"Children look. Great-Aunt Lavinia! She was beheaded by her own children!"

Review: The Addams Family

An Augustus Review of 9/10

I decided to do today’s review on a movie that was based off a television show in the early 60s: The Addams Family. This family is unlike any other; they are grim, scary, and most of all, strangely unusual. They live in a haunted house on the top of their manor; they wear dark clothing and interact with the dead. Although this may seem frightening, don’t be alarmed, they are very goofy as well.

The show was adapted into a movie in 1991. It stars Raul Julia as the father, Gomez Addams, Anjelica Huston as the mother, Morticia, Christopher Lloyd as brother Fester (or “Gordon”) and Elizabeth Wilson as the cruel stepmother, Abigail Craven.

The movie begins with Gomez reminiscing his brother, Fester, whom had separated from the family over 25 years ago due to a fight they had. Gomez’s lawyer, Tully (Dan Hedaya), is seriously in debt to a loan shark, Abigail Craven. At a meeting, Tully realizes that Abigail’s son, Gordon, looks a lot like Fester. He proposes to Abigail that they should allow Gordon to pretend to be Fester and rejoin the Addams family. In doing so, Gordon can find the family riches hidden deep within a family vault.

The Addams family decide to get together and attempt to summon Fester’s spirit. In the midst of the ceremony, Gordon shows up at the door as Fester. Overwhelmed with joy, Gomez greets his long lost brother. Gomez shows Fester the house and reunites him with a room full of the family riches and toys from his childhood. Fester and Abigail attempt later to find the vault but can’t get past the booby traps.

"How long has it been since we've waltzed?"
"Oh Gomez... hours"

As Gomez and Fester become reacquainted, Fester starts to feel as though he might almost belong with this family. Abigail dismisses his ideas and poses as his psychiatrist. She tells the family that Fester had been long lost in the Bermuda Triangle. The family become sceptical of Fester when he fails to remember his childhood memories with Gomez or the family traditions. Abigail is able to convince the family that their doubts are due to displacement.

The family warms up to Fester and he is beyond joyful with them. Tully finds out that because Fester is the older brother, the riches and the family estate belong to him. He is able to set a restraining order against the family, forcing them out of their home. Appalled by the actions, they start to doubt Tully and Abigail. Fester is torn between his stepmother and the Addamses.

One night, Morticia decides to confront Fester about his behaviour. She leaves the family in pursuit of the house. Once she arrives, she discovers the evil behind Abigail and the lies her family was fed.

The Addams Family grossed over $110 million in the box office. It was a great success and the 7^th highest grossing film in 1991. Film directors produced a sequel to the movie in 1993, Addams Family Values.

This creepy, dark yet funny film is a great one for a late night. You will end up loving the family regardless if they tie each other up in electrical chairs for fun!

- Augustus