Scary film recommendations for younger children
Discussion
Hi all, horror is my genre of choice and my 8 year old (going on 14!) daughter has been going on about watching a scary film at Halloween. I've had a dig around and there are hardly any horror films for kids, I guess they just don't do good business when you can attract the 15+ crowd at the multiplexes. I've got a few in mind, but any other recommendations would be welcome.
She's just seen Beetlejuice and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and enjoyed them, so that's the kind of level we're at, but maybe less humour and more scary.
Ones I've thought of so far:
Arachnophobia
The Hole
Tremors
Poltergeist (is this too scary?)
Pans Labyrinth (not really a horror)
Gremlins
So looking really at something that's creepier than 'Monster House' with Eddie Murphy, but not quite The Thing, Martyrs or The Shining!
She's just seen Beetlejuice and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and enjoyed them, so that's the kind of level we're at, but maybe less humour and more scary.
Ones I've thought of so far:
Arachnophobia
The Hole
Tremors
Poltergeist (is this too scary?)
Pans Labyrinth (not really a horror)
Gremlins
So looking really at something that's creepier than 'Monster House' with Eddie Murphy, but not quite The Thing, Martyrs or The Shining!
Yeah Poltergeist (original) will be too scary.
Got a mid 40s bloke at work who s
ts himself every time I say "they're hereeeee".
Search out a film called "The Monster Squad"
on Prime, It's from the 80's but it's a good film to intro.
Think of it as The Goonies but with Dracula, Wolfman and the rest of the classic monsters.
Got a mid 40s bloke at work who s
ts himself every time I say "they're hereeeee".Search out a film called "The Monster Squad"
on Prime, It's from the 80's but it's a good film to intro.
Think of it as The Goonies but with Dracula, Wolfman and the rest of the classic monsters.
Cor your kid has a high threshold, I remember seeing most of those when I was quite a bit older than 8 and being pretty scared, especially Witches 
That said I'm less of a wuss now.
Krampus is a good one for Christmas, one of my favourite Xmas/Scary films of recent years. It was on Netflix not sure if still there. On a similar vibe you've got Rare Exports, a subtitled film about Santa (kind of) that is also excellent but the subs may be a barrier.
Back in the mainstream and similar to the ones you suggested you've got Critters, The Lost Boys, maybe Aliens?, Eight Legged Freaks, Lake Placid, The Faculty, American Werewolf in London, possibly Slither but I think that might be too far.
Disclaimer: I don't have kids so may not be best to recommend to an 8 year old the above are probably in the same wheelhouse as Tremors/Gremlins etc etc that you named.
That said I'm less of a wuss now. Krampus is a good one for Christmas, one of my favourite Xmas/Scary films of recent years. It was on Netflix not sure if still there. On a similar vibe you've got Rare Exports, a subtitled film about Santa (kind of) that is also excellent but the subs may be a barrier.
Back in the mainstream and similar to the ones you suggested you've got Critters, The Lost Boys, maybe Aliens?, Eight Legged Freaks, Lake Placid, The Faculty, American Werewolf in London, possibly Slither but I think that might be too far.
Disclaimer: I don't have kids so may not be best to recommend to an 8 year old the above are probably in the same wheelhouse as Tremors/Gremlins etc etc that you named.
Sorry to be a boring dhead, however I'm also a school governor and was surprised when at a recent one, the head mentioned a child they were concerned about because dad was letting them watch 18 movies and play 18 video games.
Just temper their conversations around what you're both enjoying, rather than letting them go in proud in the knowledge 'I watch the most horrible movies ever'
head, however I'm also a school governor and was surprised when at a recent one, the head mentioned a child they were concerned about because dad was letting them watch 18 movies and play 18 video games. Just temper their conversations around what you're both enjoying, rather than letting them go in proud in the knowledge 'I watch the most horrible movies ever'
The Amazing Mr Blunden is a ghost story suitable for an 8 year old. More so than some of the suggestions anyway!
There’s the original 1970s version with Diana Dors and a young Lynn Fredericks* as well as a 2021 remake by Sky.
- * who incidentally went on to marry and divorce both Peter Sellers and David Frost before she was 30.
There’s the original 1970s version with Diana Dors and a young Lynn Fredericks* as well as a 2021 remake by Sky.
- * who incidentally went on to marry and divorce both Peter Sellers and David Frost before she was 30.
I watched Child’s play when I was about 7 and haven’t been able to watch it until my mid 40’s! After rewatching it with grown up eyes it’s a film not to be taken seriously. But, at 7 it had a profound impact possibly made worse as I watched it on my own late at night.
My recommendation, Ghostbusters.
My recommendation, Ghostbusters.
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