Photo courtesy of Pixbay
Halloween is great for adults. But it’s even better for kids. Most of us spend at least a few moments every October missing those dreamy, rubber-masked, candy-coated moments. All our favorite shows had Halloween specials. School parties broke up the monotony. And everything was just a little bit better.
It was better because the adults in our lives were making it so, to be clear. Every parent is well aware of the work that goes into making holiday magic. But it’s so worth it.
Here’s a snag, though. Horror fans love, well, horror. And parents want to share the things they love with their littles. But most parents don’t want to gather the whole family on the couch to watch Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the 13th. Unless you’re quite fond of therapy bills.
Alright, but kids have their own Halloween movies and TV specials. Yes, and most of them aren’t anything an adult cares to watch more than once. Look, Halloweentown and Casper Meets Wendy are cute and all, but they wear thin. So I’ve collected a list of movies for Halloween that you’ll actually enjoy watching with your littles.
Before we begin, I do have an honorable mention. It didn’t make it on this list because it’s not technically a Halloween movie. It’s a Día de los Muertos movie. Of course, I’m talking about Coco. And while it’s beautiful and heartbreaking, it’s not scary.
I mean, watch it anyway. But it’s not scary.
Frankenweenie, 2012
This one’s a bit of a heartbreaker.
A boy named Victor is heartbroken when his dog dies. So, he decides to reanimate him. Apparently, this starts a trend, because all the other kids in town decide to reanimate their own pets who have passed.
This movie finishes the Tim Burton stop-motion animation trilogy. And of the films (Including Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride), it’s probably the darkest.
The whole film has this really eerie feel to it. While our main character is seen as a bit of an outcast, none of the kids in this town are exactly normal. The colors are dark and grimy. The animation is both creepy and cute at the same time. And it has a beautiful, if incredibly sad, lesson about grieving and letting go.
The Addams Family, 1991
No, not the new one. The new one is an affront to the Adams Family name.
I’m assuming you know the whole deal with the Addams Family already. Creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky. And completely devoted to their family. So when someone shows up who claims to be their long-lost Uncle Fester, they invite him in with open arms. They never suspect that it might all be a ploy to steal their money.
This movie is darkly whimsical, full of heart, and hilarious. My favorite part about any Adams Family content is how terrified everyone around them is, while the family just thinks everything’s great!
9, 2009
This is such a cute, sad little movie.
A doll named 9 comes to life to discover that the world has been destroyed in a brutal war. He and some other dolls might have the power to bring the world back to life. If they can work together and face very big challenges as very little and fragile things.
This movie is dark, both visually and emotionally. Almost everything is some shade of brown or gold. The creatures the dolls encounter are legitimately scary. The whole thing is just visually stunning.
Monster House, 2006
Look, I’m not going to lie. The computer-animated art in this one almost threw me. My God, the faces are so ugly. No one’s hair moves. But the story makes up for it.
Oh, and the animations of the house itself are very well done. Ten out of ten there.
Our main character, DJ, thinks he’s too old for Halloween. He’s far more interested in spying on his neighbor, an elderly man named Mr. Nebbercracker. When DJ’s friend’s basketball ends up in Mr. Nebbercracker’s yard, DJ goes to rescue it. The old man has a heart attack while screaming at him.
Did you read that? Take a moment and sit with that. He screamed at a child so hard that he had a heart attack.
Of course, we soon find out that it isn’t the old man that’s to be feared. It’s the house itself.
This movie is hilarious. It’s exciting, dark, and endlessly entertaining. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it even if you don’t have kids.
Coraline, 2009
I almost didn’t include this one because there’s no way you haven’t already added it to your list. So we’re going to keep this one real brief.
A young girl named Coraline, feeling like no one in her life pays attention to her, falls into another world where she meets up with her Other Mother.
(No, not Other Mommy. Though I suspect the monster in that, or at least in the book it’s based on, might be the Beldam. I’m sure there’s a three-hour video essay about the similarities on YouTube somewhere.)
This movie is scary. It’s visually gorgeous. And you probably already know this. I can’t go on Instagram right now without seeing a recipe for button-shaped sugar cookies or someone’s Five Reasons Why Coraline is Darker Than You Think!
Trick or Treat, 2007
Yes, I know this one is rated R. And yes, there is one story I might recommend fast-forwarding through if your kids are younger. (It’s the one with Little Red and her friends trying to initiate her first time.)
But the other stories are great. They’re bloody, sure, but not too bloody. They’re scary, but not emotionally devastating.
If you have a very little one, or if they’re not quite into really scary movies, this one might be a pass. You know your kid better than me. But if they’re starting to outgrow little kid things, this might be a good step-up movie.
Paranormal Activities, 2007
I’m including two and three as well, because you really need to watch all of them to get the real story.
I love these movies for horror watching with kids. There’s not a lot of gore. There’s not a lot of bad language. There’s some neck snapping, sure. But that’s about it.
Oh, alright, and I suppose the mom smokes pot in the third one. But so did the mom in the original Poltergeist.
In case you’re not familiar with one of the most popular horror franchises in America, the story is about two sisters who are menaced throughout their lives by an entity we eventually learn is named Toby. We see the whole story take place through handheld and security cameras. And it’s just great. It’s just a great series.
ParaNorman, 2012
Of course, I had to talk about this one.
ParaNorman is about a boy who can see and talk to ghosts. No one believes him until the dead start rising from their graves due to an ancient witch curse.
This story is multilayered and deep. It doesn’t talk down to kids at all, expecting them to be able to handle shades of grey. Which we need more of.
And of course, the artwork is amazing. I love it when artwork is not just meant to be there, but to be funny all on its own. Or, in the case, scary all on its own.
I love Norman. I love his weird family. I hate the little town they live in, and I was rooting for the zombies at least some of the time. I love every rewatch of this film.
So now it’s your turn. What movie would you recommend for parents to watch with kids who aren’t quite little kids anymore, but not ready for the big league horrors yet? Let us know in the comments.
Want more kid’s content? Check out my review of Halloween Tree.
My book, Station 86 Volume One, is available now on Amazon! It’s got two dark sci-fi stories about murder and mayhem on the station of First Contact.
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