The 1991 live action adaptation of “The Addams Family” is not only a Halloween classic but a childhood favourite for me. Growing up, I was strangely enamoured by this creepy and kooky family, comprising of Gomez, Morticia, their children Wednesday and Pugsley Addams, Grandmama Addams, Lurch the butler and Thing, a disembodied human hand. They all lived peacefully in their Gothic mansion, equipped with its own mausoleum special graveyard for friends and foes alike. While this movie may not be as kid friendly as you might think, it still evokes a sense of nostalgia like no other for me.
The first installment of this classic follows the family as they successfully contact their missing relative, Uncle Fester via seance. However when beloved Uncle Fester returns from the Bermuda triangle after a 25-year-long hiatus, they begin to suspect that he might be an imposter and that something more sinister might be afoot.
This movie is a treat for fans of dark humour; not the kind that would make one skittish, but the kind that will make you shriek with laughter. Fine, I lied. It might still make you slightly skittish, but it’s worth it! And there’s also quite a lot of physical humour in the film; they’ll either cheer you up…or leave you with nightmares, depending on your stance on playful electrocutions and disembodiment pranks.
The family’s interactions with the ‘normal folk’ when they must vacate their mansion and head for the suburbs in the second half provides the film’s comedy. It presents comical situations and quotable moments, such as when Gomez decides to represent himself in court. We also see this when Morticia decides to take up a job as a kindergarten teacher, regaling her class of toddlers with squirm-inducing tales of witchcraft. Wednesday has her lines too, as she questions whether Girl Scouts cookies are in fact made from live Girl Scouts!
The characters are iconic and unforgettable. Some of their traits land as macabre, which society shuns as abnormal; but at the core, the Addams are still a loving and supportive family who stand by each other. Take for example, Morticia and Gomez with their red hot passionate chemistry that could put even molten lava to shame. These two are the gold standard when it comes to unwavering romance and they were probably also the pioneers behind the phrase ‘couple goals.’ Every scene featuring these duo—from their sensual pillow talk to their fiery waltz/tango sessions where they set the dance floor on fire (quite literally)—will make you blush! And I swear, if anybody whispers ‘Cara Mia’ gently to me, as Gomez does to Morticia, I would honestly swoon!
It would be a sin not to mention the perfect performances of the actors who bring the family to life. Raul Julia plays Gomez with such fiendish charm it’s hard not to fall in love with the character. This is also true with Julia’s showmanship; he truly shines in the musical portions, such as during the epic Mamushka dance sequence. At times, he comes across as a goth version of Phil Dunphy from “Modern Family” with his bubbly, infectious energy. He exhibits childlike antics and over-the0-top enthusiasm for fencing and model train sets with his dramatic flair.
Angelica Huston exhudes elegance as the enigmatic Morticia; she is a caring wife and a doting mother who will go to any lengths to protect her flock from harm—and will even endure excruciating torture for them…literally! A young Christina Ricci threatens to chew the scenery up as well with her performance as the dry and monotone Wednesday who, unlike her dimwitted brother Pugsley, is as sharp as a bed of nails. Christopher Lloyd delivers a formidable performance too as the cowardly Uncle Fester; viewers will sympathise as he’s used as a pawn by a greedy and conniving con artist and thieving lawyer. His natural camaraderie and brotherly bond with co-star Julia is an added bonus. The supporting cast also does justice to the rest of the oddball characters featured in the movie.
Last but not least, the make-up as well as costume design of this movie deserves praise. From Gomez’ dapper suits to Morticia’s dazzling pale skin and prominent winged eyes—and even Wednesday’s signature braids that have now become essential to Halloween costumes everywhere—the attention to detail further conveys the hard work and love that went into crafting this movie. The exquisite background score by Marc Shaiman too is quite the ear worm.
If you aren’t left as enamoured as I am by this movie after watching it…then I’m afraid I’ve a voodoo doll waiting with your name on it and I’m not afraid to stick a pin in it. Kidding… just go watch it, you won’t regret it!
You can watch or rent “The Addams Family” on most streaming services.
