Archives for 2023

Three young girls try to stick together as they get trapped in a sea cave filled with crashing waves, hundreds of sea lions, and giant elephant seals.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Hanadie K. comments, “I love The Island of Lost Girls! Its captivating storyline, outstanding performances by young actresses who fearlessly handle their own stunts and breathtaking cinematography on a remote island make it a must-see family thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.” Selene W. adds, “The Island of Lost Girls is a strange juxtaposition of a childhood “Mission Impossible” combined with “Survivor.”   As a viewer I felt a bit lost in this film. The storyline follows three orphaned girls who seek adventure together on the beach in California.”  Gavin S. wraps it up with, “The Island Of Lost Girls is an action-packed film that is a roller coaster of emotions and lots of plot twists. I really enjoyed this film because of the lessons you learn, and the adventures you take. The storyline is filled with exciting moments that make the whole experience even better.” See their full reviews below.

The Island of Lost Girls 
By Hanadie K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I love The Island of Lost Girls! Its captivating storyline, outstanding performances by young actresses who fearlessly handle their own stunts and breathtaking cinematography on a remote island make it a must-see family thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The storyline follows three young sisters who accidentally become stranded on a remote island, battling nature’s dangers and wildlife as they strive to stay together and survive a thrilling, unplanned adventure.

I like the originality of the storyline, which engaged me throughout. The girls’ resilience in the face of challenges adds depth to the narrative. The only drawback is that the film runs a bit long which makes it difficult to maintain its intensity.  The cinematography completely immerses the audience in a captivating world with breathtaking shots that showcase the remote island’s wild beauty and close-ups that intensify emotional moments, such as the sisters’ struggles. The camera effectively captures encounters with wildlife, like sea lions and elephant seals, which adds to the film’s tension. Dynamic camera angles within the sea cave enhance the sense of adventure and danger.  The costumes suit the storyline perfectly – given the girls being stranded on a remote island, they primarily wear wet bathing suits throughout the film. The remote island off the coast of Baja, California, serves as a breathtaking and immersive setting with its rugged coastline, sea caves and natural wildlife, such as sea lions and elephant seals; it creates a sense of realism that enhances the adventure and peril of the girls’ journey. One standout location is the sea cave, which becomes the story’s central element of tension and wonder. The dark, labyrinthine passages of the cave, illuminated by natural light, add a sense of mystery and danger.  The background music, featured music, and sound effects enhance the film’s storytelling. Notably, the music intensifies during critical moments, such as when the girls face danger or navigate treacherous waters, effectively building tension. The natural sounds of the sea, waves and wildlife make the audience feel intimately connected to the characters and their struggle for survival. The central characters are portrayed by real-life sisters Autumn Schmidt, Avila Schmidt and Scarlet Schmidt. The sisters are carefree and adventurous at the start, embarking on a fun day at the beach. However, their characters transform significantly as the story unfolds, and they become stranded on the remote island. They evolve from carefree individuals into determined and resourceful young girls who have to rely on one another to survive. Each sister faces personal challenges and fears, and their growth is evident in their ability to confront and conquer these obstacles. This film benefits significantly from the collaborative efforts of the filmmaker family, with parents Ann-Marie Schmidt and Brian Schmidt directing and co-writing the film alongside their daughter Avila Schmidt. Their combined talents result in a cohesive and emotionally engaging narrative, and excellent performances by their daughters, Autumn, Avila, and Scarlet.  My favorite part is when the girls dare to escape from their house to sneak to the beach. This scene captures their adventurous spirit and sets the tone for the entire film. It’s a moment filled with excitement and anticipation as the sisters embark on what they believe will be a carefree day of fun. The scene effectively establishes their characters and close bond, making it a memorable and engaging start to their remarkable journey.

The film’s message is about the strength of family bonds and the ability to adapt and grow in the face of adversity. It highlights the power of unity and determination and the importance of facing challenges together. It conveys that, even in the most challenging situations, the support and love of family can help individuals overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Note that the film does show kids doing risky things that kids might imitate. The girls perform dangerous stunts and engage in water activities that require caution and expertise. 

I give The Island of Lost Girls 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It is available on VOD and DVD October 3, 2023. So look for it! 

The Island of Lost Girls 
By Selene W., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

The Island of Lost Girls is a strange juxtaposition of a childhood “Mission Impossible” combined with “Survivor.”   As a viewer I felt a bit lost in this film.  

