HALLOWEENTOWN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Every day this month, resident horror movie enthusiast and 828newsNOW staff reporter Pruett Norris is recommending a Halloween film for your macabre amusement.
Whether they be monster movies or fearsome family films, demonic possessions or slasher sensations, this exercise hopes to encourage spooky seasonal “scream”ings at home or in cinemas.
As the old saying goes, “trick or treat, trick or treat, give me something good to…watch.”
Day 14: KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989, 103 min., directed by Hayao Miyazaki)
Hayao Miyazaki has directed a great many gentle movies, from “Ponyo” to “My Neighbor Totoro,” but “Kiki’s Delivery Service” may be his gentlest.
The film follows Kiki, a 13-year-old witch, and her black cat Jiji as they settle into a new city. In this world, witches exist sort of as patron saints, each providing their special skills to one town apiece.
For Kiki, that talent is kindness and single day Prime delivery.
The stakes of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” are incredibly small, but they feel magnified by how seriously the story takes Kiki. For instance, Kiki delivers a pot pie to one client a little late and a little damp.
That isn’t the worst thing in the world to most people, but it’s the most consequential plot turn in the movie for Kiki, and doesn’t feel silly in the slightest with the film’s treatment of it.
The lightness of the plot makes room for more important stuff. “Kiki’s Delivery Service” is about self-acceptance, teenage crushes, cool older mentors and entrepreneurship, and it rocks.
It’s the perfect cozy Halloween film for you and your cat. Mine watched it cuddled up with me when she wasn’t batting at Kiki flying across the screen.
“Kiki’s Delivery Service” is now available to stream on Max.
Looking for more October movie recommendations? Read the rest of the 828boosNOW archive:
DAY 1: BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
DAY 3: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS
DAY 5: SCOOBY-DOO! AND THE WITCH’S GHOST
DAY 7: THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT