina Valdespino, Staff Writer/ Photographer:

As an avid horror movie lover, it would be a crime for me to not recommend the classics. So, if you're looking for a good scare, then Halloween (1978 film), The Shining (1980), and It (the original 1990 film) would be my three absolute go to horror movies for the spooky season. That said, if horror isn’t your thing, I’d definitely make it a point to watch Disney’s Hocus Pocus. This film is my family's go to Halloween film because it’s perfect for getting you into the Halloween spirit. 

Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer:

Personally, I tend to be more of a drink-a-pumpkin-spice-latte-and jump-in-leaves type of fall person, so I’m not the one to go to for horror. However, the one Halloween movie I cannot praise enough is The Nightmare Before Christmas. It is classic, visually and aesthetically pleasing, and overall a delightful watch. Also, it qualifies as both a Halloween and Christmas movie, so it is seasonally appropriate to watch it twice a year!

Sandra Vo, Staff Writer:

With full honesty, I admit that I am a complete scaredy-cat and that I hate any and all horror movies. As a result, my recommendations come from the much more family-friendly end, and a few of my favorite classics It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and Spooky Buddies. Both of these movies are wonderful if you’re looking to sleep the following night!

Morgan Jacobus, Editor in Chief:

As a nostalgic child at heart, I have a special place in my heart for Disney Halloween movies. For instance, I recommend the Halloweentown movies (there are four in total). My roommate and I watched them last year on Halloween during the day (since our plans weren’t until night). I mean, it has Halloween right in the name so you can’t go wrong with those movies this spooky season. I also enjoy The Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphy, and I have fond memories of watching that on Disney Channel back in the day. If you have Disney+, you can stream childhood favorites like the ones I mentioned, as well as both Twitches movies, Hocus Pocus, and the Nightmare Before Christmas. A non-Disney childhood throwback for me is Monster House, which you can stream on Netflix. 

Vivian Pham, Staff Writer

I personally felt like not everybody enjoys scary movies, especially when it’s Halloween season and all the Anabelle and The Conjuring trailers start to show up if you don’t pay for that pricey YouTube Premium. So, I’d highly recommend one of my all-time favorite Tim Burton’s classic Halloween movies, Corpse Bride - an animated dark romance genre for those who are looking for a heart-broken movie night but still fit in with the vibe of the Halloween season. Be prepared not for a blanket to cover over your head and contain your scream, but a box of tissues to soak up those tears when Victor, the main character, is torn apart to make the right decisions.

How Long Is It?

By: Vivian Pham, Staff Writer

How long is it since you’ve come home?

How long is it since your last meal with your family?

How long is it since you’ve felt like home

And allow yourself to be surrounded 

with the people you love.

How long is it since the last time you’ve talked to your parents?

How long does it take to notice wrinkles on their eyes?

How long is it since the last time you’ve said “I love you” to them

Before bedtime like you always did when you were four?

How long is it since you’ve hugged someone

As tight as the wave

And as gentle as the forest?

To love and be loved,

To give and be given,

To go and return from the chaos

To be the person you truly are.

Public Transportation is Better, and Not Just for the Environment

By: Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer

In its most recent data, the CDC reported that the third leading cause of death in the United States are accidents, primarily those involving motor vehicles. As distressing a figure as this is, it does not even take into consideration the life altering injuries, disruptions of families, and financial ruin that can result from car accidents. Even though our situation with motor vehicle accidents has improved as time has progressed, they still cause immense grief and damage to our society and community as a whole and our current efforts are no longer doing enough. Although programs for increased driver education and campaigns against drunk and distracted driving have had an undoubtedly positive effect, if we want to create new strides in preventing and lessening the impacts of car accidents and injuries, we need to take new measures to prevent destruction on the road. While this problem is never going to have a single, simple solution, regional governments and communities can take action right now by improving public transportation systems so that people do not have to drive in the first place.

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Let’s Do That Hockey: Avalanche kick off season with decisive win over Chicago

The NHL is finally back! And with it the Colorado Avalanche. Once again the Stanley Cup favorites, the Avalanche, took on divisional opponent the Chicago Blackhawks for their season opener. There were some notable absences for the Avalanche in this game: the coach Jared Bednar and star center Nathan MacKinnon both tested positive for COVID and were put on the COVID protocol list causing them to miss this game. So to set the mood for the season, for the first time since 2020, the season opener had fans in attendance and we are all prepared for the return of the 82 game schedule. After writing a critical article on and attending the preeminent preseason game of the Avalanche, I was excited to sit down and take a look at how the team set the tone for the season. The season opener is a great way to impress and establish your identity right out of the gate.

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Dancing with the Stars’ Tango with Irrelevancy

Once revered as one of the greatest reality television shows of all time, Dancing with the Stars now faces a tall order to stay relevant in the age of streaming and decline of cable TV. Though it’s earned its place in the hearts of middle-aged people and the older generation, Dancing with the Stars has failed to capture a spot on the watchlist with a younger audience (many of whom may not even know what the acronym “DWTS” refers to).

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Dueling at the Reeg: OAP's Challenge Course

Written by Morgan Jacobus, Editor in Chief

Photos by Serriah Chavez and Sofia Flores, Staff Photographers

As the Outdoor Adventure Program was getting back into the swing of things, they hosted a Challenge Course Event in front of the Student Center on October 6. The main attraction was the jousting battles that took place, featuring some faculty members and the OAP leaders themselves. (Above photos by Sofia Flores)

Some of the all-star battles that kicked off the event was a faculty battle and OAP leaders Ellie and Cooper. (Above photos by Serriah Chavez)

But that wasn’t all! Other features of the event included a soft serve ice cream truck, a climbing wall, and an inflatable obstacle course. (Above photos by Serriah Chavez).

With all of that fun, it was a great event overall, but I would have to say that one of my personal highlights was the battle, or “celeb faculty grudge match” as one member in the crowd shouted, between Dave Law and Jason Taylor. Though it was clearly a rehearsed fight, with deliberate leaps and missed attacks, it was an entertaining match. Beforehand, I had a chat with Dave and he explained how he had been in a jousting duel before, back in Ranger Day 2000 or 2001 where he was against a basketball player, and unfortunately tore his ACL when he landed on the pedestal. So, the rehearsed match was valid, and it was still awesome that the two infamous faculty members put on a show for their students. The duel, after ending in a draw, resulted in a song sung from the two beloved Regis faculty. (Above photos by Serriah Chavez)

Photo by Serriah Chavez

A big thank you to the OAP crew for a great time had by all. Photo by Serriah Chavez