The storyline follows three orphaned girls who seek adventure together on the beach in California. The story begins with an adoption interview with the oldest daughter Avila (Avila Marie Schmidt) which turns out to be unsuccessful when the couple realizes that Avila has two younger sisters and they are not ready for that kind of commitment.  The middle sister, Autumn (Autumn Fiore Schmidt), declares it’s going to be “a grand adventure, I promise” and her words are truer than anyone could predict.  As the girls sneak out together to overcome their disappointment about the failed adoption, they encounter wildlife and dangerous situations after they are caught in a rip current and pulled away from shore.  Luckily, they overcome these situations and learn to survive together on a remote island.

The cinematography, under the direction of Heatha McGrath, is outstanding and really highlights the beauty of the island and wildlife.  I really love all the interesting camera angles and wildlife footage – the location is incredible.  The camera work is outstanding. I like how they included all the childhood flashback scenes.  I should mention that the film is truly a labor of love by the entire Schmidt family. The parents, Ann-Marie Schmidt and Brian Schmidt direct and co-write the film and the girls are all played by their three children, Avila, Autumn and Scarlet. The music by Cali Wang drives the emotions in the film and the three girls contribute musically as well.  You cannot find three more independent, fearless and adorable girls who I easily fell in love with.  Their interaction is genuine and makes you want to be part of their family, especially the youngest, precocious Scarlet. The girls’ adventures include unbelievable and dangerous scenes against the ocean waves and currents combined with local wildlife such as sea lions. Scarlet interacts closely with elephant seals which are dangerous and fighting.  Avila and Autumn scale cliffs and maneuver through dangerous caves and Autumn falls from dangerous heights in more than one scene which makes their adventure seem more like a dangerous mission.  In spite of all that, the girls learn to survive on this island and to scavenge resources and food from wildlife and what is available to them.  

The film’s message is that love is unconditional and demonstrates how you can be independent and take risks while supporting one another in the spirit of love.  Most of the film shows and even glorifies dangerous behavior for young children such as the girls performing dangerous stunts and water activities. There is very little adult supervision shown, which makes it doubly dangerous.

I rate The Island of Lost Girls, 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18.  It is available on VOD October 3, 2023.  

The Island Of Lost Girls

By Gavin S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

The Island Of Lost Girls is an action-packed film that is a roller coaster of emotions and lots of plot twists. I really enjoyed this film because of the lessons you learn, and the adventures you take. The storyline is filled with exciting moments that make the whole experience even better.

The storyline follows three orphan sisters, Avila (Avila Schmidt) Autumn (Autumn Fiore) and Scarlet (Scarlet Schmidt) – these three sisters are waiting to be adopted. After being rejected Avila feels bummed, and to cheer her up Autumn helps them sneak out to the beach. They are having so much fun until something horrible happens that causes them to go on an unexpected journey.

This action-filled film is full of risk-taking moments. The action is phenomenal, and the girls show that, even though they are young, they can still act. I also really enjoyed the plot twists, and this film is filled with them. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, they got much worse. For example, when Autumn is hanging off the edge of the cliff, I thought it would be another cliché moment where she gets saved, but she doesn’t. Another thing I enjoyed is the storyline. I like how it is so unpredictable. Apart from all these positives I did notice that in some scenes that it appears the sea lions are added in post-production. Although it isn’t very noticeable it is something that bugged me. Also, in multiple different scenes they seem to use the exact same clip of the sea lions. It certainly appears that way. Another thing that bothered me is that when the girls first get stranded in the ocean Avila’s hair switches from dry to wet from one scene to the next, without showing why or how. This is a bit of a spoiler but, I don’t like the ending where the girls end up not being saved, but instead they learn to survive.

This film has many messages, but the most interesting and true-to-life is that, with the support of a family member you can do anything. As a warning to anyone wanting to watch this film it does contain some gore.

I give The Island Of Lost Girls 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 through 12. It releases on VOD on October 3, 2023.

The Island of Lost Girls
By Nathalia J. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 15

The Island Of Lost Girls is a must- see family thriller with a captivating storyline, outstanding performances and breathtaking cinematography.  I was engaged from start to finish.

