The older I get, the less I enjoy Halloween. It could be that trick-or-treating is no more, the pressure of having a stylish and sexy Halloween costume has become too great or the lack of charming Halloween decor. In order to preserve what is left of my love for Halloween, I turn on some nostalgic Halloween-themed Disney Channel Original Movies and television episodes.
This year marks the 20-year anniversary of one of my favorite Disney Channel Halloween movies, “Twitches.” The film stars Tia and Tamera Mowry as twin witches who were separated at birth. The girls find each other on their 21st birthday, which happens to fall on Halloween.
Being an early 2000s classic, the movie starts off with crappy CGI, which honestly amuses me. We are introduced to the magical land of Coventry that is being taken over by “the Darkness.” The newborn twin princesses, Artemis and Apolla, are in danger. Their father’s friends, Karsh and chicken-wing-loving Illeana, take them to safety in the human dimension. It is said that these twins are the only ones who can save Coventry from The Darkness, a dark force of nature.
Fast forward years later, and it is the 21st birthday of Alex (Artemis) and Camryn (Apolla). Alex is on a job search, and Camryn is going out clothes shopping. Karsh and Ileana orchestrate a reunion in the clothing store. Unlike Annie and Hallie in “The Parent Trap,” Alex and Camryn catch on to the fact that they are twins quickly. Whenever they hold hands sparks fly and magical things occur, leading them to the conclusion that they are witches. The more that they uncover about their past, the more they are in danger of The Darkness. Will they be able to protect Coventry and put The Darkness to rest?
This movie never ceases to make me laugh. The characters are charming and goofy. I enjoyed the twins in a montage of casting harmless spells and watching Illeana and Karsh bicker about the lack of affordability in the human dimension. Karsh would have a heart attack if he saw how much my weekly Cafe J trip costs me. Honestly, I have a heart attack because of the prices myself. Half the time I was giggling at the ridiculousness of the movie — the special effects, the script writing and some of the acting — but that adds to the charm of the movie. Disney Channel Original Movies are not supposed to be high quality; we watch them for nostalgia and comfort.
Because it is an early 2000s children’s film, I was not expecting to be inspired by the movie. However, as a freshman college student, there was a lot from this movie that I actually resonated with. The twins are young adults: One is trying to find a job, and the other is an art student trying to find purpose in life. Finding each other and realizing that they are witches was not on their 2005 bingo card, but they took it in stride. They embraced each other. Even in times of discouragement, they came out of it ready to do the right thing. The “twitches” reminded me to be open to new things that come out of nowhere, to have fun and to fight for what is right even when it’s difficult.
When the Halloween season depression hits, look no further than “Twitches.” Go indulge in some Trader Joe’s gluten-free pumpkin doughnut holes and gather with your friends to watch this classic Disney Channel Original Movie. I guarantee that it will bring your Halloween spirits up.
