The Addams are creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky, and an all-around eccentric family. When con artists arrive on the scene, hellbent on making off with the immense Addams Family fortune using an accomplice to impersonate their long-lost Uncle Fester, all kinds of shenanigans ensue.
“The Addams Family” is based on characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams for a comic strip debuting in “The New Yorker” in 1938. The series was immensely popular and would run for many years, even spawning a television show in the 60s. The 1991 live-action film is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, who I guess you could think of as the “hit or miss” director of the 90s. How can the same mind responsible for “Men in Black” also be to blame for “Wild Wild West?” Sonnenfeld also directed the sequel to “The Addams Family,” “Addams Family Values.” His other credits include select episodes of the Netflix original “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and “Pushing Daisies.”
The film’s cast is iconically and perfectly fleshed out by Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams, Raul Julia as Gomez Addams, and Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester.
Cait’s Take: “The Addams Family” has always spoken to me, as a lifelong “creepy girl.” The spooky and kooky world of the film is absolutely spellbinding, as a young viewer, and #goals for an adult. This is one of those movies that just feels like Halloween. You’ve got these grand sets and amazing costuming and characters that get weirder and weirder. As an adult, it’s easy to dive into the deep end of horror during the Halloween season but I especially appreciate films that keep that “fun for the family” spirit. Halloween is supposed to be fun and “The Addams Family” is definitely fun. And actually incredibly witty. I’d say that “The Addams Family” ages a lot better than some other films like it from the 90s.
On a much more personal note, “The Addams Family” is honestly one of the more romantic movies enjoyed in my relationship. Gomez and Morticia are, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest couples in all of pop culture and media. I go in on this extra hard because I have absolutely found myself a Gomez Addams. So for me, in October, there’s an extra layer of putting on this favorite and snuggling up with my partner. Sappy, but true.
What are your Halloween favorites? Tweet or Instagram at us your fave horror films!
Caitlin is a lean, mean writing machine based in Austin, TX. Her love of film began when she was shown “Rosemary’s Baby” way too early in life. Bylines include The Financial Diet and Film Inquiry. Caitlin is a member of the Online Association of Female Film Critics and the Women Film Critics Circle.