The perfect amount of spooky and silly: A review of Netflix’s movie “Hubie Halloween”

BY SOFIA MENDEZ

With Halloween right around the corner on October 31, the time of year affectionately known as “spooky season” has made its way into pop culture. The streaming service Netflix has provided a variety of movies and series that fall into the horror, crime and mystery categories in light of this. On October 7, Netflix released their own non-horror spooky movie, titled “Hubie Halloween.” This fun, family movie, written by and starring Adam Sandler, is fit for everyone as it has a goofy humor overall, but still has some scary elements added to it.

The movie is about Hubie Dubois (Adam Sandler), a man who doesn’t have an evil trait in him and is persistently bullied by his community, yet has a mission to always make Halloween nights safe. However, this year, the protagonist realizes that there is something off about Halloween night in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. With this, he is ready to embark on a long night during which he’ll face different obstacles to complete his mission and keep everyone out of danger.

Besides the always-hilarious Sandler, the “Hubie Halloween” cast also includes Julie Bowen, who plays the character Violet Valentine. Violet is seen as the only person who actually believes in Hubie and has fallen in love with him, despite how everyone else feels the opposite. 

Throughout the movie, many additional known stars are seen, such as Peyton List, Noah Schnapp, Paris Berelc, Bradley Steven Perry, Kelli Berglund, Maya Rudolph and more. All the actors maintain character and this supports the film throughout, whether it be through their distinctive behaviors, attitudes or other aspects. The cast also helps the film flow smoothly, and in this, allows the protagonist to develop his character and personality.

Alternatively, the graphics and the setting used highlight the gloomy and dark look that allows the audience to identify the movie as a “Halloween movie,” even though it isn’t as terrifying as several other movies are known to be. Nevertheless, there are some jump scares here and there that appear in the moments least expected, which grabs the audience’s attention. 

The cast also helps the film flow smoothly, and in this, allows the protagonist to develop his character and personality.

Many scenes sought to evoke some moments of classic horror– both literary, as in stories and tales, and cinematic, as in films and movies. In addition, the costumes are varied and execute the message of a “puzzling night of terror” in the town of Salem, which actually gave the audience ideas for Halloween costumes. The movie isn’t necessarily scary, but it does build a mysterious storyline, leaving the audience questioning what’s going to happen next. 

The script itself makes the movie moderately funny and although characters constantly mock the protagonist, the movie prefers goodwill over hostility. Hubie Dubois can be seen as a kind hearted, innocent person, who does not hold grudges against anybody and is eager to assist others with nothing in return. 

The movie has a message that basically portrays that no matter what others say about you, you must always stay true to yourself, and how individuals should never allow themselves to be consumed by the hate they receive. One must simply just let the haters be and disregard anything they say. Everyone just has to live authentically.

“Hubie Halloween” is a family movie that offers what is expected when it comes to the protagonist being Adam Sandler. It is very comedic and shows how there isn’t any other actor best fit for the role to provoke laughter with screams other than the one and only, Adam Sandler.

Photo courtesy of Halloween Daily News