Art by Alex Bear
Our Favorite Ghosts
It’s the whisper in the wind, the chill down your spine, the haunting echo of what once was. Ghosts drift through the veil between worlds, seeking what was lost, taken, or might yet be. Whether it’s the mournful wail of the Banshee or the unhinged antics of Beetlejuice, the spectral spectrum is as vast as it is intriguing. Are you drawn to the terrifying tragedy of Sadako Yamamura or the mischief of Slimer? Perhaps you long for the Gothic elegance of The Others or the heart-clutching romance of Sam and Molly. Whether you’ve got friends on the other side (or not), our ghostly gathering captivates and chills—because getting ghost-ed for Halloween just feels right. (signed, Sherin)
Sam Wheat
from Ghost
Clearly THIS Ghost is thee best ghost! It’s in the name folks!! Patrick Swayze as Sam Wheat, the forlorn ghost who after being murdered, would not leave his beloved girlfriend unprotected, forcing sham psychic Oda Mae—who now discovers she actually can communicate beyond the veil—to endanger her own life by injecting herself into their tragic love story to save Molly. I very much love that Patrick Swayze felt that there was no one else for the role of Oda Mae other than Whoopi Goldberg and that he and Jerry Zucker flew to her to tell her so, convincing her to take the role. (Monique Pearl)
Barbara Maitland
from Beetlejuice
Barbara Maitland from Beetlejuice for me. (Drew Bittner)
I had trouble with this one but was going to say Barbara from Beetlejuice! Everything about this movie is perfection. (Erin Hawley)
Sunset Curve
from Julie and the Phantoms
After an infamous run-in with some questionable street hotdogs, three members of the band Sunset Curve wake up dead. 25 years later, they connect with high schooler Julie, who brings their music back to life and helps them become the band they were destined to be. And the music they make together really is out of this world. (Alex Bear)
Alma
from Ghost Story
Also lots of old Hollywood actors in it; a tragic ghost story. (Soma Brodhun)
Dr. Faciller & The Fright Crewe
from The Princess and the Frog & Fright Crewe
He may not be a ghost—until he is—but Dr. Faciller from The Princess and the Frog is a ghost-whispering villain with the rizz of Cab Calloway and the powers of hoodoo and voodoo. He’s got things he ain’t even tried, AND he’s got friends on the other side. In opposition to Faciller is the Fright Crewe. These Louisiana teens channel their abilities from the Loa and fight both demons and bigotry. They’ve got powerful friends AND they have evil in a chokehold. (Sherin Nicole)
Nerak
from The Watcher in the Woods
Disney ghost story, sort of a sci-fi….so creepy, with Betty Davis in it! (Soma Brodhun)
Candyman
from Candyman
Referencing the 1992 film: Daniel Robitaille is a Black painter and son of a slave, played by the amazing Tony Todd, who was murdered in the 1800s for falling in love with a white woman, comes back to haunt/hunt on Cabrini-Green, an urban legend who manifests when his name is called five times in front of a mirror. (Day Al-Mohamed)
Sir Simon Spookington
from Sir Simon: Super Scarer
At my day job, I’m referred to as the “ghost publicist” because I often work on books about ghosts. One of my longest running ghost buddies is Sir Simon Spookington and I gotta say, I adore him. Whether he’s building a snack dispenser with his (human) bestie, Chester, or trying to appear human (i.e. wearing jeans to give himself legs), Simon is always up for an adventure. Fun fact: Simon’s origin story, Sir Simon: Super Scarer includes a bunch of horror movie Easter eggs—he truly is the spirit of Halloween! (Sam Devotta)
Erika / Gia
from Boo, Bitch
A high school party gone wrong turns into a case of ghostly mistaken identity. Erika and Gia are BFFs who realize they never truly lived until one of them got ghosted—but that’s not gonna stop them from having the time of their (after)life. (Alex Bear)
Bloody Mary
from folklore
I’m not sure she is my favorite, but Bloody Mary has always just scared the ever-living snot out of me. Even now, as an adult, you won’t find me looking into a mirror at night saying her name! *SHIVER!* (N. Renee Brown)
Sherin’s Frightfully Romantic Faves
the ghosts with the most couple energy
Since Monique stole my pick and wants to play innocent about it, I’m choosing four ghostly love stories: Truly, Madly, Deeply because Alan Rickman forever. The Master’s Sun because when you pair So Ji-sub and Gong Hyo-jin in a K-drama by the Hong Sisters, you get what paranormal romance is all about. There’s the eternal, unchained melody of Ghost, and the Southern supernatural love story in The Hand I Fan With by Tina McElroy Ansa.
But wait, since I’m feeling petty this week, I’m stealing one of Mo’s favorites, My Left Eye Sees Ghosts because I loved Sammi Cheng first. Oh, but did I mention the K-drama It’s Okay Not to Be Okay because Kim Soo-Hyun is the cutest while Seo Yea-ji is coldly fabulous?Consider it done. (Sherin Nicole)
