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McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

Karen Smith, mean girls

How spooky became sexy

Elijah Latronica, Staff Writer November 1, 2024

Something about Halloween has turned from frightening to frisky. Whether it be the nurse’s outfits with the miniskirts intended to excite, or the way people on the internet get scarily fond of a certain...

Halloween movies have become less scary and more predictable, loosing their magic.

Opinion | Horror movies just aren’t scary anymore

Maggie Demski, Copy Editor October 31, 2024

  You are in a movie theater waiting to watch a highly rated horror movie, but sit through the movie disappointed. The movie has so many things that could be good about it, if only the creators...

Universal Studios Hollywood will celebrate John Carpenter's classic 1978 slasher, "Halloween" and bring Michael Myers back to Halloween Horror Nights in an all-new attraction.

Opinion | A horrific reflection

Gabe Santos, Opinions editor October 31, 2024

Horror movies, since their rise to popularity in the 40’s with the Universal Monsters like Frankenstien and Dracula, have been a passtime for many during the early fall months. From poltergeists and...

Passing out candy has always been a Halloween Tradition, some of the candies that most kids will find in their bags are Twix, Snickers, Nerds and more

Opinion: Trick or TRASH

Grace Crockett and Afton Ingraffia October 31, 2024

On a moonlit Halloween night, a youngster in their spooky costume wanders their neighborhood searching for houses that appeal to their expectations. The kid walks up and rings one house's doorbell. While...

Recently some Halloween costumes have been hard for others to accept as socially appropriate.

Opinion | People are not costumes

Lily Adams, Editor in Chief October 30, 2024

  Senior Daniel Avila is taking his younger brother trick or treating. He is disgusted with what he sees: Children, teenagers and adults alike dressed up in offensive costumes. Jeffery Dahmer lurks...

The Woodstock Opera House in the center of the Woodstock Square stands surrounded by an eerie ambiance with its urban legends, among many others in McHenry County.

Countdown to Halloween | Urban legends of McHenry County

Paulina Borowski, Marketing Director October 31, 2023

Halloween is the season of all things scary, specifically scary stories. There are always legends of creepy houses and ghost hauntings told around a campfire during the Halloween season, though it is possible...

The CarnEvel in McHenry is a local haunt, a private residence that decorates for Halloween and invites trick-or-treaters to enjoy some quick scares.

McHenry community organizes Halloween events

Kiera Miller, Staff Writer October 27, 2023

With Halloween right around the corner, the city of McHenry is preparing for the upcoming holiday, scheduling events for the scary season. Homeowners and businesses have set up spooky atmospheres that...

Hannah Bielat dressed like a Disney princess for Halloween as a young child. In the mid-2010s, Disney princesses were just one of a variety of popular Halloween costumes.

Countdown to Halloween | The best Halloween costumes from childhood

Sam Bodden, Staff Writer October 24, 2023

Each year kids across the country participate in Halloween festivities, and we are no different. As trends have changed over the years, so have our costume sensibilities. Halloween was a lot more fun as...

There's a reason why Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "The Monster Mash" are staples at Halloween parties — they are spooky, catchy, and fun. But there are plenty of other songs that fall into these categories that should become household Halloween hits as well (album artwork courtesy of Arista Records, Epic Records, Motown Records, Walt Disney Records, Decca Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Darkroom/Interscope Records, and Caroline Records)

Countdown to Halloween | Top 10 Halloween songs

Leylah Moreno, Artistic Director October 20, 2023

Halloween music often gets overshadowed by the more saturated market of Christmas music, but whether you are looking for something to listen to at your costume party or simply embracing the atmosphere...

There are a multitude of scary and creepy games to play, but these five horror games are bound to make you jump in terror while you play.

Countdown to Halloween | Top 5 horror games

Paulina Borowski, Marketing Director October 19, 2023

While movies are a great way to get into the spooky season, some prefer a more interactive approach. Many fire up their gaming computers and consoles, dim the lights and play a good scary game. There are...

Halloween is not just a time to drink pumpkin spice lattes and pick out costumes for trick-or-treating; it's also a time to watch scary movies — and these five movies are essential viewing this time of year.

Countdown to Halloween | The 5 best horror movies 

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor October 6, 2023

In the month where we celebrate all things scary, a common tradition is curling up with a blanket, some popcorn, turning off all the lights, and watching a good scary movie. Whether it is a psycho in a...

"Hocus Pocus 2" is a disappinting cash grab that does not live up to the original movie.

Review: They’re back!

Beth Brackmann, Staff Writer October 13, 2022

This new take on this classic Halloween movie has some people pleased, while others believe it’s just another one of Disney’s cheap Disney+ cash grabs. 29 years after the release of the original movie,...

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