At this point, going to a Spirit Halloween in the weeks leading up to Halloween is an annual tradition. Every year, the pop-up store chain takes over abandoned retail spots and sells all sorts of Halloween goodies. And now that the chain is so ubiquitous with the holiday in American culture, it’s getting its own movie.
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Sound like a bad idea to anyone else? Before you condemn “Spirit Halloween,” take a look at the upcoming film’s teaser. Sure, it’s a direct-to-video release, but the film has a serious “Stranger Things” vibe going on; maybe a more generic, kid-friendly version of the Netflix hit, but it’s there nonetheless. And with kid’s movie mainstay Christopher Lloyd on board as an evil spirit and Rachel Leigh Cook doing her best Joyce Byers impressions, it’s evident that’s what “Spirit Halloween” wants.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
When a Spirit Halloween Store opens in a deserted strip mall, three middle school friends who think they’ve outgrown trick or treating make a dare to spend the night locked inside the store Halloween night. But they soon find out that the store is haunted by an angry evil spirit who has possessed the creepy animatronic characters. The kids will need to embark on a thrilling and spooky adventure in order to survive the night and avoid becoming possessed themselves.
Alongside Cook and Lloyd, “Spirit Halloween” also stars Marla Gibbs, Donovan Colvan, Marissa Reyes, Jaiden J. Smith, Dylan Martin Frankel, and Brad Carter. David Poag directs the film while Billie Bates pens the script.
So, yeah, while it’s clear “Spirit Halloween” cribs a lot from “Stranger Things,” maybe it will keep someone’s kids occupied this Halloween season? The movie hits video on demand on October 11. Watch the trailer below.