The storyline follows three young girls who try to stick together as they get trapped in a sea cave filled with crashing waves, hundreds of sea lions and giant elephant seals. It presents an intriguing premise that explores themes of resilience, friendship and the power of the human spirit.

Set against the backdrop of a remote and mysterious island, the story unfolds with suspenseful twists and turns, which kept me at the edge of my seat continuously. With its vivid descriptions, well-developed characters and a narrative that seamlessly combines elements of doubt, drama, and personal growth, The Island of Lost Girls offers such excitement. As the girls strive to find a getaway, they stumble upon a remarkable sight, a massive elephant. This unexpected encounter introduces a sense of awe and mystery to the story. It remains to be seen how the girls will interact with this colossal creature and whether it will play a central role in their quest to leave the cave. Throughout their journey, these girls must rely on their resourcefulness, bravery, and ability to collaborate to survive and ultimately find their way back to safety. The film explores themes of friendships, perseverance and the invulnerable nature of the human spirit when faced with adversity. This film is a remarkable production by a family. The girls are portrayed by real-life sisters Autumn Schmidt, Avila Schmidt and Scarlet Schmidt. The film is directed by their parents, Ann-Marie Schmidt and Brian Schmidt; Brian also co-writes the film with their daughter, Avila Schmidt. The film’s cinematography truly catches graceful scenes that highlight the natural beauty of the island and close-ups that show emotional reactions when the sisters face all the challenges thrown at them.

The film’s message is about empowerment and independence. As the girls find themselves isolated on an island, it showcases their resilience and ability to thrive despite as castaways. I also feel like the girls experience self-discovery as they process their true self and values when they face obstacles and have to confront their fears. I do want to point out that the girls and shown doing quite risky things in and around the water that kids should not imitate.

I give The Island of Lost Girls 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It is available on VOD and DVD October 3, 2023. Check it out!

The children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful game developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, leading them to become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Hanadie K. comments, “Wow! Spy Kids: Armageddon is an action-packed, family-friendly adventure that takes the beloved Spy Kids franchise to new heights. Directed by the visionary Robert Rodriguez, this film combines thrilling spy missions with heartwarming family moments, making it a fantastic addition to the series.” See her full review and interview below.

Spy Kids: Armageddon

By Hanadie K, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Wow! Spy Kids: Armageddon is an action-packed, family-friendly adventure that takes the beloved Spy Kids franchise to new heights. Directed by the visionary Robert Rodriguez, this film combines thrilling spy missions with heartwarming family moments, making it a fantastic addition to the series.

The film follows the next generation of Spy Kids, Nora Torrez (Gina Rodriguez) and Terrance Tango (Zachary Levi)’s children, tasked to save the world from a diabolical villain’s doomsday device. The young cast, led by talented newcomers Connor Esterson and Everly Carganilla, brings fresh energy to the franchise. The action sequences are exhilarating, and the gadgets are as ingenious as ever, providing a visual spectacle that left me on the edge of my seat.

Spy Kids: Armageddon excels in production elements. The imaginative sets, cleverly designed spy gadgets, and visually stunning special effects create a world that feels familiar and full of surprises. Standout performances by Everly Carganilla as Patty Tango-Torrez and Connor Esterson as Tony Tango-Torrez add depth to the cast, and their chemistry with the lead characters is delightful. Rodriguez’s signature style shines through in the film’s direction, keeping the pace engaging and fully immersing the audience in the Spy Kids universe.

At its core, Spy Kids: Armageddon delivers a positive message about teamwork, family and believing in oneself. The young spies face challenges and make mistakes, but ultimately learn and grow from their experiences. 

I give Spy Kids: Armageddon 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults who have fond memories of the original Spy Kids movies. You can catch this exciting family adventure right now on Netflix, making it a perfect choice for a cozy movie night at home with your little spies-in-training.

