The Underrated Screen Queens Of Halloween

Once it comes to the female heroines of our preference Halloween movies, there really are the icons we all know and love: the sassy Sanderson Sisters of Hocus Pocus, the tattered and courageous Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, or maybe Beetlejuice's iconic goth teen Lydia Deetz.

Although we think it's time for a new class of Halloween queens to take the spooky spotlight this year. These fictional characters have been bringing the panache and pizzazz to the most terrifying season for years, and so they deserve just as much attention — and just as several inspired costumes. Here are the underrated screen queens of Halloween:

Marnie Piper, Halloweentown

Giphy

The Halloweentown series is something of a mainstay once it comes to memorable movies of the season, and nevertheless its star Marnie Piper (Kimberly J. Brown) rarely gets the recognition she deserves for bringing one of the franchise's most powerful witches to life.

She's caring, resourceful, and quick-witted and shares a deep love for Halloween that several of us can likely relate to. Although despite having been kept from enjoying the spooky season for most of her life, she isn't bitter or upset. She simply wants to satisfy her own organic curiosity and get closer to her grandmother Agatha "Aggie" Cromwell (Debbie Reynolds). As she grows while in the Halloweentown films, she develops a powerful sixth sense and cultivates some seriously sick broomstick flying skills. Let’s not forget that she also single-handedly kept Kalabar (Robin Thomas), the corrupt mayor of Halloweentown, from taking over the mortal world. It truly is a witch's world and we're all just living in it.

However as powerful as she becomes, she never forgets that the magic that's been bestowed upon her is meant to be used for good. And that’s why we should visualize Marnie’s face adorning every Halloween-themed graphic tee as soon as October rolls around. Where's some magic while you need it?

Frances McCausland, Don't Look Under the Bed

Giphy

Do you believe in the Boogeyman? Frances McCausland (Erin Chambers) doesn't, nevertheless that doesn't stop her from teaming up with her "imaginary friend" Larry Houdini (Eric "Ty" Hodges II) to overcome him. Soon after she finds herself dealing with peculiar things happening all of the town of Middleberg, she's not quite sure who's to blame — up until Larry tells her it's all of the Boogeyman's fault.

Level-headed and logical Frances doesn't have time for kids' stories. Despite being a teenager, she's incredibly mature and pragmatic. (She even began high school per year early.) So confronting a force that or might not directly be supernatural is tough for her, nevertheless she finds the strength to do it anyway.

During the film, Frances learns to believe in childlike wonder again, and she makes time for those feelings with Larry's help. Although she never loses her resolve, even once her companions and family member think she's losing her mind. In the end, it’s Frances who has to conquer the Boogeyman once and for all with the power of love, understanding, and her imagination. If that's not heroic and deserving of her own celebratory parade, then what is?

Kathleen "Kat" Harvey, Casper

Giphy

Falling in love with a friendly ghost? Your fave could never. The deadpan Kathleen "Kat" Harvey (Christina Ricci) gave us one of the most effortlessly cool female protagonists in Casper.

Cynical Kat is a precocious 13 year old and the daughter of Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman), a parapsychologist obsessed with contacting his late spouse on the Other Side. His obsession — and also the fact that his career has forced Kat to move frequently, barring her from producing any lasting friendships — has put together a rift between father and daughter. Not to say, it's hard to create companions as soon as your dad isn't taken seriously by anyone in town. So there's a reason for Kat's angst.

Although that all goes away as soon as she meets and begins crushing on Casper (Devon Sawa). She learns his tragic backstory (taken also soon by pneumonia) and eventually starts to open up to him about her own struggles, with her dad and with feeling alone. Through her interactions with Casper, yet, she begins to forgive her father. Immediately considering that, we all grieve in our own way. Casper also teaches her the true meaning of friendship (of course), and she even has her first dance and kiss with a pretty ghost boy. Seems like win-win. She is a little bit Lydia Deetz in the making, and we love her for it.

Alexandra "Alex" Nicole Fielding and Camryn "Cam" Elizabeth Barnes, Twitches

Giphy

Alexandra "Alex" Nicole Fielding (Tia Mowry) and Camryn "Cam" Elizabeth Barnes (Tamera Mowry) are identical twins living in two different households. They were actually place on Earth into royalty on Halloween night in the magical realm of Coventry, although upon their father's death — at the hands of the malevolent powers of the Darkness — they're taken to Earth and placed up for adoption. Thus, they were separated as infants.

Alex loves staying up all hours of the night and writing — her pages filled with seemingly fictional stories about magical twin sisters — while Camryn likes drawing images of a far-off place. They have no idea that these creations are about Coventry, their homeland. Right after several chance encounters, they learn that they're not only twins, however also the ones prophesied to conquer the Darkness. With their memories and magical powers restored, they call themselves "Twitches" and vow to put an end to the nightmare for good.

So, to reiterate: Tia and Tamera Mowry play twins who are also witches. Place on Earth on Halloween. And here we are touting the Sanderson Sisters — who kill children, by the way — year immediately after year. The Twitches are powerful, positive spell-casters who conquer actual evil with light, love, and magic. Long live Apolla and Artemis!