Hallmark gives a familiar holiday classic a haunting new identity, blending humor, romance, and second chances in a story about confronting the past and rediscovering the joy of moving forward.
Written By Chris and Will | Chris & Will Press
Courtesy of Hallmark Media
Halloween has evolved into much more than a single night of costumes, candy, and spooky celebrations. For many, the season begins months before October, with elaborate decorations, carefully planned costumes, and communities coming together to celebrate everything that makes the holiday special. But what happens when the excitement surrounding Halloween becomes a painful reminder of something you'd rather forget?
Hallmark explores that question in its newest original film, The Spirit of Halloween, premiering October 10. Taking inspiration from Charles Dickens' timeless classic A Christmas Carol, the film replaces Christmas with Halloween and introduces a journey of reflection, romance, and personal discovery.
Will and I had the opportunity to review the film ahead of its premiere, and while the concept immediately caught our attention, we found ourselves appreciating its charm while questioning whether the story fully delivered on its emotional potential.
Meghan Ory stars as Everly Stone, a successful bridal designer whose enthusiasm for Halloween disappeared years ago following a humiliating experience at a beloved fire station celebration. Rather than moving beyond that moment, Everly has allowed the memory to influence her relationship with the holiday and, in some ways, the people around her.
Her carefully controlled world takes an unexpected turn when her late mentor appears with a warning, setting the stage for an unusual evening guided by three supernatural visitors. Much like the spirits in Dickens' classic, these Halloween ghosts lead Everly through moments from her past, present, and possible future, revealing the opportunities, relationships, and happiness she may be overlooking.
Among the supernatural visitors is the Ghost of Halloween Future, portrayed by Lachlan Quarmby, whose appearance adds another perspective to Everly's journey.
Meanwhile, Kevin McGarry portrays Beau Madison, a longtime friend whose connection with Everly suggests that the possibility of romance has never completely disappeared. As the story unfolds, Everly must decide whether an embarrassing chapter from her past will continue defining her future or whether she's finally ready to embrace the life waiting beyond it.
It's an appealing premise, particularly for audiences familiar with the lessons of A Christmas Carol. The challenge, however, comes in translating that familiar emotional journey into something that feels equally meaningful within a Halloween setting.
One of the film's strongest qualities is its willingness to approach Halloween differently. Rather than relying entirely on costumes, spooky encounters, or traditional seasonal romance, The Spirit of Halloween attempts to explore how unresolved memories can prevent someone from enjoying the present.
It's a worthwhile message, and one that extends beyond the holiday itself.
Unfortunately, the emotional journey doesn't always carry the impact the story seems to be reaching for.
Everly's dislike of Halloween is rooted in an embarrassing experience that has followed her for years. While the film establishes the importance of that moment to her character, we felt the circumstances surrounding it needed greater development. The experience simply didn't deliver the level of emotional significance necessary to fully explain why it continued affecting her life so deeply.
As a result, portions of the storyline felt more emotionally exaggerated than emotionally convincing.
The three spirits offer opportunities to explore Everly's relationships, personal regrets, and the consequences of allowing fear to influence her decisions. However, several of those moments could have benefited from additional storytelling and stronger character development.
The film introduces meaningful ideas about forgiveness, growth, and letting go, but doesn't always spend enough time exploring them.
There is an important difference between remembering something painful and allowing that memory to determine how we live. The Spirit of Halloween understands that distinction, even if its execution doesn't consistently capture the emotional power behind it.
Despite the shortcomings in its storytelling, the film has several enjoyable qualities.
The cast works well within the material, with Meghan Ory and Kevin McGarry bringing familiarity and warmth to their respective roles. Their performances complement the script, while the supernatural elements introduce humor and personality that help keep the film entertaining.
We particularly appreciated Hallmark's decision to bring the three-spirits concept into a Halloween setting. It provides an interesting alternative to traditional seasonal programming and creates opportunities for both comedy and reflection.
From a production standpoint, the film is well presented, although its visual atmosphere occasionally works against the holiday it is celebrating.
One detail that stood out during our viewing was the seasonal appearance of certain settings. At times, the scenery and overall design seemed more reflective of another time of year than the Halloween season itself.
For a film built around a holiday known for its distinctive colors, decorations, and autumn atmosphere, those visual details matter. A stronger seasonal identity could have helped establish a more immersive experience and reinforced the film's Halloween personality.
These observations don't take away from the work of the cast or the quality of the overall production, but they do highlight areas where additional creative attention could have strengthened the finished film.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of The Spirit of Halloween is the message beneath its supernatural storyline.
Life has a way of holding us to moments we wish had unfolded differently. An embarrassing experience, a missed opportunity, or a painful memory can sometimes become larger in our minds than the event itself.
Everly's journey reflects that familiar struggle. She has continued moving forward professionally, yet emotionally, part of her remains connected to a moment she hasn't fully released.
The film reminds us that personal growth isn't always about forgetting the past. Sometimes, it's about recognizing that the person we are today no longer needs to carry yesterday's experiences in quite the same way.
That's where the film's greatest potential lies.
With deeper storytelling and a more developed emotional journey, that message could have resonated more powerfully. Nevertheless, its combination of humor, romance, supernatural encounters, and familiar life lessons creates an enjoyable seasonal experience.
The Spirit of Halloween offers an entertaining twist on a familiar holiday classic, supported by an enjoyable cast, a creative premise, and a message about learning to release the past.
While the production is well executed, the film falls short in areas of emotional development and seasonal atmosphere. The central conflict needed a stronger foundation, and the journey through Everly's memories could have offered more meaningful moments.
Still, Hallmark deserves recognition for exploring a different approach to Halloween storytelling. The film has charm, personality, and enough entertaining moments to make it worth watching, even if some of its creative possibilities remain unexplored.
Chris and Will give The Spirit of Halloween 7 out of 10 smiles. An enjoyable seasonal film with a promising concept and likable performances, but one that needed greater emotional depth and a few additional creative touches to become truly memorable.
The Spirit of Halloween premieres Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel and will be available to stream beginning Sunday, October 11, on Hallmark+.
Source: ChrisWill Media
About the Authors: Christopher L. Antie and William Antie are podcast journalists and media personalities covering entertainment, travel, culture, events, and stories from across a wide range of industries. Together, they bring a conversational and experience-driven approach to the stories they share. Follow more from Chris & Will through their podcast, What About Our Life?, on iHeartRadio and at chrisandwill.com.