Trailer:

Join us on an Oscar Wilde adventure where being scary is not what it used to be! As the nineteenth gives way to the twentieth century and scientific invention brings forth new ways of traversing and seeing the world, a modern American family moves into their recently purchased, country home, Canterville Chase, in England, only to find it is haunted by a ghost. Sir Simon de Canterville has been haunting the grounds of Canterville Chase successfully for over three hundred years, but he meets his match when he tries to scare out the new arrivals.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Zoe C. comments, “The new animated film, The Canterville Ghost by British director Robert Chandler honors the author’s geniality with a beautiful film that is not just entertaining and fun to watch but also captivates with the characters adventures and dilemmas.” Sydney S. adds, “I really like the animated film, The Canterville Ghost. It definitely got me into the Halloween spirit. It’s an enjoyable watch, sprinkled with mysteries and comedy, plus a compelling plot and likable characters.” Avalon N. wraps it up with, “The Canterville Ghost’s animation style is absolutely incredible. It has the perfect amount of realism mixed with animation that creates the perfect combination that makes the film even more interesting. The plot and characters’ relations are absolutely hilarious and stunning.” See their full reviews and interviews below.

The Canterville Ghost

By Zoe C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

The new animated film, The Canterville Ghost by British director Robert Chandler honors the author’s geniality with a beautiful film that is not just entertaining and fun to watch but also captivates with the characters adventures and dilemmas.

The humorous short story The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde has been adapted into different forms like films, radio, TV episodes and even an Opera since its release in 1887. True to the original book, the story follows a modern American family that moves to their recently purchased country home, Canterville Chase in England. The Otis family consists of Dad (David Harewood), Mom (Meera Syal), two twin wild sons (Jakey Schiff, Bennett Miller) and Virginia (Emily Carey), a rebellious and determined teenager. Soon they discover the old mansion is inhabited by a ghost who has been wandering its corridors and rooms for over 300 years – Sir Simon de Canterville. The subsequent encounters are unexpected as the past repeats itself.

Although the animation doesn’t offer innovations, this film is absolutely charming, and is very well done. The concept of haunted houses is typically a crowd pleaser. Most audiences can’t deny the pleasure they feel by being scared, especially when they are in a safe place like a movie theater. The Canterville Ghost capturesthis thrill in its production design and the narrative storytelling offered by co-directors Kim Burden and Robert Chandler. The vibrant colors and color palette really caught my attention. I love how the animation is filled with details in costume design. One of the aspects I most enjoyed is the camera work, from the oscillating shots that make you feel like a POV of Sir Simon, to some camera placements that feel like somebody’s watching from a hidden place. The characters are funny and I love Virginia’s journey from not wanting to be in the house to her intrepid relationship with Sir Simon. Stephen Fry delivers the perfect emotion voicing Sir Simon de Canterville. He not only has the perfect gravitas for the most iconic character in the film, he has previously interpreted Oscar Wilde. Emily Carey portrays her role as defiant, brave and determined – with Virginia in total command.

The film’s message is to value people of all persuasion and to make the most of your lifetime. The Canterville Ghost has the perfect tone for young audiences and will delight grownups with its amusing narration.

I give The Canterville Ghost 5 out of five stars and recommended it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults.  The film opens in theaters nationwide on October 20, 2023 – right on time for Halloween celebrations.

The Canterville Ghost

By Sydney S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

I really like the animated film, The Canterville Ghost. It definitely got me into the Halloween spirit. It’s an enjoyable watch, sprinkled with mysteries and comedy, plus a compelling plot and likable characters.

The Otis family just moved into a new home that’s notorious for housing the ghost Sir Simon de Canterville. He has successfully haunted every resident up until now. Will the family be the exception?

The main characters are Sir Simon de Canterville (Stephen Fry), Virginia Otis (Emily Carey), the Duke of Cheshire (Freddie Highmore), Lucretia Otis (Meera Syal), Hiram Otis (David Harewood, Louis Otis (Jake Schiff), Kent Otis (Bennett Miller) and Mrs. Umney (Imelda Staunton). The characters are all so loving and respectable toward each other, which makes the story very enjoyable. Their genuine interactions show that the family cares so much for each other. Each of the characters has unique personality traits. I especially like Virginia, who is both strong-willed and kind hearted. Her anger reflects her passion, and I admire her ambitious mindset. I also appreciate that the writers adapted those personality traits into a female teen, which gives inspiration for young girls. Virginia is forced to move away from all her friends, so she needs time adjusting to her new life. It’s a lot to handle, but it adds to her character development. Also, the twin brothers, Louis and Kent, are two peas in a pod, but get into a lot of trouble. It’s amusing to watch their shenanigans, like when they toss around a ghost’s head as if it’s a football. This film is based on the novella by Oscar Wilde. The movie brings this beloved story to life and makes it entertaining for the younger generation. I applaud the producers and directors, Robert Chandler and Kim Burdon, for adapting the story into an enjoyable watch. The animation is incredible and extremely realistic. The quality is great, as well. When the house is on fire, the flames look real. Speaking of the house, this setting is magical and reminds me of a haunted house at night. My favorite part of the film is when all of the members of the Royal Society start flying around in a circle on the ceiling. The Canterville Ghost makes them fly, which made me laugh because all of them are completely afraid. The guest’s costumes are elegant and royal, from puffy dresses to fancy suits.

