Spooky season is upon us and that means a lot of things. It means that the cooler weather is coming, everything tastes like pumpkin spice and Halloween is right around the corner. Halloween is going to look a little different this year, with parents being reluctant to let their children go out and do the traditional Halloween activities. The CDC is even advising parents to choose “low-risk” activities this year, and one of those is a movie night. Horror movies are a staple part of Halloween, but these are generally reserved for when the children go to bed for the night.
However, if mom has a slightly older child, she may want to include them in a scary movie session this year. It can be a fun alternative to going out and collecting candy. What is the right movie? Is there a movie out there that can pack a little bit of fear, while still remaining safe enough so that your child won’t be up all night with nightmares? There are some movies out there that can be considered safe-but-still-scary that you won’t have to be afraid to show this year. A good idea may be to screen the movie yourself before showing it to your child, to make sure it is something that they will be able to handle.
8 Ernest Scared Stupid
Ernest Scared Stupid is one of the many films featuring the eccentric character, Ernest. The movie is centered around Ernest and some local kids who end up waking up a troll. The movie was released in 1991 and according to Film Ratings, it has a rating of PG. This movie has some spooky scenes, but there is just enough silliness and humor to even it out.
7 Little Monsters
Little Monsters is an older film and it is often overrated and forgotten about, but it is a great option for children who are nearing their teenage years and want a movie with a bit of a scare factor. The movie centers around a young boy who finds a world of monsters and spooks living underneath his bed. While adults may find this trivial, monsters under your bed is the ultimate fright for young children. The movie has a rating of PG.
6 Monster House
Monster House is a good choice for any mom who has a child that is still interested in animated films. The movie follows the adventures of three young children who are scared of their neighbor’s house. The fear that it holds some dark secrets, and they may be right. The movie is rated PG and it is listed as having some scary images and sequences. It also has a warning attached to it for some minor language and crude humor.
5 The Witches
The Witches was a movie that was released back in 1990 and while it may be a bit of an older movie, it is not one that can be overlooked. It was based off the popular Roald Dahl book of the same name and follows children who are trying to uncover a secret group of witches. It is a movie that has some disturbing scenes (by child standards) but is a classic that mom can enjoy as well. This movie holds a rating of PG.
4 Poltergeist
Poltergeist is a classic horror film that mom and dad have probably already watched numerous times. This means they will be able to tell if their children can handle it. It is one of the scarier films that we have on our list, but since there is nothing specifically gory about this movie, it may be perfect for that next level of horror your child is asking for. The movie was released in 1982, and it holds a rating of just PG.
3 Goosebumps
If your child wants something a bit more modern and newer, then the Goosebumps movies may be perfect. This is especially true if they have read any of the classic books that mom and dad likely grew up watching. The movies have some spooky scenes, but the humor brought by Jack Black is enough to even it out. The original and the sequel would make the perfect pair for a scary movie marathon night. Both films are rated PG and carry a warning that there are some “intense creature action.”
2 Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark
While on the topic of scary books that we grew up reading, Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark was a hit in the 90’s. Almost everyone has opened up one of these books containing horror short stories, and they were a staple in every sleep over. The stories were incredibly scary, so this may be the perfect movie for a fright night. You can start by reading the spooky tales as a favorite and then pop the popcorn to watch the movie. This movie is rated PG-13 and does carry a warning that there are disturbing images in the film.
1 I Know What You Did Last Summer
Horror movies always have their own category. There are ghost stories, monster stories and then there are slasher films. If you feel like your teen is old enough to handle their first slasher film, I Know What You Did Last Summer may be a good safe choice. It is one of the more fairly tame films and does not carry a lot of gore. This movie does have an R rating, making it the most extreme movie choice on our list. This movie may need a screening from mom and dad before they let their teen watch it.
Source: Film Ratings