The Best Spooky Halloween Movies (& TV) For Kids
Want a truly spooky night in this Halloween? Check out our comprehensive list of scary movies and TV shows suitable for kids...
It’s Hallowe’en on Friday, so time to get the kids in a spooky mood! If you’ve already taken them to see the terrific The Book Of Life at the cinema (click HERE for our review), here are some suggestions of other creepy movies for kids that are available on DVD and download… and a few classic TV series available on DVD to get them in Hallowe’en spirit, too.
Here are Movies4Kids recommendations – click on each movie title to go the M4K review. Do note that our categories are just guidelines as to what age a movie may be suitable for – it is worth reading our reviews and also checking the comments on the British Board Of Film Classification’s website (www.bbfc.co.uk) for a movie before letting your kids see it, especially if you have easily spooked or sensitive children…
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Casper (PG)
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Hotel Transylvania (U)
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The Little Vampire (2000) (U)
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Monsters Inc (U)
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Monsters Vs Aliens (PG)
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Wallace And Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (U)
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The Addams Family (1991) (PG)
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The Black Cauldron (U)
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Coraline (PG)
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ParaNorman (PG)
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Frankenweenie (PG)
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Ghostbusters (1984) (PG)
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Hocus Pocus (PG)
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Scooby-Doo (PG)
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Terror for Teens
(please note most of these movies are 15 certificates and not suitable for younger viewers)
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Beetlejuice (12A)
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Carrie (15)
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The Craft (15)
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Fright Night (15)
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Gremlins (15)
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And Some Trembling TV Treats...
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (12A)
Yes, the movie was fun but nothing beats the superb TV series that ran from 1997 to 2003. Sarah Michelle Gellar starred as the teenage girl named Buffy who is selected to be ‘the chosen one’ – a slayer of the vampires and demons who seem in endless supply in her Californian town of Sunnydale.
Cleverly realised by creator Joss Whedon as a show about a teenager that appealed to adults and teens alike thanks to the witty performances from a cast that included Anthony Stewart Head as Buffy’s watcher, Alyson Hannigan as witch Willow, James Masters as vampire Spike and David Boreanaz as the vampire with a soul Buffy loves, this was seven seasons of wit, scares and sharp plotting that is a must-see.
Classic episodes include ‘Angel’, ‘Surprise’, ‘Earshot’, the stunning, almost dialogue-free ‘Hush’ and musical episode ‘Once More…With Feeling’.
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Children of the Stones (PG)
An almost legendarily creepy TV series from 1977. Adam and his son Matthew go to the village of Milbury to study the 4000 year old stone circle around it. However, it seems the stones may be an ancient power that has enthralled the village… a power that the creepy Mr Henrick may be trying to tap into. If your kids like this, also try Into The Labyrinth from 1981.
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The Ghosts of Motley Hall (U)
A children’s comedy from 1976 about the ghosts that haunt the 16th century mansion Motley Hall. There’s pompous Sir George Uproar, 18th century fop Fanny, Bodkin The Jester, Matt the stable boy and the White Lady who all haunt the house and scare the living daylights out of poor Mr Gudgin, the estate agent trying to sell it. The effects are hilariously bad, but the humour is often rib-ticklingly silly.
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Sabrina The Teenage Witch (PG)
Based on the Archie Comics character of the same name, this sweet teen sitcom (1996-2003) starred Melissa Joan Hart as teenager Sabrina, who just happens to be a witch. She lives with her two aunts (also witches), and Salem (voiced by Nick Bakay), a warlock who has been turned into a cat for his various misdeeds. The plot was simple but effective – Sabrina leads a normal teenage life, with none of her mortal friends knowing her secret, but each episode something crops up to cause Sabrina to use her magical powers. Cute stuff with a winning central performance from Hart.