The message of this film is that love is all you need. Sir Simon de Canterville states, “Love is the greatest adventure of them all.” It’s also about letting go, forgiveness, friendship, and family. 

I give The Canterville Ghost 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. The Canterville Ghost releases in theaters October 20, 2023. 

The Canterville Ghost

By Avalon N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

The Canterville Ghost is a hilarious and entertaining movie. It has lots of twists and turns and definitely showcases some very funny plot points throughout the film. 

The storyline follows an American family who moves into a manor called Canterville Chase in England. However it turns out their manor has been haunted for 300 years and there’s a ghost named Sir Simon de Canterville attempting to scare them out. None of the family is scared by the ghost though and he must continue to find ways to try to freak them out. The ghost also tries to break his curse of being stuck haunting the manor for all eternity and this family might just be his way out.

The Canterville Ghost’s animation style is absolutely incredible. It has the perfect amount of realism mixed with animation that creates the perfect combination that makes the film even more interesting. The plot and characters’ relations are absolutely hilarious and stunning. All the characters have such diverse and interesting connections to each other such as Sir Simon de Canterville (Stephen Fry) who is the ghost haunting the manor. The diversity resembles the diversity in our own society and communities. It’s almost like they are real people. The characters themselves are also very relatable. Such as this one character named Virginia Otis (Emily Carey) who does not want to move and does everything she can to try to get out of it. Despite ghost movies being a relatively common concept, this one takes a whole new turn that definitely spices up the story. Such as the one at the very beginning where you find that the family is a lot harder to scare than the ghost thought.  It is also not such a scary movie which makes it more suitable for younger kids. The beginning is a little hard to understand as it takes off without a lot of context. It does make more sense once the story develops.

The message of this film is that you have to stop and smell the roses and not be too impulsive or you might get really hurt.

I give The Canterville Ghost 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18 plus adults. It will be released in theaters on October 20, 2023. 

Larkin Campbell is scaring up a new creative outlet just in time for Halloween. The L.A.-based actor and author is debuting as a children’s book co-author with his 10-year-old daughter Shea. Halloween Harry, The Werewolf That Wasn’t Scary, published by Blue Balloon Press, the children’s book division of Ballast Books, was released today, October 17^th and features illustrations from Beau Berkley. Werewolves are supposed to be scary, but Harry isn’t scary at all! He’s much more likely to make you laugh than cause you to scream in terror. Harry’s brother, Larry, one of the scariest werewolves around, does his best to teach Harry how to frighten others, but it’s no use. As Halloween approaches and Harry still can’t scare anyone, he reflects on his unique talents. He may not be scary, but Harry is smart, curious, and funny. How can Harry make the most of the spooky season with his special skills? Read Halloween Harry: The Werewolf That Wasn’t Scary to find out! This is a fun book to read! Larkin and Shea will do their first-ever family book signing event at the Open Book Bookstore in the Westfield Topanga Village, 6316 Topanga Canyon. Blvd, Suite 2180, Woodland Hills, CA, Saturday, October 28^th, from Noon to 4 p.m. 

About the Authors:

Larkin Campbell has been a working actor in Hollywood for twenty-five years. He has written and produced fifteen short films, written three screenplays, and been featured in multiple parenting magazines. You can read about his adventures in Hollywood in his first book, A View from the Middle: How an Unknown Actor Managed to Stay That Way, available on Amazon Books or at larkinsworld.com.

Shea Campbell is an avid reader, dancer, and softball player. She is currently trying to finish the Harry Potter series. Her favorite Halloween candy is anything but Almond Joy, and she reserves the right to change costume ideas fifteen times before Halloween night. 

Beau Berkley is an illustrator based out of Brooklyn, NY. He has been drawing and painting since he could pick up a pencil. He graduated from Pratt Institute in New York City in 2014.

