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| Thank FEARnet for the sucker and Sugar&Vice for the bling! |
GREMLINS
First of all, make sure your kids don't believe in Santa Claus before showing them this film, or you're about to have a very awkward conversation a few months before the "happiest time of the year." GREMLINS is a beloved film that I consider to be the family's favorite monster movie. A bit darker than a typical kid's movie, but still accessible enough for the bravest of the little ones.
PARANORMAN
Animation is often reserved for children's movies but are notoriously also able to throw some entertaining bones for adults that fly over the heads of little ones. PARANORMAN is a fantastic example of this practice. Funny lines, clever references, and wonderful voice acting, PARANORMAN is one of my favorite kiddie horror films in the last few years.
THE MONSTER SQUAD
Awesome 80s monster extravaganza, THE MONSTER SQUAD is one of the best gateway horror films for younger ones. It feels like the lovechild of THE GOONIES and ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, but has one-liners for all ages to enjoy. The kids are a little rougher around the edges, but they're a far more realistic portrayal of the modern kid. Unless you've completely sheltered your children from everything "taboo," there's a good chance the kids are going to identify with these little twerps.
HOCUS POCUSThe Sanderson Sisters may go down in history as the most famous witches of all time. The personification of every witch mythos in the book with a pinch of Disney humor, HOCUS POCUS stands the test of time and keeps audiences laughing after all these years.
GHOSTBUSTERS/GHOSTBUSTERS II
It's strange, but there are kids everywhere that already know "Who You Gonna Call?" without ever having seen the film. GHOSTBUSTERS is far more comedy than horror, but the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and Slimer are two monsters that kids can both fear as well as love. Too bad they don't make Slimer Hi-C punch anymore.
MONSTER HOUSE
Every kid knows of the house to avoid come time for Trick or Treating, so MONSTER HOUSE is right out of the realistic fears inside the mind of every child. Great visual fx and just cartoony enough to not instill nightmares, MONSTER HOUSE is a must see for the Halloween season.
TIM BURTON FILMS
Even if we're drifting to non-horror type films, Tim Burton films still combine horror elements regardless of genre. His films are strange enough to be scary, but not so grotesque as to be rated R. Between animation and color styling, Tim Burton's filmography is suitable for all ages for Halloween.
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
- The Addams Family Movies
- The Goonies
- The Dark Crystal
- The Witches
- Hotel Transylvania
- Goosebumps Films
- Buffy The Vampire Slayer
- Critters
- Ghoulies
- Little Shop of Horrors
- Tower of Terror