Get Dead: The Midnight Hour (1985)

If you're Gen X, then you probably remember some truly great Halloween programming on local and cable television. You made a note to self to park your butt in front of the television set back in the days of you-watch-it-when-we-say-you'll-watch-it-or-you'll-miss-it. You planned your trick-or-treating around it. You begged to eat dinner in the living room (because you also didn't have little portable television sets in your hands back then, either (even if you did, ignoring your parents at the dinner table in favor of that little device would have been a one-way ticket to an ass whooping). And I'm willing to bet THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (1985) was one of them. *SPOILERS AHEAD*

"The Midnight Hour," directed by Jack Bender, 1985

It's Halloween night in Pitchford Cove, Massachusetts. Melissa Cavender and her merry band of buddies decide to steal their costumes, along with other artifacts from the local history museum and read the words on an ancient scroll in the middle of a graveyard to add effect. What could go wrong? Especially since Melissa is a latent sorceress and distant relative of a 300-year dead witch/vampire. I'm not gonna lie, this has always been my brand of fun as opposed to drinking and drugs. My mother would totally breathe a sigh of relief to find out that I've committed grand theft and raised the dead instead of come home smelling like beer and cigarettes.

Melissa Cavender is played by the beautiful Shari Belafonte (Harry's daughter). Her evil ancestor, Lucinda, by Jonell Allen, who saw continued success in television. The two bring a level of depth and formidability to the two evil sorceresses raising and controlling the dead in such a lighthearted film safe for family viewing. Lucinda's attack on the as yet mischievous, but innocent Melissa was one of the most disturbing, things I had seen on broadcast television. Lucinda follows Melissa to the wine cellar to suggest the best year (she would know, right?) and as Melissa scans the room for a bottle to share with her guests, Lucinda bares her teeth and spreads her cape. The Smith's How Soon is Now hauntingly plays as Wine bottles burst and red wine flows rather than blood, because remember, folks... this is network television, and we still had a little decorum. Besides, it was just as effective as gore, and the image stuck in the minds of many budding young horror fans for years to come until we had the internet and could ask each other, "What movie was that?" and find another beloved piece of our childhood.

Our leading man, Phil - played by Lee Montgomery (Girls Just Want to Have Fun, 1985) - couldn't decide on a costume or something, because he chose to go with Dracula if he were a member of Kiss... I think. I don't know. But that's the fun of costume parties, right? Looking at someone and not being able to figure out if they were sober at the time they chose this, or if they're just unironically terrible at this. I'll take this nonsense over your basic toilet humor lazy costume any time, though. But I digress....

Phil meets a mysterious new girl that night. She's chosen to dress as a 1950s-style cheerleader, she's stunningly beautiful, and she seems to know that something is amiss in the town of Pitchford this Halloween night. Sandy Matthews was played by the gorgeous and sweet in real-life Jonna Lee who retired from acting not long after this film.

Melissa's assuming her ultimate form has all but spoiled her plans to throw the ultimate Halloween costume party. She and Lucinda begin turning everyone at the shindig into various creatures of the night, and continue raising the dead. It isn't long before the town is overrun by the undead. And Sandy knows that if Phil fails to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and seal the scroll with the Grenville Spirit Ring by midnight, the curse will become permanent, and Phil's friends faces will be stuck like that. Hilarity ensues as the undead party it up, create more undead, imbibe, and participate in the obligatory 1980s dance break inspired by Michael Jackson's Thriller, which had just released a couple years prior.

Rounding out this amazing cast, are LeVar Burton (Reading Rainbow, 1983), Peter DeLuise (21 Jump Street, 1987), Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1956), Cindy Morgan (Tron, 1982), Dedee Pfeiffer (Falling Down, 1993), Dick Van Patten (Spaceballs, 1987), Kurtwood Smith (That 70s Show, 1998), and Macaulay Culkin in his first - though, uncredited - role as a trick-or-treater.

Seriously, how is this movie not being fought over by every single streaming platform around Halloween? And how is it not in print?? With a loaded steel book edition from Scream Factory??? Who do I have to talk to? Get me their number. I'd pay the $125 for a copy of the VHS, but my cats somehow put some kitty litter into the VCR, so that's useless until I can repair it or find one in the local antique store.

It had a bangin' soundtrack, too. I've included a Spotify playlist below. You're welcome.

Anyway... *takes a minute to cool down*

Thank Lilith it's on YouTube.

I've strived my entire life to find Halloween parties as epic as Melissa's in The Midnight Hour. They're a rare breed anymore. It's always Millennials throwing highly structured theme parties in their sterile IKEA-styled houses in HOA neighborhoods where you're not allowed to speak above a hushed tone unless you're reporting someone for their grass being a centimeter too long. It just doesn't cultivate the debaucherous vibe you need in order to have a real Halloween party. I want offensive decorations. Everyone's shitty beaters parked up and down the street. Chips, dips, chains, whips. I want the cops to be called by the curmudgeonly neighbor so we have an excuse to toilet paper their house later. I want the music loud, and if someone doesn't scream and shit their pants by night's end, it's a bust.

This movie and Weird Science (1985) really set the standard for parties in general. Which is why I'm usually bored and contemplating a food fight with the host's charcuterie board ten minutes in. But again, I digress...

This movie also gave little me my first taste of star-crossed romance in the form of The Vanishing Hitchhiker urban legend; or a play on it, if you will. Phil must stop the legion of undead from taking over, but when he does the sweet and lovely Sandy will be gone forever. For she, too, is one of the undead. Man, that really wrenched my little heart. As Phil drives away from the cemetery, legendary disc jockey Wolfman Jack announces a song request. This one goes out to Phil from Sandy. Ugh. So cute. Is this a dark romance the BookTok girlies would be into? Probably not. It's not toxic enough.

Director, Jack Bender went on to become a successful producer, and directed Child's Play 3 in 1991. I'd like to shake that man's hand. He really knew how to toe the line with network television and horror that makes a lasting impression. Maybe someday The Midnight Hour will make another big splash, and usher in a new generation of horror fans and Halloween tradition.

Until then...

Get Dead.