Halloween Harry- The Werewolf That Wasn’t Scary is available now at www.halloweenharrybook.com and everywhere books are sold.

Self Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book to feature. Images and information were also provided.

This next one is filled with such fun holiday recipes!

Come little children (and their grown ups), we’ll take thee
away to a land of kitchen enchantment! Join the Sanderson
Sisters in your own “torture chamber” and whip up some
spellbinding treats in this first-ever Hocus Pocus cookbook
designed for kid chefs.
Introducing The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook for
Kids: 50 Fun and Easy Recipes for Tricks, Treats, and
Spooky Eats Inspired by the Halloween Classic by Bridget
Thoreson [ISBN: 978-1646045457; $17.95; Ulysses Press;
September 2023], a kid-friendly follow-up to the USA Today best-seller The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook (Ulysses Press, 2021).
Craft some fun kitchen magic just in time for Halloween with more than 50 recipes inspired by the two movies. These kid-friendly ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions are perfect for All Hallow’s Eve, Salem Scare Fest, or any time of year.
Young witches and wizards will learn to conjure:
• Magicae “Mac”-xima n’ Cheese
• Harvest Vegetable Pizza
• “A Good Zombie” Toast
• Life Potion Punch
• Fully Charged Crystal Candy

Here is one of my favorite recipes from the book:

Excerpted from The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook for Kids by Bridget Thoreson. Copyright © 2023 Ulysses Press. Reprinted with permission from Ulysses Press. New York, NY. All rights reserved.

Krispy Rice Booooooks

These books may not have been bestowed by strange and ridiculously beautiful witches in a dark wood, but since they’re treats meant for children, that is definitely a good thing. Like a magical tome containing powerful and evil spells, these treats will tempt anyone from young magicians to “clever white witches.”

You can get as cute or as ugly as you desire with your decorations, but remember that all great boooo—ooo-ooooks have all-seeing eyes.

SERVES 12

PREP TIME 10 minutes

COOK TIME 20 minutes

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 (10-ounce) package of marshmallows

6 cups crispy rice cereal

12 White Milk Chocolate Hershey’s Kisses

1 tube black or brown cake-decorating icing

1. Place the butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stir, then microwave for another minute. Stir until smooth.

2. Add the crispy rice cereal to the melted marshmallows and stir with a wooden spoon until evenly mixed.

3. Coat a 13 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray. Evenly press the marshmallow mixture into the pan, using a buttered spatula or wax paper. Let cool completely.

4. Once cool, cut into 12 rectangles, 2 x 3 inches each. Press a white chocolate candy, point-down, into the right side of each rectangle.

5. Cut the tip of the icing tube. Squeeze the tube gently to make eyelashes for the candy eyes, scars, or other decorations.

Self Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book to facilitate this post. Images and recipes were also provided.

Bring the haunt home and add Disney’s Haunted Mansion to your movie collection. The film arrives at all major digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu/Fandango on October 4 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on October 17.

Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, Haunted Mansion is “a ghoulish delight” (Aaron Neuwirth, We Love Entertainment) that “captures the spooky fun of the theme park ride with a gaggle of family-friendly humor” (Julian Roman, Movieweb).

Fans can add the film to their collection and access exclusive never-before-seen bonus features including deleted scenes, extended gag reel and exclusive featurettes. Disney+ viewers can also watch the film from October 4 when it debuts on the streaming service.

Film Synopsis
Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, Haunted Mansion tells the story of Gabbie (Rosario Dawson), a single mom, who discovers that the home she and her son share is haunted by irksome ghosts. Hoping to restore domestic tranquility, Gabbie recruits a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid the house of the supernatural squatters. A non-stop blend of action, adventure and comedy featuring an all-star cast that includes LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto, Haunted Mansion was written by Katie Dippold and directed by Justin Simien. The film’s producers are Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, with Nick Reynolds and Tom Peitzman serving as executive producers.

Bonus Features*
FEATURETTES:

• Making Haunted Mansion (13:05) Hear from cast, crew and filmmakers about creating this grim grinning adventure based on the world-famous ride. See how the ghosts were “brought to life,” what role new technology played, and how the wildly popular attraction inspired the film’s design.
• 999 Happy Haunts (7:05) There are 999 Happy Haunts inside the Disney Parks’ attraction…but always room for one more! See all the Easter eggs (well, maybe not all of them) where characters big, small, alive, departed, human and otherwise appear in both the movie and the ride.

