THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN
A woman learns the value of personal relationships after a visit from three Halloween spirits.
Should You Watch It?
Skip this holiday romance about a workaholic woman who reconsiders her priorities after three Halloween spirits show her visions of the past, present, and future.
The plot mostly consists of these supernatural encounters, leaving little room for meaningful character development. Everly’s romance with family friend Beau also feels underdeveloped. He receives so little screen time that their eventual confession of feelings feels more convenient than earned.
Occult elements haunt nearly every scene. Set on Halloween Eve, the movie features Halloween parties, trick-or-treating, and repeated encounters with spirits who guide Everly through her life. Some immoral content includes Everly’s former boyfriend cheating on her.
The premise borrows from Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL but this Halloween spin lacks the depth and heart that make the classic story memorable. Love is in the air, but so is the supernatural, so watch with discernment.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESEverly, a busy wedding dress designer, prefers work to romance or friendship, especially around Halloween, a holiday that reminds her of a painful breakup. Three Halloween spirits visit her, showing how her behavior affects her and others. Everly must decide whether to change her ways and take a chance on love.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars for a Halloween romance that gets lost in its own ghost story. This movie suffers from a thin plot that revolves around Everly’s encounters with several Halloween ghosts who show her visions of the past, present, and future.
There’s little action and, honestly, little to hold viewers’ interest. Everly’s journey isn’t particularly compelling, and her romance with family friend Beau falls flat. He barely appears in the movie, making their eventual pairing feel more convenient than earned.
A few funny moments help, especially thanks to Lachlan Quarmby as a too-cool Ghost of Halloween Future. However, even his comedic charm can’t breathe much life into this lackluster holiday romance.
The Worldview
A mixed Pagan worldview with strong occult elements drive this movie. The story centers on Everly’s encounters with Halloween “spirits” who teach her to value her personal relationships over her work.
Some moral values pop up, including friendship, humility, and gratitude for life. For example, Everly apologizes for being rude to a co-worker and eventually promotes her. However, the agents of Everly’s change are ghosts, not God, her conscience, or the counsel of friends.
The movie depicts a spirit world where the dead communicate with the living and guide them toward a better life, a practice the Bible explicitly forbids (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). By crediting these spirits with Everly’s transformation, the movie undercuts its own positive message and gives viewers a confused picture of where real change comes from.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Mixed Pagan worldview with strong occult themes, such as the presence of Halloween “spirits” who show the main character visions of the past, present, and future. Light moral themes, like the emphasis on choosing personal relationships over work;
Foul Language
No foul langauge
Violence
No violence;
Sex
A couple kiss. Discussion about the main character's boyfriend cheating on her;
Nudity
No nudity;
Alcohol Use
One scene shows characters drinking alcohol at a bar
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drug use; and,
Miscellaneous Immorality
The main character isrude to her employee, but apologizes and promotes her.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The movie takes a lighthearted view of occult themes like ghosts. Even though it might seem harmless, why is engaging with mainstream forms of the occult like this ultimately a slippery slope? Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Everly learns to prioritize personal relationships over work. How does working for career advancement differ from working for the Lord? Colossians 3:23–24
Characters celebrate Halloween in this movie. What are some things you and your Christian community can do on this day to shine a “light” in the world as directed by Matthew? Matthew 5 14:16
The Final Word
Ultimately, THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN offers a worthy lesson about putting people before work, but the path to that lesson sends viewers in the wrong direction. Lasting change doesn’t come from visits by the dead. It comes from God, who transforms hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Viewers looking for a story about priorities and second chances deserve one that points them to that true source rather than to the spirit world.