DELETED SCENES:
Take a look at some moments that passed on before the final version of Haunted Mansion was finished.

• Carol (0:45)
• 1 Star (0:44)
• Harriet’s House Of Intuition (3:11)
• They Say The Place Is Haunted (1:16)
• Between Realms (1:42)
• Crump Manor (1:07)
• Emergency Baptism (1:01)
• A Good Head For Business (0:32)

GAG REEL:

• Who knew making a scary movie could be so funny!

I really enjoyed this movie and highly recommend it! A fun family Halloween movie!

Self Disclosure: I received digital assets and information to post.

Everyone knows Fall Hollow is haunted. It has been ever since Abigail Snook went into the woods many years ago, never to be seen again. Since then, it’s been a tradition for the sixth graders at Beckett Elementary to play the Bellwoods Game on Halloween night. Three kids are chosen to go into the woods. Whoever rings the bell there wins the game and saves the town for another year, but if Abigail’s ghost captures the players first, the spirit is let loose to wreak havoc on Fall Hollow—or so the story goes. Now that it’s Bailee’s year to play, she can finally find out what really happens. And legend has it the game’s winner gets a wish. Maybe, just maybe, if Bailee wins, she can go back to the way things used to be before her grandma got sick and everyone at school started hating her. But when the night begins, everything the kids thought they knew about the game—and each other—is challenged. One thing’s for sure: something sinister is at play…waiting for them all in the woods.

Author Bio: Celia Krampien grew up in a house in the woods in a small town near Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. She studied illustration at Sheridan College and currently lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, with her partner, a mischievous cat, and a nosy beagle. She is the author of The Bellwoods Game.

At its heart, OCTOBER WITCHES is about the importance of family and of connection with others. While the curse of being an October witch threatens to drive the entire family apart, it is Clemmie’s love for them and her determination not to give up that saves them all and brings them back together again. With Arthurian elements, themes of friendship and family, a whole lot of magic and witchery, and quirky, offbeat family of eccentric aunts, this is sure to please.

Clemmie’s voice is an absolute delight, and her quirky, offbeat family of eccentric aunts are, no pun intended, deeply enchanting. They are a new offering in a genre grounded by its casts of communities of idiosyncratic and unconventional women—think Practical Magic, Hocus Pocus, and The Craft.

Both books are perfect for Middle-grade students!

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

I’m the biggest fan of Snoopy and the Peanuts gang so I was delighted to receive this next book! A spooky season classic gets new life in this lap board book edition of the Peanuts gang’s whimsical Halloween adventures!

It’s Halloween night, and the Peanuts gang is busy dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating, and bobbing for apples. Meanwhile, Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin to rise from the pumpkin patch and bring toys to all the children of the world. Could this be the year it finally appears? I love this story and it’s a must-buy!

With her stick-on fangs and widow’s peak drawn in waterproof eyeliner, Sylvie is an expert at pretending to be a vampire. More kids at school would know that if they bothered to join her monster LARPing (live action role playing) club. Not even her dad understands her passion for the undead and denies her request to attend a monster LARPing summer camp. But Sylvie is not so easily deterred. She decides to tell her dad she’s attending another camp located near Monster Camp then sneak over to her real destination after he drops her off. Sylvie feels bad lying to her dad, but there’s no way she’s going to miss the chance to finally meet other kids that share her interests. And when she lays eyes on Monster Camp, she knows it was all worth it—the immersive campgrounds look like they came off a Hollywood lot! But when an obnoxious kid dressed like a werewolf gets punished by being magically turned into a Pomeranian, Sylvie realizes she made a critical miscalculation. These aren’t LARPers, they’re real monsters, and Sylvie’s preferred costume means she’s placed with blood-sucking, human-biting campers who would breathe fire if they knew the truth about her. She has no choice but to try to stick it out by doing exactly what she does best: pretending to be a monster.

About the Author: Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for The Palm Beach Post, The Kansas City Star, Associated Press, and more. She is the author of Sea Witch, The Princess Will Save You, Throw Like a Girl, and Monster Camp, among others. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids, and hangs out with her husband, Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas. Visit her at SarahHenningWrites.com.

Happy Halloween!

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to facilitate this post. Images and information were also provided.